List of Titles

The positive contribution of the religious life to the life of the church

Authors: Clucas, Robert Stephen
Date: 1957
Subjects: Religion , Christian life , Anglicans
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
Identifier: vital:1291 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014701
Description: The positive contribution of the religious life to the life of the church as a whole. Chapter one: presuppositions of an Anglican, with particular views of ministry, Bible, church and sacraments. Presupposition as regards friendship acknowledgement of influence of C.S. Lewis. Prejudices from outside. The old prejudices, their causes and historical foundation. New prejudices in the present-day world. Chapter two. Misunderstandings from within. The religious life as a higher way of perfection. False view of detachment. Celibacy of the priesthood. Correctives to those misunderstandings. Chapter three. The temporal and the temporary. Contributions which religious life makes continually in a fallen world. The temporary contributions made at different times. Chapter four. The eternal and the inward. Eternal aspects of the threefold vow and of the worship of community life. Contribution of religious throughout the ages to ascetic and mystical theology, which builds on inner life of the Christian. Chapter five. Conclusions and speculations. Re-examination of definition of the religious life. Side developments of the religious life. Three protestant communities. The religious life and present-day problems.
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Date Issued: 1957

Deriving norms for learners in the disadvantaged schools of the peri-urban areas of the Eastern Cape: the case of the Vassiliou Mathematics Proficiency Test (VASSI)

- Masango, Siphesihle Polkadot

Authors: Masango, Siphesihle Polkadot
Date: 2017
Subjects: VASSI Mathematics Proficiency Test , Mathematical ability -- Testing -- South Africa , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa , Children with social disabilities -- Education -- South Africa , Children with social disabilities -- Education -- South Africa -- Makhanda -- Case studies
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/49929 , vital:25943
Description: This study builds on South African cross-cultural research which highlights the need for careful stratification of normative samples for quality of education and geographical location. The aim of the present study was to produce an expanded set of preliminary norms for learners in the disadvantaged schools of the peri-urban areas of the Eastern Cape, Grahamstown, on the Vassiliou Mathematics Foundation Phase Test (VASSI) and Vassiliou Mathematics Proficiency Test (VASSI), respectively. The test was administered to Grade 1-6 learners in four different schools all within Joza location, Grahamstown. For the learners’ convenience the tests were translated into isiXhosa, the translations were provided together with the original English questions. Archival data collected by honours students was also incorporated in this study. The total number of participants was N=724 which was comprised of 147 grade 1s, 123 grade 2s, 117 grade 3s, 128 grade 4s, 113 grade 5s and 96 grade 6s. Norm-referenced criterion was used in analysing the data. The results of this study are in accordance with those purporting the low performance of disadvantaged learners on the school subject, mathematics. Stanines for the various grades (Grade 1 to 6) were calculated and are presented in the study. This study has demonstrated that although gender, language and other ethnic variables have an impact on mathematics performance, quality of education and socioeconomic status have a significant effect. Further research is needed on the effect of quality of education and socioeconomic status on learners in disadvantaged schools on this test in particular.
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Date Issued: 2017

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Rhodeo, Vol. 20, No.3

Date: 1966-03-17
Subjects: Grahamstown -- Newspapers , Journalism, Students -- South Africa , Rhodes University -- Activate , Rhodes University -- Students , Student newspapers and periodicals -- South Africa
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: vital:14538 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019410
Description: Rhodeo is the Independent Student Newspaper of Rhodes University. Located in Grahamstown, Rhodeo was established in 1947, and renamed in 1994 as Activate. During apartheid Rhodeo became an active part of the struggle for freedom of expression as part of the now defunct South African Student Press Union. Currently Activate is committed to informing Rhodes University students, staff and community members about relevant issues, mainly on campus. These issues range from hard news to more creative journalism. While Activate acts as a news source, one of its main objectives it to be accessible as a training ground for student journalists. The newspaper is run entirely by the students and is published twice a term. Activate is a free newspaper which receives an annual grant from the Rhodes University Student Representative Council, however, majority of its revenue is generated through advertising.
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Date Issued: 1966-03-17

