Monetary policy transmission in South Africa: the prime rate-demand for credit phase
- Authors: Lehobo, Limakatso
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: South African Reserve Bank , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Bank loans -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Finance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1128 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020850
- Description: A voluminous literature attempts to explain the various channels of the monetary policy transmission mechanism through which central banks ultimately achieve price stability. However, most research focuses on interest rate pass-through and the demand for money phase, while there is limited research on the demand for credit. This study endeavours to contribute to the understanding of this neglected phase of monetary policy transmission by exploring the response of the real demand for bank credit by the private sector to changes in the real prime rate from 1990:1 to 2004:4 in South Africa. Firstly, the behaviour of the real prime rate in relation to the repo rate is explored using graphical analysis. The study observes that an increase in the repo rate causes an increase in the real prime rate, such that there is always a margin of three or four percentage points between the two rates. Secondly, using secondary data, the Johansen methodology is used to determine the relationship between the demand for bank credit and its determinants (GDP, inflation, real prime rate and real yield on government bonds). Two co-integrating relationships are found. The Gaussian errors from one co-integrating vector are used to model the Vector Error Correction Model, which provides the short-run dynamics and the long-run results, through the use of Eviews 5 software. The results of the study show that while all other variables are negatively related to the demand for bank credit in the long-run, GDP has a positive influence. In the short-run, yield on government bonds and inflation coefficients depict a positive association, while the coefficients of real prime rate and GDP are negative. The error correction coefficient is -0.32, which implies that a 32% adjustment to equilibrium happens in the demand for bank credit in a quarter and that the complete adjustment takes about three quarters to complete. Thirdly, the generalised impulse responses results indicate that the impact on the real prime rate affects the demand for bank credit from the first quarter. The study concludes that the real prime rate has a negative impact on the demand for credit both in the short-run and long-run.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Lehobo, Limakatso
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: South African Reserve Bank , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Bank loans -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Finance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1128 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020850
- Description: A voluminous literature attempts to explain the various channels of the monetary policy transmission mechanism through which central banks ultimately achieve price stability. However, most research focuses on interest rate pass-through and the demand for money phase, while there is limited research on the demand for credit. This study endeavours to contribute to the understanding of this neglected phase of monetary policy transmission by exploring the response of the real demand for bank credit by the private sector to changes in the real prime rate from 1990:1 to 2004:4 in South Africa. Firstly, the behaviour of the real prime rate in relation to the repo rate is explored using graphical analysis. The study observes that an increase in the repo rate causes an increase in the real prime rate, such that there is always a margin of three or four percentage points between the two rates. Secondly, using secondary data, the Johansen methodology is used to determine the relationship between the demand for bank credit and its determinants (GDP, inflation, real prime rate and real yield on government bonds). Two co-integrating relationships are found. The Gaussian errors from one co-integrating vector are used to model the Vector Error Correction Model, which provides the short-run dynamics and the long-run results, through the use of Eviews 5 software. The results of the study show that while all other variables are negatively related to the demand for bank credit in the long-run, GDP has a positive influence. In the short-run, yield on government bonds and inflation coefficients depict a positive association, while the coefficients of real prime rate and GDP are negative. The error correction coefficient is -0.32, which implies that a 32% adjustment to equilibrium happens in the demand for bank credit in a quarter and that the complete adjustment takes about three quarters to complete. Thirdly, the generalised impulse responses results indicate that the impact on the real prime rate affects the demand for bank credit from the first quarter. The study concludes that the real prime rate has a negative impact on the demand for credit both in the short-run and long-run.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Negotiating the global : how young women in Nairobi shape their local identities in response to aspects of the mexican telenovela, Cuando seas mia
- Authors: Jiwaji, Aamera Hamzaali
- Date: 2011 , 2010-09-15
- Subjects: Cuando seas mia (Television program) , Television soap operas -- Kenya , Motion pictures and youth -- Kenya , Emigration and immigration in motion pictures -- Kenya , Ethnicity in motion pictures -- Kenya , Arts and society -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3532 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013364
- Description: Latin American telenovelas have been exported to more than a hundred countries across the globe. While they are popular in their country of production because their messages resonate with their audience’s everyday experiences, their popularity amongst global audiences with whom they share neither a social nor a cultural history is unexplained. Kenya has been importing and airing Latin American telenovelas since the early 1990s, and telenovelas have permeated many aspects of Kenyan daily life, when compared to other foreign globally-distributed media products that are aired on Kenyan television. As global media products, telenovelas remain open to criticisms from the media imperialism thesis. This research adopts an ethnographic approach to the study of audiences, and looks at the reception of a Mexican telenovela, Cuando Seas Mia, by a group of young Kenyan women in Nairobi. It reflects upon the media imperialism thesis from an African perspective by investigating the meanings that these women make from Cuando Seas Mia, and how these shape their changing local identities and cultures. The young women in this study, most of whom have moved to the city from the rural areas, are influenced by traditional, patriarchal Kenyan society and by the modern, Western influences of an urban environment. They experience a tension between their evolving rural and urban roles and identities and are drawn to telenovelas because their exploration of rural-urban themes holds a relevance to their own lives. They negotiate their contemporary African youth identities, gender roles and heterosexual relationships in relation to representations in the telenovela, questioning and destabilising African and Western definitions. These women select aspects from their traditional, African cultures and from their modern, Western experiences (and consumption of global media) and reconstruct them into a transitional youth identity which suits their day to day lives as young women living in an urban African environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Jiwaji, Aamera Hamzaali
- Date: 2011 , 2010-09-15
- Subjects: Cuando seas mia (Television program) , Television soap operas -- Kenya , Motion pictures and youth -- Kenya , Emigration and immigration in motion pictures -- Kenya , Ethnicity in motion pictures -- Kenya , Arts and society -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3532 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013364
