The role of structural bioinformatics in drug discovery via computational SNP analysis–a proposed protocol for analyzing variation at the protein level:
- Brown, David K, Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Authors: Brown, David K , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162914 , vital:40996 , doi: 10.1016/j.gheart.2017.01.009
- Description: With the completion of the human genome project at the beginning of the 21st century, the biological sciences entered an unprecedented age of data generation, and made its first steps towards an era of personalized medicine. This abundance of sequence data has led to the proliferation of numerous sequence-based techniques for associating variation with disease, such as Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and Candidate Gene Association Studies (CGAS). However, these statistical methods do not provide an understanding of the functional effects of variation. Structure-based drug discovery and design is increasingly incorporating structural bioinformatics techniques to model and analyze protein targets, perform large scale virtual screening to identify hit to lead compounds, and simulate molecular interactions. These techniques are fast, cost-effective, and complement existing experimental techniques such as High Throughput Sequencing (HTS).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Brown, David K , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162914 , vital:40996 , doi: 10.1016/j.gheart.2017.01.009
- Description: With the completion of the human genome project at the beginning of the 21st century, the biological sciences entered an unprecedented age of data generation, and made its first steps towards an era of personalized medicine. This abundance of sequence data has led to the proliferation of numerous sequence-based techniques for associating variation with disease, such as Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and Candidate Gene Association Studies (CGAS). However, these statistical methods do not provide an understanding of the functional effects of variation. Structure-based drug discovery and design is increasingly incorporating structural bioinformatics techniques to model and analyze protein targets, perform large scale virtual screening to identify hit to lead compounds, and simulate molecular interactions. These techniques are fast, cost-effective, and complement existing experimental techniques such as High Throughput Sequencing (HTS).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
NMMU business school alumni satisfaction factors with the MBA program
- Authors: Bosman, Jeremy Maurice
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Business schools -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Master of business administration degree , Students -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14686 , vital:27822
- Description: In a fast-paced dynamic world, the key to success lies in the ability to accept change and to rapidly respond to demands placed by ever increasing competitive environments. In business, the impact of products and services in meeting or exceeding customer’s expectations in such environments is measured by customer satisfaction and the importance thereof cannot be downplayed, thus providing management with a metric that guides and augments change. Subsequently, these dynamic competitive forces are pushing sectors such as Higher Education into the realm of service industries, where stakeholders such as students and alumni are viewed as customers. Correspondingly, measuring their satisfaction has become important as this provides strategic insight, whilst enhancing academic programmes and the student experience. The purpose of this research study was to identify the factors that determined satisfaction with the MBA programme as viewed by students and the alumni of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School. Furthermore, it advanced the field of stakeholder theory by identifying alumni as a key stakeholder in business schools. Consequently, the research was exploratory and consisted of quantitative and literature components where hypotheses were developed and relationships between factors analysed, in addition to the literature reviewed. The literature introduced key concepts to this study, such as alumni as stakeholder, alumni satisfaction, satisfaction with the MBA programme, measuring alumni satisfaction, MBA alumni networks and alumni communication. The factors that determined alumni satisfaction were identified by means of a statistical analysis of the data collected by the research instruments. Correspondingly, the findings indicate various factors determine satisfaction with the independent variables highlighted in this study, which are the Facilities, the MBA Programme, the Social Experience, the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter, the NMMU Business School brand and Communication. Furthermore, it was established that there is a significant link between Social Experience, the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter, the NMMU Business School Brand, Communication and Alumni Satisfaction.As services industries such as Higher Educational Institutions get exposed to competitive pressure, customer satisfaction comes to the fore and there are certain factors that need to be addressed to enhance satisfaction. Subsequently, this study highlights this pressure and satisfaction levels can certainly be improved by the institution across all the independent variables identified, especially in areas such as the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter and Communication. Consequently, the NMMU Business School, for the first time have metrics to identify the factors that determine satisfaction with the MBA programme as viewed by their alumni and resultantly can strategically benefit by taking the views of their most important stakeholder into account.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Bosman, Jeremy Maurice
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Business schools -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Master of business administration degree , Students -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14686 , vital:27822
- Description: In a fast-paced dynamic world, the key to success lies in the ability to accept change and to rapidly respond to demands placed by ever increasing competitive environments. In business, the impact of products and services in meeting or exceeding customer’s expectations in such environments is measured by customer satisfaction and the importance thereof cannot be downplayed, thus providing management with a metric that guides and augments change. Subsequently, these dynamic competitive forces are pushing sectors such as Higher Education into the realm of service industries, where stakeholders such as students and alumni are viewed as customers. Correspondingly, measuring their satisfaction has become important as this provides strategic insight, whilst enhancing academic programmes and the student experience. The purpose of this research study was to identify the factors that determined satisfaction with the MBA programme as viewed by students and the alumni of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School. Furthermore, it advanced the field of stakeholder theory by identifying alumni as a key stakeholder in business schools. Consequently, the research was exploratory and consisted of quantitative and literature components where hypotheses were developed and relationships between factors analysed, in addition to the literature reviewed. The literature introduced key concepts to this study, such as alumni as stakeholder, alumni satisfaction, satisfaction with the MBA programme, measuring alumni satisfaction, MBA alumni networks and alumni communication. The factors that determined alumni satisfaction were identified by means of a statistical analysis of the data collected by the research instruments. Correspondingly, the findings indicate various factors determine satisfaction with the independent variables highlighted in this study, which are the Facilities, the MBA Programme, the Social Experience, the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter, the NMMU Business School brand and Communication. Furthermore, it was established that there is a significant link between Social Experience, the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter, the NMMU Business School Brand, Communication and Alumni Satisfaction.As services industries such as Higher Educational Institutions get exposed to competitive pressure, customer satisfaction comes to the fore and there are certain factors that need to be addressed to enhance satisfaction. Subsequently, this study highlights this pressure and satisfaction levels can certainly be improved by the institution across all the independent variables identified, especially in areas such as the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter and Communication. Consequently, the NMMU Business School, for the first time have metrics to identify the factors that determine satisfaction with the MBA programme as viewed by their alumni and resultantly can strategically benefit by taking the views of their most important stakeholder into account.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Preparation and evaluation of captopril - ion exchange resin complexes
- Chikukwa, Mellisa Tafadzwa Ruramai
- Authors: Chikukwa, Mellisa Tafadzwa Ruramai
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59146 , vital:27441
- Description: Restricted access-thesis embargoed for 2 years
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Chikukwa, Mellisa Tafadzwa Ruramai
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59146 , vital:27441
- Description: Restricted access-thesis embargoed for 2 years
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The adoption of employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) in Nigeria
- Authors: Akponah, Voke Blessing
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Employee ownership -- Nigeria , Profit-sharing -- Nigeria Management -- Employee participation -- Nigeria Nigeria -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13834 , vital:27312
- Description: This study investigated the factors that influence the adoption of ESOPs in Nigeria. Furthermore, the study investigated the influence of the adoption of ESOPs on organisational performance, employee retention and employee commitment. The study results reveal that trade union responsiveness, reforms, awareness of employee benefits and taxation implication positively influence the adoption of ESOPs based on transparency. The results in this study further reveal that trade union responsiveness, takeovers, reforms, awareness of employee benefits and taxation implication effectively influence the adoption of ESOPs based on two-way communication. In addition, the study results reveal that trade union responsiveness, takeovers, reforms, awareness of employee benefits and trust positively influence the adoption of ESOPs based on empowerment. The study further reveals that adoption of ESOPs based on transparency, two-way communication and empowerment leads to organisational performance, employee retention and employee commitment. This study, being the first of its kind in Nigeria, filled the gap that existed in the Nigerian literature in respect of the awareness and adoption of ESOPs. This study provides literature and theoretical model that can be used as a foundation by organisations and the government to start up the adoption of ESOPs. This study showed that ESOPs is beneficial to boost the economy, enhance desired organisational outcomes (organisational performance, employee retention and employee commitment) and meet the financial and retirement needs of employees. However, for organisations and employees to enjoy the full benefits of ESOPs, underlying forces such as, trade union responsiveness, takeovers, reforms, awareness of employee benefits, trusts and taxation implication must be taken into account. Furthermore, the adoption, implementation and operations of ESOPs will be successful management, trade union leaders and employees utilise strategies such as, transparency, two-way communication and empowerment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Akponah, Voke Blessing
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Employee ownership -- Nigeria , Profit-sharing -- Nigeria Management -- Employee participation -- Nigeria Nigeria -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13834 , vital:27312
- Description: This study investigated the factors that influence the adoption of ESOPs in Nigeria. Furthermore, the study investigated the influence of the adoption of ESOPs on organisational performance, employee retention and employee commitment. The study results reveal that trade union responsiveness, reforms, awareness of employee benefits and taxation implication positively influence the adoption of ESOPs based on transparency. The results in this study further reveal that trade union responsiveness, takeovers, reforms, awareness of employee benefits and taxation implication effectively influence the adoption of ESOPs based on two-way communication. In addition, the study results reveal that trade union responsiveness, takeovers, reforms, awareness of employee benefits and trust positively influence the adoption of ESOPs based on empowerment. The study further reveals that adoption of ESOPs based on transparency, two-way communication and empowerment leads to organisational performance, employee retention and employee commitment. This study, being the first of its kind in Nigeria, filled the gap that existed in the Nigerian literature in respect of the awareness and adoption of ESOPs. This study provides literature and theoretical model that can be used as a foundation by organisations and the government to start up the adoption of ESOPs. This study showed that ESOPs is beneficial to boost the economy, enhance desired organisational outcomes (organisational performance, employee retention and employee commitment) and meet the financial and retirement needs of employees. However, for organisations and employees to enjoy the full benefits of ESOPs, underlying forces such as, trade union responsiveness, takeovers, reforms, awareness of employee benefits, trusts and taxation implication must be taken into account. Furthermore, the adoption, implementation and operations of ESOPs will be successful management, trade union leaders and employees utilise strategies such as, transparency, two-way communication and empowerment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Social media and development in the rural areas :an overview of the possible effects of socila media on the Thembu youth
