The thermodynamics of solutions and binary liquid mixtures
- Authors: Mercer-Chalmers, June Dawn
- Date: 1993
- Subjects: Thermodynamics Liquids Solution (Chemistry)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4390 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005055
- Description: The thesis is presented in two parts. In part one, the excess thermodynamic properties have been determined for several binary liquid mixtures, with the aim of testing theories of liquid mixtures. The excess molar enthalpies, Hem, have been determined using an LKB flow microcalorimeter, and the excess molar volumes, Vem, have been determined using an Anton Paar densitometer. The HemS and VemS have been measured at 298.15 K for binary systems involving an alkanol (methanol, ethanol, I-propanol, 2-propanol) mixed with a hydrocarbon (l-hexene, I-heptene, l-octene, I-hexyne, I-heptyne, l-octyne, toluene, mesitylene, 0-, m-, or p-xylene, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, cyclodecane). The results show trends relating to the degree of unsaturation, or size, of component molecules as well as the position of the hydroxyl group on the alkanol. Measurements were also made on mixtures involving an (n-alkane + a pseudo-n-alkane) and ( a cYcloalkane + a pseudo-cycloalkane). Two theories of liquid mixtures were tested in this work. The first theory tested was the theory of Congruency. This theory was tested, by means of a null test, on a novel set of mixtures involving an n-alkane (hexane, heptane, octane, decane, dodecane) + a pseudo-nalkane,and mixtures of a cycloalkane (cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane)+ a pseudo-cycloalkane. Deviations from the theory was less than the experimental error for the (n-alkane + pseudo-n-alkane) mixtures. However, significant deviations were observed for the mixtures of (a cycloalkane + a pseudo-cycloalkane). The second theory tested was the Flory theory, which has been used to predict the excess molar enthalpies and excess molar volumes for the mixtures involving (a 1-alkene, or 1-alkyne, or methyl-substituted benzene) + an alkanol. The results show that the theory does not hold for hydrocarbon mixtures involving an alkanol. In the second part of this thesis, the partial molar volumes, at infinite dilution, of binary solution involving a solid solute (18-crown-6 ether, dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether, dicyclohexanov 18-crown-6 ether, 15-crown-5 ether, or cryptand-222) are determined in various solvents. The results were repeated with a view to determine the volume changes at infinite dilution upon complexation, ΔV∞ of the crown ether or cryptand with a metal halide salt, MX (NaCl, NaI, KCl, KI, CsCl, CsI). The ΔV∞ results were compared with results in the literature for cryptand-222 (c-222) and dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether (B₂CE6) complexed with MX, and the study was extended to include further MX complexes with c-222 and B₂CE6, as well as MX complexes with 15-crown-5 ether and dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 ether. ΔV∞ results were correlated with the Hepler prediction of the electrostriction solvent effect.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993
The thermodynamics of binary liquid mixtures of compounds containing multiple bonds.
- Authors: Baxter, Rodney Charles
- Date: 1989
- Subjects: Solution (Chemistry)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4531 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016079
- Description: Excess thermodynamic properties have been determined for several binary liquid mixtures with the aim of testing various thermodynamic theories and postulates. Excess molar enthalpies, HEm, have been determined using an LKB flow microcalorimeter and excess molar volumes, VEm, have been determined using an Anton Paar vibrating tube densitometer. The activity coefficients at infinite dilution ƴ∞₁₃, have been determined using an atmospheric pressure gas-liquid chromatograph. The excess molar enthalpies and the excess molar volumes have been measured at 298.15 K for systems involving the bicyclic compounds decahydronaphthalene (decalin), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (tetralin), bicyclohexyl, or cyclohexylbenzene mixed with 1- hexene, 1-hexyne, 1-heptene, 1-heptyne, cyclohexene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, 1,4- cyclohexadiene, or benzene. These excess properties have also been measured for systems where the bicyclic compound has been replaced with benzene, cyclohexane or n-hexane. The results show defmite trends related to the size, shape, and the degree of unsaturation of the component molecules. The Flory theory has been used to predict excess molar enthalpies and excess molar volumes for {(a bicyclic compound or benzene or cyclohexane or n-hexane) +(an n-alkane or a 1-alkene or a 1-alkyne or a cycloalkane or cyclohexene or a cycloalkadiene or benzene)}. The one parameter equations offer reasonably good correlations between the predicted and the experimental results. More insight into the origins of the contnbutions to the excess thermodynamic properties for these systems has been gained by considering the approximate equations of Patterson and co-workers, which separate the interactional and the free volume contributions to the excess molar enthalpy and the excess molar volume. The one parameter equations have adequately rationalized a good deal of the observed behaviour for HEm and VEm. The theory of Liebermann and co-workers, which does not employ any adjustable parameters, has not been as successful at predicting the excess thermodynamic properties for the above systems. The activity coefficients at infinite dilution have been measured at 278.15 K, 288.15 K and 298.15 K for n-bexane, 1-bexene, 1-hexyne, n-heptane, 1-heptene, 1-heptyne, cyclohexane, cyclohexene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene, and benzene, in decalin, tetralin, bicyclohexyl, and cyclohexylbenzene. Solvent losses from the column have been accounted for by an extrapolation procedure. The activity coefficient results together with the HEm and VEm values have been used to calculate the partial molar excess thermodynamic properties of mixing at infinite dilution. The partial molar excess properties at infinite dilution for decalin mixtures are similar to those for bicyclohexyl mixtures. There is also a similarity between the properties of the tetralin mixtures and the cyclohexylbenzene mixtures. The cycloalkadienes, benzene and the 1-alkynes exhibit a strong dissociation effect on being mixed with the saturated solvents, decalin and bicyclohexyl, but associate strongly with tetralin and with cyclohexylbenzene. The Flory theory bas been used to predict activity coefficients at infinite dilution from the experimentally determined HEm results for { (n-bexane or 1-hexene or 1-hexyne or naheptane or 1-heptene or 1-beptyne) + (a bicyclic compound)}. The theory is much better at predicting values for mixtures where both components are either saturated molecules or are unsaturated molecules than for {saturated + unsaturated} mixtures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1989
The thermal decomposition of mercuric oxalate and inorganic azides
- Authors: Moore, D J
- Date: 1966
- Subjects: Decomposition (Chemistry) , Oxalates -- Thermal properties , Mercuric Oxide -- Azides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4483 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012878
- Description: The chemical reactivity of a solid is influenced to a marked degree by the presence of imperfections or defects in the solid. Bond strengths are considerably weaker at points of imperfection than elsewhere in the solid, and hence the initiation of reaction is favoured at these sites due to the relative ease of bond rupture. Line defects, such as edge or screw dislocations, jogs, Smekul cracks etc, are of prime importance in such changes. The surface of a solid or in intergranular boundaries, where a state of strain exists, are also favourable places for the initiation of a reaction, Point defects e.g. vacancies or interstitialions or atoms also play important roles in chemical change, often in conjuction with line defects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1966
The therapist as a "bad object": the use of countertransference enactment to facilitate communication in therapy