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The distribution and perceptions of invasive alien plants in small towns in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

- Seboko, Tshepiso Collen

Authors: Seboko, Tshepiso Collen
Date: 2022-10-14
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:65669
Description: Invasive alien plants (IAP) of different life forms have major effects on biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, economies, and livelihoods worldwide. There is evidence that IAP are rapidly increasing around the world, and the negative impacts associated with them are expected to worsen due to continuing land transformation, climate change, and urbanisation. Yet, information on the distribution, abundance, knowledge, and perceptions of IAP is limited, especially in small towns. Most previous research has largely focused on rural settings and larger cities, thus hindering the effective control and management of IAP in smaller urban settings. It is therefore important to assess the distribution of IAP to provide useful information to guide clearing and mitigation efforts to reduce the impacts and proliferation of IAP in smaller urban settings. Consequently, the aim of the study was to determine the distribution, composition, abundance, and perceptions of woody IAP in small towns in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa and assess how and why they may differ within and between towns. To achieve this aim, a drive by road survey was undertaken across all suburbs and land use types in 12 small towns located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The 12 randomly selected small towns were, Adelaide, Alexandria, Barkley East, Bedford, Burgersdorp, Cathcart, Kirkwood, Middelburg, Paterson, Somerset East, St. Francis Bay and Willowmore. All woody IAP visible from the surveyed roads were counted across all suburbs and land use types within each town. A total of 38 427 woody IAP were enumerated, with 56 species across different land use types and suburbs in all towns. Affluent suburbs accounted for 58% of the IAP enumerated, while the Reconstructed Development Programme (RDP) suburbs accounted for only 5%. In terms of the land use type, most of the IAP were encountered in the residential areas (54%), as compared to, road verges (32%) and public urban green spaces (PUGS) (14%). Of the 12 towns, Middleburg had the highest number of woody IAP, with 5 573 individuals, while Paterson had the lowest number with 947. The most common IAP species across all towns was Melia azedarach with 4 384 individuals, followed by Pinus elliotti (4 051), and Jacaranda mimosifolia (3 640). Spathodea campanulata, Ardisia crenata, and Parkinsonia aculeata had the lowest number of individuals with only two individuals each across all towns. This study also assessed the knowledge, perceptions, and willingness of urban residents to control IAP in their home yards using household surveys. A total of 240 household surveys were administered in the 12 towns. The results showed that more than half of the respondents (59%) had no knowledge of IAP, while 14% had neutral knowledge and only 2% had high knowledge. Forty percent of the respondents agreed that IAP pose a problem to the environment whilst 11% did not think IAP posed a problem to the environment, and 49% stated that they do not know. Most of the respondents (91%) perceived IAP positively, and stated that they benefit from the IAP, with the most mentioned benefit being shade (50%). Almost two-thirds of the respondents (65%) were willing to report on the IAP in their yards to the relevant authorities that deal with the control and management of IAP. Over half (56%) of the respondents were willing to have the IAP removed from their gardens, with the most stated reason for removal was because the IAP caused damage to property (13%). Respondents thought that the local government (35%) or district government (30%) should be responsible for the control and management of IAP. Overall, the study showed that IAP species were most common in residential land use type and affluent suburbs. These findings can assist the relevant authorities that deal with IAP, regarding which plant species, suburbs, and land use types to prioritise regarding awareness and investment for control and management. This will also help explore alternative indigenous species that can be used as replacements that may offer the same benefits derived from IAP by urban residents. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
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Date Issued: 2022-10-14

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How the South African print media cover economics news: a study of inflation news in four newspapers, 1999-2001

