Enhanced nonlinear optical responses of zinc diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio phthalocyanine conjugated to AgxAuy alloy nanoparticles
- Bankole, Owolabi M, Osifeko, Olawale, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Bankole, Owolabi M , Osifeko, Olawale , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/240382 , vital:50829 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2016.06.025"
- Description: In this article, the photophysical and nonlinear optical (NLO) characterizations of diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio phthalocyaninatozinc (II) (2) before and after conjugation to AgxAuy nano-alloys are discussed. Phthalocyanines-AgxAuy (2-AgxAuy) composites showed enhanced triplet state and nonlinear optical behaviour when compared to free phthalocyanine. Optical limiting (OL) responses of the samples were evaluated using Z-scan technique at 532 nm and 10 ns in dimethyl sulfoxide. Reverse saturable absorption (RSA), which is a direct consequence of triplet absorption of already excited molecules was observed as the dominant mechanism responsible for nonlinearity of the samples. By virtue of the magnitude of absorption coefficients and other NLO optical parameters estimated in this work, 2-AgxAuy composites were found to exhibit stronger optical limiting responses than unconjugated phthalocyanine. The large third-order susceptibilities of the composites make them suitable materials for attenuating modern laser radiations, and also found useful in various optical applications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bankole, Owolabi M , Osifeko, Olawale , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/240382 , vital:50829 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2016.06.025"
- Description: In this article, the photophysical and nonlinear optical (NLO) characterizations of diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio phthalocyaninatozinc (II) (2) before and after conjugation to AgxAuy nano-alloys are discussed. Phthalocyanines-AgxAuy (2-AgxAuy) composites showed enhanced triplet state and nonlinear optical behaviour when compared to free phthalocyanine. Optical limiting (OL) responses of the samples were evaluated using Z-scan technique at 532 nm and 10 ns in dimethyl sulfoxide. Reverse saturable absorption (RSA), which is a direct consequence of triplet absorption of already excited molecules was observed as the dominant mechanism responsible for nonlinearity of the samples. By virtue of the magnitude of absorption coefficients and other NLO optical parameters estimated in this work, 2-AgxAuy composites were found to exhibit stronger optical limiting responses than unconjugated phthalocyanine. The large third-order susceptibilities of the composites make them suitable materials for attenuating modern laser radiations, and also found useful in various optical applications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
A critical analysis of the concept and extent of base erosion and profit shifting, and its impact on South Africa versus Australia
- Authors: Basnett, Robyn
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4037 , vital:20592
- Description: Tax avoidance by multinational enterprises is the focus of much media and political scrutiny. It is also the subject of a major Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) project called Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). The objective of this thesis was to gain a greater understanding of BEPS, particularly in a South African and Australian context, and to determine whether BEPS is as great a problem as the OECD portrays. A detailed analysis of the OECD BEPS Report and Action Plan was undertaken to understand what the term BEPS means. A review of current BEPS literature was then performed toassess the extent of BEPS. This was followed by a comparative analysis of South Africa and Australia, including a comparison of their tax systems and various economic indicators. It was found that there is no simple definition of BEPS. It encompasses the spectrum of international tax planning strategies used by multinational enterprises. Furthermore, these tax strategies are usually legal, which makes measuring the extent of BEPS conceptually difficult. Despite being legal, many observers believe that BEPS behaviour by multinational enterprises is ethically unacceptable. This thesis also discussed the ethics of tax avoidance, and argued that countries should assess BEPS with reference to the many benefits which multinationals bring to a country. The benefits of multinational enterprise activity are especially important to developing countries like South Africa. Despite similar tax systems, South Africa and Australia vary greatly in terms of their economic and social position. This thesis concluded that South Africa, as a developing country, is more likely than Australia to tolerate BEPS behaviour in order to maintain or even attract foreign investment. The OECD Action Plan calls for urgent internationally coordinated actions against BEPS. It appears, however, that much more research is needed on the nature and extent of BEPS before countries formulate their response. This thesis acknowledges that aggressive tax planning by multinational enterprises does exist, but suggests that countries approach BEPS, and any estimates of its extent, with a degree of caution.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Basnett, Robyn
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4037 , vital:20592
- Description: Tax avoidance by multinational enterprises is the focus of much media and political scrutiny. It is also the subject of a major Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) project called Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). The objective of this thesis was to gain a greater understanding of BEPS, particularly in a South African and Australian context, and to determine whether BEPS is as great a problem as the OECD portrays. A detailed analysis of the OECD BEPS Report and Action Plan was undertaken to understand what the term BEPS means. A review of current BEPS literature was then performed toassess the extent of BEPS. This was followed by a comparative analysis of South Africa and Australia, including a comparison of their tax systems and various economic indicators. It was found that there is no simple definition of BEPS. It encompasses the spectrum of international tax planning strategies used by multinational enterprises. Furthermore, these tax strategies are usually legal, which makes measuring the extent of BEPS conceptually difficult. Despite being legal, many observers believe that BEPS behaviour by multinational enterprises is ethically unacceptable. This thesis also discussed the ethics of tax avoidance, and argued that countries should assess BEPS with reference to the many benefits which multinationals bring to a country. The benefits of multinational enterprise activity are especially important to developing countries like South Africa. Despite similar tax systems, South Africa and Australia vary greatly in terms of their economic and social position. This thesis concluded that South Africa, as a developing country, is more likely than Australia to tolerate BEPS behaviour in order to maintain or even attract foreign investment. The OECD Action Plan calls for urgent internationally coordinated actions against BEPS. It appears, however, that much more research is needed on the nature and extent of BEPS before countries formulate their response. This thesis acknowledges that aggressive tax planning by multinational enterprises does exist, but suggests that countries approach BEPS, and any estimates of its extent, with a degree of caution.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Critical assessment of corruption in municipalities and its impact in service delivery : case study Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Basopu, Price Mike