- Authors: Webster, Penny
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Countertransference (Psychology) Countertransference (Psychology) -- Therapeutic use Communication -- Psychological aspects Psychotherapist and patient Psychoanalysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3083 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002592
- Description: Psychoanalysis as it exists today is not constituted by a single theoretical framework describing pathology and indicating a specific set of interventions. Since Freud originally conceptualised psychoanalytic understanding of pathology and psychoanalysis as a mode of intervention, there have been many revisions and reformulations of his theory. This thesis has attempted to integrate some psychoanalytic ideas regarding personality formation, psychopathology and psychotherapeutic intervention (Fairbairn, 1952; Ogden, 1992, 1994), with interpersonal (strategic / structural) ideas regarding intervention (Minuchin, 1974; Sullivan, 1940, 1953, 1964). In order to do so, the thesis used the relational psychoanalytic perspective, as depicted by Aron (1996) and Mitchell and Aron (1999), as an overarching conceptual framework. The focus from these points of view is the patient's internalized relationship patterns and the therapist's participation in their repetition. It is held that internalized relationship patterns are not only based on, but can be changed by, lived experience. From this perspective, the goal of therapy is to enhance the patient's capacity to reflect and think about experience, and therefore, to communicate about it. This means a change in the patient's predominant mode of communication. Ogden's (1994) modes of communication were described. The thesis suggested that Ogden's modes of communication can be stretched or translated into the types of communication outlined by Langs (1978). This thesis aimed to explore the deliberate use of countertransference responses to facilitate communication in the beginning stages of therapy with patients functioning predominantly in the paranoid-schizoid mode (Ogden, 1992). Patients who operate in this mode are often unable to tolerate interpretation and therefore traditional approaches to intervention are not effective. A "strategic / structural relational psychoanalytic" approach to treatment was proposed. It was suggested that therapists utilize joining and accommodation techniques as described by Minuchin (1974) and alter their style of interaction to match that of the various object relational constellations that they have managed to identify within the patient via their countertransference responses. It was hypothesized that patients need their therapists to be similar to their original objects in order to feel safe in the therapeutic environment and that this may facilitate communication in the beginning stages of therapy. The research utilized a qualitative research approach. Qualitative research methods attempt to use data gathered phenomenologically, always acknowledging the researcher's biases when gathering the data. The data gathered is then interpreted according to various theories or hermeneutic lenses. The hypothesis mentioned above has been investigated by analyzing three cases in terms of the research questions based on Langs' (1978) classification of communication. The thesis described the difficulties inherent in collecting clinical data from psychologists working from within a psychoanalytic framework. Eventually three sets of therapy details and verbatim therapy transcripts were obtained, provided in the thesis and analyzed in terms of the research questions. However evidence for the success of the hypothesized alternate approach was not found in this research study. It was suggested that other possible methods might be useful to investigate the hypothesized approach further.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The theory of the firm and pricing behaviour in South African manufacturing industry
- Authors: Dollery, Brian
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Corporations Pricing Pricing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1046 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006141
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1983
The theory and practice of "Klangreihenkomposition"
- Authors: Nowotny, Norbert W
- Date: 1969
- Subjects: Hauer, Josef Matthias, 1883-1959 , Music theory , Twelve-tone system , Musical intervals and scales , Tonality
- Language: German
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013394
- Description: Diese Arbeit befaßt sich mit der "Klangreihenlehre'', einer Musiktheorie, die von Josef Matthias Hauer aufgestellt und von meinem Lehrer Othmar Steinbauer weiterentwickelt wurde. Diese auf der Gesetzmäßigkeit der zwölf Töne beruhende Satzlehre hat jedoch mit der "Reihentechnik" jener Musik, die schlechthin als "Zwölftonmusik" bezeichnet wird, nichts gemein. Obwohl eine beachtliche Literatur über J.M. Hauer vorliegt, ist sie doch, was Hauers Musiktheorie betrifft, nicht zufriedenstellend, da sie hauptsächlich auf sein Leben und seine Musikphilosophie eingeht.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1969
The taxonomy, biogeography and biology of cow and frilled sharks (Chondrichthyes : Hexanchiformes)
- Authors: Ebert, David A
- Date: 1990
- Subjects: Chondrichthyes Hexanchiformes Sharks
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5186 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001962
- Description: This study was undertaken to investigate the taxonomy, biogeography and biology of cow and frilled sharks (Chondrichthyes: Hexanchiformes). This taxon comprises two families, four genera and six extant species. The hexanchoids are a distinctive group of sharks characterized by six or seven paired gill openings, a single dorsal fin and an anal fin. Adult males of this group lack a siphon sac, but have in its place a clasper sac. This structure, which develops along the claspers, is unique to the Hexanchiformes. Hexanchoid sharks are widely distributed in area and depth. This group ranges from coastal bays and harbors along the open coast out across the continental shelf and down along the slopes to considerable depths. They occur from the equatorial zone to sub-polar regions. However, little is known about the ecology and life history of these sharks. Intraspecific variation of meristic counts were generally low for the Hexanchidae, but high for the Chlamydoselachidae, indicating that subpopulations, subspecies or even additional, new species exist within this family. Based on the indicators used in this study, maturity in male frilled sharks was attained at 916 mm TL, perlon sharks between 700 and 800 mm TL, sixgill sharks approximately 3140 mm TL, bigeyed sixgill sharks at about 1250 mm TL and sevengill sharks at approximately 1550 mm TL. Male reproductive success did not appear to be seasonal since males were found to contain viable sperm all year round. Female perlon sharks begin maturing between 950 mm and 1100 mm TL. Gravid females and newborns were absent from the other size classes and it is suspected that they aggregate in different locations to those of adult males and non-breeding females. Adult females are known at 4210 mm TL and immature at 3500 mm TL, However, a more accurate estimate of the size at maturity is wanting. Newborn sixgills were caught off southern Namibia during mid to late summer over three successive seasons. The occurrence of gravid females carrying term embryos during spring months and newborns during the summer months suggests a late spring or summer pupping period. Sixgill and sevengill sharks give birth in areas of high primary productivity. Energetically, this is advantageous for the newborns to be placed in an area with an abundant food source. The rapid growth rates of sixgill and sevengill sharks over the first year would enhance their survivorship since neither species has many predators. The number of female sevengills entering the breeding population is regulated to ensure that some portion of the population is reproductively active at any one time. The "staggering" of females which enter into the breeding population in any given year indicates a two year reproductive cycle. Fecundity estimates for 19 specimens with a largest egg diameter of at least 40 mm indicates a litter size of 67 to 104. The recapture of an adult female sevengill in approximately the same location in which it was tagged suggests that the same individual sharks may return to the same breeding grounds. As with any predators, sharks tend to exploit advantages over their prey. The hexanchoids, especially the sevengill, have evolved complex foraging strategies including social facilitation whereby they actively hunt in packs for large prey species. Sharks of the order Hexanchiformes, although lacking the diversity of the major shark orders, nonetheless play an integral role in the marine environment. The group's success can be attributed to their apical trophic position. In most habitats in which they occur, hexanchoids have no comparable competitors since equivalent sized sympatric squaloids and carcharhinoids feed at a lower trophic level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1990