- Kula, Momelezi Michael

Authors: Kula, Momelezi Michael
Date: 2004
Subjects: Journalism, Commercial -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , South Africa -- Newspapers , Mass media -- Political aspects -- Africa , Democracy , Journalism -- Social aspects
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: vital:3450 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002904 , Journalism, Commercial -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , South Africa -- Newspapers , Mass media -- Political aspects -- Africa , Democracy , Journalism -- Social aspects
Description: There is a considerable amount of literature arguing that economics and business journalism is growing. This subfield of journalism is important as economics issues impact on everyday lives of the people. Media have an important role to inform people about the economy and give them a voice to take part in public debates. The down side though is that economics journalism is criticised for not serving the public well in this aspect. Evidence suggests that economics journalism lost its critical character and that there is closer in economics debates. Using content analysis, this study examines coverage of inflation as reported by South African print media. Three major findings emerged: 1) Evidence shows that there are a variety of cases of inflation. 2) There are also similarities among newspapers on what they view as causing inflation. 3) However, media do not draw sources from all sectors of society. The elite, who are educated people and government officials, are over-accessed while the ordinary citizens - although also affected by inflation – are marginalized. Company and government sources top source lists in the media. It is argued that sources play an important role in shaping the news content. They do so by identifying problems and prescribing potential solutions. They set parameters and define terms of reference. However, media also play a mediating role. They do so by selecting sources and structuring sources in stories. They may chose to quote or report what their sources say and even comment on it. This study concludes that in South Africa ordinary citizens have no voices in economics debates. Media used bureaucratic sources only and that is a consonant agenda on inflation coverage amongst newspapers. The heavy reliance on bureaucratic sources and the exclusion of some sectors of society in sources lists raises questions about impartiality of these sources on issues relating to their organisations and institutions. These are not viable sources that could provide information that could expose abuse of power.
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Date Issued: 2004

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Before before & after after

- Musavengana, Shelter K

Authors: Musavengana, Shelter K
Date: 2015
Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , Short stories, South African -- 21st century , Creative writing (Higher education)
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: vital:5991 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017775
Description: The stories in this collection explore the fantastical, the power of memory, and the human capacity to love. Moving between the surreal, the absurd, the allegorical, and the metafictional, they elaborate on life's ordinary madness and the mysteries of the spirit. By challenging the either/or boundaries of the binary of realism and fantasy, the stories provoke the reader to engage actively with the text. Influenced by experimental US author Stacey Levine, the mid‐century British novelist Barbara Comyns, and the adventurous Chinese writer Can Xue, in most cases, they create a playful, experimental world that exists at a slight angle to the world as we know it.
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Date Issued: 2015

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Investigations to determine the long-term sustainable yield of the Karoo aquifer and the sustained availability of groundwater for small-scale irrigation projects, in Dendera area, Kwekwe District - Zimbabwe

- Njanike, Joseph Tendayi

Authors: Njanike, Joseph Tendayi
Date: 2001
Subjects: Groundwater , Irrigation -- Equipement and supplies , Irrigation -- Kwekwe (Zimbabwe)
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
Identifier: vital:5093 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020853
Description: In this thesis the long-term sustainable yield of the Karoo sediment aquifer unit occurring in Dendera area of Kwekwe District is investigated, with the object of providing quantitative data on the sustained availability of groundwater for small-scale irrigation projects. Archaean Basement Schists and Pre-Cambrian gneissic granites, the Basement Complex rocks, underlie the entire study area. Overlying these are Upper Karoo sediments. Aeolian Kalahari sands unconformably mantle higher interfluves, while redistributed sands occur along valleys of major rivers and streams. The Karoo sediments, which predominantly consist of loosely cemented, fine- to medium-grained sandstone alternating with red siltstone and mudstone, constitute the main aquifer. The thickness of the Karoo sediment unit ranges from 30m to 80m. The hydraulic parameters of the Karoo sediment aquifer were characterised in the field by constant discharge pumping tests and slug tests. Pumping tests indicated unconfined conditions and thus the Neuman's method of analysis has been used. Transmissivities from pumping tests are within the range 4.7 m²/d to 13.6 m²/d with an average of 8.9m²/d. The low transmissivities seem to be a major limiting factor in the exploitation of the groundwater resources. Thus the sustainable borehole yields tend to be small, mean values ranging from 33 m²/d to 253 m²/d. Specific yield could not be determined from the pumping tests due to the lack of observation boreholes. Low chemical concentrations render the water suitable for irrigation of all crops, while neither total nor any individual concentrations present health hazards to human or livestock. An average recharge value of 47.7 mm/y was inferred from water table fluctuation method. Chloride mass balance technique in the same area indicates recharge value in the order of 67.4 mm/y. Because the chloride mass balance gives a long-term mean annual recharge, the recharge figure of 67.4 mm/y was adopted for the study area. Based on the abstractable proportion of recharge, the sustainably exploitable volume of groundwater of the order of 2.68 x 10⁷ m³/y was established. This volume is more than 100 times the estimated current demand for groundwater (1.35 x 10⁵ m³/d), implying that there are large volumes of surplus water, which can be utilised for irrigation.
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Date Issued: 2001

