The investigation of chemical variation in the stems and rhizomes of cissampelos capensis l. f. (menispermaceae) the Eastern Cape medicinal plant
- Authors: Latolla, Nehemiah Solomon
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Plants -- Composition Medicinal plants Endemic plants
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13970 , vital:27362
- Description: Cissampelos capensis L. f. (Menispermaceae) commonly known as “Mayisake” (Xhosa) and “Dawidjieswortel” (Afrikaans) is the most commonly used medicinal plant of the Menispermaceae family in South Africa. The rhizomes of Cissampelos capensis are the most used part of the plant to treat illnesses. This poses a threat to the ongoing conservation of this valuable endemic species. Thus, we studied the chemical variation and subsequently the bioactivity in the stems and rhizomes of Cissampelos capensis, the Eastern Cape medicinal plant, to suggest the possible use of the stems for medicinal purposes. We studied the variation in the chemical composition in the stems and the rhizomes by employing four different extraction methods; the methanolic-, non-polar-, alkaloidal- and Total Tertiary Alkaloidal (TTA) to extract compounds from Cissampelos capensis. Employing various chromatographic techniques, HPLC, NMR and LC/MS to investigate the chemical variation and the in vitro assays for the crude materials of the stems and rhizomes of Cissampelos capensis. We successfully documented a library of the phytochemicals content in Cissampelos capensis from three different regions in the Eastern Cape. We could profile different extraction methods, with the TTA extraction delivering the best comparative profile. Employing LC/MS and HPLC we identified eleven known alkaloidal compounds in the stems and rhizomes. We also isolated a known alkaloid, pronuciferine, from the TTA extract and a crystal structure of proto-quericitol from the methanolic extract, which was isolated for the first time from Cissampelos capensis. Preliminary in vitro results suggested anti-inflammatory activity in the methanolic extracts of the stems and rhizomes, while the TTA extracts showed some cytotoxicity. Finally, through analytical HPLC analysis this study found as high as 31% similarity between the chemical variation of the stems and rhizomes, but key alkaloids were not always present, indicating more work is needed before the stems can be recommended as a replacement for the rhizomes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The drivers of customer satisfaction at National Dairy Equipment (NDE)
- Authors: Laubscher, Ryno
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Consumer satisfaction Quality of products , SERVQUAL (Service quality framework)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13085 , vital:27150
- Description: National Dairy Equipment (Pty) Ltd (NDE) is a privately owned stockist and distributor of stainless steel products and is a respected player in the South African stainless steel industry. NDE operates from within all four major cities in South Africa namely, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Durban. The organisation, with its wide range of corrosion resistant products, serves industries such as the architecture and construction, automotive, catering, and food and beverage industry. With the stainless steel industry growing in terms of the number of competitors, NDE performs a number of functions in order to achieve customer satisfaction. The general purpose of the study was to indentify the attributes that would act as drivers of customer satisfaction at NDE. Five attributes were identified namely, Service quality, Trust and commitment, Product quality, Commercial aspects and Reliability. The results of this study could assist managers at NDE in improving service delivery to customers. The literature study provided an overview of overall customer satisfaction and possible measurement models for customer satisfaction. Measurement models included, SERVQUAL, SERVPERF, the Two-factor theory, the Kano model and the Three-factor model. The latter proved to be of particular importance to the study as the model was used to classify the identified drivers into basic, performance and excitement factors. Furthermore, a literature review was provided based on each of the identified potential drivers of customer satisfaction. The empirical data needed to complete the study was collected by means of a survey, using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed by sales representatives at NDE. A total of 320 useable questionnaires were received. The study revealed the following: each of the five proposed attributes had a positive relationship with overall customer satisfaction,thus all five attributes were confirmed as drivers of customer satisfaction at NDE. Commercial aspects and Reliability were classified as basic satisfiers. Trust and commitment was classified as a performance satisfier, and Service quality was identified as the only excitement satisfier. Product quality did not receive any classification. All importance mean scores were higher than the corresponding satisfaction mean scores. This study contributed to the existing body of literature and is seemingly the first of its kind in the South African stainless steel industry. The study is also the first to attempt the measurement of overall customer satisfaction levels at NDE. The methodology used in the current study can be applied to stainless steel industries internationally, in order to verify whether the confirmed drivers would also act as drivers of satisfaction in a similar industry elsewhere in the world.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
"Soliloquy: the untold story of Sleeping Beauty's dreams"; a re-vision of Charles Perrault's "The sleeping beauty in the woods."