The taxonomy and life-history of Argyrosomus japonicus and A. inodorus, two important sciaenids off the South African coast
- Authors: Griffiths, Marc H
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: Argyrosomus Sciaenidae -- South Africa Sciaenidae -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5323 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005169
- Description: A study of the biology, anatomy and taxonomy of the sciaenid fishes of the genus Argyrosomus from South Africa and Namibia revealed that three species were confused under the name "Argyrosomus Izololepidotus (Lacepède 1801)". Comparison of morphometric and meristic data, otoliths, swim-bladders, drumming muscles, and other morphological features of specimens from southern Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean, the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Japan and Australia, revealed that "A. hololepidotus" is a complex of four species: A. japonicus (Temminck & Schlegel 1843), which occurs off southern Africa, Japan and Australia; A. inodorus sp. nov., which is known from Namibia to the Kei River (32°40'S) on the east coast of South Africa; A. coronus sp. nov., which is known from central and northern Namibia and Angola, and A. hololepidotus, which appears to be endemic to Madagascar. Both A. japonicus and A. inodorus are important recreational and commercial linefish species in South Africa. Although A. inodorus occurs on the east and west coasts of South Africa, and A. japonicus is found between Cape Point and Mozambique, the former species is abundant only between Cape Point and the Kei River, and the latter species from Cape Agulhas to northern KwaZulu/Natal. The life-histories of Argyrosomus japonicus and A. inodorus, within these respective ranges, were elucidated using length-at-age, reproductive, catch and effort, size composition, otolith dimension/fish length and tagging data. Median sizes at maturity (L₅₀) for A. japonicus were 920 mm TL (5 years) for males and 1070 mm TL (6 years) for females. All males >1100 mm TL (7 years) and all females >1200 mm TL (8 years) were mature. Females grew faster than males, but in both sexes growth slowed dramatically after maturity. Maximum age recorded was 42 years, but fish older than 27 years were rare. Adult A. japonicus were predominantly found in the nearshore marine environment, but also occurred in estuaries and in the surf zone. Spawning takes place in the nearshore environment, from August to November in Natal, and from October to January in the Southern and South-Eastern Cape regions. A large proportion of the adult population migrate to Natal to spawn, although spawning may continue once they return to the Cape. Early juveniles of 20-30 mm TL recruit into turbid estuaries along the entire east coast, possibly aided by olfactory cues. They appear to remain in the upper reaches of the estuaries where they find suitable food and refuge from predators until they grow to about 150 mm TL. Juveniles larger than this size were found in the middle and lower reaches of estuaries and also in the surf zone. Juvenile A. japonicus (<1000 mm TL) generally did not migrate long distances, but remained as separate sub-stocks until they reached maturity. A. inodorus grows more slowly than A. japonicus, and attains a lower maximum age (25 years) and a smaller maximum size (34 vs 75 kg). There was no significant difference between the growth rates of male and female A. inodorus. Those in the South-Westem Cape initially grew faster than those on the east coast, but growth slowed sooner in the former region with the result that these fish attained a smaller maximum size. Although ripe A. inodorus were sampled throughout the year, there was a distinct spawning season from August to December, with a peak in spring (Sept-Nov). Spawning occurred throughout the study area for this species, in <50 m depth. Size at sexual maturity for A. inodorus was smaller in the South-Eastern Cape than in the Southern Cape. Median size at maturity for females was attained at 310 mm TL (1.3 years) in the former and at 375 mm TL (2.4 years) in the latter region, and the length at which all females were mature was 400 mm (3.5 years) and 550 mm (4.7 years) respectively. For males the estimates of Lso and total maturity were 200 mm (1 year) and 400 mm (2.8 years) for the SouthEastern Cape and 250 mm (1.5 years) and 450 mm (3.4 years) in the Southern Cape. East of Cape Agulhas, A. inodorus was found from just beyond the surf zone to depths of 120 m. Adults occurred predominantly on reef (>20 m) while juveniles were found mainly over soft substrata of sand/mud (5-120 m depth). Early juveniles do not enter estuaries, but apparently recruit to nursery areas immediately beyond the backline of breakers (5-10 m depth), and then move seawards with growth. No juveniles were obtained from the area west of Cape Agulhas as substrates <200 m depth were unsuitable for trawling. Due to lower water temperatures, the adults in this area were found from within the surf zone to depths of only 20 m. East and west of Cape Agulhas there was evidence of offshore dispersal in winter, in response to oceanographic changes. Based upon otolith morphology, juvenile and adult distribution patterns, sizes at sexual maturity and on tagging data, A. inodorus between Cape Point and the Kei River apparently exist as three separate stocks, one in the South-Eastern Cape, one in the Southern Cape and one in the South-Western Cape, with limited exchange. The life-histories of A. japonicus and A. inodorus are discussed in terms of their management. The large size at maturity of A. japonicus together with evidence for considerable human impact on the early juvenile, juvenile, and the adult phases of the life-cycle indicate that estuarine nursery habitats need to be conserved, that the minimum size limit should be increased, and that current bag limits for this species should be reviewed. Although the current minimum size limit provides protection for A. illodorus until maturity, evidence is presented which indicates that at least one and possibly all of the stocks of this species are currently over-exploited. Stock assessment of the South African A. japonicus and A. inodorus resources, and the implementation of effective management strategies, are therefore a matter of urgency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1996
The taxonomic status of dolphins Tursiops spp. and Delphinus in South African waters
- Authors: Ngqulana, Sibusisiwe Gloria
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Dolphins -- Classification -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48566 , vital:40891