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Developing a performance measurement tool to monitor the performance of a public sector agency : a balanced scorecard approach

- Lisani, Ncedo

Authors: Lisani, Ncedo
Date: 2015
Subjects: South Africa. Economic Development Department , South Africa. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism , Performance -- Measurement , Performance -- Management , Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
Identifier: vital:848 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017515
Description: The world has seen unparalleled pressure put on the public sector to improve the speed and quality of service delivery, whilst simultaneously employing measures to cut the costs. South Africa and the Eastern Cape have not been immune to this as there have been complaints and demonstrations from various national and provincial stakeholders demanding more and improved services. The Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) in particular has employed the services of public entities in its quest to realise government’s socio-economic developmental objectives and ease some of the service delivery pressures. These agencies are unfortunately struggling to deliver and the Department is unable to play the oversight role it is legislatively mandated to carry out. The main reason for this seem to be the lack of the capacity to objectively track and measure the performance of these agencies. As they say “you cannot manage what you cannot measure”. This is despite the fact that there is a shareholders’ compact and many other measures in place to enable performance monitoring. Also, the public sector is known to have inherent and unique performance management challenges like broad and vague objectives which lead to too many measurements, a propensity to focus on the “easy to measure” but often irrelevant indicators at the expense of critical outcomes and a short-term orientation that is usually fuelled by political expediency. Against this background, this study sought to make use of a comprehensive and dynamic performance monitoring framework, namely the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), to explore its potential use in assisting government to monitor the performance of public agencies, in particular the Development Finance Institutions (DFI) in South Africa. The proposed framework helps government to focus on the performance drivers of future value, and what decisions and actions are necessary to achieve critical outcomes. The aim of the study therefore is to develop an adjusted BSC framework to monitor the activities of a public sector agency and thus demonstrate how a BSC framework could be used to monitor a public agency by the government department. The study is evaluative in nature and is divided into three sections. Section one is presented as an Evaluation Report. It sets the scene, discusses briefly the key theoretical concepts, outlines the research methods used and presents the findings followed by a discussion and recommendations. Section two delves into the literature in more detail, providing a more extensive review of the literature that informed the investigation, whilst section three provides a more extensive description of the research methodology employed in the study. To achieve the aims of the study, the research drew from the work of various authors in the field including that of Bigliardi, Dormio and Galati, 2011; Bititci, Garengo, Dörfler, and Nudurupati, 2012; Julyan, 2011; Kaplan and Norton, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2004 and 2006; Niven, 2003 and 2008 and Northcott and Taulapapa, 2012. Also, five BSC perspectives - including the programme specific “equity” perspective - were used to develop an interview schedule. These were used to formulate the key performance objectives and indicators, based on the stakeholder’s responses. These respondents have experience within the programme as administrators, beneficiaries and funders. The research employed purposive sampling with semi-structured in-depth interviews and document analysis as primary and secondary instruments for data collection. In essence, five officials from the agency, one from DEDEAT and two co-operatives participated in the research. The results indicate a general appreciation of and gravitation towards outcome based measures, even though the government culture of focusing on outputs is still prevalent. The results of the study indicated that, generally, a government - public agency BSC based performance monitoring framework would have the following features:  Customer objectives and programme mission as the main goal and this will provides clarity at all levels on who the customers are and what are their primary requirements.  Clear, visible and stringent financial controls as the agency is administering public resources.  Few carefully selected processes and systems that have a direct and positive impact on the customer objectives. Deliberate and consistent efforts to promote the participation of designated groups in the economy of the country.  Comprehensive indicators on capacity building as “mission based-organisations rely heavily on skills, dedication and alignment of staff”. Overall, the study concludes that the make-up of the BSC is beneficial to the public sector and in monitoring the public sector agencies for the following reasons:  It helps the agency to focus on customers and their needs.  It forces the agency to engage and communicate strategic intention with both internal and external stakeholders and thus synchronize competing stakeholder needs.  It forces the agency to limit the number of indicators and therefore select the few value adding measures that are aligned to customer outcomes.  Through its cause and effect relationship, the agency is compelled to align all the resources, activities and processes to the main goal of the entity. All these help to minimize the principal agent problem, as the use of the BSC can bring clarity on strategy and expectations, provided it is supported with regular communication.
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Date Issued: 2015