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Misconduct in office -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1558 , vital:27445
- Description: Many African countries including Africa South have been experiencing many challenges such as corruption, fraud and misaprpriation of fund in this new democratic dispensation. In this regard, the municipalities are viewed as the most affected institutions, with the Eastern Cape Province identified as culprit number one engaging in corrupt activities. There are a number of contributing factors, as attributed in the study, but most prevalent among these are capacity issues in most of these municipalities, with fewer personnel and less capacity. Challenges of corruption in municipalities are perpetrated mainly by municipal officials, councilors and members of the public. This study, identified corruption as one of the challenges facing municipalities in the Eastern Cape. It involves both the achievements and limitations that have been experienced; and indeed, there are still numerous issues to be addressed and accomplished. It discusses some critical issues such as how corruption has been the mother of the day in South Africa and its effect on the public sector in general. Inadditon, misappropriation of public resources and corruption immersed the nation as a whole into a greater challenge rather than focusing on service delivery issues. There are situations, within municipalities, where the majority of senior officials, who may be in possession of valuable information, are always under suspension. The findings of the study also show that all the municipalities operating in this new democaticatic dispensation have not been able to prepare a transparent annual financial year report at the end of the year. In fact, the majority of them always obtain disclaimer or adverse reports from the Office of Auditor-General (AG), despite numerous attempts and interventions by the AG‟s office and the Provincial Treasury to rectify the situation. The challenges of leadership crises in some of these municipalities, both administratively and politically have been critically examined. The findings show that between 2012 and 2015 financial years, some of these municipalities have been without full-time Accounting Officers; people were only seconded or in acting capacity, and some of them were under adminisistration, which is section 139 (c) of the constitution. There were numerous attempts of interventions by the national leadership of the ANC in the ANC regional structures which in many instances were the root cause of the problems or divisions, as well as in municipalities where in Buffalo City Metro and Nelson Mandela Metro respectively there were leadership changes or redeployments. The issue of corruption in the municipalities is compromising and impact negatively in the service delivery. It can be concluded that municipalities are characterized by a number of instances of corruption perpetrated mainly by municipal officials, councilors and members of society. Bribery, fraud, nepotism, and systematic corruption are some of the forms of corruption that take place in municipalities in South Africa. There are systems in place to fight corruption, but the reality is that they are very weak and ineffective. The anti-corruption strategies put in municipalities have general functioned poorly hence the prevailing the situation. There is glaring non-compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the Treasury Regulations and their own Procurement Procedures and Procurement Policies. It is evident that despite the achievement by an ANC led government for almost over 21 years of democracy, there remain many political and administrative challenges especial in municipalities. The fundamental question need to be posed and address therefore is, how best these challenges can be addressed and turn around service delivery to a tangible outcome. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides for the promotion and maintenance of a high standard of professional ethics in the public service. Public resources are vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous elements, both inside and outside government and therefore requires careful monitoring and control. The existing legislative framework is solid but fragmented and requires review and consolidation to improve its efficiency. To achieve that government requires an approach that is developmental in nature. Governance should be able to take control of the organization’s systems and at the same time adaptable to the environment in a way strengthens the capacity to achieve goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Basopu, Price Mike
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Misconduct in office -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1558 , vital:27445
- Description: Many African countries including Africa South have been experiencing many challenges such as corruption, fraud and misaprpriation of fund in this new democratic dispensation. In this regard, the municipalities are viewed as the most affected institutions, with the Eastern Cape Province identified as culprit number one engaging in corrupt activities. There are a number of contributing factors, as attributed in the study, but most prevalent among these are capacity issues in most of these municipalities, with fewer personnel and less capacity. Challenges of corruption in municipalities are perpetrated mainly by municipal officials, councilors and members of the public. This study, identified corruption as one of the challenges facing municipalities in the Eastern Cape. It involves both the achievements and limitations that have been experienced; and indeed, there are still numerous issues to be addressed and accomplished. It discusses some critical issues such as how corruption has been the mother of the day in South Africa and its effect on the public sector in general. Inadditon, misappropriation of public resources and corruption immersed the nation as a whole into a