- Matsheke, Masande Siyakudumisa
- Authors: Matsheke, Masande Siyakudumisa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rural youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Social media -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tembu (African people) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45355 , vital:38573
- Description: the possible impact on the Thembu through the introduction of information communication technologies (ICTs) as a development tool is the main concern. This is done by unpacking the model of Ubuntu as the foundation of the Thembu’s value system and juxtaposing its values to those found on social media. As Ubuntu is the basis of the Thembu cultural identity, the possible effects of ICTs, more specifically social media, on the cultural identity of the Thembu is a key concept in the treatise. The treatise begins by exploring Ubuntu in different guises so as to understand the concept holistically. This is done by examining the works of Mogobe Ramose and others in unpacking Ubuntu as a way of living. The manifestations of Ubuntu in Thembu culture are also explored so as to appreciate the relevance of Ubuntu in Thembu culture. As ICTs are introduced to the rural Thembu as part of the government’s development efforts, the treatise explores the development policies of South Africa from the RDP to GEAR in order to understand the development stance of the country. The role of ICTs in the development is also looked at. The clashing values and other contradictory factors between social media and Ubuntu are looked at in order to support the main argument of the treatise –that of social media having a negative impact on the Thembu cultural identity through inherent values found therein.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Matsheke, Masande Siyakudumisa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rural youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Social media -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tembu (African people) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45355 , vital:38573
- Description: the possible impact on the Thembu through the introduction of information communication technologies (ICTs) as a development tool is the main concern. This is done by unpacking the model of Ubuntu as the foundation of the Thembu’s value system and juxtaposing its values to those found on social media. As Ubuntu is the basis of the Thembu cultural identity, the possible effects of ICTs, more specifically social media, on the cultural identity of the Thembu is a key concept in the treatise. The treatise begins by exploring Ubuntu in different guises so as to understand the concept holistically. This is done by examining the works of Mogobe Ramose and others in unpacking Ubuntu as a way of living. The manifestations of Ubuntu in Thembu culture are also explored so as to appreciate the relevance of Ubuntu in Thembu culture. As ICTs are introduced to the rural Thembu as part of the government’s development efforts, the treatise explores the development policies of South Africa from the RDP to GEAR in order to understand the development stance of the country. The role of ICTs in the development is also looked at. The clashing values and other contradictory factors between social media and Ubuntu are looked at in order to support the main argument of the treatise –that of social media having a negative impact on the Thembu cultural identity through inherent values found therein.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The design of a boarding school for displaced children near Graaff-Reinet
- Authors: Akom, Chelcie Jade
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: School buildings -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School buildings -- Specifications -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Architecture -- Designs and plans Graaff-Reinet (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17888 , vital:28479
- Description: The treatise developed from a preoccupation with regards to the theories rooted around the human need for a sense of embeddedness in a specific place. This need lies deep within the human heart, as humans have a psychological and phenomenological need for a sense of comfort and security. The preoccupation lead to the notions pertaining to place to place making. The treatise acknowledges that certain places have the ability to evoke certain moods in human beings as a result of their extension and character, and when a place possesses a certain character it becomes meaningful to man. In order for man to fulfill his need to dwell amid the earth and sky, he has to orientate himself and identify with the natural place in which he is located.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Akom, Chelcie Jade
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: School buildings -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School buildings -- Specifications -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Architecture -- Designs and plans Graaff-Reinet (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17888 , vital:28479
- Description: The treatise developed from a preoccupation with regards to the theories rooted around the human need for a sense of embeddedness in a specific place. This need lies deep within the human heart, as humans have a psychological and phenomenological need for a sense of comfort and security. The preoccupation lead to the notions pertaining to place to place making. The treatise acknowledges that certain places have the ability to evoke certain moods in human beings as a result of their extension and character, and when a place possesses a certain character it becomes meaningful to man. In order for man to fulfill his need to dwell amid the earth and sky, he has to orientate himself and identify with the natural place in which he is located.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Assessing the status of biological control as a management tool for suppression of invasive alien plants in South Africa
- Zachariades, Costas, Paterson, Iain D, Strathie, Lorraine W, Hill, Martin P, van Wilgen, Brian W
- Authors: Zachariades, Costas , Paterson, Iain D , Strathie, Lorraine W , Hill, Martin P , van Wilgen, Brian W
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59762 , vital:27646 , https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v47i2.2142
- Description: Biological control of invasive alien plant (IAP) species is the use of introduced, highly selective natural enemies (usually herbivorous arthropods or pathogens) to control plants. It has been used in 130 countries as a valuable tool for the control of IAP species, with a total of over 550 biological control agents having been released (Winston et al. 2014). The benefits of biological control to natural ecosystems are significant (Van Driesch et al. 2010), with some specific examples of threatened indigenous species being protected by the action of biological control agents (Barton et al. 2007; Meyer, Fourdrigniez & Taputuarai 2011). Detailed analyses of programmes on biological control of IAPs have also clearly indicated that the risks of non-target effects from biological control agents are minimal (Fowler, Syrett & Hill 2000; Funasaki et al. 1988; Moran & Hoffmann 2015; Paynter et al. 2004; Pemberton 2000; Suckling & Sforza 2014). Less than 1% of all the agents released have a negative impact on non-target plant populations, and those that do could have been predicted to do so, and would not be released today (Suckling & Sforza 2014).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Zachariades, Costas , Paterson, Iain D , Strathie, Lorraine W , Hill, Martin P , van Wilgen, Brian W
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59762 , vital:27646 , https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v47i2.2142
- Description: Biological control of invasive alien plant (IAP) species is the use of introduced, highly selective natural enemies (usually herbivorous arthropods or pathogens) to control plants. It has been used in 130 countries as a valuable tool for the control of IAP species, with a total of over 550 biological control agents having been released (Winston et al. 2014). The benefits of biological control to natural ecosystems are significant (Van Driesch et al. 2010), with some specific examples of threatened indigenous species being protected by the action of biological control agents (Barton et al. 2007; Meyer, Fourdrigniez & Taputuarai 2011). Detailed analyses of programmes on biological control of IAPs have also clearly indicated that the risks of non-target effects from biological control agents are minimal (Fowler, Syrett & Hill 2000; Funasaki et al. 1988; Moran & Hoffmann 2015; Paynter et al. 2004; Pemberton 2000; Suckling & Sforza 2014). Less than 1% of all the agents released have a negative impact on non-target plant populations, and those that do could have been predicted to do so, and would not be released today (Suckling & Sforza 2014).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Detection and antibiogram profile of members of the vibrio species in Umzimvubu, Swartkops and Buffalo rivers the Eastern Cape province, South Africa
- Authors: September, Dolly Thandeka
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Vibrio -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Water -- Fluoridation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15221 , vital:40255
- Description: Freshwaterbodies are often recipients of a wide array of infectious agents yet they serve as immediate sources of water supply. Brackish and freshwater rivers support the growth of Vibrio species, which are the leading cause of diarrheal infections in the world. Their occurrence in these environments is detrimental to the health and well-being of many communities. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the occurrence and antibiogram profile of Vibrio species in Swartkops, UMzimvubu and Buffalo rivers. The rivers are important sources of freshwater supplies for some communities around the Eastern Cape Province, and water samples were collected once off from each of the sites, using standard membrane filtration method to concentrate the samples. Cultivation was carried out on Thiosulfate Citrate-Bile Salt Sucrose (TCBS) agar, were typical yellow/green colonies were enumerated as presumptive Vibrio species and expressed as CFU/100mL. Presumptive Vibrio counts ranged from 0 to 1.67 × 103 CFU/100mL, 0 to 6.42 ×102 CFU/100mL and 0 to 3.28×103 CFU/100ml in the uMzimvubu, Swartkops and Buffalo rivers respectively. Polymerase Chain Reaction was employed for molecular identification of the Vibrio isolates. Two hundred (200) presumptive Vibrio species were screened for molecular identification, and 185 isolates confirmed positive as belonging to the Vibrio genus. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of the confirmed isolates was determined using a panel of 12 commercial test antibiotics. All the confirmed Vibrio species showed 98 to 100percent multiple antibiotic resistance against all the test antibiotics from the three study sites. The most predominant phenotypic pattern of multidrug resistance displayed by the isolates was CAZ-PEN-AMP-CIP-AK-AZM-TET-CAM-CTX-STX-GEN-IPM showing 100percent resistance to all 12 antibiotics. The multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) on average was 1 for all the three rivers assessed. This finding suggest high possibility of antibiotic pollution and usage around the study areas, and occurrence of potentially pathogenic Vibrio species carrying antibiotic resistant genes, which is a major public and environmental health concern.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: September, Dolly Thandeka
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Vibrio -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Water -- Fluoridation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15221 , vital:40255