- Description: Latin American telenovelas have been exported to more than a hundred countries across the globe. While they are popular in their country of production because their messages resonate with their audience’s everyday experiences, their popularity amongst global audiences with whom they share neither a social nor a cultural history is unexplained. Kenya has been importing and airing Latin American telenovelas since the early 1990s, and telenovelas have permeated many aspects of Kenyan daily life, when compared to other foreign globally-distributed media products that are aired on Kenyan television. As global media products, telenovelas remain open to criticisms from the media imperialism thesis. This research adopts an ethnographic approach to the study of audiences, and looks at the reception of a Mexican telenovela, Cuando Seas Mia, by a group of young Kenyan women in Nairobi. It reflects upon the media imperialism thesis from an African perspective by investigating the meanings that these women make from Cuando Seas Mia, and how these shape their changing local identities and cultures. The young women in this study, most of whom have moved to the city from the rural areas, are influenced by traditional, patriarchal Kenyan society and by the modern, Western influences of an urban environment. They experience a tension between their evolving rural and urban roles and identities and are drawn to telenovelas because their exploration of rural-urban themes holds a relevance to their own lives. They negotiate their contemporary African youth identities, gender roles and heterosexual relationships in relation to representations in the telenovela, questioning and destabilising African and Western definitions. These women select aspects from their traditional, African cultures and from their modern, Western experiences (and consumption of global media) and reconstruct them into a transitional youth identity which suits their day to day lives as young women living in an urban African environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Opportunities and challenges faced in promoting small holder farming as an element in rural economic development: the case of Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Siyabonga Makhathini
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Buffalo City (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11203 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007534 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Buffalo City (South Africa)
- Description: This study looked at the opportunities and challenges faced in promoting smallholder farming as an element in rural economic development. The main objective is to highlight the key factors affecting smallholder production; and how those factors affect smallholder farmers in rural areas of Buffalo City Municipality, and hence identify the ones likely to predict success for future use in intervention programs. The content and scope of this study is limited to the socio-economic constraints (economic activities, household assets e.g. natural assets, physical assets, financial assets etc.) faced by rural households and therefore prescribe the necessary interventions to enhance rural livelihoods. Data was collected through review of secondary sources, direct observation through field visits and interviews with households. Questionnaires were used as the main tool of inquiry to gather data from households in selected villages within Buffalo City Municipality. The collected survey data was coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 19.0. The study used Descriptive, Gini Coefficient and Binary Logistics model to analyze the collected survey data. For the descriptive model, the main pointers that were employed for this study were frequencies and mean values. The Gini Coefficient model was used to measure the contribution of different sources of income to overall inequality. The binary logistic regression model was used to uncover the correlates of the household income for different rural groups (famers and non-farmers). The results reveal that farm income has a strong association to overall household income per capita. Unearned income sources also have a substantial contribution to household income. Remittances and child grants were significant to non-farming household income per capita. Given the diminishing farm size of smallholder-led agriculture; these results suggest that a diversified household income portfolio is vital in addressing poverty in rural areas. Based on the results this study concluded that agricultural activities cannot solely enhance food security.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Siyabonga Makhathini
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Buffalo City (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11203 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007534 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Buffalo City (South Africa)
- Description: This study looked at the opportunities and challenges faced in promoting smallholder farming as an element in rural economic development. The main objective is to highlight the key factors affecting smallholder production; and how those factors affect smallholder farmers in rural areas of Buffalo City Municipality, and hence identify the ones likely to predict success for future use in intervention programs. The content and scope of this study is limited to the socio-economic constraints (economic activities, household assets e.g. natural assets, physical assets, financial assets etc.) faced by rural households and therefore prescribe the necessary interventions to enhance rural livelihoods. Data was collected through review of secondary sources, direct observation through field visits and interviews with households. Questionnaires were used as the main tool of inquiry to gather data from households in selected villages within Buffalo City Municipality. The collected survey data was coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 19.0. The study used Descriptive, Gini Coefficient and Binary Logistics model to analyze the collected survey data. For the descriptive model, the main pointers that were employed for this study were frequencies and mean values. The Gini Coefficient model was used to measure the contribution of different sources of income to overall inequality. The binary logistic regression model was used to uncover the correlates of the household income for different rural groups (famers and non-farmers). The results reveal that farm income has a strong association to overall household income per capita. Unearned income sources also have a substantial contribution to household income. Remittances and child grants were significant to non-farming household income per capita. Given the diminishing farm size of smallholder-led agriculture; these results suggest that a diversified household income portfolio is vital in addressing poverty in rural areas. Based on the results this study concluded that agricultural activities cannot solely enhance food security.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
School grounds as a place for environmental learning in the life skills learning programme
- Authors: Mambinja, Sindiswa
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa --Grahamstown Life skills -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa Education -- South Africa -- Curricula Education, Elementary -- South Africa School grounds -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Curriculum-based assessment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1757 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003642
- Description: With the intention of improving my own practice, the study investigated how school grounds could be used for environmental learning in the Foundation Phase Life Skill Learning Programme within the Revised National Curriculum Statement. The research was conducted in the Grade One class of Ntaba Maria Primary School situated in Grahamstown East. The study was an action research case study based on interpretive approach to research. It had two cycles comprised of two lesson plans. The first Lesson Plan focused on an audit of the school grounds to identify environmental issues. The second Lesson Plan was informed by the audit, and addressed one of the identified environmental issues. Data was gathered through analysis of curriculum documents, video recordings and photographs of learning interactions, journal entries and learners’ work. The study highlighted that school grounds provided a context for environmental learning within Life Orientation Learning Area especially when integrated with other learning areas. There were cases however, where assessment standards were only partly addressed. The study also revealed that the Life Orientation Learning Area was also limiting for school grounds learning opportunities in some cases. In other cases the study highlighted the open-ended nature of some of its assessment standards. The study also revealed how school grounds related activities offered opportunities and challenges for constructivist, situated and active learning. Opportunities and challenges regarding group work, language use, active engagement with information learning in authentic settings, and action and action competence; emerged as issues from the analysis. Finally, the study shed light on how reflection on learners’ work and assessment of these could help teachers modify activities and do them differently so as to enhance the achievement of skills, knowledge, attitudes and values. The achievement of investigative and problem-solving skills through the two lesson plans was critically evaluated as the processes of values education employed in the lesson implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Mambinja, Sindiswa