greater challenge rather than focusing on service delivery issues. There are situations, within municipalities, where the majority of senior officials, who may be in possession of valuable information, are always under suspension. The findings of the study also show that all the municipalities operating in this new democaticatic dispensation have not been able to prepare a transparent annual financial year report at the end of the year. In fact, the majority of them always obtain disclaimer or adverse reports from the Office of Auditor-General (AG), despite numerous attempts and interventions by the AG‟s office and the Provincial Treasury to rectify the situation. The challenges of leadership crises in some of these municipalities, both administratively and politically have been critically examined. The findings show that between 2012 and 2015 financial years, some of these municipalities have been without full-time Accounting Officers; people were only seconded or in acting capacity, and some of them were under adminisistration, which is section 139 (c) of the constitution. There were numerous attempts of interventions by the national leadership of the ANC in the ANC regional structures which in many instances were the root cause of the problems or divisions, as well as in municipalities where in Buffalo City Metro and Nelson Mandela Metro respectively there were leadership changes or redeployments. The issue of corruption in the municipalities is compromising and impact negatively in the service delivery. It can be concluded that municipalities are characterized by a number of instances of corruption perpetrated mainly by municipal officials, councilors and members of society. Bribery, fraud, nepotism, and systematic corruption are some of the forms of corruption that take place in municipalities in South Africa. There are systems in place to fight corruption, but the reality is that they are very weak and ineffective. The anti-corruption strategies put in municipalities have general functioned poorly hence the prevailing the situation. There is glaring non-compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the Treasury Regulations and their own Procurement Procedures and Procurement Policies. It is evident that despite the achievement by an ANC led government for almost over 21 years of democracy, there remain many political and administrative challenges especial in municipalities. The fundamental question need to be posed and address therefore is, how best these challenges can be addressed and turn around service delivery to a tangible outcome. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides for the promotion and maintenance of a high standard of professional ethics in the public service. Public resources are vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous elements, both inside and outside government and therefore requires careful monitoring and control. The existing legislative framework is solid but fragmented and requires review and consolidation to improve its efficiency. To achieve that government requires an approach that is developmental in nature. Governance should be able to take control of the organization’s systems and at the same time adaptable to the environment in a way strengthens the capacity to achieve goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Localizing selected endocytosis protein candidates in Plasmodium falciparum using GFP-tagged fusion constructs
- Authors: Basson, Travis
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2680 , vital:20316
- Description: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by several obligate intracellular protozoan parasites in the Plasmodium genus, with Plasmodium falciparum causing the most widespread cases and malaria deaths. In 2013 there were approximately 190 million cases of the disease and between 584,000 and 855,000 deaths. It is essential to identify novel drug targets and develop novel drug candidates due to the increase in resistance of P. falciparum parasites to the current arsenal of antimalarial drugs. Endocytosis is an essential process in eukaryotic cells in which the external environment is internalized by the cell in order to obtain various particles from the extracellular space. This extracellular cytoplasm is internalized in membrane-bound invaginations at the plasma membrane. During the blood stage of malaria infection, the parasite requires nutrients from the host red blood cell. To obtain these nutrients, the parasite internalizes haemoglobin in large amounts and degrades it in an acidic, lysosome-like organelle, known as the digestive vacuole. Whilst the exact molecular mechanism of malaria parasite endocytosis is not yet fully understood, a number of proteins have been suggested to be involved. The most expedient approach in identifying candidate endocytosis proteins is to investigate parasite homologues of proteins known to be involved in endocytosis in mammalian cells. The three proteins selected for investigation in this study were the P. falciparum homologues of coronin, dynamin 2, and μ4. The coding sequences for the candidate endocytosis proteins were amplified by PCR and cloned into the pARL2-GFP expression vector. P. falciparum 3D7 parasites were transfected with these vectors and the episomal expression of full-length GFP-tagged fusion protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis using commercially available anti-GFP antibodies. Microscopic analysis of live parasites using fluorescence and confocal microscopy was used to determine the localization of the candidate endocytosis proteins. Coronin appeared to display diffuse cytoplasmic GFP localization during the trophozoite stage, arguing against a role in endocytosis. However, distinct localization during the schizont stage at what appears to be the inner membrane complex was observed. Coronin is thus likely required to coordinate the formation of the actin network between the merozoite IMC and the plasma membrane on which the glideosome is dependant for generating the motile forces required for the merozoite motility and invasion of RBCs. Dynamin 2 displayed localization at three potential locii: the parasite periphery (plasma membrane), punctuate regions within the cytoplasm (potentially at membrane bound organelles) and at the parasite food vacuole. The data suggested that dynamin 2 is involved in endocytosis and membrane trafficking in a similar manner to classical dynamins, potentially as a vesicle scission molecule at the plasma membrane, mediating vesicle formation at the food vacuole to recycle membrane to the plasma membrane, and possibly mitochondria organelle division. μ4 displayed transient localization, cycling between cytosolic localization, and localization to distinct regions at the plasma membrane and the food vacuole. Localization of Pfμ4 to the plasma membrane is indicative of a role for μ4 as a part of an adaptor protein (AP) complex which may be responsible for recruitment of clathrin to initiate endocytosis in a manner similar to mammalian AP-2. As was observed with PfDYN2, Pfμ4 localizes to the FV, which suggests that Pfμ4 forms part of a coat complex that mediates the formation of vesicles that recycle membrane from the FV to the parasite plasma membrane. This study showed that expressing proteins as full-length GFP-tagged fusion constructs is an effective approach in the early stages of determining the localization and function of P. falciparum proteins in vitro, and distinguishing between candidates that have a potential role in endocytosis and those that are unlikely to do so.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Basson, Travis