- Description: Freshwaterbodies are often recipients of a wide array of infectious agents yet they serve as immediate sources of water supply. Brackish and freshwater rivers support the growth of Vibrio species, which are the leading cause of diarrheal infections in the world. Their occurrence in these environments is detrimental to the health and well-being of many communities. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the occurrence and antibiogram profile of Vibrio species in Swartkops, UMzimvubu and Buffalo rivers. The rivers are important sources of freshwater supplies for some communities around the Eastern Cape Province, and water samples were collected once off from each of the sites, using standard membrane filtration method to concentrate the samples. Cultivation was carried out on Thiosulfate Citrate-Bile Salt Sucrose (TCBS) agar, were typical yellow/green colonies were enumerated as presumptive Vibrio species and expressed as CFU/100mL. Presumptive Vibrio counts ranged from 0 to 1.67 × 103 CFU/100mL, 0 to 6.42 ×102 CFU/100mL and 0 to 3.28×103 CFU/100ml in the uMzimvubu, Swartkops and Buffalo rivers respectively. Polymerase Chain Reaction was employed for molecular identification of the Vibrio isolates. Two hundred (200) presumptive Vibrio species were screened for molecular identification, and 185 isolates confirmed positive as belonging to the Vibrio genus. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of the confirmed isolates was determined using a panel of 12 commercial test antibiotics. All the confirmed Vibrio species showed 98 to 100percent multiple antibiotic resistance against all the test antibiotics from the three study sites. The most predominant phenotypic pattern of multidrug resistance displayed by the isolates was CAZ-PEN-AMP-CIP-AK-AZM-TET-CAM-CTX-STX-GEN-IPM showing 100percent resistance to all 12 antibiotics. The multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) on average was 1 for all the three rivers assessed. This finding suggest high possibility of antibiotic pollution and usage around the study areas, and occurrence of potentially pathogenic Vibrio species carrying antibiotic resistant genes, which is a major public and environmental health concern.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Effective communication planning for high-performance civil engineering project teams
- Authors: Rossouw, Jeanne Jacques
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Communication in engineering -- South Africa Communication of technical information , Communication in management Project management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19993 , vital:29020
- Description: In the area of project management, it is well understood that effective communication processes impact positively on project performance. Despite this, project teams still struggle to develop effective communication plans that address their project communication needs. The evidence of this is that many project problems are attributed to poor communication. The literature addresses the needs and shortcomings of group communication and communication planning in general; but there is however, a scarcity of literature describing how to plan for the internal communication needs of high-performance civil engineering teams. With the limited literature available on the topic, this study seeks to validate how effective the current communication planning methods are at Aurecon in meeting the communication needs of its project teams. This qualitative research project is a case study of communication planning within the project teams at Aurecon in Port Elizabeth. A semi-structured interview process was followed, addressing specific questions, without limiting the direction of the interviews. Project team members, working on high performance projects, were asked for their thoughts, feelings and suggestions about existing communication practices and project communication planning. Overall, it was found that the existing communication-planning practices at Aurecon did not have any beneficial effect on how team members communicate. It was concluded that project teams would benefit from improved communication-planning processes that are more inclusive of their specific communication needs. Organisations working on high-performance projects will benefit directly from the research, which challenges these organisations to think more broadly about how they plan for communication at a project level. The research provides practical suggestions for improving the way that teams plan their communication processes; and it does so by focusing on the communication needs of the team members. Recommendations are made to professional bodies, tertiary institutions, project organisations – and most importantly – to project team members themselves. The recommendations to project team members include taking ownership of communication practices, asserting their views, as well as making their needs known.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Rossouw, Jeanne Jacques
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Communication in engineering -- South Africa Communication of technical information , Communication in management Project management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19993 , vital:29020
- Description: In the area of project management, it is well understood that effective communication processes impact positively on project performance. Despite this, project teams still struggle to develop effective communication plans that address their project communication needs. The evidence of this is that many project problems are attributed to poor communication. The literature addresses the needs and shortcomings of group communication and communication planning in general; but there is however, a scarcity of literature describing how to plan for the internal communication needs of high-performance civil engineering teams. With the limited literature available on the topic, this study seeks to validate how effective the current communication planning methods are at Aurecon in meeting the communication needs of its project teams. This qualitative research project is a case study of communication planning within the project teams at Aurecon in Port Elizabeth. A semi-structured interview process was followed, addressing specific questions, without limiting the direction of the interviews. Project team members, working on high performance projects, were asked for their thoughts, feelings and suggestions about existing communication practices and project communication planning. Overall, it was found that the existing communication-planning practices at Aurecon did not have any beneficial effect on how team members communicate. It was concluded that project teams would benefit from improved communication-planning processes that are more inclusive of their specific communication needs. Organisations working on high-performance projects will benefit directly from the research, which challenges these organisations to think more broadly about how they plan for communication at a project level. The research provides practical suggestions for improving the way that teams plan their communication processes; and it does so by focusing on the communication needs of the team members. Recommendations are made to professional bodies, tertiary institutions, project organisations – and most importantly – to project team members themselves. The recommendations to project team members include taking ownership of communication practices, asserting their views, as well as making their needs known.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Adaptation of the mathematics recovery programme to facilitate progression in the early arithmetic strategies of Grade 2 learners in Zambia
- Authors: Young, Catherine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Zambia Arithmetic -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4977 , vital:20749
- Description: Research indicates that many children finish primary school in Southern Africa still reliant on inefficient counting strategies. This study extends the research of the South African Numeracy Chair project to early mathematics intervention with Grade 2 learners. It investigated the possible adaptation of the Mathematics Recovery programme to facilitate learner progression in early arithmetic strategies. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of adapting the Mathematics Recovery programme for use in a whole class setting, and to research the effectiveness of such an adapted programme. This study also aimed to investigate the extent of the phenomenon of unit counting and other early arithmetic strategies used in the early years in Zambia. This study was conducted from an emergent perspective. A review of the literature indicated that children who become stuck using unit counting face later mathematical difficulties, and that teacher over-emphasis on unit counting in the early years of schooling may be a contributing factor. This study used a qualitative design research methodology that consisted of a preparation phase, teaching experiment and retrospective analysis. The context of this teaching experiment was a seven week after-school intervention with a class of Grade 2 learners aged seven to eight in a rural Zambian primary school. Data collection and analysis focused on video recordings of a sample of 6 learners. The experimental teaching content focused on the Early Arithmetic Strategies aspect of the Mathematics Recovery programme. Although limited by time and research focus, this study found that all learners made some progress in early arithmetic strategies, and indicates that the Mathematics Recovery programme has potential for adaptation for early intervention in whole class teaching to address the mathematical education challenges in Zambia and beyond. This study also found that unit counting predominated in the sample learners, but that strategies were not yet entrenched, indicating this was a suitable age for early intervention. This study makes methodological contributions to a growing body of research into the adaptation of the Mathematics Recovery in Southern African contexts and suggests avenues for possible further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Young, Catherine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Zambia Arithmetic -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4977 , vital:20749
- Description: Research indicates that many children finish primary school in Southern Africa still reliant on inefficient counting strategies. This study extends the research of the South African Numeracy Chair project to early mathematics intervention with Grade 2 learners. It investigated the possible adaptation of the Mathematics Recovery programme to facilitate learner progression in early arithmetic strategies. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of adapting the Mathematics Recovery programme for use in a whole class setting, and to research the effectiveness of such an adapted programme. This study also aimed to investigate the extent of the phenomenon of unit counting and other early arithmetic strategies used in the early years in Zambia. This study was conducted from an emergent perspective. A review of the literature indicated that children who become stuck using unit counting face later mathematical difficulties, and that teacher over-emphasis on unit counting in the early years of schooling may be a contributing factor. This study used a qualitative design research methodology that consisted of a preparation phase, teaching experiment and retrospective analysis. The context of this teaching experiment was a seven week after-school intervention with a class of Grade 2 learners aged seven to eight in a rural Zambian primary school. Data collection and analysis focused on video recordings of a sample of 6 learners. The experimental teaching content focused on the Early Arithmetic Strategies aspect of the Mathematics Recovery programme. Although limited by time and research focus, this study found that all learners made some progress in early arithmetic strategies, and indicates that the Mathematics Recovery programme has potential for adaptation for early intervention in whole class teaching to address the mathematical education challenges in Zambia and beyond. This study also found that unit counting predominated in the sample learners, but that strategies were not yet entrenched, indicating this was a suitable age for early intervention. This study makes methodological contributions to a growing body of research into the adaptation of the Mathematics Recovery in Southern African contexts and suggests avenues for possible further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Exploring change-oriented learning, competencies and agency in a regional teacher professional development programme's change projects
- Authors: Mandikonza, Caleb
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: SADC Regional Environmental Education Programme Environmental education -- Africa, Southern Education -- Africa, Southern , International Certificate in Environmental Education , Environmental education -- Africa, Southern , Teachers, Training of -- Africa, Southern , Education -- Philosophy , Mediated learning experience , Vygotskiĭ, L. S. (Lev Semenovich), 1896-1934
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4410 , vital:20660