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa --Grahamstown Life skills -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa Education -- South Africa -- Curricula Education, Elementary -- South Africa School grounds -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Curriculum-based assessment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1757 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003642
- Description: With the intention of improving my own practice, the study investigated how school grounds could be used for environmental learning in the Foundation Phase Life Skill Learning Programme within the Revised National Curriculum Statement. The research was conducted in the Grade One class of Ntaba Maria Primary School situated in Grahamstown East. The study was an action research case study based on interpretive approach to research. It had two cycles comprised of two lesson plans. The first Lesson Plan focused on an audit of the school grounds to identify environmental issues. The second Lesson Plan was informed by the audit, and addressed one of the identified environmental issues. Data was gathered through analysis of curriculum documents, video recordings and photographs of learning interactions, journal entries and learners’ work. The study highlighted that school grounds provided a context for environmental learning within Life Orientation Learning Area especially when integrated with other learning areas. There were cases however, where assessment standards were only partly addressed. The study also revealed that the Life Orientation Learning Area was also limiting for school grounds learning opportunities in some cases. In other cases the study highlighted the open-ended nature of some of its assessment standards. The study also revealed how school grounds related activities offered opportunities and challenges for constructivist, situated and active learning. Opportunities and challenges regarding group work, language use, active engagement with information learning in authentic settings, and action and action competence; emerged as issues from the analysis. Finally, the study shed light on how reflection on learners’ work and assessment of these could help teachers modify activities and do them differently so as to enhance the achievement of skills, knowledge, attitudes and values. The achievement of investigative and problem-solving skills through the two lesson plans was critically evaluated as the processes of values education employed in the lesson implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Studies on mixed-species colonies of honeybees, Apis cerana and Apis mellifera
- Authors: Yang, Ming-Xian
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Bees Apis cerana Honeybee Honeybee -- Behavior Bee culture Honeybee -- Physiology Insect societies Animal communication Bees -- Nests
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5779 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005467
- Description: The honeybees Apis cerana and Apis mellifera are derived from the same ancestral base about two million years ago. With speciation and evolution, they have acquired many advanced living skills in common, but have also evolved very different living strategies due to different distributions. This thesis is an intensive study of the biology of the mixed-species colonies of these species, the aims of which were to investigate their behavioural relationships and uncover the evolutionary conserved features of their behaviours subsequent to speciation. The results show that the two species can form a stable society to perform normal tasks. First, workers of both species in the mixed-colonies could form the typical retinue behaviour to hetero-species queens, thus indicating that queen pheromones could be spread to and by both species. Secondly, both species did not show significantly different ovarian activation under hetero-species queens, suggesting that the queen pheromones more likely play a role of "honest signal" rather than a "repression" substance in the honeybee colonies. Thirdly, both species could mutually decode each other‘s waggle dances, with unexpectedly low misunderstanding; revealing that the dance language in a dark environment is quite adaptive for cavity-nesting honeybees. Fourthly, workers of both species could cooperate with each other in comb construction, although the combs they built contain many irregular cells. Interestingly, A. cerana workers could be stimulated by A. mellifera workers to perform this task, thus confirming self-organization theory in the colony. Fifthly, A. mellifera workers behaved more "defectively" in thermoregulation, but perhaps because A. cerana workers are more sensitive to changes in hive temperature. Given these differences in strategy, A. mellifera workers‘ performance might in fact reduce conflicts. Lastly, when faced with threats of predatory wasps, both species engaged in aggressive defence. Although they did not learn from each other‘s responses, species-specific strategies were adopted by each of them so that the defence of the mixed-colonies is very effective. I conclude that the two species can adapt to each other‘s efforts and task allocation is reasonably organized allowing mixed-species colonies to reach stability. These results suggest that all of the social behaviours discussed here were highly conserved following speciation. This thesis could provide some clues for the study of honeybee evolution from open-nesting to the transition of cavity-nesting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Yang, Ming-Xian
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Bees Apis cerana Honeybee Honeybee -- Behavior Bee culture Honeybee -- Physiology Insect societies Animal communication Bees -- Nests
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5779 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005467
- Description: The honeybees Apis cerana and Apis mellifera are derived from the same ancestral base about two million years ago. With speciation and evolution, they have acquired many advanced living skills in common, but have also evolved very different living strategies due to different distributions. This thesis is an intensive study of the biology of the mixed-species colonies of these species, the aims of which were to investigate their behavioural relationships and uncover the evolutionary conserved features of their behaviours subsequent to speciation. The results show that the two species can form a stable society to perform normal tasks. First, workers of both species in the mixed-colonies could form the typical retinue behaviour to hetero-species queens, thus indicating that queen pheromones could be spread to and by both species. Secondly, both species did not show significantly different ovarian activation under hetero-species queens, suggesting that the queen pheromones more likely play a role of "honest signal" rather than a "repression" substance in the honeybee colonies. Thirdly, both species could mutually decode each other‘s waggle dances, with unexpectedly low misunderstanding; revealing that the dance language in a dark environment is quite adaptive for cavity-nesting honeybees. Fourthly, workers of both species could cooperate with each other in comb construction, although the combs they built contain many irregular cells. Interestingly, A. cerana workers could be stimulated by A. mellifera workers to perform this task, thus confirming self-organization theory in the colony. Fifthly, A. mellifera workers behaved more "defectively" in thermoregulation, but perhaps because A. cerana workers are more sensitive to changes in hive temperature. Given these differences in strategy, A. mellifera workers‘ performance might in fact reduce conflicts. Lastly, when faced with threats of predatory wasps, both species engaged in aggressive defence. Although they did not learn from each other‘s responses, species-specific strategies were adopted by each of them so that the defence of the mixed-colonies is very effective. I conclude that the two species can adapt to each other‘s efforts and task allocation is reasonably organized allowing mixed-species colonies to reach stability. These results suggest that all of the social behaviours discussed here were highly conserved following speciation. This thesis could provide some clues for the study of honeybee evolution from open-nesting to the transition of cavity-nesting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Teacher's beliefs regarding the role of extensive reading in English language learning : a case study
- Authors: Kajinga, Gilford
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Reading Children -- Books and reading Bilingualism in children Education, Bilingual English language -- Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1793 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003678