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2680 , vital:20316
- Description: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by several obligate intracellular protozoan parasites in the Plasmodium genus, with Plasmodium falciparum causing the most widespread cases and malaria deaths. In 2013 there were approximately 190 million cases of the disease and between 584,000 and 855,000 deaths. It is essential to identify novel drug targets and develop novel drug candidates due to the increase in resistance of P. falciparum parasites to the current arsenal of antimalarial drugs. Endocytosis is an essential process in eukaryotic cells in which the external environment is internalized by the cell in order to obtain various particles from the extracellular space. This extracellular cytoplasm is internalized in membrane-bound invaginations at the plasma membrane. During the blood stage of malaria infection, the parasite requires nutrients from the host red blood cell. To obtain these nutrients, the parasite internalizes haemoglobin in large amounts and degrades it in an acidic, lysosome-like organelle, known as the digestive vacuole. Whilst the exact molecular mechanism of malaria parasite endocytosis is not yet fully understood, a number of proteins have been suggested to be involved. The most expedient approach in identifying candidate endocytosis proteins is to investigate parasite homologues of proteins known to be involved in endocytosis in mammalian cells. The three proteins selected for investigation in this study were the P. falciparum homologues of coronin, dynamin 2, and μ4. The coding sequences for the candidate endocytosis proteins were amplified by PCR and cloned into the pARL2-GFP expression vector. P. falciparum 3D7 parasites were transfected with these vectors and the episomal expression of full-length GFP-tagged fusion protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis using commercially available anti-GFP antibodies. Microscopic analysis of live parasites using fluorescence and confocal microscopy was used to determine the localization of the candidate endocytosis proteins. Coronin appeared to display diffuse cytoplasmic GFP localization during the trophozoite stage, arguing against a role in endocytosis. However, distinct localization during the schizont stage at what appears to be the inner membrane complex was observed. Coronin is thus likely required to coordinate the formation of the actin network between the merozoite IMC and the plasma membrane on which the glideosome is dependant for generating the motile forces required for the merozoite motility and invasion of RBCs. Dynamin 2 displayed localization at three potential locii: the parasite periphery (plasma membrane), punctuate regions within the cytoplasm (potentially at membrane bound organelles) and at the parasite food vacuole. The data suggested that dynamin 2 is involved in endocytosis and membrane trafficking in a similar manner to classical dynamins, potentially as a vesicle scission molecule at the plasma membrane, mediating vesicle formation at the food vacuole to recycle membrane to the plasma membrane, and possibly mitochondria organelle division. μ4 displayed transient localization, cycling between cytosolic localization, and localization to distinct regions at the plasma membrane and the food vacuole. Localization of Pfμ4 to the plasma membrane is indicative of a role for μ4 as a part of an adaptor protein (AP) complex which may be responsible for recruitment of clathrin to initiate endocytosis in a manner similar to mammalian AP-2. As was observed with PfDYN2, Pfμ4 localizes to the FV, which suggests that Pfμ4 forms part of a coat complex that mediates the formation of vesicles that recycle membrane from the FV to the parasite plasma membrane. This study showed that expressing proteins as full-length GFP-tagged fusion constructs is an effective approach in the early stages of determining the localization and function of P. falciparum proteins in vitro, and distinguishing between candidates that have a potential role in endocytosis and those that are unlikely to do so.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Parallel visions: Byron, Géricault and the Medusa
- Authors: Beard, Margot
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147792 , vital:38673 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00043389.1999.11761285
- Description: Martin Meisel has noted that Delacroix's 1841 painting A Shipwreck was recognised as uniting Gericault and Byron. for not only does the painting illustrate that moment in Don Juan when lots are drawn for the human sacrifice {2, 75) but it also invokes comparison with Gericault' s 1819 painting entitled Raft of the Medusa(Meisel1988:601).1 would like to argue in this paper that Gericault' s famous painting and Byron's shipwreck stanzas in the second canto of Don Juan have other points of comparison. Gericault used the Savigny and Correard Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal ( 1817) as the primary source of information for his treatment of the Medusa incident (Eitner 1971: 117). Byron used multiple sources when he researched material for his shipwreck stanzas but it is highly probable that the Savigny and Correard text was one of them. Thus, the cause celebre of the wreck of the Medusa is directly treated by Gericault and indirectly by Byron - two artists temperamentally and artistically attuned.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Beard, Margot
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147792 , vital:38673 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00043389.1999.11761285
- Description: Martin Meisel has noted that Delacroix's 1841 painting A Shipwreck was recognised as uniting Gericault and Byron. for not only does the painting illustrate that moment in Don Juan when lots are drawn for the human sacrifice {2, 75) but it also invokes comparison with Gericault' s 1819 painting entitled Raft of the Medusa(Meisel1988:601).1 would like to argue in this paper that Gericault' s famous painting and Byron's shipwreck stanzas in the second canto of Don Juan have other points of comparison. Gericault used the Savigny and Correard Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal ( 1817) as the primary source of information for his treatment of the Medusa incident (Eitner 1971: 117). Byron used multiple sources when he researched material for his shipwreck stanzas but it is highly probable that the Savigny and Correard text was one of them. Thus, the cause celebre of the wreck of the Medusa is directly treated by Gericault and indirectly by Byron - two artists temperamentally and artistically attuned.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optimisation of glass scoring operation