- Authors: Ledwick, Lisa-Mari
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Perrault, Charles, 1628-1703 , Symbolism in fairy tales , Sleeping Beauty (Tale) in literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3155 , vital:20405
- Description: Taken as a whole, the purpose of the practical and theoretical components of this research aims to contextualise and present a contemporary fairy tale heroine who recuperates and re-values traditional aspects of femininity within a feminist context.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Replacing maize with barley in concetrates fed to jersey cows grazing on kikuyu/ryegrass pasture
- Authors: Lehmann, Maryna
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Jersey cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Dairy cattle -- Feeding and feeds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10732 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/181 , Jersey cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Dairy cattle -- Feeding and feeds
- Description: The aim of the first study was to determine if barley could replace maize as an energy source in concentrates fed to dairy cows grazing on kikuyu/ryegrass pasture without affecting the milk production, milk composition, or cause metabolic disorders. Sixty Jersey cows, in early to mid lactation were randomly allocated to one of five treatments (n = 12) based on feeding concentrates with different ratios of maize to barley, ranging from 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100, respectively. Concentrates contained 12 MJ ME kg -1 and 130g CP kg-1 DM and cows were fed 3 kg (as-is) concentrate after each milking for a period of 42 days (14-day adaptation and 28-day measurement). Cows strip-grazed the irrigated kikuyu/ryegrass pastures (15.7 ± 1.8 percent DM; 20.2 ± 4.3 percent CP; 44.7 ± 3.5 percent NDF). Milk weights were recorded daily and milk samples collected weekly and analyzed for milk fat and protein content. Body condition score and live weight were recorded at the start and end of the experimental period. Data of all the studies were subjected to a one-way ANOVA. Daily milk yield, FCM, MUN, milk fat yield, milk fat percent, protein yield, protein percent, live weight change, or body condition score change were not affected by treatment and values were 15.8 kg, 17.2 kg, 14.9 mg dl-1, 0.72 kg, 4.56 percent, 0.59 kg, 3.77 percent, 6.67 kg, and 0.15 BCS; 15.6 kg, 17.4 kg, 15.2 mg dl-1, 0.73 kg, 4.3 percent, 0.57 kg, 3.71 percent, 1.33 kg and 0.04 BCS; 17.2 kg, 17.9 kg, 15.2 mg dl-1, 0.74 kg, 4.36 percent, 0.63 kg, 3.71 percent, 0.33 kg and 0.08 BCS; 15.6 kg, 16.4 kg, 15.5 mg dl-1, 0.67 kg, 4.33 percent, 0.60 kg, 3.83 percent, -1.46 kg and 0.11 BCS; and 15.0 kg, 16.0 kg, 15.5 mg dl-1, 0.67 kg, 4.57 percent, 0.57 kg, 3.85 percent, 8.86 kg, and 0.05 BCS, respectively for the cows fed 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 maize to barley ratio concentrate. According to these results, barley can replace maize without significantly affecting the milk production or milk composition. None of the cows presented any visible symptoms of acidosis. As it was clear from the results in the first study that maize could replace barley the aim of study 2A was therefore focused on determining the effect of feeding different levels of such a barley-based (2.4, 4.8 or 7.2 kg cow-1day-1) concentrate, on milk production, milk composition and live weight change of Jersey cows on kikuyu/ryegrass pasture (23.1 ± 2.95 percent DM, 11.1 ± 0.11 percent CP, 60.8 ± 0.58 percent NDF). Forty-five Jersey cows (early- to mid lactation), were randomly allocated to one of three treatments (n = 15) involving different levels of concentrate (12 MJ ME and 130g CP kg-1 DM) feeding for a period of 42 days (14-day adaptation and 28-day measurement). Milk weights were also recorded daily, and milk samples collected weekly, and analyzed for milk fat and protein. Body condition score and live weight were recorded at the start and end of the experimental period. The results of this study indicated that increasing the concentrate level from 2.4 to 4.8 and 7.2kg cow-1day-1 did not increase the milk yield (14.0 kg, 15.2 kg, 14.4 kg; P = 0.19). The FCM production increased from 15.8 to 17.5kg (P = 0.04) as the concentrate level increased from 2.4 to 4.8kg cow-1day-1. Increasing the concentrate from 4.8 to 7.2kg cow-1day-1 did not result in a significant increase in FCM. The milk protein percent increased significantly from 3.4 - 3.6 percent when the concentrate feeding level was increased from 2.4 to 7.2kg cow-1day-1. The MUN levels were 17.09 mg dl-1, 16.03 5 mg dl-1, and 16.36 mg dl-1 for the 2.4, 4.8 and 7.2kg cow-1day-1 concentrate levels, respectively. This is well within the recommended MUN levels (12 – 18 mg dl-1) indicating that sufficient protein was fed to cows. Increasing the concentrate level from 4.8 to 7.2 kg cow-1day-1 did not increase production, probably due to a higher pasture substitution rate. Supplementing large quantities of rapidly fermentable grains, such as barley, can suppress rumen pH and may have a negative effect on the rate and extent of fibre digestion in the rumen. Therefore the aim of study 2B was not only to determine the effect of feeding different levels of a barley-based concentrate, on milk production, milk composition and live weight change, but was also to determine the effect of a low (4.8 kg cow-1day-1) versus a high (7.2 kg cow-1day-1) level of barley-based concentrate supplementation on ruminal DM and NDF degradability of Westerworld ryegrass sampled from the pastures that these cows were grazing on. Sixty Jersey cows (early- to mid lactation), were randomly allocated to one of three treatments (n = 20) involving different levels of concentrate feeding. Concentrate (12 MJ ME, 130g CP kg-1 DM) was fed at 2.4, 4.8 or 7.2 kg cow-1day-1 for a period of 74 days (14-day adaptation and 60-day measurement). These cows stripgrazed irrigated kikuyu/ryegrass pastures (14.7 ± 4.37 percent DM, 25.1 ± 1.53 percent CP, and 44.4 ± 2.58 percent NDF) at a daily pasture allocation of 10 kg DM cow-1. Milk weights were recorded daily and milk samples collected weekly and analyzed for milk fat and protein. Body condition score and live weight were recorded at the start and end of the experimental period. Twelve Jersey cows, fitted with ruminal cannulae, were randomly allocated to two of the three treatments in the production study and received either 2.4 or 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1, of the same barley-based concentrate, in a two-period crossover design. These cows strip-grazed the same irrigated kikuyu/ryegrass pastures as the sixty cows in the production study. Each period consisted of 21 days for adaptation and seven days for data collection. Rumen liquor samples were collected every 4 hours within a 24-hour cycle and repeated once. Rumen pH was measured immediately, recorded, and the supernatant fluid preserved and frozen, pending VFA analysis. The in situ nylon bag technique was used to determine DM and NDF