- Description: Research suggests numerous views to account for the influence on practice of teachers’ beliefs. One view states that teachers’ lived experiences shape their beliefs about practice. Another view attributes the influence to school experiences. This research sets out to gain insight into teachers’ beliefs on the role of extensive reading in second language learning. A case study of 9 teachers from 3 schools in Grahamstown, South Africa selected purposefully and conveniently was utilised. The teachers were viewed to be knowledgeable on this matter by virtue of their profession while the 3 schools were selected to represent a private school, a former Model C and former Department of Education and Training (DET) school. Data was mainly collected by means of semi-structured interviews, which utilised in-depth open-ended questions to yield teachers’ past experiences. The findings revealed the following: all the teachers appeared to believe that extensive reading was invaluable and enhanced language skills. However, white and black teachers differed in terms of their early experiences of reading. Whereas for white teachers early experiences with literacy were encountered in the home, for black teachers the school was where they had their first exposure to literacy. In addition formal training in the form of an ACE (Advanced Certificate in Education) seemed to have influenced black teachers’ beliefs about the subject at hand, whereas the role of teacher education/ training was not as significant for white teachers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Kajinga, Gilford
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Reading Children -- Books and reading Bilingualism in children Education, Bilingual English language -- Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1793 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003678
- Description: Research suggests numerous views to account for the influence on practice of teachers’ beliefs. One view states that teachers’ lived experiences shape their beliefs about practice. Another view attributes the influence to school experiences. This research sets out to gain insight into teachers’ beliefs on the role of extensive reading in second language learning. A case study of 9 teachers from 3 schools in Grahamstown, South Africa selected purposefully and conveniently was utilised. The teachers were viewed to be knowledgeable on this matter by virtue of their profession while the 3 schools were selected to represent a private school, a former Model C and former Department of Education and Training (DET) school. Data was mainly collected by means of semi-structured interviews, which utilised in-depth open-ended questions to yield teachers’ past experiences. The findings revealed the following: all the teachers appeared to believe that extensive reading was invaluable and enhanced language skills. However, white and black teachers differed in terms of their early experiences of reading. Whereas for white teachers early experiences with literacy were encountered in the home, for black teachers the school was where they had their first exposure to literacy. In addition formal training in the form of an ACE (Advanced Certificate in Education) seemed to have influenced black teachers’ beliefs about the subject at hand, whereas the role of teacher education/ training was not as significant for white teachers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The development and evaluation of a Nd:YAG laser incorporating an unstable resonator
- Authors: De Kock, Trevor Neil
- Date: 1986
- Subjects: Nd-YAG lasers , Lasers -- Resonators , Laser beams
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5512 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008566 , Nd-YAG lasers , Lasers -- Resonators , Laser beams
- Description: Introduction: For approximately the last eight years the Laser Section of the National Physical Research Laboratory (NPRL) has been interested in inter alia, pulsed solid-state lasers and in particular, Nd:YAG. Investigations of various resonator types were undertaken with a view to the improvement of the laser parameters such as output energy, pulse width, beam quality and sensitivity to mirror misalignment. In 1980 a Nd: YAG laser employing a rotating prism Q-switch was constructed (Preussler (1980)). It involves rotating one of the two cavity reflectors so that they are parallel for only a brief instant in time. Typically the prism must rotate at a speed of 20 000 r.p.m. to ensure a single pulse output. Such lasers suffer from the tendency to emit multiple pulses, they are very noisy and they require frequent maintenance because of the short lifetime of the bearings. A resonator employing conventional curved mirrors and an electro-optical Q-switch was constructed in 1980 (Robertson & Preussler (1982)). In 1981 an electro-optically Q-swi tched laser making use of a crossed Porro-prism resonator was investigated due to its relative insensitivity to misalignment of the reflectors compared with the conventional mirror resonator (Nortier (1981)). Improvements in terms of output power, beam divergence and beam quality can be achieved by making use of a so-called unstable resonator. Such a laser has been investigated and is reported on in this study. Chapter 2 provides some background into laser theory and operation while chapter 3 deals with the theory of the unstable resonator. Chapter 4 provides details of the experimental equipment and techniques used in the work and chapter 5 discusses the evaluation of the project and results obtained.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1986
- Authors: De Kock, Trevor Neil
- Date: 1986
- Subjects: Nd-YAG lasers , Lasers -- Resonators , Laser beams
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5512 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008566 , Nd-YAG lasers , Lasers -- Resonators , Laser beams
- Description: Introduction: For approximately the last eight years the Laser Section of the National Physical Research Laboratory (NPRL) has been interested in inter alia, pulsed solid-state lasers and in particular, Nd:YAG. Investigations of various resonator types were undertaken with a view to the improvement of the laser parameters such as output energy, pulse width, beam quality and sensitivity to mirror misalignment. In 1980 a Nd: YAG laser employing a rotating prism Q-switch was constructed (Preussler (1980)). It involves rotating one of the two cavity reflectors so that they are parallel for only a brief instant in time. Typically the prism must rotate at a speed of 20 000 r.p.m. to ensure a single pulse output. Such lasers suffer from the tendency to emit multiple pulses, they are very noisy and they require frequent maintenance because of the short lifetime of the bearings. A resonator employing conventional curved mirrors and an electro-optical Q-switch was constructed in 1980 (Robertson & Preussler (1982)). In 1981 an electro-optically Q-swi tched laser making use of a crossed Porro-prism resonator was investigated due to its relative insensitivity to misalignment of the reflectors compared with the conventional mirror resonator (Nortier (1981)). Improvements in terms of output power, beam divergence and beam quality can be achieved by making use of a so-called unstable resonator. Such a laser has been investigated and is reported on in this study. Chapter 2 provides some background into laser theory and operation while chapter 3 deals with the theory of the unstable resonator. Chapter 4 provides details of the experimental equipment and techniques used in the work and chapter 5 discusses the evaluation of the project and results obtained.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1986
The development of an in-service training programme for mathematics teachers on the development and use of resource materials in black schools at the standard six-seven level
- Authors: Jiya, M A Yaliwe
- Date: 1984
- Subjects: Mathematics teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa Black people -- Education -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1875 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005634
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1984
- Authors: Jiya, M A Yaliwe
- Date: 1984
- Subjects: Mathematics teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa Black people -- Education -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1875 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005634
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1984
The development of native policy in the Transkei and in Glen Gray between 1870 and 1900
- Authors: Griffiths, M S
- Date: 1939
- Subjects: Transkei (South Africa) -- History , Black people -- South Africa -- Legal status, Laws, etc. -- South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2607 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012098 , Transkei (South Africa) -- History , Black people -- South Africa -- Legal status, Laws, etc. -- South Africa -- History
- Description: The Transkeian Territories extend over a stretch of 17000 square miles between the north eastern border of the Cape Colony and the southern border of Natal. In 1870 this was an exclusively Native area ; inhabited by some half million natives tribally organised under independent chiefs and grouped into racial entities according to origln; customs, and language dialects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1939
