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Press cutting: 'King Kong' is most exciting show seen in years

Programme of the centenary celebrations in commemoration of the arrival of the 1820 British settlers of Albany, to be held at Port Elizabeth on April 9th and at Grahamstown on April 11th 1921

But is it publishable? Mastering the MMed message

  • Authors: A G Parrish , E S Grossman,
  • Date: 202
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/3353 , vital:43318 , http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/13033
  • Description: The research requirement for South African specialist registration offers opportunities and challenges. For some clinicians it may spark a lifelong interest in clinical investigation, while for many others it may provide a potential publication opportunity. Integrating the specific requirements of an MMed mini-dissertation with those of standard medical publications can be difficult for first-time authors and their supervisors; published guidance caters to full-length laboratory Master’s or doctoral research. We suggest that research is more likely to be publishable if it is locally relevant, has a clear clinical message and is coherently presented.
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  • Date Issued: 202

Essential medicine selection during the COVID-19 pandemic: Enabling access in uncharted territory

  • Authors: A G Parrish
  • Date: 2020
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/3364 , vital:43319 , http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/13086
  • Description: The COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent decisions regarding treatment policy in the face of rapidly evolving evidence. In response, the South African Essential Medicines List Committee established a subcommittee to systematically review and appraise emerging evidence, within very short timelines, in order to inform the National Department of Health COVID-19 treatment guidelines. To date, the subcommittee has reviewed 14 potential treatments, and made recommendations based on local context, feasibility, resource requirements and equity. Here we describe the rapid review and evidence-to-decision process, using remdesivir and dexamethasone as examples. Our experience is that conducting rapid reviews is a practical and efficient way to address medicine policy questions under pandemic conditions.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Effects of an eight-week lumbar stabilization exercise programme on selected variables of patients with chronic low back pain:

  • Authors: Abass, Ademola O , Alli, Abiola R , Olagbegi, Oladapo M , Christie, Candice J , Bolarinde, Olufemi S
  • Date: 2020
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/150307 , vital:38966 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v19i3.45864
  • Description: Lumbar stabilisation exercise has been shown to reduce pain and disability in patients with low back pain but information on its potential benefits in term of back muscle endurance is scarce. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of augmenting conventional physiotherapy with lumbar stabilization exercises on selected variables of patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP).
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Morphological and genetic characterization of a South African Plutella xylostella granulovirus (plxy GV) isolate

  • Authors: Abdulkadir, Fatima , Marsberg, Tamryn , Knox, Caroline M , Hill, Martin P , Moore, Sean D
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406117 , vital:70240 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC132828"
  • Description: Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), also known as diamondback moth, is a destructive insect pest of cruciferous crops (Talekar and Shelton 1993; Shelton 2004). The pest occurs wherever its host plants are cultivated and the global annual cost of damage and control is estimated to be US$4-5 billion (Zalucki et al. 2012). The extensive use of synthetic pesticides for control combined with the high fecundity of P. xylostella has resulted in the pest developing resistance to nearly all classes of insecticides (Grzywacz et al. 2009). Moreover, these chemicals have negative environmental implications and may affect non-target species, some of which are natural enemies of the pest.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Genetic and biological characterisation of a novel Plutella xylostella granulovirus, PlxyGV-SA

  • Authors: Abdulkadir, Fatima , Knox, Caroline M , Marsberg, Tamryn , Hill, Martin P , Moore, Sean D
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417971 , vital:71498 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-015-9666-3"
  • Description: Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PlxyGV) has been isolated from insect populations in many countries and is considered a potential biopesticide for sustainable control of P. xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Several PlxyGV isolates have been genetically characterised, and the full genome sequence of PlxyGV-Japan is available for comparison with novel isolates. A South African PlxyGV was recently recovered from an overcrowded laboratory P. xylostella colony and identified as a genetically distinct isolate by sequencing of the granulin gene and restriction endonuclease (REN) analysis of genomic DNA. In this report, PlxyGV-SA was further characterised by PCR amplification and sequencing of egt, lef-8 and lef-9 genes, and several amino acid substitutions were observed. The PstI REN profile of PlxyGV-SA was different from that of PlxyGV-Japan in terms of band size and number, thereby confirming its novel genetic identity. Surface dose bioassays showed that PlxyGV-SA is pathogenic to neonate but not late instar larvae at the same and higher virus doses, indicating that a biopesticide should be targeted at early larval stages in the field.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Pyridone substituted phthalocyanines: Photophysico-chemical properties and TD-DFT calculations