degradation and dried samples of Westerworld ryegrass pasture were incubated for 0, 4, 8, 12, 20, 30, 48, 72 and 96 hours. The data were fitted in the non-linear model p = a + b (1-exp-ct) (Ørskov & McDonald, 1979). Daily milk production, fat corrected milk, milk fat yield and milk fat percent were not affected by treatment and values were 17.3 kg, 18.4 kg, 0.76 kg and 4.42 percent; 19.0 kg, 20.0 kg, 0.82 kg and 4.35 percent; and 18.1 kg, 19.1 kg, 0.79 kg and 4.37 percent for the 2.4, 4.8 and 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1 concentrate treatments, respectively. Milk protein percentage of cows on the 7.2 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 was significantly higher than that of cows on 4.2 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 feeding level. Live weight increased significantly as the level of concentrate feeding increased and values were 17.9 kg; and 28.9 kg on the 2.4 and 7.2kg concentrate treatment, respectively. There was a significant increase in the live weight of cows that were fed 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1 (as-is) in comparison to those cows that were fed 2.4 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 (as-is). This may have resulted from more nutrients being partitioned to live weight gain rather than milk production. No further response in milk production was observed when concentrate daily feeding was increased from 4.8 to 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1. It is postulated that the higher concentrate allowance resulted in a higher substitution rate and lower DMI intake from pasture. 6 There was no significant decline in the rumen pH (6.2 ± 0.4 and 6.2 ± 0.5) when the concentrate level was increased from 2.4 to 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1 (as-is). The total VFA (118.1 ± 45.9 and 139.4 ± 45.6 mmol L-1) and isovalerate (0.009 ± 0.07 and 0.248 ± 0.52 mmol L-1) increased significantly when the concentrate was increased from 2.4 to 7.2 kg cow-1day-1. No other rumen parameters were affected by treatment. Ruminal DM and NDF degradability of the Kikuyu/ryegrass pature were not affected by the level of concentrate supplementation. An increase in the concentrate level from 2.4 to 7.2 kg cow-1day-1 did not reduce degradability of either DM (94.67 ± 5.97, 94.49 ± 5.09; P = 0.919) or NDF (92.15 ± 8.69, 94.4 ± 11.73; P = 0.451), respectively. Results of rumen parameters and PD values were within the range reported by Bargo et al., (2003), viz. pH 5.76 – 6.29, NH3-N concentration 8.7 – 32.2 mg dl-1, total VFA concentration 90.3 - 151.4 mmol L-1 and PD values 89.5 – 93.5 % reported by Bargo et al. (2003). According to these authors, there is no simple relationship between any amount of the concentrate supplemented, and the ruminal pH and concentrate feeding only affects the in situ ruminal digestion of pasture when it is fed, at quantities higher than 8 kg DM cow-1day-1 (Bargo et al., 2003).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
Evolving a secure grid-enabled, distributed data warehouse : a standards-based perspective
- Authors: Li, Xiao-Yu
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Computational grids (Computer systems) , Computer networks -- Security measures , Electronic data processing -- Distributed processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9738 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/544 , Computational grids (Computer systems) , Computer networks -- Security measures , Electronic data processing -- Distributed processing
- Description: As digital data-collection has increased in scale and number, it becomes an important type of resource serving a wide community of researchers. Cross-institutional data-sharing and collaboration introduce a suitable approach to facilitate those research institutions that are suffering the lack of data and related IT infrastructures. Grid computing has become a widely adopted approach to enable cross-institutional resource-sharing and collaboration. It integrates a distributed and heterogeneous collection of locally managed users and resources. This project proposes a distributed data warehouse system, which uses Grid technology to enable data-access and integration, and collaborative operations across multi-distributed institutions in the context of HV/AIDS research. This study is based on wider research into OGSA-based Grid services architecture, comprising a data-analysis system which utilizes a data warehouse, data marts, and near-line operational database that are hosted by distributed institutions. Within this framework, specific patterns for collaboration, interoperability, resource virtualization and security are included. The heterogeneous and dynamic nature of the Grid environment introduces a number of security challenges. This study also concerns a set of particular security aspects, including PKI-based authentication, single sign-on, dynamic delegation, and attribute-based authorization. These mechanisms, as supported by the Globus Toolkit’s Grid Security Infrastructure, are used to enable interoperability and establish trust relationship between various security mechanisms and policies within different institutions; manage credentials; and ensure secure interactions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A flexible vehicle measurement system for modern automobile production
- Authors: Lichtenberg, Thilo
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- Quality control -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9632 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/546 , Automobile industry and trade -- Quality control -- South Africa
- Description: To stay competitive and to be able to sell high-class products in the modern automobile production it is absolutely necessary to check the quality standard of a manufactured vehicle. The normal measurement strategy to check the quality standard of a completely assembled car is through a complex measurement strategy whilst the vehicle is in the actual series production. This is an immensely time and money consuming process. Furthermore, measurement systems are fixed within a certain position and the flexible measurement of a produced vehicle is very difficult to realize. This project presents a measurement system compliant to all quality guidelines, with which it is possible to measure any mounted component from a completely assembled vehicle wherever and whenever required. For the first time it is possible to measure the vehicle quality and dimensional standard from the first body in white prototype assembled in production up to the completely assembled vehicle delivered to the customer. The result of this project is a measurement system that consists of a hardware tool and a specially programmed software add-on. The complete system could easily be carried to the vehicle that must be analysed. This gives a lot of advantages. Furthermore it is possible to use this developed technology for the whole Volkswagen Company including the other brands like Audi, Skoda and Seat.