- Description: This aim of this study was to explore the mediatory role of the Rhodes University (RU) / Southern African Development Community (SADC) International Certificate in Environmental Education course in developing capacity for reflexive mainstreaming of environment and sustainability education in teacher education in southern Africa. This course was a change-oriented intervention to support capacity and agency for mainstreaming environmental education across many sectors of education. The discourse of the course included environmental education and education for sustainable development and for this study this was referred to as environment and sustainability education (ESE). Environment and sustainability education is a developing notion in southern Africa and the SADC Regional Environmental Education Programme (REEP) was set up to support capacity for mainstreaming ESE. ESE was one of the responses taken by the SADC region to respond to prevalent environment and sustainability issues across the region. This study focused, in general, on establishing the mediatory roles of the reflexive mediatory tool, the change project in the course. More specifically, the research explores the mediatory role of course interventions and activities that were used to develop understanding of and to frame the change project in fostering agentially motivated changed practice in the teacher education sector. Drawing on realist social theory, which is a form of critical realism, especially the work of Margaret Archer, the study used the principle of emergence to interpret changes in the course participants' practices. The study was framed using the research question: How do mediated actions in a regional professional development programme and the workplace influence Environment and Sustainability (ESE) competencies, practice, learning and agency in Teacher Education for Sustainable Development (TESD) change projects? The following sub-questions refined the study: • What mediated actions on the course influence ESE competences, practice, learning and agency on the professional development programme? • How do these identified mediated actions influence ESE competences, practice and learning on the professional development programme? • What mediated actions in workplaces influence ESE competences, practice, learning and agency in the change projects in teacher education institutions? • How do these identified mediated actions in workplaces influence ESE competences, practices and mediated actions in the workplace? Notions of practice, agency, reflexivity, competences and capabilities were used to sensitise explanations of features emergent from course interactions; the process of analysis was under-laboured by the theoretical lens of critical realism and realist social theory. Mediation theory was used to explain the role of interventions across the course. The study used a case study approach with three cases of teacher educators from two institutions in two southern African countries. Data were generated through document analysis of course portfolios, semi-structured interviews with research participants, observations of participants during their teaching and through group discussions in a change management workshop to establish features that emerged from the course and change project interactions. The principle of emergence recognises that any interactions result in new features of characteristics that are different from the original. In this case, the study investigated those features shown by participants after being exposed to the course's mediatory tools. In order to describe the cases, a narrative approach was used. The study was conducted at the interface of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD) and the Global Action Plan for Education for Sustainable Development, therefore the outcomes have implications for capacity development for ESE during and beyond the Global Action Plan for Education for Sustainable Development. The key finding is that capacity development for ESE needs to foreground reflexive engagement with one's own practice for it to be meaningful and relevant. The change project provided course participants with the opportunity to engage with their own practice and particularly their competences and capabilities through its mediatory tools. Course participants showed emergent properties that were evidence of expanded zones of proximal development (ZPD) in competences, capabilities and agency. The study illustrates that meaningful learning happens when immersed in context and when learners are able to make connections between concepts, practices and experiences (their praxis). The study also illustrates that capacity building creates opportunities for practitioners to expand their repertoire through the course activities. Some of the course activities stimulated, enhanced and gave impetus to their agency or double morphogenesis for them to continue to expand that repertoire by trying and retrying changes in practice that they value on their own and in communities of practice. Capacity development courses need to be structured to involve a variety of mediatory activities as some of these are relevant and are valued for different teacher education contexts. The study also shows how knowledge and understanding of classical Vygotskian mediation can be used to frame and structure courses for developing the ZPD retrospectively and how the repertoire which forms the ZPD has potential to be expanded and to keep expanding, whether at individual level or in community with others, as an object in the post-Vygotskian mediation process. The change project provides the starting point, the vehicle and momentum to teacher educators to critique and to reflexively transform competences or aspects of their practice that they value. The study showed that capacity development through the change project generated momentum for potentially morphogenetic changes in teacher education practice. The course initiated interactions at the phase T2-T3 that disrupted teacher educators' habitus. On-course phase activities such as assignments, lectures, discussions, practical tasks, excursions and regional knowledge exchange groups contributed smaller morphogenetic cycles to the main cycle. Reflexive engagement with one's own practice becomes a useful tool for building capacity for scaling capacity for mainstreaming ESE during and after the Global Action programme for ESD. Contributions of the study therefore go beyond the SADC region to contribute insights into capacity development for ESD in similar conditions of teacher education across the world.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mandikonza, Caleb
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: SADC Regional Environmental Education Programme Environmental education -- Africa, Southern Education -- Africa, Southern , International Certificate in Environmental Education , Environmental education -- Africa, Southern , Teachers, Training of -- Africa, Southern , Education -- Philosophy , Mediated learning experience , Vygotskiĭ, L. S. (Lev Semenovich), 1896-1934
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4410 , vital:20660
- Description: This aim of this study was to explore the mediatory role of the Rhodes University (RU) / Southern African Development Community (SADC) International Certificate in Environmental Education course in developing capacity for reflexive mainstreaming of environment and sustainability education in teacher education in southern Africa. This course was a change-oriented intervention to support capacity and agency for mainstreaming environmental education across many sectors of education. The discourse of the course included environmental education and education for sustainable development and for this study this was referred to as environment and sustainability education (ESE). Environment and sustainability education is a developing notion in southern Africa and the SADC Regional Environmental Education Programme (REEP) was set up to support capacity for mainstreaming ESE. ESE was one of the responses taken by the SADC region to respond to prevalent environment and sustainability issues across the region. This study focused, in general, on establishing the mediatory roles of the reflexive mediatory tool, the change project in the course. More specifically, the research explores the mediatory role of course interventions and activities that were used to develop understanding of and to frame the change project in fostering agentially motivated changed practice in the teacher education sector. Drawing on realist social theory, which is a form of critical realism, especially the work of Margaret Archer, the study used the principle of emergence to interpret changes in the course participants' practices. The study was framed using the research question: How do mediated actions in a regional professional development programme and the workplace influence Environment and Sustainability (ESE) competencies, practice, learning and agency in Teacher Education for Sustainable Development (TESD) change projects? The following sub-questions refined the study: • What mediated actions on the course influence ESE competences, practice, learning and agency on the professional development programme? • How do these identified mediated actions influence ESE competences, practice and learning on the professional development programme? • What mediated actions in workplaces influence ESE competences, practice, learning and agency in the change projects in teacher education institutions? • How do these identified mediated actions in workplaces influence ESE competences, practices and mediated actions in the workplace? Notions of practice, agency, reflexivity, competences and capabilities were used to sensitise explanations of features emergent from course interactions; the process of analysis was under-laboured by the theoretical lens of critical realism and realist social theory. Mediation theory was used to explain the role of interventions across the course. The study used a case study approach with three cases of teacher educators from two institutions in two southern African countries. Data were generated through document analysis of course portfolios, semi-structured interviews with research participants, observations of participants during their teaching and through group discussions in a change management workshop to establish features that emerged from the course and change project interactions. The principle of emergence recognises that any interactions result in new features of characteristics that are different from the original. In this case, the study investigated those features shown by participants after being exposed to the course's mediatory tools. In order to describe the cases, a narrative approach was used. The study was conducted at the interface of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD) and the Global Action Plan for Education for Sustainable Development, therefore the outcomes have implications for capacity development for ESE during and beyond the Global Action Plan for Education for Sustainable Development. The key finding is that capacity development for ESE needs to foreground reflexive engagement with one's own practice for it to be meaningful and relevant. The change project provided course participants with the opportunity to engage with their own practice and particularly their competences and capabilities through its mediatory tools. Course participants showed emergent properties that were evidence of expanded zones of proximal development (ZPD) in competences, capabilities and agency. The study illustrates that meaningful learning happens when immersed in context and when learners are able to make connections between concepts, practices and experiences (their praxis). The study also illustrates that capacity building creates opportunities for practitioners to expand their repertoire through the course activities. Some of the course activities stimulated, enhanced and gave impetus to their agency or double morphogenesis for them to continue to expand that repertoire by trying and retrying changes in practice that they value on their own and in communities of practice. Capacity development courses need to be structured to involve a variety of mediatory activities as some of these are relevant and are valued for different teacher education contexts. The study also shows how knowledge and understanding of classical Vygotskian mediation can be used to frame and structure courses for developing the ZPD retrospectively and how the repertoire which forms the ZPD has potential to be expanded and to keep expanding, whether at individual level or in community with others, as an object in the post-Vygotskian mediation process. The change project provides the starting point, the vehicle and momentum to teacher educators to critique and to reflexively transform competences or aspects of their practice that they value. The study showed that capacity development through the change project generated momentum for potentially morphogenetic changes in teacher education practice. The course initiated interactions at the phase T2-T3 that disrupted teacher educators' habitus. On-course phase activities such as assignments, lectures, discussions, practical tasks, excursions and regional knowledge exchange groups contributed smaller morphogenetic cycles to the main cycle. Reflexive engagement with one's own practice becomes a useful tool for building capacity for scaling capacity for mainstreaming ESE during and after the Global Action programme for ESD. Contributions of the study therefore go beyond the SADC region to contribute insights into capacity development for ESD in similar conditions of teacher education across the world.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Exploring transformative social learning and sustainability in community based irrigation scheme contexts in Mozambique
- Authors: Baloi, Aristides
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Social learning -- Mozambique , Irrigation -- Social aspects -- Mozambique , Water resources development -- Mozambique , Sustainable agriculture -- Mozambique , Community development -- Mozambique
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/50154 , vital:25963