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Coleridge on drama

- Wagstaff, Brian John

Authors: Wagstaff, Brian John
Date: 1973
Subjects: Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1772-1834 -- Dramatic works , Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1772-1834 -- Criticism and interpretation , English drama -- 18th century -- History and criticism
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: vital:2276 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007255 , Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1772-1834 -- Dramatic works , Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1772-1834 -- Criticism and interpretation , English drama -- 18th century -- History and criticism
Description: From Introduction: In the Preface to his book The idea of Coleridge's Criticism, Richard Harter Fogle states: There is... I am confident, a need for such a study as I here introduce; a study of Coleridge's criticism in itself, tentatively accepting the metaphysical assumptions on which it is based and focusing upon its central principles and inner relationship; endeavouring without direct regard for its external connections to the past and the present to see it as a whole, yet at the same time anxiously regardful of its permanent significance and its bearing upon practical criticism. These are the principles on which I have based this thesis, applied more particularly to Coleridge's criticism of drama.
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Date Issued: 1973

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The spectrographic determination of trace elements in citrus leaves

- Brandt, Peter Jürgen

Authors: Brandt, Peter Jürgen
Date: 1962
Subjects: Citrus , Trace elements in plant nutrition
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
Identifier: vital:4516 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013552
Description: From Introduction: With the rapidly growing knowledge on trace elements and their influence on plant nutrition the need for accurate and rapid methods for their determination arose. The essential plant nutrients are usually divided into two groups. The major or macronutrient elements, necessary in comparatively large amounts, and the trace or micro-nutrient elements. In the case of plants, the first group includes Sulphur, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium and Nitrogen. The essential trace elements are Iron, manganese, Boron, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum and Chlorine. Cobalt is essential for animal nutrition as a constituent of Vitamin B₁₂, but its essentiality for plants has not yet been proved. The latter group consists of metals which are catalysts in enzyme reactions and whose presence in the plant in minute amount determines whether the plant will be able to complete the vegetative or reproductive stage of its life cycle. Molybdenum may be quoted as an example of an essential trace element. It is generally recognised to be the catalyst responsible for the fixation of Nitrogen.
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Date Issued: 1962

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Drifting towards death: a South African patient safety incident through an HFE Systems lens