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A study of the development of partner relationships associated with the chinese travel trade to South Africa
- Authors: Lin, Bin
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Travel agents -- South Africa , Tourism -- China , Travel agents -- China , Tourism -- South Africa , Relationship marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9336 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/414 , Travel agents -- South Africa , Tourism -- China , Travel agents -- China , Tourism -- South Africa , Relationship marketing
- Description: The Chinese inbound tourism market to SA has been acknowledged as an emerging market. However, South African tour operators experience difficulties in establishing and developing viable partner relationships with Chinese travel agents. Recognizing the size, importance and complexity of this market, the major purpose of this research is to explore and investigate the crucial process of developing Sino-South African partnership relationships in the tourism industry, to facilitate the establishment of business relationships with Chinese travel agents. This study is draws on applied marketing, management and cross-cultural theories on networking to explore the process of developing partnership relationships in the Chinese inbound tourism market to SA. The literature on networking, the development of networking relationships, and the effect of guanxi (connection), a key feature of Chinese business networking on partnership relations are reviewed. Given the limited research conducted on this topic and its cross-country nature, a quantitative research method was adopted for this study. Specifically, this study utilized e-mail survey techniques to explore the relationships between South African inbound tour operators and Chinese travel agents. This study identifies that the process of developing partnership relationships between Chinese travel agents and South African inbound tour operators is culturally embedded. They are giving rise to communication problems that affect partnership relationships. A new stage model of the development of partnership relationships between South African inbound tour operators and Chinese travel agents is therefore developed. In particular, the study identifies important factors in the process of developing business relationships. For example, mutual commitment, the pricing issue, word-of-mouth, and quality of services are all considered crucial in attaining long-term stable partnership relationships. Guanxi plays a significant, but not decisive role in the process of developing partnership relationships between Chinese travel agents and South African inbound tour operators. However, guanxi relationships can provide added value to the partnership relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Towards the optimization of resolution and rendering issues in the context of contemporary environmental design computer modelling
- Authors: Liu, Peng
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Architecture -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa , Environmental engineering , City planning , Engineering design
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8151 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/548 , Architecture -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa , Environmental engineering , City planning , Engineering design
- Description: This dissertation sets out to find a pragmatic solution for optimizing both resolution and rendering issues in the context of contemporary environmental design computer modelling. In this regard the following issues are addressed: Firstly, determining (with reference to a limited selection of existing 3DS Max software and plugins (i.e. VRay and Mental-Ray), which specific piece of software produces the best compromise as far as visual accuracy is concerned whilst still offering the designer the best scope for further design manipulation. Secondly, establishing design techniques which can increase the speed of model making as well as reduce rendering time without having an adverse effect on issues such as resolution and image quality. Lastly, ascertaining the least number of surfaces for a typical geometrical shape (e.g. chair, table, ornament etc.) without losing visual veracity by manipulation of the design itself. The research strongly supports the notion that VRay is the best overall software to be employed as a base before applying any design solutions. In this latter regard a number of solutions became evident as a means to both save memory and cut down on rendering time, including such factors as using spotlight rather than an omni light when rendering, because omni light calculations include the generation of needless shadows. The beneficial effect of employing ‘target direct’ light and reducing the area of light in order to decrease the calculation of shadow. Eliminating objects which do not need shadows from the lighting calculation and shutting off the reverberation and refraction factors before rendering. It was also confirmed that a black and white mipmap is better than a colour mipmap as far as saving on the system’s memory.
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- Date Issued: 2006
Celebrity endorsements of branded apparel and its role in printed advertising
- Authors: Liu, Ziyu
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Advertising -- Brand name products , Brand name products , Endorsements in advertising
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9363 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1178 , Advertising -- Brand name products , Brand name products , Endorsements in advertising
- Description: Purchasing is an important concept in the life of students. The decision whether to purchase branded apparel is hence a very important one. The 21st century student is less loyal and more demanding when choosing branded apparel. Marketers should understand how students evaluate celebrity endorsers when they appear in printed advertising and respond accordingly. The objective of the research is to find out how celebrity endorsed print advertisements affect Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) students’ purchase behaviour. The results of this study could assist marketers in improving the quality of their advertising and to more accurately meet the needs of this dynamic student market. A literature review was conducted to provide an understanding of the consumer purchasing behaviour and the role celebrity endorser played in printed advertisements. The empirical study was designed to assess the impact of the use of celebrity endorsements of printed advertisements targeted at NMMU students. The empirical findings showed that both male and female students indicated that the use of celebrity endorsers get their attention and created interest, and make advertisements more memorable. Males were more influenced than ii females. Moreover, both groups indicated that for a desired or familiar product, celebrity endorsers did not easily change their purchase decisions. It was also found that the use of pictures, colours and wording featured in the advertisements are important to students. The study proposes that marketers should continue to focus on effective marketing communications and establish whether a celebrity should be used. The correct selection of a celebrity endorser can help to create greater consumer persuasion.