  • Authors: Abdurrahmanoğlu, Şaziye , Canlica, Mevlüde , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188216 , vital:44735 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424617500730"
  • Description: 4-(6-methyl-3-nitro-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridin-4-yloxy)phthalonitrile has been used to prepare a novel Zn(II) phthalocyanines with four peripheral pyridone substituents. The compound has been characterized by UV-visible absorption, FT-IR and 11H-NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. The fluorescence, triplet quantum and singlet oxygen quantum yields have been determined and TD-DFT calculations have been used to identify trends in the electronic structure.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Conjuring our beings: Stacey Gillian Abe and Immy Mali in conversational partnership

  • Authors: Abe, Stacey Gillian , Mali, Immy
  • Date: 2019
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145963 , vital:38482 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1162/afar_a_00457
  • Description: The series of Conversational Partnerships began in 2017 in African Arts vol. 50, no. 2, with a conversation between two artists: Eria Nsubuga SANE from Uganda and Sikhumbuzo Makandula from South Africa. The format of a “conversational partnership” (Rubin and Rubin 2012: 7) emphasizes the cocreation of meaning by the interviewer and interviewee as coauthors. This enables a move away from the art history format of the interviewer (usually a writer) assuming the role of the sole author and the interviewee (often an artist) having no status as an author despite the fact that her or his practice-led creation of knowledge is foundational to the content of the interview. Stacey Gillian Abe and Immy Mali participated in a joint artists' residency as part of the RAW program at Rhodes University in South Africa from November to December 2017. During this time, they engaged with each other's practice-led work, and they created this conversational partnership at a writing breakaway in the Eastern Cape.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An analytical study of narrative techniques in Giono's Regain

  • Authors: Abel, Hermione
  • Date: 1986
  • Subjects: French fiction , Novels , Criticism , Symbolism , Regain , Giono, Jean, 1895-1970 -- Criticism and interpretation
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3561 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002008
  • Description: The dominant theme in Regain is that of death leading to rebirth. This dissertation attempts to explore Giono's narrative techniques within this context. No single chapter will be devoted to a specific technique; instead, the various devices used by the author are discussed as they emerge from the structure of the chapters. Justifying the field of study as defined in the "Introduction", the following three chapters outline the passage of life from death to eventual rebirth. With acknowledgement to Frank Kermode, who writes: "A concord of past, present and future three dreams which, as Augustine said, cross in our minds, as in the present of things past, the present of things present, and the present of things future" ¹, the first three chapters bear his terminology for their headings. Chapter One, "The Present of Things Past", deals with Mameche's loss of her husband and son. Chapter Two, "The Present of Things Present", focuses upon Mameche' s realization of Gaubert's departure, and the decision that she must do something to save the dying village of Aubignane. Chapter Three, "The Present of Things Future", sees Mameche setting out in search of a wife for Panturle, and succeeding. This brings to an end Part One of the novel. Interwoven throughout the chapters are paradigms from Greek mythology, rich in universal symbolism, and the author's belief in man's ability to fuse himself with his surroundings. The conclusion summarizes the findings of this study, attempting to show how an analysis of Giono's narrative technique provides an insight into such a novel as Regain. ¹The Sense of an Ending (London: Oxford University Press, 1966), rpt., 1970, p. 50.
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  • Date Issued: 1986

In vitro investigation of the anti-hyperglycemic and chemical composition of Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham leaf extracts used in the management of diabetes mellitus