- Agar, Sarah Leigh

Authors: Agar, Sarah Leigh
Date: 2022-10-14
Subjects: Patients Safety measures , Medical errors Prevention , Human engineering , Medical care South Africa
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/362716 , vital:65356
Description: Patient Safety Incidents (PSI) are a frequent occurrence within the South African public healthcare system wherein a patient is unnecessarily maimed, harmed, killed, or put through significant trauma, emotional or physical. These incidents have a significant impact on the performance of the system and the well-being of individuals involved. Often PSI are the result of multiple system failings that provide the necessary preconditions for the PSI to occur. Thus, to provide appropriate patient safety recommendations to address and aid in the prevention of future PSI it is necessary to apply a systems approach to PSI analysis. A systems approach supports a ‘bigger picture’ view of an incident which includes looking beyond the immediate causes of a PSI and taking the different levels of the healthcare system into consideration during incident analysis. Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) is at its core a systems discipline and has been successfully applied to multiple fields including healthcare. HFE offers multiple incident analysis tools grounded in systems theory. The Life Esidimeni incident, a PSI that resulted in the death of 144 MHCU, is the biggest PSI in recent South African history and is therefore an important potential case study for the application of HFE systems tools within the South African healthcare context (an area that is lacking in existing literature). The objectives of this research were to (i) Systematically uncover the causal factors that led to the outcome of the of the Life Esidimeni incident; (ii) Identify critical faults, and gaps within the healthcare system that led to the Life Esidimeni PSI; and (iii) Provide proactive recommendations for future prevention of PSI. To fulfil these objectives a descriptive case study research method design was adopted using a qualitative systems-based tool, AcciMap. The application of AcciMap to Life Esidimeni enabled both the sharp end and blunt end causal factors that contributed to the outcome of the incident to be identified. Importantly this provided insight into the critical faults and gaps of the South African public healthcare system. The results of the AcciMap indicated that there were four main broad systemic faults in the system. These broad areas were categorized as key themes, which include: (i) competency, (ii) safeguards, (iii) time pressures, and (iv) vertical integration. From these key themes recommendations aimed at addressing the critical faults and gaps in the system and preventing future PSI were made. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2022
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Date Issued: 2022-10-14

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The effect of elephants (Loxodonta africana, Blumenbach, 1797) on Xeric Succulent Thicket

- Knott, Edward Joseph

Authors: Knott, Edward Joseph
Date: 2007
Subjects: Addo Elephant National Park (South Africa) , African elephant , Elephants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Elephants -- Nutrition -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Elephants -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Elephants -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Succulent plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Woody plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
Identifier: vital:5674 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005359 , Addo Elephant National Park (South Africa) , African elephant , Elephants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Elephants -- Nutrition -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Elephants -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Elephants -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Succulent plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Woody plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Description: This study looks at the impact of elephant feeding on the Xeric Succulent Thicket component of Eastern Cape Subtropical Thicket (ECST) in Addo Elephant National Park (AENP). Observations of elephant feeding were carried out and vegetation transects were surveyed for impact of elephant feeding. The results indicated that the Nyati elephants spent the majority of their time grazing (nearly 90%), particularly the cow-young herds, and especially when the herd gathered in larger numbers. Browsing events were concentrated on Acacia karroo (81%) and there was no significant difference between the sexes in their preference for this species. Despite being subjected to most of the browsing, the majority of A. karroo trees were undamaged and the effect of elephants was generally light. It appears unlikely that, three years after re-introduction to Nyati, the elephants have had an effect on community structure of the vegetation. Surveys were conducted on stands of the alien invasive weed prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica, and it was recorded that elephants in Nyati have had a dramatic effect on prickly pear, utilising all adult plants assessed and destroying 70% of them. This level of destruction in such a short period of time suggests that prickly pear is a highly favoured species. The results from the present study suggest that elephants can play a role in the control of prickly pear. Results are discussed in terms of elephants as both megaherbivores and keystone species, and as agents of intermediate disturbance.
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Date Issued: 2007

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Synthesis and evaluation of novel HIV-1 enzyme inhibitors