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- Date Issued: 2009
Strategic adaptive management and the efficiency of invasive alien plant management in South African national parks
- Authors: Loftus, Wynand Johan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Biodiversity -- South Africa -- Management , Alien plants -- South Africa , Invasive plants -- South Africa , Ecosystem management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10755 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020089
- Description: It is well known that invasive alien plants (IAPs) pose a significant threat to natural biodiversity and human well-being. Through various pressures exerted on natural ecosystems, IAPs decrease and alter natural processes that provide important ecosystems services and livelihoods to human communities. These plants also displace and out-compete natural plant communities in the areas in which they invade. Management of IAPs is a complex issue with social, environmental and financial challenges. The long-term sustainable management of IAPs requires a management approach that monitors and measures the outcomes of current management practices, and considers the lessons learnt in future decision making. Adaptive management is such an approach and is characterised by monitoring, assessment, reflection and adaptation. In this dissertation I explore IAP management within the South African National Parks (SANParks) organisation. I focus on the quality of the available IAP clearing data for monitoring and environmental decision-making and explore how strategic adaptive management (SAM) is being applied to IAP management. Strategic adaptive management is a form of adaptive management that SANParks adopted to deal with the inherent unpredictability of the social ecological systems they manage, and is primarily a learning-by-doing approach. In chapter one I describe the various impacts that IAPs have on natural environments. I also discuss management of IAPs, the national Working for Water (WfW) programme and how SANParks control IAPs in partnership with WfW. Clearing of IAPs within the borders of SANParks is funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs‘ (DEA) Natural Resource Management programmes and carried out through the Working for Water programme, under SANParks‘ Biodiversity Social Projects programme and is done on a contract basis. Contract data are stored in the Working for Water Information Management System (WIMS) database. Although IAP clearing is well established, the efficiency of overall clearing operations within the parks, and quality and reliability of the data available in the WIMS, needs to be examined. In Chapter two, I (i) assess the status of IAP clearing and the direct clearing costs in each of the five national parks (costs are inflated to 2012 equivalents using the consumer price index), (ii) assess the accuracy of workload estimations for WfW IAP clearing, and (iii) discuss the utility of WIMS as a system to collate and store accurate data for monitoring purposes, focusing on the integrity and reliability of the data, the accuracy of density estimations and whether it can inform sound decision making. The planning of future clearing contracts lacks efficiency due to inaccuracies and unreliability of input data, specifically estimates of invasive alien plant density. The accuracy of density estimation and cost of clearing varies greatly between parks and does not appear to reflect the reality on the ground. In Chapter 3, through an interview process with IAP managers, I 1) unpack the steps in the SAM ‗cycle‘ and investigate the effectiveness of implementation of each step according to respondents; 2) assess the barriers that are currently keeping managers from implementing effective IAP management; 3) discuss whether learning and adaptation is taking place, and 4) discuss how the SAM process can be modified to promote its effectiveness.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The risk of borrowed capital for commercial, industrial and residential property developments
- Authors: Loock, Morne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Commercial buildings -- Finance Industrial sites -- Finance , Real estate developers -- South Africa Financial institutions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18288 , vital:28615
- Description: Most property development firms who invest in property will need to raise some extra financial support. Unforeseen or unexpected expenses can arise at any point in time during the development process. Calculated decisions should be taken with regards to the financial circumstances for any property development project. Decisions should be taken not only for the present but for the future as well. It is therefore important to understand the market and the current economic conditions before applying for capital to fund a property development project. There several types of finance available to fund property development, these include long term borrowing, short term borrowing, construction loans property development investment trust, second mortgages. There is risk to all of the aforementioned finance available.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Earth stewardship in prepress:a model for Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University graphic design lectures
- Authors: Lottering,John Barry
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Curriculum planning--South Africa-- Port Elizabeth Graphic arts--Study and teaching--South africa-- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44471 , vital:37842
- Description: A lack of prepress understanding is responsible for a great deal of wasted resources in the graphic design and printing industries in Nelson Mandela Bay. As the term “prepress” extends to such a vast range of design activities, it is quite difficult to ascertain where prepress begins or ends. Asking the question “What is prepress?” is like asking “How long is a piece of string?” Defining the scope of prepress can present a formidable challenge for any graphic design lecturer hoping to equip students with the necessary prepress understanding and skills required by the graphic design industry. Also, even if the academic has a sound knowledge of prepress theory and practice, how does one guarantee that all of the required knowledge is covered during the course of the student’s graphic design education, and that it is done so in a manner that meets the needs of the graphic design industry? Added to this, educators have a responsibility to consider the environmental consequences of sending graduating designers, without industry required prepress knowledge, into the design industry, an industry that has grown accustomed to training junior designers in prepress practice through trial and error. Such trial and error equates to mistakes and wasted resources, as a result this learning curve comes at the expense of the environment. The intention of this research is to provide an accessible resource for graphic design lecturers, by way of a list of prepress best practice topics, required for inclusion in the graphic design syllabus at NMMU, such that earth stewardship and sustainable design-for-print are an implicit component. This list of topics is a product of research which drew on local industry experts in Nelson Mandela Bay.