- Authors: Bechoo, Durvesh Sookraj
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Glass -- Mechanical properties , Glass manufacture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9283 , vital:26559
- Description: The economic crisis and prior recession made a huge dent in many industries. Companies want a cheaper manufactured product with same quality to satisfy the customer in order be competitive yet profitable. Shatterprufe is a company that produces automotive glass. The company has a vast number of products and experience short production run lengths because of its order intake from customers. These short production run lengths require accurate setup to have a repeatable and stable process. An incorrect setup will produce a high scrap rate on production runs. Glass being very brittle and machining it incorrectly results in flaws, breakages or edge stresses that lead to latter process failures. The scoring operation of glass is key to achieve good edge quality to prevent such defects. The correct tools and machine parameters influence good edge quality during the setup procedure. Due to the process having many variables it is difficult to have a stable process and a repeatable stable process. This research will analyse the tool, parameters of the tool and machine parameters to achieve best edge quality and correlating these parameters that will lead to a repeatable stable process. An experimental analysis was conducted on 2.1mm and 2.5mm thick glass. These thicknesses are used predominantly at Shatterprufe automotive glass manufacturing company. The first sample and last sample was analysed during a production run. An average production run length is 36 pieces of glass. The edge quality was seen under a microscope and the fissure depth was measured. To achieve ideal edge quality, the fissure depth must be 15-20% deep of the glass thickness. A fissure is a crack propagated during the scoring of glass. A carbide wheel is used to score the glass. The carbide wheel parameters were varied being the wheel angle and wheel diameter. A 145 degree-4.1mm wheel, 145degree-5.6mm wheel and a 155 degree- 4.1mm wheel was used. The following relationships where observed being the wheel diameter and fissure depth. An increase in wheel diameter resulted in an increase in fissure depth but decreases the wheel life as the wheel becomes blunt. There was inconsistency on fissure depth with the larger diameter wheel. An increased in wheel angle from 145 degree to 155 degree promoted flaws in the glass. Larger wheel angles work better on glass thicknesses of 4-5mm as currently used in the Shatterprufe Struandale Company. An investigation on pressure variation in the pneumatic system was analysed using a pressure transmitter. The pressure transmitter measured the pressure per second versus the set pressure and recorded this data on a data logger. There was no pressure variation in the pneumatic system that can influence poor glass edge quality. A load cell analysis will investigate the physical applied pressure on the glass versus the set pressure. This analysis was to determine the relationship between set versus actual on the glass. It will indicate any mechanical fault. A mechanical fault could be a loose coupling or linkage that can influence the fissure depth. A direct proportional relationship was achieved between the set pressure versus the load cell readings. This indicates no mechanical fault on the system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bechoo, Durvesh Sookraj
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Glass -- Mechanical properties , Glass manufacture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9283 , vital:26559
- Description: The economic crisis and prior recession made a huge dent in many industries. Companies want a cheaper manufactured product with same quality to satisfy the customer in order be competitive yet profitable. Shatterprufe is a company that produces automotive glass. The company has a vast number of products and experience short production run lengths because of its order intake from customers. These short production run lengths require accurate setup to have a repeatable and stable process. An incorrect setup will produce a high scrap rate on production runs. Glass being very brittle and machining it incorrectly results in flaws, breakages or edge stresses that lead to latter process failures. The scoring operation of glass is key to achieve good edge quality to prevent such defects. The correct tools and machine parameters influence good edge quality during the setup procedure. Due to the process having many variables it is difficult to have a stable process and a repeatable stable process. This research will analyse the tool, parameters of the tool and machine parameters to achieve best edge quality and correlating these parameters that will lead to a repeatable stable process. An experimental analysis was conducted on 2.1mm and 2.5mm thick glass. These thicknesses are used predominantly at Shatterprufe automotive glass manufacturing company. The first sample and last sample was analysed during a production run. An average production run length is 36 pieces of glass. The edge quality was seen under a microscope and the fissure depth was measured. To achieve ideal edge quality, the fissure depth must be 15-20% deep of the glass thickness. A fissure is a crack propagated during the scoring of glass. A carbide wheel is used to score the glass. The carbide wheel parameters were varied being the wheel angle and wheel diameter. A 145 degree-4.1mm wheel, 145degree-5.6mm wheel and a 155 degree- 4.1mm wheel was used. The following relationships where observed being the wheel diameter and fissure depth. An increase in wheel diameter resulted in an increase in fissure depth but decreases the wheel life as the wheel becomes blunt. There was inconsistency on fissure depth with the larger diameter wheel. An increased in wheel angle from 145 degree to 155 degree promoted flaws in the glass. Larger wheel angles work better on glass thicknesses of 4-5mm as currently used in the Shatterprufe Struandale Company. An investigation on pressure variation in the pneumatic system was analysed using a pressure transmitter. The pressure transmitter measured the pressure per second versus the set pressure and recorded this data on a data logger. There was no pressure variation in the pneumatic system that can influence poor glass edge quality. A load cell analysis will investigate the physical applied pressure on the glass versus the set pressure. This analysis was to determine the relationship between set versus actual on the glass. It will indicate any mechanical fault. A mechanical fault could be a loose coupling or linkage that can influence the fissure depth. A direct proportional relationship was achieved between the set pressure versus the load cell readings. This indicates no mechanical fault on the system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Constructions of roles in studio teaching and learning