  • Authors: Abifarin, Taiwo Oluwafunmilola https://orcid.org/00000003-4994-4638
  • Date: 2021-09
  • Subjects: Diabetes
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22798 , vital:52760
  • Description: Diabetes mellitus is currently a major threat all over the world. It is a chronic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and disturbance in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism which often times leads to several complications such as, atherosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy. Due to the side effects associated with synthetic oral hypoglycemic drugs, herbal remedies have become the alternative in the management of diabetes mellitus. Heteromorpha arborescens is one of the many plants used as herbal remedies for the management of diabetes mellitus in South Africa. In addition, the roots, barks and leaves are used in other parts of Southern Africa for the treatment of mental problems, asthma, cough, dysentery and tuberculosis. The roots are fed to malnourished children in Botswana and Swaziland. However, despite the high medicinal importance, there is little or no scientificinformation to prove this claim. Therefore, the basis of this study is to determine the chemical composition as well as perform and invitro investigation of the antihyperglycemic potential of H. arborescens leaf extracts to provide information that could validate the ethno-medicinal claims for the use of this plant in the management of diabetes mellitus. Phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity of the leaf extracts were determined. Phytochemical analysis of the acetone, ethanol, aqueous and blanched extracts of H. arborescens leaves indicated that the total phenol content of the extracts ranged between 15.10 mg GAE/g- 42.50 mg QAE/g, proanthocyanidin, 459-8402.1 mg QE/g and the flavonoid content, 109.24- 235.79 mg QE/g. In addition, alkaloids (7.65percent) and saponin (25.33percent) were present in significantamounts. Based on the IC50 values, the ethanol extract exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity (0.0125 mg/mL) with highest inhibition against DPPH and ABTS radicals (0.06 and 0.049 mg/mL respectively). Relatively high antioxidant activity may be attributed to the polyphenolic contents which possess hypoglycemic potentials. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of H. arborescens leaf extracts against Bacillus pumilus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebselia pneumoniae was also determined and results indicated considerable antibacterial activity in the acetone, ethanol and blanched extracts with MIC values ranging from 1.563-12.5 mg/mL; however, the aqueous extract was inactive against all the bacteria strains. The antibacterial activity of the leaf extracts could be advantageous against diabetic related infections. The cytotoxicity, anti-obesity and antidiabetic potentials of blanched, aqueous and ethanol extracts of Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham leaves were also investigated. The results revealed that both ethanol and aqueous extracts indicated considerable inhibition against α-glucosidase (IC50 of 627.29 ± 4.33 μg/mL and 576.46 ± 3.21 μg/mL respectively) while the blanched extract showed weak α- glucosidase inhibition (IC50; 855.38 ± 4.29 μg/mL). The aqueous extract showed the best α- amylase inhibition (IC50; 583.74 ± 5.87 μg/mL) among the assessed extracts. However, weak α- amylase inhibition was observed in the ethanol (IC50; 724.60 ± 4.33 μg/mL) and blanched extracts (IC50; 791.63 ± 3.76 μg/mL) of H. arborescens leaves. Some level of glucose utilization in both C3A and L6 cells was also observed for the aqueous and ethanol extracts which may be attributed to the relatively lower toxicity levels present in them, however, glucose utilization was very weak for the blanched extract, which may be due to higher level of cytotoxicity it possessed. Relatively weak lipase inhibition was observed for the ethanol (IC50; 699.3 ± 1.33 μg/mL), aqueous (IC50; 811.52 ± 3.52 μg/mL) and blanched extract (IC50; 1152.7 ± 4.61 μg/mL) as compared to orlistat (IC50; 56.88 ± 0.11 μg/mL). However, there was no reasonable reduction in lipid accumulation observed in all the extract treated cells. The results obtained suggest that H.arborescens leaf extracts can serve as a potential tool for the development of new strategies for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. However, further analysis is required to ascertain its anti- obesity potential. Also, caution should be taken in the use of the plant at high concentrations in order to ensure safety and efficacy. Analyses were also carried out to determine the nutritional and antinutritional constituents of the plant for possible inclusion in the diet of diabetic patients. Proximate analysis revealed the presence of 8.5 percent total ash, 4.92 percent crude fat, 8.41 percent moisture, 15.74 percent crude protein, 21.48 percent crude fiber, 40.95 percent carbohydrates and 271.04 kcal/100g energy value. Mineral analysis showed that H. arborescens leaves are very rich in K, Ca, and Fe. Considerable amounts of Mg, Mn, Na, P, Cu and Zn were also present. Vitamin analysis showed that the plant has a high content of vitamins A, C and E. The anti-nutrients evaluated were phytate, oxalate, saponin, and alkaloids, all of which were below toxic levels except for saponin which was observed in moderately high level. This study revealed that H. arborescens leaves are a good source of nutrients and mineral elements, (with low anti-nutrient content) that are highly beneficial to human health especially in diabetic individuals, therefore, encouraging its possible inclusion as a vegetable. Essential oil composition of fresh Heteromorphaarborescens leaves were also determined by Solvent-Free-Microwave-Extraction (SFME) and Hydrodistillation (HD) methods and the compositions of both mehods were compared in terms of their chemical compositions, yield, CO2 emission and energy consumption. Solvent Free Microwave extraction method indicated higher oil yield of 0.7 mL/200 g (0.35 percent) as compared to 0.59 mL/200 g (0.295 percent), lower energy consumption and CO2 emission as compared to the hydrodistillation method. In conclusion, H. arborescens leaves indicated considerable potential efficacy in the management for diabetes mellitus and may require further structural elucidation and characterization in order to identify the bioactive constituents. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-09

International legal protection of women's reproductive rights: a comparative analysis of abortion laws and policies in four jurisdictions-Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and U.S.A.