- Description: This study set out to examine transformative social learning and sustainability in the context of community-based irrigation systems in Mozambique. These irrigation systems are socio-ecological in nature. The history of irrigation systems in Mozambique can be described in two periods: pre-Independence period (mainly the colonial period) and the post-Independence period from 1975 onwards. Most recently, the Mozambique Government has introduced a policy which supports community-based irrigation system implementation and management via irrigation associations in a move to support a shift from rain-fed farming practices to irrigation-supported farming practices amongst smallholder farmers. It is this shift in the object of activity that this study focusses on. It does this by studying learning process in the constituted irrigation associations, examining whether such learning is transformative and sustainability oriented or not, and how such learning can be further expanded and supported. Learning may occur in socio-ecological systems, but whether that learning enables transformation and sustainability of irrigation systems and the constituted associations is as yet under-explored in the Mozambique context and in the context of Education for Sustainable Development in southern Africa. The aim of this research was therefore to understand transformative social learning within the development of sustainable irrigation practices in the context of irrigation associations and new agrarian policy development in Mozambique. To examine transformative social learning in sustainable irrigation system practices (including management practices), the study worked with three research goals, which also formed phases of the study’s design: GOAL 1: Examine how and what transformative social learning has (or has not) emerged in existing activity systems to date (Phase 1: Activity System Analysis). GOAL 2: Examine how transformative social learning could emerge through expansive learning processes (Phase 2: Identification of contradictions and new solution modelling through Developmental Work Research and Change Laboratories). GOAL 3: Identify what opportunities exist for ongoing transformative social learning (Phase 3: Identification of absences and ongoing dialectical transformation possibilities). The study draws on theories of Social Learning, Transformative Learning and Cultural Historical Activity Theory’s (CHAT) expansive learning and formative interventionist research framework to develop insights into the learning processes. It works especially with third generation Cultural Historical Activity Theory which provides a theory of expansive social learning and collective transformative agency formation, which I deemed most appropriate for the need to understand the transformation of farmers’ activities in a collective formation such as an irrigation association. The study involved identification and examination of interacting activity systems, contradictions or dissonances in two case studies of community-based irrigation system development via the respective associations. It involved identifying existing learning, as well as engaging in formative intervention research to expand learning in two case study sites: namely the Macubulane and Massaca Irrigation Associations, located near Maputo, Mozambique in the Inkomati and Umbeluzi river basins. The Macubulane community practices a monocropping system of sugar cane plantations using sprinkler irrigation methods and the Massaca community practices a mixed cropping system growing vegetables using mainly gravity or furrow irrigation methods. The study uses a qualitative research approach and is underlaboured by Dialectical Critical Realism which allowed for a deeper probing of ontology and transformative praxis, and transformative learning. The study used methods which included in-depth interviews, change laboratory workshops, document analysis and focus group interviews with farmers and subjects in associated activity systems. Analysis involved activity system analysis, identification of contradictions, modeling of solutions, transformative agency analysis, as well as analysis of real and nominal absences and generative mechanisms as recommended in dialectical critical realism. I used inductive, abductive and retroductive modes of inference, relying on the latter to identify further potential for transformative learning. The study demonstrates that within the associations, transformative social learning is taking place as farmers seek to address problems and contradictions. This learning leads to the creation of new agency and capabilities by ensuring good yields and continuous improvement of management practices and social status. Learning operates through formal mediation in the irrigation system of workplace-based operation, maintenance and crop management practices (i.e. through workplace learning). Social learning occurs through collective engagement with the constraints that the association faces while applying new knowledge, introducing new technology, in the process of administration and planning of irrigation activities. Expansive learning is possible when mediated actively through formative interventions in change laboratory workshops. All three types of learning were found to be present and possible in the context of the two irrigation scheme contexts. The main study findings are that transformative social learning is a collective object-driven process in the context of a transforming object (from rain-fed to sustainable community-based irrigation scheme farming in this study), that can be explained from the level of generative mechanisms and associated real absences that shape nominal absences and contradictions within and between activity systems. These induce, and have potential to induce, transformative learning in irrigation systems, including the emergence of transformative agency via learning through workplace-based, wider social learning, and expansive learning interaction processes amongst subjects in interacting activity systems. Absenting absences is also crucial for extending the potential of transformative learning in irrigation associations. The study further shows how critical realism helps to interpret learning processes and how it strengthens the empirical findings obtained from qualitative analysis. A key outcome of the study is a model that frames conceptualisation of transformative social learning in irrigation systems. The model and the insights gained into farmers learning around the transformation of the object of activity explored in this study have implications for wider curriculum and policy development interventions. The study therefore also makes recommendations for curriculum development and policy implementation intervention. The curriculum development recommendations are not at the level of making recommendations for new courses only, but frame how the design of new courses should take into account the wider processes of learning and change associated with the transformation of an object of activity as articulated in the study. It recommends an approach that allows for in-field engagement with contradictions and the absenting of absences (a problem-based type of curriculum) that will also allow for conceptual development and understanding of the changing object of activity (i.e. community-based irrigation scheme practice and management). The main policy recommendation made from the study is to invest more in farmer support and farmers’ learning so that they can transition from rain-fed agriculture to sustainable irrigation scheme development and management via their associations. The research contributes to knowledge production on irrigation practices; considering that substantial understandings were generated through analysis of communal irrigation scheme practice and management and its implications, especially from a transformative learning perspective. As shown in this study, transformative social learning theories are still not well understood in the context of irrigation system development, and this study has contributed knowledge to this field. The study contributes towards understanding of sustainability learning in irrigation associations in terms of concepts and practices. The study offers a model for transformative social learning in irrigation scheme development and suggests an expanded curriculum for community-based irrigation association practice and management. Overall, the study contributes to an understanding of transformative, sustainability oriented learning processes as support for the emergence of community-based irrigation associations. Additionally, the study has added perspectives on how to frame transformative social learning from a CHAT and critical realist perspective in Education for Sustainable Development. The study also contributes to a growing body of scholarship in southern Africa which seeks to develop expansive, transformative social learning approaches in response to concerns experienced by communities who are reliant on natural resources and the environment for their livelihoods and well-being, and who are also seeking to emerge out of poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Baloi, Aristides
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Social learning -- Mozambique , Irrigation -- Social aspects -- Mozambique , Water resources development -- Mozambique , Sustainable agriculture -- Mozambique , Community development -- Mozambique
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/50154 , vital:25963
- Description: This study set out to examine transformative social learning and sustainability in the context of community-based irrigation systems in Mozambique. These irrigation systems are socio-ecological in nature. The history of irrigation systems in Mozambique can be described in two periods: pre-Independence period (mainly the colonial period) and the post-Independence period from 1975 onwards. Most recently, the Mozambique Government has introduced a policy which supports community-based irrigation system implementation and management via irrigation associations in a move to support a shift from rain-fed farming practices to irrigation-supported farming practices amongst smallholder farmers. It is this shift in the object of activity that this study focusses on. It does this by studying learning process in the constituted irrigation associations, examining whether such learning is transformative and sustainability oriented or not, and how such learning can be further expanded and supported. Learning may occur in socio-ecological systems, but whether that learning enables transformation and sustainability of irrigation systems and the constituted associations is as yet under-explored in the Mozambique context and in the context of Education for Sustainable Development in southern Africa. The aim of this research was therefore to understand transformative social learning within the development of sustainable irrigation practices in the context of irrigation associations and new agrarian policy development in Mozambique. To examine transformative social learning in sustainable irrigation system practices (including management practices), the study worked with three research goals, which also formed phases of the study’s design: GOAL 1: Examine how and what transformative social learning has (or has not) emerged in existing activity systems to date (Phase 1: Activity System Analysis). GOAL 2: Examine how transformative social learning could emerge through expansive learning processes (Phase 2: Identification of contradictions and new solution modelling through Developmental Work Research and Change Laboratories). GOAL 3: Identify what opportunities exist for ongoing transformative social learning (Phase 3: Identification of absences and ongoing dialectical transformation possibilities). The study draws on theories of Social Learning, Transformative Learning and Cultural Historical Activity Theory’s (CHAT) expansive learning and formative interventionist research framework to develop insights into the learning processes. It works especially with third generation Cultural Historical Activity Theory which provides a theory of expansive social learning and collective transformative agency formation, which I deemed most appropriate for the need to understand the transformation of farmers’ activities in a collective formation such as an irrigation association. The study involved identification and examination of interacting activity systems, contradictions or dissonances in two case studies of community-based irrigation system development via the respective associations. It involved identifying existing learning, as well as engaging in formative intervention research to expand learning in two case study sites: namely the Macubulane and Massaca Irrigation Associations, located near Maputo, Mozambique in the Inkomati and Umbeluzi river basins. The Macubulane community practices a monocropping system of sugar cane plantations using sprinkler irrigation methods and the Massaca community practices a mixed cropping system growing vegetables using mainly gravity or furrow irrigation methods. The study uses a qualitative research approach and is underlaboured by Dialectical Critical Realism which allowed for a deeper probing of ontology and transformative praxis, and transformative learning. The study used methods which included in-depth interviews, change laboratory workshops, document analysis and focus group interviews with farmers and subjects in associated activity systems. Analysis involved activity system analysis, identification of contradictions, modeling of solutions, transformative agency analysis, as well as analysis of real and nominal absences and generative mechanisms as recommended in dialectical critical realism. I used inductive, abductive and retroductive modes of inference, relying on the latter to identify further potential for transformative learning. The study demonstrates that within the associations, transformative social learning is taking place as farmers seek to address problems and contradictions. This learning leads to the creation of new agency and capabilities by ensuring good yields and continuous improvement of management practices and social status. Learning operates through formal mediation in the irrigation system of workplace-based operation, maintenance and crop management practices (i.e. through workplace learning). Social learning occurs through collective engagement with the constraints that the association faces while applying new knowledge, introducing new technology, in the process of administration and planning of irrigation activities. Expansive learning is possible when mediated actively through formative interventions in change laboratory workshops. All three types of learning were found to be present and possible in the context of the two irrigation scheme contexts. The main study findings are that transformative social learning is a collective object-driven process in the context of a transforming object (from rain-fed to sustainable community-based irrigation scheme farming in this study), that can be explained from the level of generative mechanisms and associated real absences that shape nominal absences and contradictions within and between activity systems. These induce, and have potential to induce, transformative learning in irrigation systems, including the emergence of transformative agency via learning through