- Authors: Belluigi, Dina Z
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59792 , vital:27651 , https://doi.org/10.1111/jade.12042
- Description: Various constructions of supervisors and students emerge from education literature on art, design and architecture studio pedagogy. Constructions of the supervisor within the studio and during assessment are considered, with a discussion of the threads which underpin them. This is followed by a discussion of some of the current dominant constructions of the student, and possible effects of these roles and relationships on their engagement with learning. As many of these constructions may be inherited or unconscious, a concern for the agency of those involved to rupture, subvert, rescript or resist such constructions motivates this research, while acknowledging that this may be limited by structural and cultural contexts.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Belluigi, Dina Z
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59792 , vital:27651 , https://doi.org/10.1111/jade.12042
- Description: Various constructions of supervisors and students emerge from education literature on art, design and architecture studio pedagogy. Constructions of the supervisor within the studio and during assessment are considered, with a discussion of the threads which underpin them. This is followed by a discussion of some of the current dominant constructions of the student, and possible effects of these roles and relationships on their engagement with learning. As many of these constructions may be inherited or unconscious, a concern for the agency of those involved to rupture, subvert, rescript or resist such constructions motivates this research, while acknowledging that this may be limited by structural and cultural contexts.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Influences on the struggle over content: considering two fine art studio practice curricula in developing/ed contexts
- Authors: Belluigi, Dina Z
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59809 , vital:27653 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2016.1183617
- Description: This paper considers the influences of curricula content on the nuances of teaching and learning practices, and the ways in such influences are complicated by the contexts within which they are situated. Generated data from within the particularity of two fine art schools, one operating from the developed world in the global ‘north’ and another the developing world in the ‘south’, considers how they have negotiated the contemporary push from the professional community of practice, led by ‘western’ artmaking, towards the discourse-interest of contextualism in fine art practice education, compared to the focus on skills and mastery of more out-dated formalism. Particular emphasis is placed on the significance of such influences and pressures on the structures and cultures of teaching and learning.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Belluigi, Dina Z
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59809 , vital:27653 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2016.1183617
- Description: This paper considers the influences of curricula content on the nuances of teaching and learning practices, and the ways in such influences are complicated by the contexts within which they are situated. Generated data from within the particularity of two fine art schools, one operating from the developed world in the global ‘north’ and another the developing world in the ‘south’, considers how they have negotiated the contemporary push from the professional community of practice, led by ‘western’ artmaking, towards the discourse-interest of contextualism in fine art practice education, compared to the focus on skills and mastery of more out-dated formalism. Particular emphasis is placed on the significance of such influences and pressures on the structures and cultures of teaching and learning.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Playing broken telephone with student feedback: the possibilities and issues of transformation within a South African case of a collegial rationality model of evaluation
- Authors: Belluigi, Dina Z
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66943 , vital:29003 , https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-84334-655-5.50001-5
- Description: publisher version , Drawing on the case of a small South African university which espouses a social justice approach to transformation, this chapter considers the possibilities and challenges created for student feedback within an institutional context that gives the individual lecturer a large degree of autonomy in evaluation. The chapter looks at some of the dominant perceptions of student feedback in addition to how it is collected and utilised, by referring to the institution’s policies and guideline documents; institutional research conducted with course coordinators; responses elicited from 40 lecturers on the issues outlined in this chapter; the author’s own reflections as a staff developer in the institution; and specific examples of good practice from lecturers situated within social science disciplines. The emerging concerns which structured this discussion are: the impact of student feedback on improving quality; enabling student voice; increasing student ownership; and the educational value of evaluation processes.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Belluigi, Dina Z
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66943 , vital:29003 , https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-84334-655-5.50001-5
- Description: publisher version , Drawing on the case of a small South African university which espouses a social justice approach to transformation, this chapter considers the possibilities and challenges created for student feedback within an institutional context that gives the individual lecturer a large degree of autonomy in evaluation. The chapter looks at some of the dominant perceptions of student feedback in addition to how it is collected and utilised, by referring to the institution’s policies and guideline documents; institutional research conducted with course coordinators; responses elicited from 40 lecturers on the issues outlined in this chapter; the author’s own reflections as a staff developer in the institution; and specific examples of good practice from lecturers situated within social science disciplines. The emerging concerns which structured this discussion are: the impact of student feedback on improving quality; enabling student voice; increasing student ownership; and the educational value of evaluation processes.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2013