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- Date Issued: 2017
A holistic approach to network security in OGSA-based grid systems
- Authors: Loutsios, Demetrios
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9736 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/550 , Computer networks -- Security measures
- Description: Grid computing technologies facilitate complex scientific collaborations between globally dispersed parties, which make use of heterogeneous technologies and computing systems. However, in recent years the commercial sector has developed a growing interest in Grid technologies. Prominent Grid researchers have predicted Grids will grow into the commercial mainstream, even though its origins were in scientific research. This is much the same way as the Internet started as a vehicle for research collaboration between universities and government institutions, and grew into a technology with large commercial applications. Grids facilitate complex trust relationships between globally dispersed business partners, research groups, and non-profit organizations. Almost any dispersed “virtual organization” willing to share computing resources can make use of Grid technologies. Grid computing facilitates the networking of shared services; the inter-connection of a potentially unlimited number of computing resources within a “Grid” is possible. Grid technologies leverage a range of open standards and technologies to provide interoperability between heterogeneous computing systems. Newer Grids build on key capabilities of Web-Service technologies to provide easy and dynamic publishing and discovery of Grid resources. Due to the inter-organisational nature of Grid systems, there is a need to provide adequate security to Grid users and to Grid resources. This research proposes a framework, using a specific brokered pattern, which addresses several common Grid security challenges, which include: Providing secure and consistent cross-site Authentication and Authorization; Single-sign on capabilities to Grid users; Abstract iii; Underlying platform and runtime security, and; Grid network communications and messaging security. These Grid security challenges can be viewed as comprising two (proposed) logical layers of a Grid. These layers are: a Common Grid Layer (higher level Grid interactions), and a Local Resource Layer (Lower level technology security concerns). This research is concerned with providing a generic and holistic security framework to secure both layers. This research makes extensive use of STRIDE - an acronym for Microsoft approach to addressing security threats - as part of a holistic Grid security framework. STRIDE and key Grid related standards, such as Open Grid Service Architecture (OGSA), Web-Service Resource Framework (WS-RF), and the Globus Toolkit are used to formulate the proposed framework.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
User experience factors for mobile banking adoption: South African case study
- Authors: Louw, Jacques Gerrit
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- Technological innovations -- South Africa , Mobile commerce -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39207 , vital:35059
- Description: Smartphone devices are driving the transformation of online banking to satisfy the needs and desires of the consumer. This has led South African commercial banks to launch mobile banking applications on smartphones to enhance the growth of the economy and to provide more opportunities to improve the deprived sector of the economy, at acceptable rates. Moreover, opportunities exist for revenue growth, such as the delivery of greater real-time access to products and the offering of a wide variety of banking services. South African commercial banks could realise opportunities for economical and revenue growth should they focus on specific criteria that could enhance mobile banking adoption. Such criteria could not until recently, be realised by commercial banks in South Africa as the adoption rate of mobile banking remained low at 9%. Numerous South African studies have attempted to determine factors that could enhance mobile banking adoption in South Africa. There is, however, a lack of South African studies attempting to identify user experience factors that could enhance mobile banking adoption in South Africa. User experience refers to the subjective feeling of the user that results from their interaction or intention to interact with a product, to perform a specific task in a specific environment. One of the most important components for the success of any product is a positive user experience. When the user interface and functionality of a product match the expectations of the users and make the users effective and efficient, feel safe and attain some level of self-worth from using or possessing the product, their interaction with the product becomes more satisfactory. Consequently, the importance of designing for a positive user experience opens up the potential for identifying potential user experience factors that could enhance mobile banking adoption in South Africa. The user experience factors identified in this study infer their components from the user experience aspect of persuasive design and its elements, namely persuasion and trust, that led to the emergence of scarcity, reciprocation and security factors that could enhance mobile banking adoption in South Africa. A case study was employed to confirm the factors that could enhance mobile banking adoption in South Africa. The findings from the case study and the extensive literature review culminated in a set of user experience factors that in future could enhance the adoption of mobile banking in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Investigating the use of the ITIL framework towards IT services delivery at the NMMU
- Authors: Lubambo, Nontobeko
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Information technology -- Management , Management information systems , Computer industry -- Customer services -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9767 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1001 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009657 , Information technology -- Management , Management information systems , Computer industry -- Customer services -- Management
- Description: The purpose of this research was to investigate what is involved in IT Service Management and how the NMMU can implement it to improve the quality of IT service support and service delivery. The IT Service Management approach was investigated but the main focus was on the Service Support and Service Delivery in the ITIL framework. Higher Education was analyzed to try and measure the maturity level of the ITIL process implementation to see where Higher Education in South Africa is and to determine the gaps. Findings from the empirical study will be presented and recommendations highlighted to Top management and the IT department in order to promote and improve the quality of the IT service being delivered to users and customers. The data was collected and administered by means of a structured questionnaire based on the ITIL Service Capacity Maturity Model and Rick Leopoldi’s alternative Maturity Assessment method. An Association of South African University Directors of Information Technology (ASAUDIT) questionnaire on Service Management was also used to supplement the questionnaire. It was discovered that the implementation of ITIL in most organizations brought about improvements and benefits in the quality of the IT service being delivered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Optimizing the recovery rate of Mycobacterium species from gastric lavages in children at an urban Zambian hospital
- Authors: Lubasi, David
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Mycobacterium , Tuberculosis in children -- Diagnosis -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10118 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1440 , Mycobacterium , Tuberculosis in children -- Diagnosis -- Zambia