- Authors: Griffiths, M S
- Date: 1939
- Subjects: Transkei (South Africa) -- History , Black people -- South Africa -- Legal status, Laws, etc. -- South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2607 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012098 , Transkei (South Africa) -- History , Black people -- South Africa -- Legal status, Laws, etc. -- South Africa -- History
- Description: The Transkeian Territories extend over a stretch of 17000 square miles between the north eastern border of the Cape Colony and the southern border of Natal. In 1870 this was an exclusively Native area ; inhabited by some half million natives tribally organised under independent chiefs and grouped into racial entities according to origln; customs, and language dialects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1939
The Hamilton-Jacobi theory in general relativity theory and certain Petrov type D metrics
- Authors: Matravers, David Richard
- Date: 1973
- Subjects: Hamilton-Jacobi equations , General relativity (Physics) , Generalized spaces
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5422 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007551 , Hamilton-Jacobi equations , General relativity (Physics) , Generalized spaces
- Description: Introduction: The discovery of new solutions to Einstein's field equations has long been a problem in General Relativity. However due to new techniques of Newman and Penrose [1], Carter [2] and others there has been a considerable proliferation of new solutions in recent times. Consequently a new problem has arisen. How are we to interpret the new solutions physically? The tools available, despite a spate of papers in the past fifteen years, remain inadequate although often sophisticated. Any attempts at physical interpretations of metrics are beset with difficulties. There is always the possibility that two entirely different physical pictures will emerge. For example a direct approach would be to attempt an "infilling" of the metric, that is, an extension of the metric into the region occupied by the gravitating matter. However even for the Kerr [1] metric the infilling is by no means unique, in fact a most natural "infilling" turns out to be unphysical (Israel [1]). Yet few people would doubt the physical significance of the Kerr metric. Viewed in this light our attempt to discuss, among other things, the physical interpretation of type D metrics is slightly ambitious. However the problems with regard to this type of metric are not as formidable as for most of the other metrics, since we have been able to integrate the geodesic equations. Nevertheless it is still not possible to produce complete answers to all the questions posed. After a chapter on Mathematical preliminaries the study divides naturally into four sections. We start with an outline of the Hamilton-Jacobi theory of Rund [1] and then go on to show how this theory can be applied to the Carter [2] metrics. In the process we lay a foundation in the calculus of variations for Carter's work. This leads us to the construction of Killing tensors for all but one of the Kinnersley [1] type D vacuum metrics and the Cartei [2] metrics which are not necessarily vacuum metrics. The geodesic equations, for these metrics, are integrated using the Hamilton-Jacobi procedure. The remaining chapters are devoted to the Kinnersley [1] type D vacuum metrics. We omit his class I metrics since these are the Schwarzschild metrics, and have been studied in detail before. Chapter three is devoted to a general study of his class II a metric, a generalisation of the Kerr [1] and NUT (Newman, Tamburino and Unti [1]) metrics. We integrate the geodesic equations and discuss certain general properties: the question of geodesic completeness, the asymptotic properties, and the existence of Killing horizons. Chapter four is concerned with the interpretation of the new parameter 'l', that arises in the class II a and NUT metrics. This parameter was interpreted by Demianski and Newman [1] as a magnetic monopole of mass. Our work centers on the possibility of obtaining observable effects from the presence of 'l'. We have been able to show that its presence is observable, at least in principle, from a study of the motion of particles in the field. In the first place, if l is comparable to the mass of the gravitating system, a comparatively large perihelion shift is to be expected. The possibility of anomalous behaviour in the orbits of test particles, quite unlike anything that occurs in a Newtonian or Schwarzschild field, also arises. In the fifth chapter the Kinnersley class IV metrics are considered. These metrics, which in their simplest form have been known for some time, present serious problems and no interpretations have been suggested. Our discussion is essentially exploratory and the information that does emerge takes the form of suggestions rather than conclusions. Intrinsically the metrics give the impression that interesting results should be obtainable since they are asymptotically flat in certain directions. However the case that we have dealt with does not appear to represent a radiation metric.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1973
- Authors: Matravers, David Richard
- Date: 1973
- Subjects: Hamilton-Jacobi equations , General relativity (Physics) , Generalized spaces
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5422 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007551 , Hamilton-Jacobi equations , General relativity (Physics) , Generalized spaces
- Description: Introduction: The discovery of new solutions to Einstein's field equations has long been a problem in General Relativity. However due to new techniques of Newman and Penrose [1], Carter [2] and others there has been a considerable proliferation of new solutions in recent times. Consequently a new problem has arisen. How are we to interpret the new solutions physically? The tools available, despite a spate of papers in the past fifteen years, remain inadequate although often sophisticated. Any attempts at physical interpretations of metrics are beset with difficulties. There is always the possibility that two entirely different physical pictures will emerge. For example a direct approach would be to attempt an "infilling" of the metric, that is, an extension of the metric into the region occupied by the gravitating matter. However even for the Kerr [1] metric the infilling is by no means unique, in fact a most natural "infilling" turns out to be unphysical (Israel [1]). Yet few people would doubt the physical significance of the Kerr metric. Viewed in this light our attempt to discuss, among other things, the physical interpretation of type D metrics is slightly ambitious. However the problems with regard to this type of metric are not as formidable as for most of the other metrics, since we have been able to integrate the geodesic equations. Nevertheless it is still not possible to produce complete answers to all the questions posed. After a chapter on Mathematical preliminaries the study divides naturally into four sections. We start with an outline of the Hamilton-Jacobi theory of Rund [1] and then go on to show how this theory can be applied to the Carter [2] metrics. In the process we lay a foundation in the calculus of variations for Carter's work. This leads us to the construction of Killing tensors for all but one of the Kinnersley [1] type D vacuum metrics and the Cartei [2] metrics which are not necessarily vacuum metrics. The geodesic equations, for these metrics, are integrated using the Hamilton-Jacobi procedure. The remaining chapters are devoted to the Kinnersley [1] type D vacuum metrics. We omit his class I metrics since these are the Schwarzschild metrics, and have been studied in detail before. Chapter three is devoted to a general study of his class II a metric, a generalisation of the Kerr [1] and NUT (Newman, Tamburino and Unti [1]) metrics. We integrate the geodesic equations and discuss certain general properties: the question of geodesic completeness, the asymptotic properties, and the existence of Killing horizons. Chapter four is concerned with the interpretation of the new parameter 'l', that arises in the class II a and NUT metrics. This parameter was interpreted by Demianski and Newman [1] as a magnetic monopole of mass. Our work centers on the possibility of obtaining observable effects from the presence of 'l'. We have been able to show that its presence is observable, at least in principle, from a study of the motion of particles in the field. In the first place, if l is comparable to the mass of the gravitating system, a comparatively large perihelion shift is to be expected. The possibility of anomalous behaviour in the orbits of test particles, quite unlike anything that occurs in a Newtonian or Schwarzschild field, also arises. In the fifth chapter the Kinnersley class IV metrics are considered. These metrics, which in their simplest form have been known for some time, present serious problems and no interpretations have been suggested. Our discussion is essentially exploratory and the information that does emerge takes the form of suggestions rather than conclusions. Intrinsically the metrics give the impression that interesting results should be obtainable since they are asymptotically flat in certain directions. However the case that we have dealt with does not appear to represent a radiation metric.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1973