workplace-based, wider social learning, and expansive learning interaction processes amongst subjects in interacting activity systems. Absenting absences is also crucial for extending the potential of transformative learning in irrigation associations. The study further shows how critical realism helps to interpret learning processes and how it strengthens the empirical findings obtained from qualitative analysis. A key outcome of the study is a model that frames conceptualisation of transformative social learning in irrigation systems. The model and the insights gained into farmers learning around the transformation of the object of activity explored in this study have implications for wider curriculum and policy development interventions. The study therefore also makes recommendations for curriculum development and policy implementation intervention. The curriculum development recommendations are not at the level of making recommendations for new courses only, but frame how the design of new courses should take into account the wider processes of learning and change associated with the transformation of an object of activity as articulated in the study. It recommends an approach that allows for in-field engagement with contradictions and the absenting of absences (a problem-based type of curriculum) that will also allow for conceptual development and understanding of the changing object of activity (i.e. community-based irrigation scheme practice and management). The main policy recommendation made from the study is to invest more in farmer support and farmers’ learning so that they can transition from rain-fed agriculture to sustainable irrigation scheme development and management via their associations. The research contributes to knowledge production on irrigation practices; considering that substantial understandings were generated through analysis of communal irrigation scheme practice and management and its implications, especially from a transformative learning perspective. As shown in this study, transformative social learning theories are still not well understood in the context of irrigation system development, and this study has contributed knowledge to this field. The study contributes towards understanding of sustainability learning in irrigation associations in terms of concepts and practices. The study offers a model for transformative social learning in irrigation scheme development and suggests an expanded curriculum for community-based irrigation association practice and management. Overall, the study contributes to an understanding of transformative, sustainability oriented learning processes as support for the emergence of community-based irrigation associations. Additionally, the study has added perspectives on how to frame transformative social learning from a CHAT and critical realist perspective in Education for Sustainable Development. The study also contributes to a growing body of scholarship in southern Africa which seeks to develop expansive, transformative social learning approaches in response to concerns experienced by communities who are reliant on natural resources and the environment for their livelihoods and well-being, and who are also seeking to emerge out of poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Riding into myth: Manifest Destiny, Nietzschean ethics and the creation of a new western frontier mythology in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian
- Authors: Edley, Christopher
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: McCarthy, Cormac, 1933-. Blood meridian , Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, 1844-1900 -- Influence , Mythology in literature , American fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism , West (U.S.) -- In literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7334 , vital:21243
- Description: Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West is a provocative evocation of the American West that has attracted a wide range of critical responses. This study has three foci: the novel as epic myth, McCarthy’s critique of Manifest destiny, and the influence of Nietzschean philosophy on the judge and McCarthy’s portrayal of the human condition. These concerns conduce to an alternative reading of the conclusion of the novel. Blood Meridian is a unique textual enterprise as it both conforms to and subverts mythic conventions associated with both Classical epic and the American West. Recognition of the resonances between Blood Meridian and these mythologies helps the reader to engage with McCarthy’s ambitious creation of a powerful literary allegory in the tradition of Twain and Faulkner. Having situated McCarthy’s enterprise within these co-ordinates, the study then moves on to examine the novel’s stunning critique of Manifest Destiny, in the context of the implications that such thinking has had on American foreign policy over the past two centuries, and that continue to inspire American involvement in military conflicts well into the twenty-first century. The final area of focus is the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy on the character of the judge and the weltanschauung that the novel presents. McCarthy’s ultimate objective is to demonstrate that humankind’s most basic condition is an inherently violent one. The more critically accepted reading of the novel is challenged by postulating the kid’s triumph over the judge as not only in keeping with the literary tradition of Melville and others but also a logical outcome of the novel’s allegory of American military involvement in Vietnam. The study concludes that whilst McCarthy has gone on to receive critical acclaim and public praise for works published after Blood Meridian, this work remains both his artistic masterpiece and his most far-reaching engagement with issues of eschatological and political importance. It is argued that, given the contemporary escalation in geo-political tensions, Blood Meridian may well continue to provide insight into the nature of American domestic and foreign policy for decades to come.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Edley, Christopher
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: McCarthy, Cormac, 1933-. Blood meridian , Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, 1844-1900 -- Influence , Mythology in literature , American fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism , West (U.S.) -- In literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7334 , vital:21243
- Description: Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West is a provocative evocation of the American West that has attracted a wide range of critical responses. This study has three foci: the novel as epic myth, McCarthy’s critique of Manifest destiny, and the influence of Nietzschean philosophy on the judge and McCarthy’s portrayal of the human condition. These concerns conduce to an alternative reading of the conclusion of the novel. Blood Meridian is a unique textual enterprise as it both conforms to and subverts mythic conventions associated with both Classical epic and the American West. Recognition of the resonances between Blood Meridian and these mythologies helps the reader to engage with McCarthy’s ambitious creation of a powerful literary allegory in the tradition of Twain and Faulkner. Having situated McCarthy’s enterprise within these co-ordinates, the study then moves on to examine the novel’s stunning critique of Manifest Destiny, in the context of the implications that such thinking has had on American foreign policy over the past two centuries, and that continue to inspire American involvement in military conflicts well into the twenty-first century. The final area of focus is the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy on the character of the judge and the weltanschauung that the novel presents. McCarthy’s ultimate objective is to demonstrate that humankind’s most basic condition is an inherently violent one. The more critically accepted reading of the novel is challenged by postulating the kid’s triumph over the judge as not only in keeping with the literary tradition of Melville and others but also a logical outcome of the novel’s allegory of American military involvement in Vietnam. The study concludes that whilst McCarthy has gone on to receive critical acclaim and public praise for works published after Blood Meridian, this work remains both his artistic masterpiece and his most far-reaching engagement with issues of eschatological and political importance. It is argued that, given the contemporary escalation in geo-political tensions, Blood Meridian may well continue to provide insight into the nature of American domestic and foreign policy for decades to come.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
An assessment of public participation strategies: the case of Nyandeni Local Municipality
- Authors: Bambeni, Mbulelo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17470 , vital:28343
- Description: This study assessed the public participation strategies from the perspective of local government governance in encouraging community participation with specific reference to the Nyandeni Local Municipality (NLM). The research was based on the assumption that one of the biggest challenges facing most municipalities in South Africa is the lack of effective public participation strategies which results in service delivery protest actions. As a local municipality, the NLM has been entrusted with the responsibility to promote and encourage community participation.. . The purpose of the research study was to investigate and observe the public participation strategies with specific reference to the Nyandeni Local Municipality. The assessment of the public participation strategies of the NLM will therefore be fundamentally descriptive, but highly exploratory in nature. This research employed the quantitative method. An empirical survey was employed for purposes of the study and the research findings are described, interpreted, and analysed. Data was collected by way of a suitably constructed questionnaire which was administered to the ward committee members. The research has established that there is a good public participation approach in place but its functioning is inadequate, the ward committee members have little understanding of their roles and responsibilities in terms of the implementation of the public participation strategy, and they have failed to facilitate communication between the Municipality and the community. There was also an indication that the service delivery protest actions were fuelled by political motives and certain challenges and not solely by a lack of an effective public participation. In addition, the language used by the Municipality is mostly not understandable to the community as a whole. This research also identifies the strengths and the weaknesses of the public participation strategies as these are regarded as critical in promoting successful local democracy. It is envisaged that this research will assist the Nyandeni Municipality, and other municipalities country-wide to identify challenges with which they are faced and to deal with these accordingly in terms of the objectives identified in the public participation strategies. Furthermore, this research study envisages promoting effective public participation strategies within the Nyandeni Local Municipality as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery that will ensure communities of their well-being and dignity. Various recommendations are presented, based on the findings, primarily from the literature review and empirical survey, on how the existing status quo of the NLM can be changed to enhance public participation. If these recommendations are adopted, the Nyandeni LM will be able to develop and implement effective public participation strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Bambeni, Mbulelo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17470 , vital:28343
- Description: This study assessed the public participation strategies from the perspective of local government governance in encouraging community participation with specific reference to the Nyandeni Local Municipality (NLM). The research was based on the assumption that one of the biggest challenges facing most municipalities in South Africa is the lack of effective public participation strategies which results in service delivery protest actions. As a local municipality, the NLM has been entrusted with the responsibility to promote and encourage community participation.. . The purpose of the research study was to investigate and observe the public participation strategies with specific reference to the Nyandeni Local Municipality. The assessment of the public participation strategies of the NLM will therefore be fundamentally descriptive, but highly exploratory in nature. This research employed the quantitative method. An empirical survey was employed for purposes of the study and the research findings are described, interpreted, and analysed. Data was collected by way of a suitably constructed questionnaire which was administered to the ward committee members. The research has established that there is a good public participation approach in place but its functioning is inadequate, the ward committee members have little understanding of their roles and responsibilities in terms of the implementation of the public participation strategy, and they have failed to facilitate communication between the Municipality and the community. There was also an indication that the service delivery protest actions were fuelled by political motives and certain challenges and not solely by a lack of an effective public participation. In addition, the language used by the Municipality is mostly not understandable to the community as a whole. This research also identifies the strengths and the weaknesses of the public participation strategies as these are regarded as critical in promoting successful local democracy. It is envisaged that this research will assist the Nyandeni Municipality, and other municipalities country-wide to identify challenges with which they are faced and to deal with these accordingly in terms of the objectives identified in the public participation strategies. Furthermore, this research study envisages promoting effective public participation strategies within the Nyandeni Local Municipality as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery that will ensure communities of their well-being and dignity. Various recommendations are presented, based on the findings, primarily from the literature review and empirical survey, on how the existing status quo of the NLM can be changed to enhance public participation. If these recommendations are adopted, the Nyandeni LM will be able to develop and implement effective public participation strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns and habitat use of Algoa Bay’s rocky reef fish community