- Description: There is a need for identifying important sites, taxonomic units or populations and the usual criterion used is species identification. The species is the most important taxonomic unit to define in taxonomy, as it is the primary unit of concern in biodiversity, conservation and other biological issues. Thus, taxonomy plays an important role in conservation biology. Additionally, taxonomy can contribute to the development of analytical systems that will provide information on priorities for reaching defensible targets for established conservation. This poses a problem for cetaceans as basic information is frequently deficient and therefore not suitable for conservation planning purposes. This leads to difficulties in identifying and prioritizing areas for the monitoring, management and for the protection of species or populations. Morphological and geographic data used to be the primary means used by taxonomists to define species and subspecies, and due to this, most extant species have been classified by morphological characteristics. However, in the recent years, molecular analyses have been introduced and subsequently stable isotopes were also included to assist in interpreting results. Thereafter, it became a common approach to use more than one technique or a combination of independent datasets to resolve taxonomic uncertainties. This has resulted to a proposed term known as integrative taxonomy. Integrative taxonomy has recently been used in most studies that deal with taxonomy or population structure. The use of multiple lines of evidence, which is sometimes referred to as integrative taxonomy, raises the level of confidence in clearly delineating species. Cetaceans are the most taxonomically diverse group of aquatic mammals, with 93 living species accepted. Previously, their taxonomy was based on morphological characters. However, cetaceans have recently been subjected to intense phylogenetic investigations using both morphological and molecular data. These problems are not only prevalent in larger whales, but the small toothed whales also have these challenges, particularly family Delphinidae. This family is known to be the most diverse among the toothed whales. This is because this family diverged recently, and the divergence occurred relatively fast. This study aimed to clarify the taxonomic status of Tursiops spp. and Delphinus in the family Delphinidae, inhabiting the South African waters, using a combination of morphological and molecular methods. For skull morphology, geometric morphometrics were used, while for molecular methods, the D-loop region in the mitochondrial DNA was used to detect any differences within each genus. For the genus Tursiops, this study showed the consistency of results in all analyses used to investigate the presence of two species in the genus Tursiops in South African waters. This study only analysed sequences from the mitochondrial D-loop region and has re-confirmed the presence of the two species in South Africa. Skull and external morphology both show T. truncatus to be bigger and more robust, and to have a shorter rostrum compared with T. aduncus. These external observations are helpful when identifying the species in the field. Providing evidence supporting the presence of two Tursiops species in South Africa does not only contribute to the global context of the taxonomy of this genus, but also in the local context. This study also gives insight on the distribution of the two species in the region. For the genus Delphinus, molecular analysis did not reveal any clustering in South African Delphinus specimens, which suggested a single species, D. delphis, and that this species is morphologically highly variable. Both skull and external morphology did not reflect the molecular results, supporting suggestions that morphology in this genus does not reflect genetic differences. It has been shown that morphological variation reflects feeding specialization rather than speciation. This may also reflect local adaptations. Both skull and external morphology in this study showed no significant differences. This study did not investigate the phylogeographic details of the species in South Africa and further molecular work including a larger sample size from the west coast of South Africa is needed. By attempting to unravel the taxonomy of these dolphins in South African waters, the findings of this study will be very useful in the development of effective conservation and management strategies for these dolphins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The systematics and phylogenetics of the Sycoecinae (Agaonidae, Chalcidoidea, Hymenoptera)
- Authors: Noort, Simon van
- Date: 1993
- Subjects: Agaonidae Chalcid wasps Fig wasp -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5784 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005472
- Description: The Sycoecinae are a distinct and well-defined subfamily of old world fig wasps (Agaonidae, Chalcidoidea 1 Hymenoptera) , exclusively associated with the figs of Ficus species (Moraceae). The most likely sister group of the Sycoecinae was determined to be the Sycoryctini (Sycoryctinae) based largely on synapomorphies of the underside of the head. 67 sycoecine species and 3 subspecies were recognised and included in a phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily. This analysis clearly delimited six genera (four African and two extra-African), although the phylogenetic relationships between the genera were not strongly supported and remain flexible. Comparisons of the phylogeny of the Sycoecinae with the classifications of the Agaoninae and their host fig trees (Ficus, Moraceae) suggest a degree of cospeciation sensu lato. Numerous homoplasies were detected within the Sycoecinae, some of which were shared with another group of fig wasps that also enter the fig to oviposit, the Agaoninae. The anatomy of the figs apparently provides strong selection pressures that have resulted in both parallelisms and convergences within and between the two subfamilies. Among the 67 species and 3 subspecies that were recognised, 43 species and 2 subspecies are described as new. The males of three previously recognised species are also described for the first time. One generic and two specific synonyms are established together with five new combinations. Keys are provided to the genera and species, for both sexes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993
The sustainability of South African construction small, medium and micro enterprises
- Authors: Anugwo, Iruka Chijindu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Construction industry -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15259 , vital:28194
- Description: The construction industry is one of the strategic sectors that drive the economic sustainability and competitiveness of any nation. However, the chronic business failure amongst the start-ups and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the construction industry globally is of great concern to economic prosperity for both developed and developing countries. This challenge is significantly high in the South African construction industry, where SMMEs account for 95% of the business entities, of which about 80% are most likely to exit from the market within their first five years of operation. Previous studies in this field centred on the factors that lead to construction-business failure. However, the actual operational elements of surviving SMMEs have rarely been addressed and are little understood. Thus, this research aimed to explore the strategic drivers that offer significant solutions to the challenges facing start-up contractors in the South African construction industry. The review of the related literature revealed the strategic drivers and business survival characteristics that foster SMME economic sustainability and competitiveness in the construction market. The qualitative research approach that is rooted in the phenomenological paradigm was adopted for this study. Port Elizabeth, located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was the selected geographical scope for this research. Thirty-four (34) construction organisations were purposively selected from the Port Elizabeth construction industry development board (cidb) register of contractors in grades 4-6. The purposive sampling technique was adopted in selecting respondents based on the snowball approach. The research data were collected through in-depth interviewing. It was found that the SMME contractors who succeeded in their first 5 years of operation possessed the following qualities: “fundamental educational qualifications”; “experience and knowledge of construction works”; “a clear understanding of competitive business strategies and characteristics”; “critical skills and multi-skills (functional project teams)”; and “rely on strategic resources, competencies and capabilities”. Also, the significant factors contributing to the SMME contractors’ competitiveness were: “entrepreneurship skills”; “innovation and technological skills”; “leadership skills”; “education, skills training, and investment in Research and Development (R&D)”; as well as “strategic-alliance advantage”. Moreover, globalisation and internationalisation, and government support have significant potential to impact on the success and sustainability of SMME contractors. Unfortunately, these factors are under-utilised or un-strategically adopted by most of the South African SMME contractors. The research has also developed a conceptual model for sustainable performance of SMMEs based on the results and informed by the theoretical framework. The research has also developed a business-survival strategy and model for SMME contractors in the South African construction industry. The study has achieved its aim of identifying the strategic business practices, models and concepts that the surviving and active SMME contractors employed to thrive within and beyond the first five years in the industry. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the start-ups and SMME contractors should gain an insightful and strategic business knowledge on how to develop and grow a competitive and economically sustainable organisation in the industry. This should form part of their competitive business strategic models, their business review plans; and set the benchmark for performance evaluation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The supervisor’s tale: postgraduate supervisors’ experiences in a changing Higher Education environment
- Authors: Searle, Ruth Lesley
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Graduate students -- Supervision of -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Educational change -- South Africa , Archer, Margaret Scotford -- Political and social views , Critical realism , Knowledge, Sociology of , Dissertations, Academic , Faculty advisors -- South Africa , Education -- Study and teaching (Graduate) -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- Graduate work
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1331 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019952
- Description: The environment in which higher education institutions operate is changing, and these changes are impacting on all aspects of higher education, including postgraduate levels. Changes wrought by globalisation, heralded by rapid advances in technology have inaugurated a new era in which there are long term consequences for higher education. The shift towards more quantitative and measurable "outputs" signifies a fundamental change in the educational ethos in institutions. Effectiveness is now judged primarily on numbers of graduates and publications rather than on other aspects. The drive is to produce a highly educated population, especially through increasing postgraduates who can drive national innovation and improve national economies. This affects academics in a range of ways, not least in the ways in which they engage in teaching, what they are willing to do and how they do it. Such changes influence the kinds of research done, the structures and funding which support research, and thus naturally shapes the kinds of postgraduate programmes and teaching that occurs. This study, situated in the field of Higher Education Studies, adopting a critical realist stance and drawing on the social theory of Margaret Archer and the concepts of expert and novice, explores the experiences of postgraduate supervisors from one South African institution across a range of disciplines. Individual experiences at the level of the Empirical and embodied in practice at the level of the Actual allow for the identification of possible mechanisms at the level of the Real which structure the sector. The research design then allows for an exploration across mezzo, macro and micro levels. Individuals outline their own particular situations, identifying a number of elements which enabled or constrained them and how, in exercising their agency, they develop their strategies for supervision drawing on a range of different resources that they identify and that may be available to them. Student characteristics, discipline status and placement, funding, and the emergent policy environment are all identified as influencing their practice. In some instances supervisors recognise the broader influences on the system that involve them in their undertaking, noting the international trends. Through their narratives and the discourses they engage a number of contradictions that have developed in the system with growing neo-liberal trends and vocationalism highlighting tensions between academic freedom and autonomy, and demands for productivity, efficiency and compliance, and between an educational focus and a training bias in particular along with others. Especially notable is how this contributes to the current ideologies surrounding knowledge and knowledge production. Their individual interests and concerns, and emergent academic identities as they take shape over time, also modifies the process and how individual supervisors influence their own environments in agentic moves becomes apparent. Whilst often individuals highlight the lack of support especially in the early phases of supervision, the emergent policy-constrained environment is also seen as curtailing possibilities and especially in limiting the possibilities for the exercise of agency. Whilst the study has some limitations in the range and number of respondents nevertheless the data provided rich evidence of how individual supervisors are affected, and how they respond in varied conditions. What is highlighted through these experiences are ways pressures are increasing for both supervisors and students and changing how they engage. Concerns in particular are raised about the growing functional and instrumental nature of the process with an emphasis on the effects on the kinds of researchers being developed and the knowledge that is therefore being produced. As costs increase for academics through the environments developed and with the varied roles they take on so they become more selective and reluctant to expand the role. This research has provided insights into ideas, beliefs and values relating to the postgraduate sector and to the process of postgraduate supervision and how it occurs. This includes the structures and cultural conditions that enable or constrain practitioners as they develop in the role in this particular institution. It has explored some of the ways that mechanisms at international, national and institutional levels shape the role and practices of supervisors. The effects of mechanisms are in no way a given or simply understood. In this way the research may contribute to more emancipatory knowledge which could be used in planning and deciding on emergent policies and practices which might create a more supportive and creative postgraduate environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The struggle for national independence in its international setting : its economic and political background and its manifestation in the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly
- Authors: Lumsden, Geoffrey S
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: United Nations. General Assembly Self-determination, National Sovereignty Economics -- Political aspects Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1091 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012790
- Description: The decade following the close of the Second World War has been dominated throughout by the clash of political power of the United States and the Soviet Union. Their wartime alliance has crumbled. New, antagonistic alliances have come into existence. The so-called 'EastWest' split, polar in its effect, has forced the admission that prospects of stable peace depend on how successfully bridges can be made to span the gulf. This over-riding and pervading reality has blinded us to the importance of another struggle, which is everywhere mounting in force and intensity and which history may well record as a dominant theme of the twentieth century -- the world-wide struggle for independence. In some cases it has produced revolution and violence: full-scale wars have been fought in its cause in Indonesia and Indo-China; military engagements have taken place in Kenya and Tunisia; Cypriots and British garrison forces have exchanged fire; Malayans have rioted; and 'incidents' too numerous to detail have been reported from a great variety of countries where political dependence exists. Intro., p. 1.