  • Authors: Abiodun, Adeleke Funminiyi
  • Date: 2010-10
  • Subjects: Abortion -- Law and legislation , Reproductive right
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25839 , vital:64491
  • Description: The subject matter of abortion law is extremely broad and multi-disciplinary. While naturally having its basis in criminal and constitutional law of individual states, the global development of abortion discourse has been influenced by the need to protect the reproductive rights of women as a sub-set of international human rights laws; thereby advocating not only the decriminalisation of abortion but also, that individual State should take affirmative actions in promoting abortion as a right for every woman. However, that induced abortion is a punishable criminal act or a “protectable” woman’s reproductive right remains controversial due to the plethora of perspectives, beliefs and reservations held by different groups of people which are multi-dimensional and contradictory. This thesis therefore attempts a comparative study of abortion laws and policies in four jurisdictions: Nigeria and Ghana, operating criminalised abortion laws, South Africa and United States which operate liberalised/permissive abortion laws and policies. The study basically examines the legal status and reproductive rights of women to legal and safe abortion within the existing legal framework of national laws of the four selected jurisdictions vis-à-vis the legal protection offered by various international instruments on human rights. While we show that strict and restrictive abortion laws, and also, failure of States to create conditions for safe abortion constitute infractions of the reproductive rights of women, we submit further that over-liberalisation of abortion laws and policies could also amount to infringement of the basic rights of other people, thus there is need to ensure a legal and acceptable balance. The study finally acknowledges the role of international human rights laws in the protection of women’s right to legal and safe abortion but asserts that there can be no universally acceptable morality to which the whole world could subsume in term of women’s right to abortion due to the interplay of socio-cultural, religious, and moral affiliations of the people in different communities. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, 2010
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  • Date Issued: 2010-10

Perceptions of social media as a tool for research: a study of postgraduate students, University of Fort Hare, Alice campus

  • Authors: Abolanle, Ogunnubi Adeyemi
  • Date: 2014-10
  • Subjects: University of Fort Hare , Media literacy , Internet research
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26381 , vital:65299
  • Description: The study aimed at examining the perceptions of social media as a tool for research among postgraduate students at the University of Fort Hare, Alice campus. Data were collected using a quantitative research approach by administering structured questionnaires to 310 postgraduate students under the cluster sampling across different faculties and departments, and analysed by SPSS Statistical software and Chi-square test. 264 questionnaires were returned for analysis and these respondents maintained that they utilized social media platforms for their academic research. The findings further revealed that social media has to a large extent improved students‟ research activities as they frequently seek practical knowledge for demonstration and tutorship. Furthermore, the respondents regard social media as a good platform for research topics in audio and video formats, scholarly articles, journals and books. This study concluded that since students explore the social media platforms and search engines for various reasons, academic research inclusive, it therefore becomes imperative to create more links within the social media for students to explore books, scholarly journals and articles necessary for research and academic purposes. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2014
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  • Date Issued: 2014-10

Exploring targeted metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics for characterising aquaponics bacterial ecology and phytochemistry

  • Authors: Abraham, Benjamin Melakail
  • Date: 2021-10-29
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192453 , vital:45227
  • Description: Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-10-29

An exploration into an ESD-based teaching strategy to improve the critical thinking and problem-solving skills amongst development studies students at Nelson Mandela University