Grade 12 learners' perceptions of the effect of urban agriculture on life satisfaction in Duncan Village
- Authors: Beni, Ntombomzi Octavia
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agricultural education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17861 , vital:41461
- Description: The importance of agricultural sciences in the school curriculum all over the world cannot be over-emphasized. It includes an alternative source of fresh produce, improved life satisfaction and a way to preserve cultural identity and traditions. This research study seeks to investigate the perception of Grade 12 learners on the effects of urban agriculture on life satisfaction in Duncan Village. The study adopts a descriptive survey design to elicit information from the respondents on their perceptions on the effects of urban agriculture on life satisfaction. A validated structured questionnaire whose reliability co-efficient is 0.81 was used to collect information. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 78 (seventy-eight) Grade 12 learners. The study reveals among others some components of life satisfaction as a result of urban agriculture. These components are; nutrition, self-employment, food security and poverty eradication and they have positive effects on life satisfaction of the respondents. The study recommends that the South Africa Government should make agriculture education as a compulsory subject for grade 10 and 11 learners in rural areas. This will enable them to develop entrepreneurial skills and self-reliance mentality before they finish their secondary school careers. Similarly, the practical components of this subject should constitute 50percent if not more from the overall marks. Realisation of this idea will alleviate, to some extent burden of unemployment and food scarcity as school leavers will be able to implement right away agricultural skills already acquired.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Beni, Ntombomzi Octavia
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agricultural education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17861 , vital:41461
- Description: The importance of agricultural sciences in the school curriculum all over the world cannot be over-emphasized. It includes an alternative source of fresh produce, improved life satisfaction and a way to preserve cultural identity and traditions. This research study seeks to investigate the perception of Grade 12 learners on the effects of urban agriculture on life satisfaction in Duncan Village. The study adopts a descriptive survey design to elicit information from the respondents on their perceptions on the effects of urban agriculture on life satisfaction. A validated structured questionnaire whose reliability co-efficient is 0.81 was used to collect information. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 78 (seventy-eight) Grade 12 learners. The study reveals among others some components of life satisfaction as a result of urban agriculture. These components are; nutrition, self-employment, food security and poverty eradication and they have positive effects on life satisfaction of the respondents. The study recommends that the South Africa Government should make agriculture education as a compulsory subject for grade 10 and 11 learners in rural areas. This will enable them to develop entrepreneurial skills and self-reliance mentality before they finish their secondary school careers. Similarly, the practical components of this subject should constitute 50percent if not more from the overall marks. Realisation of this idea will alleviate, to some extent burden of unemployment and food scarcity as school leavers will be able to implement right away agricultural skills already acquired.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Influence of increased processing speed on the microstructure evolution and mechanical property relationship in friction stir welding of AA5182-H111 (T500)
- Authors: Bernard, Dreyer
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Friction stir welding , Aluminum alloys -- Welding
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7322 , vital:21319
- Description: Friction stir welding of 5xxx series aluminium is generally carried out at low travel speeds, which limits the commercial applications of this process. This manuscript discusses the dynamic eformation characteristics of AA5182-H111 (T500), which allowed a travel speed of 1500 mm/min to be realised. This was achieved by using a spindle speed of 500 rev/min; the same as that required to make a weld of 200 mm/min. The thermal cycles, microstructural evolution due to tool / work-piece interaction, and the local microstructural and mechanical properties of the completed weld are discussed for a travel speed for 200 mm/min and 1500 mm/min. At a rate of 200 mm/min, heat generated due to contact between the shoulder and work-piece surface was transferred ahead of the tool, driving dynamic recrystallization which lowered the flow stress. Hereafter the material entered the stir zone where it was extruded around the pin during a process of continuous dynamic crystallization. At a travel speed of 1500 mm/min, the rate of heat conduction ahead of the tool was not rapid enough, and the material was deformed at low temperatures. A low weld pitch rotations per unit length travelled) was required to ensure that the material was sufficiently strained, to allow the formation of geometric necessary boundaries, which resulted in grain subdivision. The number of high angle grain boundaries was increased through subdivision, thus, increasing the nucleation sites for dynamically recrystallized necklace grains to form. In the absence of heat conduction from the shoulder, the high plastic strain ahead of the tool provided the energy required to drive dynamic recrystallization. Heat was generated from the high plastic strain and during recrystallization, where the stored plastic energy was adiabatically released. Once the material entered the stir zone, the high strain rates associated with the tool rotation which drove dynamic recrystallization that allowed the material to reach high levels of strain, resulted significant grain refinement. The weld zone of the 200 mm/min displayed weld a slight increase in yield strength, with respect to the parent material, due to grain refinement to 10 μm, while the yield strength of the 1500 mm/min weld was significantly increased due to grain refinement to 5 μm. The high weld speed did, however, generate high tensile residual stresses. This work is not only significant for the field of friction stir welding, but also in terms of material processing. The dynamic deformation characteristics associated with Al-5Mg-Mn, alloys which was observed ahead of the tool, is of high value in processes where plastic deformation is applied to improve the mechanical properties of these alloys.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bernard, Dreyer