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- Date Issued: 1957
The status and natural history of pygmy (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf (K. sima) sperm whales off Southern Africa
- Authors: Plön, Stephanie
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Pygmy sperm whale Dwarf sperm whale Population genetics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5772 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005460
- Description: For the present study 106 strandings of Kogia breviceps and 85 strandings of K. sima along the South African coastline between 1880 and 1995 were analysed in order to examine the age and growth, male and female reproduction, diet, stranding patterns, and population genetic structure of both species. Length and weight at birth were about 120cm and 53kg for K. breviceps and about 103cm and 14kg for K. sima. Von Bertalanffy growth curves were fitted to the data and indicated that physical maturity was reached at around 15 years in both sexes of K. breviceps and at 13 years in female and 15 years in male K. sima. Asymptotic length was reached at 306.0 and 286.1cm in female and male K. breviceps and 249.14 and 263.75cm in female and male K. sima, respectively. Maximum ages were16 years for male K. breviceps and 23 years for females and 17 years for male K. sima and 22 years for females. Reversed sexual size dimorphism was suggested for K. breviceps, while in K. sima males were larger than females. Attainment of sexual maturity in males occurred at between 2.5 and 5 years of age in K. breviceps and 2.6 and 3 years in K. sima, corresponding to 241-242cm and 197cm body length, respectively. The maximum combined testis weight comprised 1.04% and 2.00% for K. breviceps and K. sima, respectively, and a polygynous mating system with a roving male strategy was proposed for both species. The sperm morphology for both Kogia species was described and is characterised by 20-25 spherical mitochondria arranged in rows around the midpiece. Attainment of sexual maturity in females occurred at 5 years in both Kogia species, and at 262cm and 215cm body length in K. breviceps and K. sima, respectively. The ovulation rates were 0.9 and 0.7 per year for K. breviceps and K. sima, respectively. In K. breviceps conceptions occurred from April to September and births from March to August, while in K. sima both conceptions and births occurred from December to March. Annual reproduction and a post-partum oestrus was suggested for both Kogia species. The diet of K. breviceps comprised 50 different cephalopod species from 22 families and 17 other prey species, while K. sima fed on 32 cephalopod species from 17 families and six others. Although niche overlap indices between the two species and between groups within each species were high, some differences in diet could be determined, which allow these two sympatrically occurring species to share the same ecological niche off the coast of Southern Africa. An analysis of the stranding patterns revealed that K. sima has a closer affinity to the Agulhas current and to higher water temperatures than K. breviceps, which is supported by differences in the size of the appendages between the two species. The population genetic analysis revealed a high haplotype and nucleotide diversity for K. breviceps in the Southern hemisphere, but a lack of significant phylogeographic structure, indicating substantial gene flow among populations and inhibiting genetic differentiation of local populations, although the South African population was somewhat isolated from others in the Southern Hemisphere. In contrast the data on the phylogeographic structure of K. sima were somewhat restrictive as the majority of the samples originated from South Africa. Nevertheless, both nucleotide and haplotype diversities were markedly lower than in K. breviceps and more similar to those for other small cetacean populations, suggesting a smaller population size for K. sima than for K. breviceps. Although both Kogia species belong to the medium to larger-sized odontocetes their life histories are located near the fast end of the slow-fast continuum of life histories of marine mammals, indicating high mortality rates. The “false-gill” marking and the ability to squirt ink are thought to reflect adaptations to predator mimicry and avoidance.
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- Date Issued: 2005
The stability of tolerance of Sorghum spp to Striga asiatica L. Kuntze under diverse conditions and existence of pre-attachment resistance
- Authors: Mandumbu, Ronald
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sorghum Sorghum -- Drought tolerance Sorghum -- Effect of drought on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2788 , vital:28088
- Description: Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal in the world and a staple food for humans. It is also a source of food and fodder for animals. In addition to the abiotic stresses such as drought, parasitic weeds of the genus Striga cause losses in sorghum production in sub Saharan Africa. Striga asiatica is a parasitic weed that attacks cereals in low input agricultural systems and is distributed throughout semi- arid regions of Africa. Most sorghum producing farmers rely on tolerance for their harvests in Striga infested fields yet the stability of tolerance in the face of a changing climate (recurrent droughts), new farming systems (mulch based agriculture) and existence of various Striga strains needs further investigation. Reduced strigolactones production was also studied as a resistance mechanism. The first study was focused on the determination of tolerance of Striga asiatica infested sorghum under drought in a pot study. Five sorghum lines were subjected to infestation with Striga and some were not infested while watering was done at 50 percent field capacity (FC) and 100 percent FC. The results showed that the five sorghum lines differed significantly in chlorophyll content and Normalised Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI). Infection did not lower chlorophyll content when it co-occurred with drought across all sorghum lines. Drought and infestation had mutually exclusive effects on chlorophyll content and NDVI. Under infestation, internode length was similar both at 100 percent FC and at 50 percent FC while under uninfested conditions, 100 percent FC gave the longer internode compared to 50 percent FC. Both infestation and irrigation regime reduced the sorghum head weight, illustrating that the two effects have synergistic effects on sorghum head weight. The second study sought to determine the effects of mulching and infestation on sorghum spp tolerance to Striga asiatica. The experiments were carried out in the seasons 2013/14 and 2014/15 summer seasons. The results indicated that mulching increased chlorophyll content in the 2014/15 season which was a drier season compared to 2013/14. In the 2014/15 season, mulching increased chlorophyll content in all varieties except Ruzangwaya, Mukadziusaende and SC Sila. When the same varieties were infested under mulch and infested without mulch, the results showed that mulching overcomes the effects of infestation in some varieties. Mulch also negates the effect of Striga parasitism and results in yield maintenance in sorghum varieties. The third study sought to determine