The moderating role of occupational self-efficacy and organisational justice in the relationship between perceived job insecurity and counterproductive work behaviour among bank employees in Nigeria
- Authors: Oluwole, Olugbenga Joseph
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Job security Self-efficacy Bank employees
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12665 , vital:39297
- Description: The unstable global economy and the drive by every organisation to remain in business and be competitive has led to many organisational downsizing, which in turn poses concerns towards identifying behaviours of the survivors’. These behaviours constitute the components of employees’ job performance which include task performance, organisational citizenship behaviour and counterproductive work behaviour (CWB). One of the major behavioural concerns facing organisations globally, in particular in Nigeria, is CWB, which previous studies identified as an attitudinal reaction of perceived job insecurity. Very few empirical studies in Nigeria have attempted to examine the relationship as well as the variables that can moderate the negative effect of job insecurity-CWB. This study, therefore, explores the moderating effects of occupational self-efficacy (OSE) and organisational justice on the job insecurity–CWB relationship among bank employees in Nigeria. Four theories provided the framework for the study, while a descriptive research design which utilized a cross-sectional survey was used. The multi-stage sampling procedure and purposive technique were employed to select the two participating banking organisations from the 22 licensed commercial banks in Nigeria. Using the convenience sampling technique, a total of 380 Nigerian bank employees who gave their personal consent participated through a structured questionnaire. The reliability coefficient of all the instruments are as follows: counterproductive work behaviour (α = .92), perceived job insecurity (α = .65), occupational self-efficacy (α = .82), organisational justice (α = .93) were used for data collection. The sample was taken from branches of the two selected banking organisations that cut across Lagos State, Nigeria, a cosmopolitan and Nigeria business hub. Six hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics, zero-order correlation and hierarchical multiple regression at 0.05 level of significance. A significant positive relationship existed between: job insecurity and CWB (r = .14); job insecurity and sabotage (r = .23), job insecurity and withdrawal (r = .14) and job insecurity and abuse (r = .20) of sub-dimensions of CWB. Also, a significant relationship existed between OSE and CWB (r = .12); OSE and withdrawal (r = .27) and OSE and abuse (r = .12) of the sub-dimensions of CWB. And lastly, a significant positive relationship existed between organisational justice and CWB (r = .11); distributive justice and CWB (r = .13), procedural justice and CWB (r = .17); organisational justice and withdrawal (r = .35), and a negative relationship between organisational justice and production deviance (r = -.12) of the sub-dimensions of CWB. Also, a significant positive relationship existed on distributive justice and withdrawal behaviour (r = .22) and distributive justice and abuse (r = .12); procedural justice and sabotage (r = .17); procedural justice and withdrawal (r = .44); Interactional justice and withdrawal (r = .29) and a significant negative relationship existed on interactional justice and sabotage. Furthermore, there were significant moderator effects of OSE on job insecurity- CWB relationship (β = .11, p<.05); significant moderator effects of OSE on job insecurity-abuse behaviour (β = .13, p<.05) of sub-dimension of CWB. Also, there was significant moderator effects of organisational justice in job insecurity-CWB relationship (β = -.10, p<.05), interaction effect of procedural justice in job insecurity-withdrawal behaviour relationship (β = .24, p<.01) and interaction effect of interactional justice in job insecurity-abuse behaviour relationship (β = -.39, p<.001). And lastly, there was no significant joint moderator effects of OSE and organisational justice in job insecurity and CWB relationship (β = .00, ns), while there was significant moderator effect of joint OSE and organisational justice on job insecurity – sabotage relationshi0p (β = .17, p<.01) and job insecurity – withdrawal behaviour (β = .14, p<.01) The findings of this study pointed to the significance of employees’ cognitive sense as important and stable resources which organisational practitioners need to take into consideration during organisational change approach. Also, the banking organisation must clearly state the procedure and implementations of downsizing policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Oluwole, Olugbenga Joseph
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Job security Self-efficacy Bank employees
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12665 , vital:39297
- Description: The unstable global economy and the drive by every organisation to remain in business and be competitive has led to many organisational downsizing, which in turn poses concerns towards identifying behaviours of the survivors’. These behaviours constitute the components of employees’ job performance which include task performance, organisational citizenship behaviour and counterproductive work behaviour (CWB). One of the major behavioural concerns facing organisations globally, in particular in Nigeria, is CWB, which previous studies identified as an attitudinal reaction of perceived job insecurity. Very few empirical studies in Nigeria have attempted to examine the relationship as well as the variables that can moderate the negative effect of job insecurity-CWB. This study, therefore, explores the moderating effects of occupational self-efficacy (OSE) and organisational justice on the job insecurity–CWB relationship among bank employees in Nigeria. Four theories provided the framework for the study, while a descriptive research design which utilized a cross-sectional survey was used. The multi-stage sampling procedure and purposive technique were employed to select the two participating banking organisations from the 22 licensed commercial banks in Nigeria. Using the convenience sampling technique, a total of 380 Nigerian bank employees who gave their personal consent participated through a structured questionnaire. The reliability coefficient of all the instruments are as follows: counterproductive work behaviour (α = .92), perceived job insecurity (α = .65), occupational self-efficacy (α = .82), organisational justice (α = .93) were used for data collection. The sample was taken from branches of the two selected banking organisations that cut across Lagos State, Nigeria, a cosmopolitan and Nigeria business hub. Six hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics, zero-order correlation and hierarchical multiple regression at 0.05 level of significance. A significant positive relationship existed between: job insecurity and CWB (r = .14); job insecurity and sabotage (r = .23), job insecurity and withdrawal (r = .14) and job insecurity and abuse (r = .20) of sub-dimensions of CWB. Also, a significant relationship existed between OSE and CWB (r = .12); OSE and withdrawal (r = .27) and OSE and abuse (r = .12) of the sub-dimensions of CWB. And lastly, a significant positive relationship existed between organisational justice and CWB (r = .11); distributive justice and CWB (r = .13), procedural justice and CWB (r = .17); organisational justice and withdrawal (r = .35), and a negative relationship between organisational justice and production deviance (r = -.12) of the sub-dimensions of CWB. Also, a significant positive relationship existed on distributive justice and withdrawal behaviour (r = .22) and distributive justice and abuse (r = .12); procedural justice and sabotage (r = .17); procedural justice and withdrawal (r = .44); Interactional justice and withdrawal (r = .29) and a significant negative relationship existed on interactional justice and sabotage. Furthermore, there were significant moderator effects of OSE on job insecurity- CWB relationship (β = .11, p<.05); significant moderator effects of OSE on job insecurity-abuse behaviour (β = .13, p<.05) of sub-dimension of CWB. Also, there was significant moderator effects of organisational justice in job insecurity-CWB relationship (β = -.10, p<.05), interaction effect of procedural justice in job insecurity-withdrawal behaviour relationship (β = .24, p<.01) and interaction effect of interactional justice in job insecurity-abuse behaviour relationship (β = -.39, p<.001). And lastly, there was no significant joint moderator effects of OSE and organisational justice in job insecurity and CWB relationship (β = .00, ns), while there was significant moderator effect of joint OSE and organisational justice on job insecurity – sabotage relationshi0p (β = .17, p<.01) and job insecurity – withdrawal behaviour (β = .14, p<.01) The findings of this study pointed to the significance of employees’ cognitive sense as important and stable resources which organisational practitioners need to take into consideration during organisational change approach. Also, the banking organisation must clearly state the procedure and implementations of downsizing policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The perceptions that mentors and in-service teachers in the basic education teacher diploma have of the nature and role of the mentoring system