- Authors: Juby, Roxanne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Reef fishes -- Effect of light on , Reef fishes -- South Africa , Underwater videography in wildlife monitoring -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/44827 , vital:25445
- Description: Distinct day-night changes in ambient light are recognised as an important driver of animal activity patterns, with predictable changes to the structure and composition of animal communities between day and night. While day-night variation in the structure of animal communities has been well researched for terrestrial organisms and shallow marine fish communities around the world, there has been limited research of this type conducted on South Africa’s rocky reef fish communities. Consequently, we have a poor understanding of how nocturnal reef fish communities are structured and the day-night activity patterns of species inhabiting both shallow (10-30m) and deep-aphotic (55-100m) reefs. This research was conducted at two warm-temperate South African rocky reefs situated in Algoa Bay. The importance of natural ambient light in shaping the distribution of reef fish communities at shallow and deep-aphotic reef sites was demonstrated using baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs). Distinct day and night fish communities were sampled at shallow and deep-aphotic reef sites. These differences were driven by significant changes in species richness (p < 0.001), species abundance (p < 0.001) and community composition (p < 0.001). These shifts appeared to be driven by day-night activity patterns that were the result of increased detectability of certain species at either day or night. The majority of species belonging to the family Sparidae showed evidence of strict diurnal activity, with their activity being further restricted to shallow reefs. These species showed evidence that they may enter micro-habitats within the reef at night. Similar activity patterns were shown for other top predatory teleost species and low level consumers, with substantial reductions in abundances, or no recordings at night throughout this study. Shallow reefs at day harboured the most diverse fish community. It is therefore hypothesised that this habitat was associated with conditions that offered improved access to resources for many visual species. In addition, the diverse community inhabiting shallow reefs at day is associated with a high risk of negative interspecies interactions, such as competition and predation. It is hypothesised that the biotic conditions associated with shallow reefs at day drove three movement patterns identified in this study; Pagellus bellottii natalensis showed evidence of movement onto shallow reefs at night from adjacent sandy flats, while Pterogymnus laniarius and Squalus sp. 1 showed evidence of movement onto shallow reefs at night from the deep- aphotic reefs that remain dark throughout the diel cycle. It is further hypothesised that other species which showed evidence for nocturnal activity, i.e. Galeichthys ater, Eptatretus hexatrema and Haploblepharus edwardsii, may enter sheltered micro-habitats within the reef during day light hours. These findings have highlighted the complex patterns that have evolved within marine fish to allow multiple species to coexist and exploit productive reef ecosystems by partitioning resource use and activity patterns at day or night, between depth zones and habitat types.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Juby, Roxanne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Reef fishes -- Effect of light on , Reef fishes -- South Africa , Underwater videography in wildlife monitoring -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/44827 , vital:25445
- Description: Distinct day-night changes in ambient light are recognised as an important driver of animal activity patterns, with predictable changes to the structure and composition of animal communities between day and night. While day-night variation in the structure of animal communities has been well researched for terrestrial organisms and shallow marine fish communities around the world, there has been limited research of this type conducted on South Africa’s rocky reef fish communities. Consequently, we have a poor understanding of how nocturnal reef fish communities are structured and the day-night activity patterns of species inhabiting both shallow (10-30m) and deep-aphotic (55-100m) reefs. This research was conducted at two warm-temperate South African rocky reefs situated in Algoa Bay. The importance of natural ambient light in shaping the distribution of reef fish communities at shallow and deep-aphotic reef sites was demonstrated using baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs). Distinct day and night fish communities were sampled at shallow and deep-aphotic reef sites. These differences were driven by significant changes in species richness (p < 0.001), species abundance (p < 0.001) and community composition (p < 0.001). These shifts appeared to be driven by day-night activity patterns that were the result of increased detectability of certain species at either day or night. The majority of species belonging to the family Sparidae showed evidence of strict diurnal activity, with their activity being further restricted to shallow reefs. These species showed evidence that they may enter micro-habitats within the reef at night. Similar activity patterns were shown for other top predatory teleost species and low level consumers, with substantial reductions in abundances, or no recordings at night throughout this study. Shallow reefs at day harboured the most diverse fish community. It is therefore hypothesised that this habitat was associated with conditions that offered improved access to resources for many visual species. In addition, the diverse community inhabiting shallow reefs at day is associated with a high risk of negative interspecies interactions, such as competition and predation. It is hypothesised that the biotic conditions associated with shallow reefs at day drove three movement patterns identified in this study; Pagellus bellottii natalensis showed evidence of movement onto shallow reefs at night from adjacent sandy flats, while Pterogymnus laniarius and Squalus sp. 1 showed evidence of movement onto shallow reefs at night from the deep- aphotic reefs that remain dark throughout the diel cycle. It is further hypothesised that other species which showed evidence for nocturnal activity, i.e. Galeichthys ater, Eptatretus hexatrema and Haploblepharus edwardsii, may enter sheltered micro-habitats within the reef during day light hours. These findings have highlighted the complex patterns that have evolved within marine fish to allow multiple species to coexist and exploit productive reef ecosystems by partitioning resource use and activity patterns at day or night, between depth zones and habitat types.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
An evaluation and estimation of risk factors associated with cholera : case study of registered patients in Raymond Mhlaba local municipality, South Africa
- Authors: Osuji, Georgeleen O
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Cholera -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Risk assessment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15562 , vital:40459
- Description: Background: Cholera is an acute infectious disease of the small intestine caused by the bacterium called Vibrio cholerae, which has two serogroups01and 0139which is also known as choleragenic V. cholerae. This disease is characterized by profuse watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration which can lead to death of both adult and children if treatment is not promptly given. Cholera is spread through ingestion of V. cholera contaminated water and food. Cholera has displayed global presence more than seven times and caused tremendous disaster to humankind. Method: This was a retrospective study among patients with cholera within the period of ten years (2005 to 2015) and the total number of patients was 106. The target population for this study were patients at Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality who attended Victoria hospital and were diagnosed with Vibrio cholerae species with respect to sources of water and non-water sources during the mentioned period. A multivariate Logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors of cholera and comparison was made in the treatment of cholera outcomes for factors which were statistically significant at P < 0.05. Results: The median age was 24.5 (IQR: 7.0-44.8) for all respondents with cholera. Patients within the age range of 26-40 and 41-55 were found to have a higher risk of cholera (2.20, 95percent CI: 1.51, 4.22) and (1.13, 95percent CI: 0.61, 2.01) respectively. The risk of cholera was considerably higher among the black race (2.51, 95percent CI: 1.52, 4.31) compared to the coloured (1.33, 95percent CI: 0.75, 3.713). Patients who used source of water supply from carrier/Tanker and Dam/River had higher increased risk of contracting cholera (1.71, 95percent CI: 0.92, 3.62) and (2.61, 95percent CI: 1.38, 4.25) respectively compared to patients that used other sources of water. Home, party and restaurant as places patients had eaten 24 hours earlier before the onset of cholera were associated with increased risk of severe cholera. Patients who shared toilet facilities had increased risk of cholera (0.91, 95percent CI: 0.47, 1.62) compared to the ones who used private toilet. Those patients who did not practice hand washing had an increased risk of contracting cholera (1.45, 95percent CI: 0.88, 2.12) compared to the ones who washed their hands. When Logistic regression was carried out, the following risk factors were found to be statistically significant in causing cholera at 5percent significance level; Age ( 26-40), gender, level of education, marital status, sources of water supply, place eaten in the last 24 hours before onset of cholera, type of toilet used and hand washing. Conclusion: Improvement in level of education, sources of water supply, place of last eaten before cholera sickness, toilet facilities, hand washing practices are key risk factors for cholera disease and hospitalization among patients in Raymond Mhlaba local Municipality, Eastern Cape. The strong association between water and sanitation highlights the need for a more thorough assessment of potential waterborne exposures and the risk faced by family members suffering from cholera infection cases and may warrant renewed research regarding the use of targeted chemoprophylaxis in endemic rural settings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Osuji, Georgeleen O
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Cholera -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Risk assessment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15562 , vital:40459
- Description: Background: Cholera is an acute infectious disease of the small intestine caused by the bacterium called Vibrio cholerae, which has two serogroups01and 0139which is also known as choleragenic V. cholerae. This disease is characterized by profuse watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration which can lead to death of both adult and children if treatment is not promptly given. Cholera is spread through ingestion of V. cholera contaminated water and food. Cholera has displayed global presence more than seven times and caused tremendous disaster to humankind. Method: This was a retrospective study among patients with cholera within the period of ten years (2005 to 2015) and the total number of patients was 106. The target population for this study were patients at Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality who attended Victoria hospital and were diagnosed with Vibrio cholerae species with respect to sources of water and non-water sources during the mentioned period. A multivariate Logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors of cholera and comparison was made in the treatment of cholera outcomes for factors which were statistically significant at P < 0.05. Results: The median age was 24.5 (IQR: 7.0-44.8) for all respondents with cholera. Patients within the age range of 26-40 and 41-55 were found to have a higher risk of cholera (2.20, 95percent CI: 1.51, 4.22) and (1.13, 95percent CI: 0.61, 2.01) respectively. The risk of cholera was considerably higher among the black race (2.51, 95percent CI: 1.52, 4.31) compared to the coloured (1.33, 95percent CI: 0.75, 3.713). Patients who used source of water supply from carrier/Tanker and Dam/River had higher increased risk of contracting cholera (1.71, 95percent CI: 0.92, 3.62) and (2.61, 95percent CI: 1.38, 4.25) respectively compared to patients that used other sources of water. Home, party and restaurant as places patients had eaten 24 hours earlier before the onset of cholera were associated with increased risk of severe cholera. Patients who shared toilet facilities had increased risk of cholera (0.91, 95percent CI: 0.47, 1.62) compared to the ones who used private toilet. Those patients who did not practice hand washing had an increased risk of contracting cholera (1.45, 95percent CI: 0.88, 2.12) compared to the ones who washed their hands. When Logistic regression was carried out, the following risk factors were found to be statistically significant in causing cholera at 5percent significance level; Age ( 26-40), gender, level of education, marital status, sources of water supply, place eaten in the last 24 hours before onset of cholera, type of toilet used and hand washing. Conclusion: Improvement in level of education, sources of water supply, place of last eaten before cholera sickness, toilet facilities, hand washing practices are key risk factors for cholera disease and hospitalization among patients in Raymond Mhlaba local Municipality, Eastern Cape. The strong association between water and sanitation highlights the need for a more thorough assessment of potential waterborne exposures and the risk faced by family members suffering from cholera infection cases and may warrant renewed research regarding the use of targeted chemoprophylaxis in endemic rural settings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Assessment of student satisfaction on institutional factors influencing student retention in one comprehensive university in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Stofile, Regina N