the stability of sorghum lines when exposed to two Striga asiatica lines sourced from two places which are 500 km apart in Zimbabwe. The two strains were termed the Chiundura and Rushinga strains, based on where they were sourced. The experiments were conducted at Henderson Research Station (HRS) at Mazoe and at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE). The results showed differential virulence for some traits while the two strains were equally virulent for some traits. The two strains were equally virulent on all sorghum lines with respect to chlorophyll content. The different sorghum lines responded differently to the effects of the two strains. The effects of the two strains were generally similar for head index, root index, and leaf index at all sites. Generally the Chiundura strain was more virulent to sorghum lines compared to Rushinga strain, confirming the existence of physiological strains of Striga in Zimbabwe. Therefore physiological speciation of Striga asiatica exists and this adds a further dimension to the complexity of Striga management in the smallholder sector. Quantification of strigolactone production by different sorghum genotypes was conducted in the laboratory using the agar gel assay. The genotype Mukadziusaende produced significantly the least (P<0.01) quantities of strigolactones, as inferred from the maximum germination distance (MGD) from the sorghum root. The MGD was negatively correlated to tiller numbers illustrating that the more the strigolactones the less the tillering capacity. Tiller numbers and MGD can therefore be used to select for reduced strigolactones production.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The spectrochemical determination of certain minor trace elements in plant material
- Authors: Eve, Desmond John
- Date: 1961
- Subjects: Trace elements Spectrum analysis Plants -- Analysis Plants -- Effect of trace elements on Trace elements in agriculture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4469 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011773
- Description: A study has been made of three organic complexing reagents , namely dithizone, oxine and cupferron with a view to developing suitable methods for the separation and concentration of Zn, Co, Ni, Pb, Cu, Mn, Ti , V and Mo prior to the spectrometric determination of their concentrations. In particular the influence of pH on the chloroform extraction of ditihizonates, oxinates and cupferrates from aqueous tartrate and citrate solutions and the separation of iron by oxine extraction has been investigated. The development of a method for the chemical concentration and spectrcgraphic determination of Zn, Co, Ni, Pb, Ti, V and Mo is described and the possibility of determining Nn and Cu flame photometrically as part of the analysis scheme is demonstrated. A specially designed slide rule for the calculation of spectrographic results is described. A direct reading spectrometric method for the determination of Zn, Pb and Cu in plant material is presented. The analysis of plant ash for zinc using the 2138 . 6A spectrum line has been studied and a simple, rapid analysis method is described.
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- Date Issued: 1961
The South African shipping question, 1886-1914
- Authors: Solomon, Vivian
- Date: 1979
- Subjects: Shipping conferences -- History Shipping -- South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1039 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004667
- Description: From Preface: For the best part of a generation the "Shipping Question" was a talking-point in South Africa; yet today it is completely forgotten, and the name of its leading actor is virtually unknown. Scant reference to the controversy will be found in economic- or other histories; in the rare cases where it is alluded to, the treatment is superficial. This study seeks to fill that gap. At the outset it is advisable to define the scope of the work. It is not a history of the South African shipping trade in the pre-1914 era: shiplovers have had that ground amply covered by Marischal Murray, and indeed are unlikely to find in the following pages much to their taste. Neither is it an economic analysis of shipping conferences: there is a growing body of work on that subject, and this study does not seek to add to it. Nor is it a business history: it does not probe the structure, the management or the profitability of shipping enterprise in the period concerned. A full-scale discussion of these latter topics would be a major undertaking in its own right, nor is it at all certain that the necessary materials are accessible or even extant. In short, the study is concerned with the origins, the course and the outcome of the "Shipping Question" of the period 1886-1914. Documentation for a controversy that was essentially mercantile in its origins and its first dimensions might be thought to be patchy and sparse; but it is gratifying to record that a substantial volume of material has been uncovered. The newspapers and periodicals of the time, especially in the period before the Boer War, devoted much more attention to shipping than has since been usual; The British and South African Export Gazette, South Africa, The African Review, and the London edition of The Cape Argus have been of particular value. In that era, again, the Chambers of Commerce occupied a more prominent position in their communities than they seem to do now, and their meetings were reported at length, often to the extent of several columns of newsprint; these reports have been of great assistance. It is fortunate, moreover, that the papers of two of the leading protagonists on the South African side have survived: the Garlick Papers and the Jagger Papers, now housed in the University of Cape Town Libraries; these, while perhaps not as full as might have been hoped, have shed a good deal of light on mercantile thinking and strategy. If the controversy had been confined to the mercantile sector, however, it would scarcely justify detailed investigation. It entered also into the sphere of government and politics and it came to assume an Imperial dimension; and in these aspects it is pleasingly well documented in official primary sources. The papers of prominent public figures, furthermore, have yielded some valuable insights and, in some cases, the documents that rightfully belong in official repositories! The minutes of one of the corporate bodies to the dispute - the South African Merchants' Committee in London - are still extant, and they have been of great use in supplementing the (sometimes condensed) versions of the Committee's proceedings that are available from newspaper- and other sources. While disappointingly attenuated in some areas, the records of the Union-Castle Line have been alike fascinating and indispensable. The papers of Percy Molteno, a member of the Line's management and one of the leading actors in the second part of this study, form a valuable supplement to the records. One cause for regret has been the absence of primary sources emanating from the other shipping lines involved in the controversy. The Union- Castle Line was the dominant partner in the trade, and will therefore occupy the centre of the stage; but its colleagues' records would have been useful in perhaps correcting undue emphases or false perspectives.