- Authors: Mostert, Johan André
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia Teaching -- Namibia Curriculum planning -- Namibia Educational change -- Namibia Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia Teachers -- In-service training -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1695 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003578
- Description: This contextual analysis is concerned with the study of the Basic Education Teacher's Diploma In-service Curriculum. It is based on the following assumptions: firstly, that the BETD (Inset and Preset) represents the Namibian Educational Reform in the realm of Teacher Education. Secondly, it is assumed that the BETD as a vehicle for reform in Teacher Education should yield teachers who are capable of change and development. Based on the above-mentioned assumptions, this analysis examines this Teacher Education course/programme against some criteria pertinent to its philosophy. A critical analysis of its curriculum in terms of some core subjects, as well as its practical implementation, will form the basis of this scrutiny. Secondary to the above, this analysis also intends to reflect this sociohistoric and economic context in which the BETD has been designed. An underlying motive in this analysis is to study the dynamics between the philosophy, which represents the heart and intention of the Namibian educational reform on the one hand and implementation which in turn delivers the end product or final outcome of the course on the other hand. This analysis should also fit into the current debate between conservatives who claim that the BETD lacks content and is therefore inferior, and those who claim that the course adequately prepares teachers for the needs of Basic Education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Mostert, Johan André
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia Teaching -- Namibia Curriculum planning -- Namibia Educational change -- Namibia Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia Teachers -- In-service training -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1695 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003578
- Description: This contextual analysis is concerned with the study of the Basic Education Teacher's Diploma In-service Curriculum. It is based on the following assumptions: firstly, that the BETD (Inset and Preset) represents the Namibian Educational Reform in the realm of Teacher Education. Secondly, it is assumed that the BETD as a vehicle for reform in Teacher Education should yield teachers who are capable of change and development. Based on the above-mentioned assumptions, this analysis examines this Teacher Education course/programme against some criteria pertinent to its philosophy. A critical analysis of its curriculum in terms of some core subjects, as well as its practical implementation, will form the basis of this scrutiny. Secondary to the above, this analysis also intends to reflect this sociohistoric and economic context in which the BETD has been designed. An underlying motive in this analysis is to study the dynamics between the philosophy, which represents the heart and intention of the Namibian educational reform on the one hand and implementation which in turn delivers the end product or final outcome of the course on the other hand. This analysis should also fit into the current debate between conservatives who claim that the BETD lacks content and is therefore inferior, and those who claim that the course adequately prepares teachers for the needs of Basic Education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
The polysaccharides of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. and Opuntia aurantiaca Lindl.
- Authors: McGarvie, Donald
- Date: 1977
- Subjects: Polysaccharides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4438 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007597
- Description: The partially acetylated acidic mucilage isolated from the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica consists of a highly branched molecule containing D-galactose, L-arabinose, D-xylose, D-galacturonic acid and L-rhamnose in the ratio 2.9:6.6:3.8:1.3 : 1.0. A partial hydrolysis study led to the isolation of fourteen oligosaccharides and a degraded polysaccharide. Periodate oxidation of the degraded polysaccharide and methylation analysis of the degraded and reduced degraded polysaccharides led to the proposal of a structure for the degraded polysaccharide consisting of a chain of alternating α-l,4-D-galactopyranosyluronic acid and β-1,2-Lrhamnopyranosyl units with branches consisting of short chains of β-1,6-D-galactopyranosyl units Iinked to C-3 of the rhamnose residues. An insight into the nature of the peripheral side-chains was obtained by methylation studies of the oligosaccharides and the native polysaccharide. The majority of the side-chains are terminated by D-xylopyranosyl and L-arabinofuranosyl units while there is a small proportion of D-galactopyranosyl end-groups. The remaining units of the peripheral chains consists of mainly 1,3- and 1,5-1 inked L-arabinofuranosyl units. The acidic polysaccharide isolated from the jointed cactus Opuntia aurantiaca contains D-galactose, L-arabinose, D-xylose, D-galacturonic acid and L-rhamnose in the ratio 5.9:5 .5:3.4: 1. 2:1.0 . A partial hydrolysis study revealed a similar series of galactose containing oligosaccharides as was identified from the mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica. The degraded polysaccharide isolated from the partial hydrolysate was methylated and a possible structure proposed for the repeating unit. Methylation studies of the native polysaccharide indicated a polysaccharide with a more complex structure than that for the mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1977
- Authors: McGarvie, Donald
- Date: 1977
- Subjects: Polysaccharides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4438 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007597
- Description: The partially acetylated acidic mucilage isolated from the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica consists of a highly branched molecule containing D-galactose, L-arabinose, D-xylose, D-galacturonic acid and L-rhamnose in the ratio 2.9:6.6:3.8:1.3 : 1.0. A partial hydrolysis study led to the isolation of fourteen oligosaccharides and a degraded polysaccharide. Periodate oxidation of the degraded polysaccharide and methylation analysis of the degraded and reduced degraded polysaccharides led to the proposal of a structure for the degraded polysaccharide consisting of a chain of alternating α-l,4-D-galactopyranosyluronic acid and β-1,2-Lrhamnopyranosyl units with branches consisting of short chains of β-1,6-D-galactopyranosyl units Iinked to C-3 of the rhamnose residues. An insight into the nature of the peripheral side-chains was obtained by methylation studies of the oligosaccharides and the native polysaccharide. The majority of the side-chains are terminated by D-xylopyranosyl and L-arabinofuranosyl units while there is a small proportion of D-galactopyranosyl end-groups. The remaining units of the peripheral chains consists of mainly 1,3- and 1,5-1 inked L-arabinofuranosyl units. The acidic polysaccharide isolated from the jointed cactus Opuntia aurantiaca contains D-galactose, L-arabinose, D-xylose, D-galacturonic acid and L-rhamnose in the ratio 5.9:5 .5:3.4: 1. 2:1.0 . A partial hydrolysis study revealed a similar series of galactose containing oligosaccharides as was identified from the mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica. The degraded polysaccharide isolated from the partial hydrolysate was methylated and a possible structure proposed for the repeating unit. Methylation studies of the native polysaccharide indicated a polysaccharide with a more complex structure than that for the mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1977
Views from the inside: An appraisal of the effectiveness of international NGOs as agents of development through a case study of Concern Universal’s Local Development Support Programme in Dedza District, Malawi
- Authors: Mussa, Khadija Sungeni