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- South Africa College dropouts Dropouts -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9450 , vital:34353
- Description: In all higher education institutions across the world, the student retention and success is an issue of concern and a pressing one. Students invest heavily in their higher education, while institutions in turn, lose a considerable sum of money for each student that drops out due to dissatisfaction with institutional services. The purpose of this quantitative methods research study, employing a survey design, was to assess student satisfaction with institutional factors that influence student satisfaction in higher education. The research questions focused on student satisfaction factors namely; academic advising, academic support, teaching approaches, assessment techniques, learning facilities, student funding services, student accommodation and administrative services. The study used structured questionnaire, with Likert scale type of question items, to collect data from the respondents These were hand delivered to 650 students in four campuses of the selected university. SPSS was used for data analysis. Major findings revealed that the selected institutional factors significantly impacted on student satisfaction, and their decisions to stay within the institution. Based on the results of the study, a framework to assist the institution ensure that student are receiving the services that they need from the institution as early as possible, was proposed. The study provided therefore the useful data for institutions to use in their quality enhancement activities. The result of the study can be incorporated into enrolment management planning and the intervention strategies, to improve the success of students at the selected institution in Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Stofile, Regina N
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- South Africa College dropouts Dropouts -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9450 , vital:34353
- Description: In all higher education institutions across the world, the student retention and success is an issue of concern and a pressing one. Students invest heavily in their higher education, while institutions in turn, lose a considerable sum of money for each student that drops out due to dissatisfaction with institutional services. The purpose of this quantitative methods research study, employing a survey design, was to assess student satisfaction with institutional factors that influence student satisfaction in higher education. The research questions focused on student satisfaction factors namely; academic advising, academic support, teaching approaches, assessment techniques, learning facilities, student funding services, student accommodation and administrative services. The study used structured questionnaire, with Likert scale type of question items, to collect data from the respondents These were hand delivered to 650 students in four campuses of the selected university. SPSS was used for data analysis. Major findings revealed that the selected institutional factors significantly impacted on student satisfaction, and their decisions to stay within the institution. Based on the results of the study, a framework to assist the institution ensure that student are receiving the services that they need from the institution as early as possible, was proposed. The study provided therefore the useful data for institutions to use in their quality enhancement activities. The result of the study can be incorporated into enrolment management planning and the intervention strategies, to improve the success of students at the selected institution in Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Preparation and characterization of isoniazid-loaded crude soybean lecithin liposomes
- Nkanga, Christian I, Isaacs, Michelle, Noundou, Xavier S, Krause, Rui W M, Walker, Roderick B
- Authors: Nkanga, Christian I , Isaacs, Michelle , Noundou, Xavier S , Krause, Rui W M , Walker, Roderick B
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125654 , vital:35804 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.04.074
- Description: Unexpected substituent-dependent regioselectivty challenges in the synthesis of C-benzylated (N-arylcarbamoyl)phosphonate esters have been resolved. The C-benzylated N-furfurylcarbamoyl derivative showed low micromolar PfLDH inhibition, while one of the C-benzylated N-arylcarbamoyl analogues was active against Nagana Trypanosoma brucei parasites which are responsible for African trypanosomiasis in cattle.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Nkanga, Christian I , Isaacs, Michelle , Noundou, Xavier S , Krause, Rui W M , Walker, Roderick B
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125654 , vital:35804 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.04.074
- Description: Unexpected substituent-dependent regioselectivty challenges in the synthesis of C-benzylated (N-arylcarbamoyl)phosphonate esters have been resolved. The C-benzylated N-furfurylcarbamoyl derivative showed low micromolar PfLDH inhibition, while one of the C-benzylated N-arylcarbamoyl analogues was active against Nagana Trypanosoma brucei parasites which are responsible for African trypanosomiasis in cattle.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
An analysis of how geogebra can be used as a visualisation tool by selected teachers to develop conceptual understanding of the properties of geometric shapes in grade 9 learners: a case study in Namibia
- Authors: Mwiikeni, Eramus
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6989 , vital:21207
- Description: According to Rosken & Rolka (2006), learning mathematics through visualisations can be a powerful tool to explore mathematical problems and give meaning to mathematical concepts and relationships between them. “Visualisation can reduce the complexity of mathematical problems when dealing with a multitude of information” (p.458). This case study focused on using GeoGebra as a visualisation tool to teach angle properties in Grade 9 geometry. This study set out to analyse how GeoGebra visualisations can be used by selected teachers to teach for conceptual understanding. The research is based on a constructivist view of learning and is oriented within an interpretive paradigm. The methodology used is a qualitative case study. The study was conducted in one school and involved 3 mathematics teachers who were purposefully selected because they showed willingness to use technology in their teaching. I used classroom observations and interviews to collect the data. The study identified a number of factors from the participants that related to using GeoGebra in teaching for conceptual understanding. These include the effective use of dynamic visuals to build on prior knowledge, using multiple representations through image generation and image transformation to make connections and using visuals to justify mathematics ideas. The results from this study indicated that GeoGebra can indeed be used effectively as a teaching tool to teach for conceptual understanding in mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mwiikeni, Eramus
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6989 , vital:21207
- Description: According to Rosken & Rolka (2006), learning mathematics through visualisations can be a powerful tool to explore mathematical problems and give meaning to mathematical concepts and relationships between them. “Visualisation can reduce the complexity of mathematical problems when dealing with a multitude of information” (p.458). This case study focused on using GeoGebra as a visualisation tool to teach angle properties in Grade 9 geometry. This study set out to analyse how GeoGebra visualisations can be used by selected teachers to teach for conceptual understanding. The research is based on a constructivist view of learning and is oriented within an interpretive paradigm. The methodology used is a qualitative case study. The study was conducted in one school and involved 3 mathematics teachers who were purposefully selected because they showed willingness to use technology in their teaching. I used classroom observations and interviews to collect the data. The study identified a number of factors from the participants that related to using GeoGebra in teaching for conceptual understanding. These include the effective use of dynamic visuals to build on prior knowledge, using multiple representations through image generation and image transformation to make connections and using visuals to justify mathematics ideas. The results from this study indicated that GeoGebra can indeed be used effectively as a teaching tool to teach for conceptual understanding in mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
An Investigation into the community's experience of the land claim process: the case study of Cwengcwe village in King Williams Town, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mgweba, Unati Natashe
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Land reform -- South Africa , Restitution , Black people -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26808 , vital:66011
- Description: This study examines Cwengcwe community’s experiences of the land claim process. This community is located in King William’s Town, Eastern Cape. The land issue remains unfinished business in the South African context with many land claimants still waiting to receive their land back or to be compensated for their land with money. Cwengcwe community members are not an exception in the channel of claiming back their land and having to wait for a lengthy period of time to be compensated. The main objective of the study was therefore to find out about the experiences of the Cwengcwe community with regards to the land claims process. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and the data was collected by conducting semi-structured interviews and observations. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from community members at Cwengcwe village. The findings of the study reveal that the community members in this village are very disappointed at the slow progress of processing the land claims, as their claims which were lodged in 2015 had not been settled as yet in November 2017. Furthermore, the minimal and/or lack of communication from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform was a negative indicator in the prioritisation ladder. This study recommends further exploration of the land claim process in order to review its model and come up with alternative processes that might ease the land claim process. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2017
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mgweba, Unati Natashe
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Land reform -- South Africa , Restitution , Black people -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26808 , vital:66011
- Description: This study examines Cwengcwe community’s experiences of the land claim process. This community is located in King William’s Town, Eastern Cape. The land issue remains unfinished business in the South African context with many land claimants still waiting to receive their land back or to be compensated for their land with money. Cwengcwe community members are not an exception in the channel of claiming back their land and having to wait for a lengthy period of time to be compensated. The main objective of the study was therefore to find out about the experiences of the Cwengcwe community with regards to the land claims process. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and the data was collected by conducting semi-structured interviews and observations. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from community members at Cwengcwe village. The findings of the study reveal that the community members in this village are very disappointed at the slow progress of processing the land claims, as their claims which were lodged in 2015 had not been settled as yet in November 2017. Furthermore, the minimal and/or lack of communication from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform was a negative indicator in the prioritisation ladder. This study recommends further exploration of the land claim process in order to review its model and come up with alternative processes that might ease the land claim process. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2017
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017