- Olomola, Temitope Oloruntoba

Authors: Olomola, Temitope Oloruntoba
Date: 2011
Subjects: HIV infections -- Treatment HIV infections -- Chemotherapy HIV (Viruses) Enzyme inhibitors AZT (Drug) Reverse transcriptase Proteolytic enzymes Ligands Psoralens Resorcinol
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
Identifier: vital:4369 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005034
Description: This study has involved the design, synthesis and evaluation of novel HIV-1 enzyme inhibitors accessed by synthetic elaboration of Baylis-Hillman adducts. Several series of complex coumarin-AZT and cinnamate ester-AZT conjugates have been prepared, in high yields, by exploiting the click reaction between appropriate Baylis-Hillman derived precursors and azidothymidine (AZT), all of which have been fully characterised using spectroscopic techniques. These conjugates, designed as potential dual-action HIV-1 inhibitors, were tested against the appropriate HIV-1 enzymes, i.e. HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and protease or HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and integrase. A number of the ligands have exhibited % inhibition levels and IC50 values comparable to drugs in clinical use, permitting their identification as lead compounds for the development of novel dual-action inhibitors. In silico docking of selected ligands into the active sites of the respective enzymes has provided useful insight into binding conformations and potential hydrogen-bonding interactions with active-site amino acid residues. A series of furocoumarin carboxamide derivatives have been synthesised in four steps starting from resorcinol and these compounds have also been tested for HIV-1 integrase inhibition activity. The structures of unexpected products isolated from Aza-Baylis-Hillman reactions of N-tosylaldimines have been elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, and confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. A mechanism for what appears to be an unprecedented transformation has been proposed. Microwave-assisted SeO₂ oxidation of Baylis-Hillman-derived 3-methylcoumarins has provided convenient and efficient access to coumarin-3-carbaldehydes, and a pilot study has revealed the potential of these coumarin-3-carbaldehydes as scaffolds for the construction of tricyclic compounds. The HCl-catalysed reaction of tert-butyl acrylate derived Baylis-Hillman adducts has been shown to afford 3-(chloromethyl)coumarins and α-(chloromethyl)cinnamic acids, the Zstereochemistry of the latter being established by X-ray crystallography. ¹H NMR-based experimental kinetic and DFT-level theoretical studies have been undertaken to establish the reaction sequence and other mechanistic details. Base-catalysed cyclisation on the other hand, has been shown to afford 2H-chromene rather than coumarin derivatives.
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Date Issued: 2011

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The nature of a self

- Le Chat, Gavin John

Authors: Le Chat, Gavin John
Date: 1978 , 2013-10-17
Subjects: Self , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Dualism
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: vital:2737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006916 , Self , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Dualism
Description: The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate just what kind of entity a self or person is (p. 1). , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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Date Issued: 1978

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An investigation into the properties of cotton fibres as used in nonwoven fabrics

- Lutseke, Nothando Sazikazi

Authors: Lutseke, Nothando Sazikazi
Date: 1989
Subjects: Cotton -- Analysis , Fibers -- Analysis , Nonwoven fabrics -- Analysis , Textile chemistry
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
Identifier: vital:4552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018241
Description: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the properties that characterise cotton fibres in the various stages in the CPNF process as well as to determine which fibre characteristics a r e required to entangle the fibres to produce a successful CPNF . The criteria adopted in this work for a successful CPNF include: 1. the tensile strength of the fabrics 2. a well-defined pattern 3. absorbency and wicking The properties selected for investigation were 1. the cotton fibre surface (using SEM and DSC analyses) 2. the degree of degradation of the cotton fibre as a result of the CPNF process (using cellulose fluidity measurements) 3. the non-cellulosic content of the fibre (using IR, DSC, and Chemical analyses) 4. fibre friction 5. absorbency and wicking 6. tensile properties Analysis of the results indicates clearly what the fundamental properties of the cotton fibre must be for a successful cotton CPNF to be manufactured. The conclusions also indicate the necessary properties a man-made fibre must have to produce a successful CPNF.
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Date Issued: 1989

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Economic impact of international labour migration on Lesotho's development, 1986-1998: towards an international labour migration policy for the Southern African region