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1499 , vital:20063
- Description: Malawi, which became independent in 1964, attracted Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from the early 1980s. Initially, NGO involvement was a response to the influx of refugees from neighbouring war-torn Mozambique. Since then, NGOs have been active in the development sector. Malawi, a small country, has widespread poverty, and has recently been in international headlines as a victim of floods, drought and food shortages. Economically unstable, with environmental problems, Malawi is in need of development assistance. NGOs have been centrally positioned in such efforts, but the academic literature on their role has been limited. NGO interventions in development efforts, generally, have been subject to controversy. While some argue that NGOs provide an essential means of development, especially where state capacity is limited, others argue that, with most NGOs headquartered or funded from abroad, their strategies and practices are often more accountable to external pressures than local needs. This thesis intervenes in these debates with a case study: with the aim of examining the sustainability, appropriateness, accountability and effectiveness of NGO projects, it looks at a project by the international NGO (INGO), Concern Universal (CU), which works in the central region in Dedza, Malawi. It examines the project, using fieldwork in three villages, looking at issues such as its use of participatory methods, relations with local government and village structures, capacity building methods, and donor relations. The thesis argues that (I)NGOs like CU exist in a conflicted situation: they have to remain in the good books of their donors, while, at the same time, maintaining accountability to their beneficiaries; they depend on their ability to manoeuvre through the conflict in order to ensure their continuity, and so, their impact is shaped by competing imperatives. CU has made a real impact on poverty alleviation efforts, but its methods and approaches are shaped by said competing imperatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mussa, Khadija Sungeni
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1499 , vital:20063
- Description: Malawi, which became independent in 1964, attracted Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from the early 1980s. Initially, NGO involvement was a response to the influx of refugees from neighbouring war-torn Mozambique. Since then, NGOs have been active in the development sector. Malawi, a small country, has widespread poverty, and has recently been in international headlines as a victim of floods, drought and food shortages. Economically unstable, with environmental problems, Malawi is in need of development assistance. NGOs have been centrally positioned in such efforts, but the academic literature on their role has been limited. NGO interventions in development efforts, generally, have been subject to controversy. While some argue that NGOs provide an essential means of development, especially where state capacity is limited, others argue that, with most NGOs headquartered or funded from abroad, their strategies and practices are often more accountable to external pressures than local needs. This thesis intervenes in these debates with a case study: with the aim of examining the sustainability, appropriateness, accountability and effectiveness of NGO projects, it looks at a project by the international NGO (INGO), Concern Universal (CU), which works in the central region in Dedza, Malawi. It examines the project, using fieldwork in three villages, looking at issues such as its use of participatory methods, relations with local government and village structures, capacity building methods, and donor relations. The thesis argues that (I)NGOs like CU exist in a conflicted situation: they have to remain in the good books of their donors, while, at the same time, maintaining accountability to their beneficiaries; they depend on their ability to manoeuvre through the conflict in order to ensure their continuity, and so, their impact is shaped by competing imperatives. CU has made a real impact on poverty alleviation efforts, but its methods and approaches are shaped by said competing imperatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
“The Hellenistic ruler cult and Ptolemy I’s quest for legitimacy”
- Authors: Ntuli, Sihle
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6097 , vital:21031
- Description: Alexander III died suddenly in Babylon in 323 BC. With Philip III Arrhidaeus in a mentally deficient state and Alexander IV not being of age, Alexander died without a suitable heir. The task of succeeding one of the most storied legacies in the ancient world was left to the generals of Alexander III. On his deathbed, Alexander was asked who should lead the Macedonians, of which he allegedly replied “the strongest”. Thus began the process of selecting the individual who would succeed Alexander the Great, which ended up becoming a contentious task due to Macedonian succession customs. Subsequently the ‘Successors’ quarrelled over who should succeed Alexander as the true successor. The wars of the Successors are founded on an issue of legitimacy that qualifies the notion of the strongest. Being deemed the true successor of Alexander the Great meant the opportunity to continue a period of Macedonian dominance following the reigns of Philip II and Alexander III. Alexander III is hailed as one of the most extraordinary individuals of the ancient world with his imperial campaigns being widely documented, political stability being pinpointed as one of the Macedonian strong points during the period of their dominance. The ruler cult is a point of reference for the explaining the relative political stability throughout the reign of Alexander the Great. The ruler cult can be understood as a sociopolitical construct that hybridized the notion of the ruler with that of a religious leader. The oriental influence of Alexander’s campaigns in Asia would inform the customs and practices of the divine ruler. The Macedonians’ ability to establish a presence in foreign territories made such a social construct a necessity in the task of centralizing of minds for political stability. Alexander’s rendition of the cult informed the formalized Ptolemaic ruler cult. The similarities and differences of the renditions help us to understand this political tool that Ptolemy I required in order to be deemed the true successor of Alexander the Great. The following will be an investigation into whether Ptolemy I is able to attain legitimacy, firstly as a successor to Alexander the Great, secondly as Pharaoh of Egypt.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ntuli, Sihle
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6097 , vital:21031
- Description: Alexander III died suddenly in Babylon in 323 BC. With Philip III Arrhidaeus in a mentally deficient state and Alexander IV not being of age, Alexander died without a suitable heir. The task of succeeding one of the most storied legacies in the ancient world was left to the generals of Alexander III. On his deathbed, Alexander was asked who should lead the Macedonians, of which he allegedly replied “the strongest”. Thus began the process of selecting the individual who would succeed Alexander the Great, which ended up becoming a contentious task due to Macedonian succession customs. Subsequently the ‘Successors’ quarrelled over who should succeed Alexander as the true successor. The wars of the Successors are founded on an issue of legitimacy that qualifies the notion of the strongest. Being deemed the true successor of Alexander the Great meant the opportunity to continue a period of Macedonian dominance following the reigns of Philip II and Alexander III. Alexander III is hailed as one of the most extraordinary individuals of the ancient world with his imperial campaigns being widely documented, political stability being pinpointed as one of the Macedonian strong points during the period of their dominance. The ruler cult is a point of reference for the explaining the relative political stability throughout the reign of Alexander the Great. The ruler cult can be understood as a sociopolitical construct that hybridized the notion of the ruler with that of a religious leader. The oriental influence of Alexander’s campaigns in Asia would inform the customs and practices of the divine ruler. The Macedonians’ ability to establish a presence in foreign territories made such a social construct a necessity in the task of centralizing of minds for political stability. Alexander’s rendition of the cult informed the formalized Ptolemaic ruler cult. The similarities and differences of the renditions help us to understand this political tool that Ptolemy I required in order to be deemed the true successor of Alexander the Great. The following will be an investigation into whether Ptolemy I is able to attain legitimacy, firstly as a successor to Alexander the Great, secondly as Pharaoh of Egypt.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017