  • Authors: Abrahams, Andre John
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Sustainable development -- Study and teaching , Universities and colleges -- South Africa , Critical thinking
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50906 , vital:43149
  • Description: In recent years, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been a significant focus for research pertaining to teacher education and transformative approaches to teaching and learning. However, there has been less specific focus on the implementation of ESD in the context of higher education. This study, therefore, explored the use of an ESD-based teaching and learning approach in an undergraduate Development Studies programme. The focus was on developing a teaching approach that was informed by the principles of ESD and which could assist Development Studies lecturers in creating a more transformative, student-centred environment. This study was a qualitative undertaking, conducted at the Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) Development Studies undergraduate programme. The ESD-based approach was implemented by two participating lecturers who utilised the approach across four undergraduate classes. Qualitative data were generated through a systematic literature analysis (SLA), exploratory interviews, student exercises and assessments, focus group discussions, and reflective journal entries. The gathered data were then analysed using a framework analysis rubric adapted from the theoretical framework utilised in the study. In addition, the data were coded using the six coding techniques promoted by Saldaña (2013). The findings suggest that the ESD-based approach developed in the study could effectively contribute towards promoting ESD in the Development Studies programme. The findings also suggest that, when properly implemented, the ESD-based approach could assist lecturers in creating a more transformative learning environment where students have greater control over their learning experience. In addition, this study found that students in the selected Development Studies undergraduate programme could benefit from continued exposure to the teaching methods and techniques adopted in the approach. The implementation of the approach also uncovered some of the inhibiting factors that may prevent an ESD-based approach being mainstreamed into the context of higher education. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Development Studies, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An exploration into an ESD-based teaching strategy to improve the critical thinking and problem-solving skills amongst development studies students at Nelson Mandela University

  • Authors: Abrahams, André John
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Problem solving -- Study and teaching , Divergent thinking -- Study and teaching , Sustainable development -- Study and teaching , Environmental education
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50907 , vital:43148
  • Description: In recent years, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been a significant focus for research pertaining to teacher education and transformative approaches to teaching and learning. However, there has been less specific focus on the implementation of ESD in the context of higher education. This study, therefore, explored the use of an ESD-based teaching and learning approach in an undergraduate Development Studies programme. The focus was on developing a teaching approach that was informed by the principles of ESD and which could assist Development Studies lecturers in creating a more transformative, student-centred environment. This study was a qualitative undertaking, conducted at the Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) Development Studies undergraduate programme. The ESD-based approach was implemented by two participating lecturers who utilised the approach across four undergraduate classes. Qualitative data were generated through a systematic literature analysis (SLA), exploratory interviews, student exercises and assessments, focus group discussions, and reflective journal entries. The gathered data were then analysed using a framework analysis rubric adapted from the theoretical framework utilised in the study. In addition, the data were coded using the six coding techniques promoted by Saldaña (2013). The findings suggest that the ESD-based approach developed in the study could effectively contribute towards promoting ESD in the Development Studies programme. The findings also suggest that, when properly implemented, the ESD-based approach could assist lecturers in creating a more transformative learning environment where students have greater control over their learning experience. In addition, this study found that students in the selected Development Studies undergraduate programme could benefit from continued exposure to the teaching methods and techniques adopted in the approach. The implementation of the approach also uncovered some of the inhibiting factors that may prevent an ESD-based approach being mainstreamed into the context of higher education. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Development Studies, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

Understanding of biological teleology from a naturalistic perspective

  • Authors: Abrahams, Sanaa
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Teleology , Biology -- Philosophy , Evolution (Biology) -- Philosophy
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140534 , vital:37896
  • Description: To the extent that teleological thinking is metaphysically suspect, many theorists attempt to shift the stigma of functional explanations by reducing function ascriptions, and aim thus to de-legitimise an appeal to teleological causal relations in an analysis of function. The point is to dispel the mystery which envelops the application of function concepts by reformulating biological functional explanations so as to dispense with teleology. My project is to interrogate the success with which teleological explanations have thus been eliminated in the biological sciences, and, over the course of this thesis, I conclude that a kind of teleological causation nevertheless remains the most adequate explanatory ground of natural products. My proposal is that functional explanations are causal explanations for the presence and maintenance of self-reproducing systems. I contend that, insofar as the attribution of function presupposes the valuation of a function-bearing system as a causal necessity for its constituent parts, functional explanation references distinct and irreducible holistic properties. Using Kantian metaphysics to frame the discussion, this thesis aims first to explore critically the subject of functional characterisations of biological phenomena, and second, the metaphysical basis of modern science. Its chief contributions to the philosophical function debate reside in proposing novel arguments in justification of what I consider is an improved formulation of an attempted definition of biological function, in which teleological causal powers are explicitly recognised and accommodated in functional explanation. Moreover, this thesis attempts a naturalistic reconstruction of the metaphysical entailments of the real causality of a whole
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Classification and clustering based methods for outlier detection of solar resource data