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- Date Issued: 1979
The South African general anti-tax avoidance rule and lessons from the first world: a case law approach
- Authors: Pidduck, Teresa Michelle Calvert
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tax evasion -- South Africa , Taxpayer compliance -- South Africa , Taxation -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , South Africa. Income Tax Act, 1962 , Taxation -- Law and legislation -- Australia , Taxation -- Law and legislation -- Canada , Tax evasion -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , General anti-avoidance rule (GAAR)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60328 , vital:27768
- Description: Tax avoidance has been a concern to revenue authorities since the time that the concept of tax was first introduced. Revenue authorities worldwide constantly strive to ensure taxpayer compliance, while combating impermissible tax avoidance. South Africa uses a general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) as part of its arsenal to combat the increasingly innovative ways in which taxpayers seek to minimise their tax. However, the GAAR has been the source of much criticism and its effectiveness in combatting impermissible tax avoidance is untested in the courts. Therefore, the use of hindsight to criticise the GAAR is not possible. This study applied a qualitative approach to compare the South African, Australian and Canadian GAARs in order to propose changes which are intended to improve the efficacy of the South African GAAR. This research was performed by first comparing the three GAARs using a doctrinal research methodology and then applying the South African GAAR to the facts of selected cases from Australia and Canada in the form of reform-oriented research. In order to apply the South African GAAR to the facts of the cases a framework was developed in phase 1 of the research in order to ensure consistency in the application. This allowed for a more reliable analysis to be made regarding the areas where the South African GAAR could be improved. The convergence of results from the two research methodologies validated many of the suggestions made for the improvement of the South African GAAR This thesis examined the GAARs in South Africa, Australia and Canada with a view to identifying if there are any lessons to be learned for their application and interpretation, in order to suggest improvements which can be made to the South African GAAR. Further, relevant Australian and Canadian case law was found to be instructive as to the approach that could be adopted for purposes of applying the South African GAAR. The findings of the research revealed that while the South African, Australian and Canadian GAARs differ in their structure, each is directed to achieve the same end. The results of the study identified two types of improvements to the South African GAAR. Firstly, the South African GAAR should be consolidated into a three-part enquiry instead of the current four-part enquiry. In doing so the tainted elements (previously the abnormality requirement) could be used to inform an objective test of purpose. Secondly, guidance on areas of uncertainty regarding the application of the South African GAAR needs to be provided in order to prevent possible inconsistent judicial interpretations that may limit the efficacy of the GAAR whilst still protecting the right for taxpayers to legitimately minimise their tax burdens. One additional cause for concern highlighted in this research is the use of provisions from other jurisdictions without guidance on the application in the South African context. The use of similar provisions to that of its much-criticised predecessor has also introduced areas of uncertainty regarding the application of the South African GAAR. These areas of weakness and uncertainty arguably prevent the South African GAAR from being an effective deterrent to tax avoidance and many could be addressed by the legislature.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The South African community pharmacist and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus a pharmaceutical care intervention
- Authors: Hill, Peter William
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Pharmacist and patient -- South Africa , Pharmaceutical services -- Patients , Pharmaceutical services -- South Africa , Pharmacists -- South Africa , Diabetes -- Treatment -- South Africa , Community health services -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3760 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003238 , Pharmacist and patient -- South Africa , Pharmaceutical services -- Patients , Pharmaceutical services -- South Africa , Pharmacists -- South Africa , Diabetes -- Treatment -- South Africa , Community health services -- South Africa
- Description: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease of pandemic magnitude, increasingly contributing to the disease burden of countries in the developing world, largely because of the effects of unhealthy lifestyles fuelled by unbridled urbanisation. In certain settings, patients with diabetes are more likely to have a healthcare encounter with a pharmacist than with any other healthcare provider. The overall aim of the study was to investigate the potential of South African community pharmacists to positively influence patient adherence and metabolic control in Type 2 diabetes. The designated primary endpoint was glycated haemoglobin, with the intermediate health outcomes of blood lipids, serum creatinine, blood pressure and body mass index serving as secondary endpoints. Community pharmacists and their associated Type 2 diabetes patients were recruited from areas throughout South Africa using the communication media of various nonstatutory pharmacy organisations. Although 156 pharmacists initially indicated interest in participating in the study, only 28 pharmacists and 153 patients were enrolled prior to baseline data collection. Of these, 16 pharmacists and 57 patients participated in the study for the full twelve months. Baseline clinical and psychosocial data were collected, after which pharmacists and their patients were randomised, nine pharmacists and 34 patients to the intervention group and 8 pharmacists and 27 patients to the control group. The sample size calculation revealed that each group required the participation of a minimum of 35 patients. Control pharmacists were requested to offer standard pharmaceutical care, while the intervention pharmacists were provided with a scope of practice diabetes care plan to guide the diabetes care they were to provide. Data were again collected 12-months postbaseline. At baseline, proportionally more intervention patients (82.4%) than control patients (59.3%) were using only oral anti-diabetes agents (i.e. not in combination with insulin), while insulin usage, either alone or in combination with oral agents was conversely greater in the control group (40.7%) than in the intervention group (17.6%) (Chi-squared test, p=0.013). Approximately half of the patients (53.8% control and 47.1% intervention) reported having their HbA1c levels measured in terms of accepted guidelines. There was no significant difference in HbA1c between the groups at the end of the study (Independent t-test, p=0.514). In the control group, the mean HbA1c increased from 7.3±1.2% to 7.6±1.5%, while for the intervention patients the variable remained almost constant (8.2±2.0% at baseline and 8.2±1.8% at post-baseline). Similarly, there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to any of the designated secondary clinical endpoints. Adherence to medication and self-management recommendations was similarly good for both groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups for any of the other psychosocial variables measured. In conclusion, intervention pharmacists were not able to significantly influence glycaemic control or therapeutic adherence compared to the control pharmacists.
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- Date Issued: 2009
The South African anaphora: the development of the anaphora of the South African Eucharistic rite
- Authors: Hinchliff, Peter Bingham
- Date: 1958
- Subjects: Church of the Province of South Africa. Book of common prayer -- History -- Sources Eucharistic prayers Eucharistic prayers -- Anglican Communion Anglican Communion -- Liturgy -- History -- Sources Anglican Communion -- South Africa -- Liturgy -- History -- Sources.
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1260 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012293
- Description: The Prayer Book of the Church of England reached South Africa as a part of the establishment of the British Administration at the Cape. In its new environment it obviously required some revision. The Book of 1662 reflected the political and social conditions of its time. lt was designed for a Church not immediately concerned with missionary work amongst heathen peoples but directly established under the Crown. The circumstances of a Church in the colonies, particularly when the colonies became self-governing, required some modernisation of language, some omission and adaptation of old prayers and some addition of new ones. Yet the Church appears to have been wary of attempting anything more than this, and it was especially reluctant to make any revision which might imply a doctrinal change. The consecration prayer in the liturgy -'our incomparable liturgy' - was particularly sacrosanct by virtue of long use and the accretion of sentimental associations. Revision of this part of the book would naturally be slow and hesitant and this is the revision with which we are concerned - the most interesting and important part of the history of the South African Prayer Book. Chapter 1, p. 6.
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- Date Issued: 1958