- Maro, Mkasafari Grace

Authors: Maro, Mkasafari Grace
Date: 2002
Subjects: Migrant labor -- South Africa , Migrant labor -- Lesotho , Foreign workers -- South Africa , Miners -- South Africa , Miners -- Labor unions -- South Africa
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
Identifier: vital:1058 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007496 , Migrant labor -- South Africa , Migrant labor -- Lesotho , Foreign workers -- South Africa , Miners -- South Africa , Miners -- Labor unions -- South Africa
Description: The aim of the thesis is to identify the pressures that contributed to the rise in international labour migration in Lesotho, and to investigate how these pressures are impacting upon the modernization process in the country, particularly at a time when employment opportunities are scarce in the southern African region. International labour migration has been used as a development tool throughout history, but especially in the 20th century by developing countries with dual labour markets. Newly independent developing countries with dual labour markets adapted the strategy of import substitution industrialization (lSI), with an emphasis on protecting infant industries and promoting pro-labour policies. In the post-colonial period the international demand for lowskilled workers rose, particularly in the North (developed countries), and in mineral rich countries including the oil exporters and South Africa, and the newly industrialising countries in East Asia. International labour migration to these countries was adapted as an integral development tool by the governments of the lSI countries. Most migrants were low-skilled and temporary workers in the destination countries. Although no multilateral institutional framework existed, usually both the sending and receiving countries adapted unilateral and bilateral migration policies to guarantee the gains from migration. Workers were thus "protected" to varying degrees under such agreements. From the 1970s, the North experienced a slowdown in the growth in demand for unskilled workers. In the 1980s, many lSI countries experienced devastating economic crises that forced them to abandon the lSI policy and adapt the export-led industrialisation (EOI) policy with an emphasis on trade liberalization. The switch from lSI to EOI in developing countries with dual labour markets led to the downsizing of public sector employment, the removal of marketing boards formally used by small-scale agricultural farmers, and the expansion of export processing zones (EPZs). These outcomes resulted in a rise in push internal migration, and international migration from these countries especially to other developing countries. At the same time, since the late 1980s, capital has acquired greatly enhanced mobility at the global level. The adaptation of EOI and the full mobility of capital at the global level altered the institutional structure within which labour migration was governed both nationally, and internationally. At the national level stricter unilateral policies were reinforced by receiving countries for low-skilled labour, while less strict policies applied for skilled labour. These remain in operation in conjunction with the earlier bilateral agreements. At the international level, there remains a lack of policy to regulate international labour migration. Under the current enhanced mobility of capital, international migrants are thus left vulnerable. Lesotho fits this pattern. Faced with a dual economy and an abundance of semi-skilled labour, Lesotho has been a principal supplier of labour to the South Africa's mining industry since its independence. Lesotho's industrial diversification thus mirrors South Africa's industrial diversification. In the lSI phase (1968 - 1987), international labour migration became the most important tool of economic welfare generation in Lesotho. Bilateral agreements were signed in the early 1970s between Lesotho and South Africa to guarantee the gains from migration. Since the late I980s, the mining industry in South Africa began to downsize production and employment. Fewer novice miners from Lesotho were recruited to work in South Africa. The adaptation of the EOI policy in Lesotho in 1987 introduced EPZ industrialization and trade liberalization. Nevertheless, the retrenchment of mine workers from South Africa is occurring at a time when Lesotho is experiencing an employment crisis. The political independence of South Africa in 1994 was accompanied by stricter international migration policies by the new democratic government of South Africa. Most migrant workers in South Africa are thus now faced with a two-door policy (of the earlier bilateral agreements and the amendments to the Aliens Control Act). This system has left migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation by both employers and the law (police) in South Africa. Nevertheless, international migration from Lesotho to South Africa continues to expand, particularly of the new type of migration - semiskilled female workers in the services sector. At the same time, South Africa is also experiencing an employment crisis. The most important policy implications are, firstly, that migration is subject to the same "casualisation" as other work, with the effects made worse by the "statelessness" of migrants, who are most vulnerable to exploitation. Secondly, multilateralism is needed (e.g., SADC) and holistic, multilateral policies are required. It is clear that under the new global division of labour ad hoc policy towards international labour migration is ineffective.
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Date Issued: 2002

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