  • Authors: Abrahams, Waldo
  • 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/10948/55423 , vital:51996
  • Description: Almost 90% of the primary global energy demand is serviced from the burning of fossil fuels (Abas, Kalair & Khan, 2015). Owing to the detrimental environmental impact of this, a global energy transition to the use of renewable energy, including solar energy, is needed (Gielen et al., 2019). An important aspect that inhibits the growth of solar energy is accurate solar resource data. Such data is needed because knowledge of the future reliability and quality of energy production is required to analyse a system’s performance and determine financial implications (Sengupta et al., 2017). Existing methods used to detect outliers in solar resource data do not efficiently identify outliers and an accurate and robust approach is required (Eastwood, 2019). Using simulated and real-world data, this study investigates the use of several classification methods, along with a two-stage clustering-classification approach to accurately identify outliers in solar resource data. The Treebag method proves to be an adequate outlier detection method for solar resource data. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-04

Decentralization and quality assurance in the Ugandan primary education sector

  • Authors: Abu-Baker, Mutaaya Sirajee
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Schools -- Decentralization -- Uganda , Education, Primary -- Uganda , Educational change -- Uganda
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57390 , vital:26897
  • Description: The study presented in this thesis is a case study analysis of decentralization and quality assurance in a decentralized set up of the Ugandan Primary Schooling. The research looked at how the monitoring and evaluation informed the policy formulation process to regulate quality assurance in a decentralized governance of primary education. The Study was positioned in the critical realist paradigm, interpretive in orientation and used both coding and thematic techniques to understand the teachers’, SMC members’, and officers’ (at district and ministry levels) experiences and perceptions of quality assurance in a decentralized set up. Data was gathered using interviews, document analysis and observation methods. The findings indicated that the study was affected by eleven themes: Management System and Leadership, Human Resource Management, Finance Administration and Management, Parenting and Nutrition, Politics, Motivation, Social Structures and Patterns, Legislative Process and Policies, Infrastructure Development and Management, Community Involvement in Education and Curriculum and Professionalism. The monitoring and evaluation system had a framework in which it operates, though there was no quality assurance policy to guide the provision of quality education. The study finally indicated that there are more threats in a decentralized set up that put Quality in danger. Secondly, there was absence of supervision/inspection in schools as there was no evidence to prove this due to absence of reports. However, document analysis indicated visits of officers to schools. Records management was a problem to schools. Decentralization was adopted at different levels by different countries to address specific problems identified in view of service delivery. Finally, though monitoring and evaluation results informed the policy and decision makers, there was no quality assurance policy to guide the provision of quality education in institutions.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Exploring the diverse racialised responses to the ‘Ashwin Willemse incident’ through theories of race and coloniality of being

  • Authors: Accom, Abner
  • Date: 2022-10-14
  • Subjects: Willemse, Ashwin, 1981- , Ethnic attitudes South Africa , Race awareness South Africa , Postcolonialism South Africa , South Africa Race relations , Decolonization South Africa , Racism in sports South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405908 , vital:70218
  • Description: On 19 May 2018 Ashwin Willemse, a coloured Springbok rugby player walked off the SuperSport set, a DSTV sports program, during a live broadcast. He accused his white co-hosts Nick Mallet and Naas Botha (two white apartheid-era Springboks) of patronising him (SABC News, 2018; Eyewitness News, 2018). Responses to the Willemse incident reflected racial divisions in the country. It appeared that many white South Africans criticised Willemse’s behaviour, while many black South Africans stated that they could identify with his response to the subtle racisms experienced in everyday life, and which he claimed to have experienced on the SuperSport program (SABC News, 2018; Eyewitness News, 2018). The racialised media outcry led Professor Jonathan Jansen, to ask: “why do two groups of people, staring at the same event ‘see’ two different realities” (Maleka, 2018: 4)? This thesis probes possible answers to Jonathan Jansen’s question regarding the Ashwin Willemse walkout. The thesis explores and analyses the diverse racialised responses to the ‘Willemse walkout’ through race theories and ‘coloniality of being’. Qualitative research methods were used in the form of a reception analysis involving two racially homogenous (black and white) focus group interviews, two in-depth individual interviews with black research participants, three in-depth individual interviews with white research participants, and a sample of tweets from black and white commentators who had opinions about the ‘Willemse walkout’. The thesis concludes that most black research participants supported Willemse’s actions and most of the white people in the group disagreed with Willemse’s behaviour. Their various opinions were largely due to their different lived experiences which were a consequence of South Africa’s colonial history, apartheid, and racial discrimination. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-10-14
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