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) has re-emerged as a major worldwide public health hazard with increasing incidence among adults and children. Although cases among children represent a small percentage of all TB cases, they are a reservoir from which many adult cases will arise. Estimates indicate that 9 million people develop TB annually, out of which 1 million (11 percent) occur in children less than 15 years old. Childhood tuberculosis is on the increase worldwide because of persisting inability to conform the diagnosis, leading to a large number of children dying of undiagnosed tuberculosis. Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis has depended on bacteriological examination of sputum. In most of the developing countries sputum smear microscopy has been used as it has been found to be cheap and relative efficient. As a result of the high TB burden, there is an urgent need for improved methods of laboratory diagnosis of TB. This is especially needed in children were diagnosis is more challenging as mycobacteria is being detected in fewer than 50 percent of the cases. Children cannot produce adequate sputum samples for examination. Their sputum samples, if produced, has a low bacterial yield and making detection of mycobacteria by using the smear microscopy difficult. Therefore, gastric lavages from children are being recommended as the best specimen for culture. In this study, gastric lavages from 408 children suspected of having tuberculosis were examined for the recovery of mycobacteria. Recovery was optimized by the use of the relatively new non-radiometric fully automated BACTEC MGIT 960. BACTEC MGIT 960 produced a positivity rate of 27.2 percent against 17.2 percent that of Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) media, which is a conventional culture method used widely. The direct microscopy which is the cheapest traditional method used in diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) yielded a 5.6 percent positive rate. The BACTEC MGIT 960 had also a very high isolate detection rate of 98.2 percent compared to that of L-J media of 61.9 percent, and only 20.4 percent were detected with the direct microscopy. On time taken to detection or mean time to detection (TTD) of v isolates, the BACTEC MGIT 960 technique had a shorter mean time to detection, 12.5 days as compared to 34.3 days shown by the L-J media technique. The study showed that children normally get tuberculosis from adult members of the household. A positive TB case was found in the households of 55.4 percent of the suspects. The study has found that 46.4 percent of the children below the age of 4 years developed the disease, compared to 10.5 percent the older children in the age group 10 to 14 years. The study found that tuberculosis in children is mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Out of the 113 isolates detected, 110 (97.3 percent) were M. tuberculosis. The remaining 2.7 percent were the non-tuberculous M. avium complex and M. kansasii. It was inconclusive whether the 2.7 percent of other species were causing tuberculosis and this need to be studied further.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
A model to address factors that could influence the information security behaviour of computing graduates
- Authors: Mabece, Thandolwethu , Thomson, Kerry-Lynn
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Information technology -- Security measures , Computer security , Cyber intelligence (Computer security)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7355 , vital:21339
- Description: The fact that information is ubiquitous throughout most modern organisations cannot be denied. Information is not merely used as an enabler in modern organisations today, but is also used to gain a competitive advantage over competitors. Thus, information has become one of the most important business assets. It is, therefore, imperative that organisations protect information assets as they would protect other business assets. This is typically achieved through implementing various security measures.Technological and procedural security measures are largely dependent on humans. However, the incorrect behaviour of humans poses a significant threat to the protection of these information assets. Thus, it is vital to understand how human behaviour may impact the protection of information assets. While the focus of much literature is on organisations, the focus of this research is on higher education institutions and the factors of information security, with a specific focus on influencing the information security behaviour of computing graduates. Typically, computing graduates would be employed in organisations in various careers such as software developers, network administrators, database administrators and information systems analysts. Employment in these careers means that they would be closely interacting with information assets and information systems. A real problem, as identified by this research, is that currently, many higher education institutions are not consciously doing enough to positively influence the information security behaviour of their computing graduates. This research presents a model to address various factors that could influence the information security behaviour of computing graduates. The aim of this model is to assist computing educators in influencing computing graduates to adopt more secure behaviour, such as security assurance behaviour. A literature review was conducted to identify the research problem. A number of theories such as the Theory of Planned Behaviour, Protection Motivation Theory and Social Cognitive Theory were identified as being relevant for this research as they provided a theoretical foundation for factors that could influence the information security behaviour of computing graduates. Additionally, a survey was conducted to gather the opinions and perceptions of computing educators relating to information security education in higher education institutions. Results indicated that information security is not pervasively integrated within the higher education institutions surveyed. Furthermore, results revealed that most computing students were perceived to not be behaving in a secure manner with regard to information security. This could negatively influence their information security behaviour as computing graduates employed within organisations. Computing educators therefore require assistance in influencing the information security behaviour of these computing students. The proposed model to provide this assistance was developed through argumentation and modelling.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
A skills profile of female managers in the construction and engineering industry of Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Mackenzie, Caleigh Simone
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Women executives -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/2824 , vital:16229
- Description: The male-dominated nature of the construction and engineering industries is a well-known phenomenon. This research provides insight into the skills required by female managers in order to manage successfully in these industries dominated by males. The primary purpose of this research is to identify the skills profile of female managers in the construction and engineering industry of Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB). Even though the number of female managers in senior management positions is increasing, South Africa still has a long way to go before men and women are considered equal with regard to the roles that they play and the positions that they occupy in the work-place (Mail & Guardian Online, 2012: 1). Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the skills needed by female managers in the construction and engineering industry of NMB. This study attempts to provide answers to the following research questions: What are the management skills a manager should have? What is the skills profile of female managers in the construction and engineering sector of NMB? Is there a skills gap in the current literature? The literature overview was conducted on roles, functions and skills of managers as well as female managers in male-dominated industries from journals and books published between 2000 and 2014. Topics researched included the roles and functions of managers, generic management skills and industry-specific management skills, females as managers and leaders, barriers to managerial success for females, and the nature of the construction and engineering industries. Chapter four discusses the research design and methodology used in this study. The quantitative research approach was used in order to solve the main problem of this study. A non-probability sampling method was used for this study. Purposive sampling and snowball sampling methods were used. These methods seemed most appropriate given the small sample size, the fact that self-completion questionnaires were used to gather data from female managers, and the fact that the researcher investigated only the skills exhibited data. The Master Builders’ Association was contacted in order to identify respondents in construction. Respondents in engineering were identified using snowball sampling, which forms part of non-probability sampling. A questionnaire was developed based on the management skills identified in the literature study conducted. Primary data was collected through e-mail distribution of a cover letter requesting the respondent to complete the attached questionnaire. The data was then loaded on an Excel data base for further use and analysis. Once primary data had been collected, it was analysed using appropriate statistical methods. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data to determine the skills’ profile of female managers in the construction and engineering industry of NMB, as reflected in the collected data. These results were then used to identify areas for further research. The analysis revealed that the majority of the sample was between the ages of 29 and 38 years old and employed in the construction industry. The sample mainly consisted of top level managers with a Masters as their highest educational qualification (41 per cent). The majority of the respondents agreed that conceptual, technical, political, analytic, administrative, and diagnostic skills are required to effectively manage an organisation. Based on the findings, the majority of the respondents strongly agreed that leadership, planning, organising, conflict management, and project management skills are industry-specific management skills required to manage effectively in the construction and engineering industry. The majority of respondents indicated that they had learned these skills through workplace training and experience. The majority of the respondents agree that female managers excel in certain managerial skills and even believe that female managers possess different skills to those of male managers. The results of this study are expected to create awareness of the current state of the construction and engineering industry in NMB. The information will enable employers as well as FET institutions to create interventions and equip females with the necessary skills to become engineering and construction professionals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Reactions towards the synthesis of the uncommon P57 cymarose moiety
- Authors: Mahanjana, Lungelwa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Chemistry, Organic , Organic compounds -- Synthesis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6711 , vital:21136
- Description: The work described in this study aims to investigate methods that will improve a lengthy synthetic pathway in the synthesis of the P57 cymarose moiety, and to examine the conformational structure of certain glycosides in order to shed light on the problematic stereochemical issues surrounding the formation of the cymarose glycosyl donor. The cymarose moiety forms part of the trisaccharide derivative present in P57, an appetite suppressant molecule. Modification of reaction steps in the conversion of the stereochemistry at C-3 of a previously reported synthesis of the P57 cymarose moiety was carried out. The first step was the selective oxidation of D-glucal using Pd/C in the presence of acetonitrile. These reaction conditions are more appropriate for the oxidation step to avoid decomposition of the formed molecules. Successive protection of the free OH groups was followed by NaBH4 reduction under stereo-controlled conditions, influenced by CeCl3•7H2O. However, the reduced product could not be isolated from the starting material and this led to ambiguous results when attempting to confirm whether the conversion of the stereochemistry at C-3 had occurred or not. The effect of reaction conditions, such as change in reaction temperature, during the preparation of the cymarose glycosyl donor was studied in order to find suitable reaction conditions to produce α,β-allo derivatives with high stereoselectivity. Compared to the reported synthetic method, this set-up gave improved yields with, unfortunately, similar or slightly lower selectivity to the formation of α-altro:α,β-allo derivative. Examination of the conformational structure of the allal derivative, in order to understand the mechanism at work during the placement of the directing group at C-2, was carried out using molecular modelling. The mechanistic implications of this very short study are discussed and it provides some insights into the likely pathway of the iodination reaction and its selectivity in particular, to the D-allose system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Packed-bed rock thermal energy storage for concetrated solar power: enhancement of storage time and system efficiency
- Authors: Maidadi, Mohaman Bello
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Solar thermal energy , Energy storage , Reliability (Engineering)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9639 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020914
- Description: Solar thermal energy harvesting is a promising solution to offset the electricity demands of a growing population. The use of the technology is however still limited and this can most likely be attributed to the capital cost and also the intermittent nature of solar energy which requires incorporation of a storage system. To make the technology more attractive and effective, cheap means of harvesting solar energy and the development of efficient and inexpensive thermal energy storage devices will improve the performance of solar energy systems and the widespread use of solar energy. Heat storage in a packed-bed rock with air as the working fluid presents an attractive and simple solution for storing solar thermal energy and it is recommended for solar air heaters. A packed-bed rock storage system consists of rocks of good heat capacity packed in a storage tank. The working fluid (air) flows through the bed to transfer its energy. The major concern of the design for a packed-bed rock thermal storage system is to maximize the heat transfer and minimise the pressure drop across the storage tank and hence the pumping power. The time duration the stored energy can be preserved and the air flow wall effect through the bed are the common complications encountered in this system. This study presents an experimental and analytical analysis of a vacuum storage tank with the use of expanded perlite for high temperature thermal energy storage in a packed-bed of rocks. Dolerite rocks are used as the storage medium due to their high heat capacity and as they are locally available. To minimise the pressure drop across the tank, moderate rock sizes are used. The tank contains baffles, allowing an even spread of air to rock contact through the entire tank, therefore improving heat transfer. There is a good correlation between the predicted and the actual results (4 percent) which implies that the baffles incorporated inside the vacuum tank forces the air through the entire tank, thereby resulting in an even lateral temperature distribution across the tank. The investigation of heat loss showed that a vacuum with expanded perlite is a viable solution to high temperature heat storage for an extended period. The research also focuses on the investigation of a proposed low cost parabolic trough solar collector for an air heating system as shown in Figure (1.3). The use of a standard solar geyser evacuated tube (@R130 each) has cost benefits over the industry standard solar tubes normally used in concentrating solar power systems. A mathematical was developed to predict the thermal performance of proposed PTC and it was found that the measured results compared well with the predictions. The solar energy conversion efficiency of this collector is up to 70 percent. This research could impact positively on remote rural communities by providing a source of clean energy, especially for off-grid applications for schools, clinics and communication equipment. It could lead to a significant improvement in the cost performance, ease of installation and technical performance of storage systems for solar heating applications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013