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Friction stir welding , Aluminum alloys -- Welding
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7322 , vital:21319
- Description: Friction stir welding of 5xxx series aluminium is generally carried out at low travel speeds, which limits the commercial applications of this process. This manuscript discusses the dynamic eformation characteristics of AA5182-H111 (T500), which allowed a travel speed of 1500 mm/min to be realised. This was achieved by using a spindle speed of 500 rev/min; the same as that required to make a weld of 200 mm/min. The thermal cycles, microstructural evolution due to tool / work-piece interaction, and the local microstructural and mechanical properties of the completed weld are discussed for a travel speed for 200 mm/min and 1500 mm/min. At a rate of 200 mm/min, heat generated due to contact between the shoulder and work-piece surface was transferred ahead of the tool, driving dynamic recrystallization which lowered the flow stress. Hereafter the material entered the stir zone where it was extruded around the pin during a process of continuous dynamic crystallization. At a travel speed of 1500 mm/min, the rate of heat conduction ahead of the tool was not rapid enough, and the material was deformed at low temperatures. A low weld pitch rotations per unit length travelled) was required to ensure that the material was sufficiently strained, to allow the formation of geometric necessary boundaries, which resulted in grain subdivision. The number of high angle grain boundaries was increased through subdivision, thus, increasing the nucleation sites for dynamically recrystallized necklace grains to form. In the absence of heat conduction from the shoulder, the high plastic strain ahead of the tool provided the energy required to drive dynamic recrystallization. Heat was generated from the high plastic strain and during recrystallization, where the stored plastic energy was adiabatically released. Once the material entered the stir zone, the high strain rates associated with the tool rotation which drove dynamic recrystallization that allowed the material to reach high levels of strain, resulted significant grain refinement. The weld zone of the 200 mm/min displayed weld a slight increase in yield strength, with respect to the parent material, due to grain refinement to 10 μm, while the yield strength of the 1500 mm/min weld was significantly increased due to grain refinement to 5 μm. The high weld speed did, however, generate high tensile residual stresses. This work is not only significant for the field of friction stir welding, but also in terms of material processing. The dynamic deformation characteristics associated with Al-5Mg-Mn, alloys which was observed ahead of the tool, is of high value in processes where plastic deformation is applied to improve the mechanical properties of these alloys.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Observational cosmology with imperfect data
- Authors: Bester, Hertzog Landman
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463 , vital:19961
- Description: We develop a formalism suitable to infer the background geometry of a general spherically symmetric dust universe directly from data on the past lightcone. This direct observational approach makes minimal assumptions about inaccessible parts of the Universe. The non-parametric and Bayesian framework we propose provides a very direct way to test one of the most fundamental underlying assumptions of concordance cosmology viz. the Copernican principle. We present the Copernicus algorithm for this purpose. By applying the algorithm to currently available data, we demonstrate that it is not yet possible to confirm or refute the validity of the Copernican principle within the proposed framework. This is followed by an investigation which aims to determine which future data will best be able to test the Copernican principle. Our results on simulated data suggest that, besides the need to improve the current data, it will be important to identify additional model independent observables for this purpose. The main difficulty with current data is their inability to constrain the value of the cosmological constant. We show how redshift drift data could be used to infer its value with minimal assumptions about the nature of the early Universe. We also discuss some alternative applications of the algorithm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bester, Hertzog Landman
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463 , vital:19961
- Description: We develop a formalism suitable to infer the background geometry of a general spherically symmetric dust universe directly from data on the past lightcone. This direct observational approach makes minimal assumptions about inaccessible parts of the Universe. The non-parametric and Bayesian framework we propose provides a very direct way to test one of the most fundamental underlying assumptions of concordance cosmology viz. the Copernican principle. We present the Copernicus algorithm for this purpose. By applying the algorithm to currently available data, we demonstrate that it is not yet possible to confirm or refute the validity of the Copernican principle within the proposed framework. This is followed by an investigation which aims to determine which future data will best be able to test the Copernican principle. Our results on simulated data suggest that, besides the need to improve the current data, it will be important to identify additional model independent observables for this purpose. The main difficulty with current data is their inability to constrain the value of the cosmological constant. We show how redshift drift data could be used to infer its value with minimal assumptions about the nature of the early Universe. We also discuss some alternative applications of the algorithm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Ecological principles for honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) conservation and cultivation
- Authors: Beyers, Andrea
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Fynbos -- South Africa , Rooibos tea industry -- South Africa , Herbal teas -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5723 , vital:20975
- Description: Market demand for the fynbos-derived honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) tea is on the rise, and there is an urgent need for better conservation of wild Cyclopia populations and for a shift to sustainable cultivation. Rooibos is another popular fynbos product that underwent exponential market growth over the last two decades but this resulted in large-scale conversion of pristine mountain fynbos to intensively-used crop lands. Adopting a conservation agriculture approach in expanding indigenous products will help in conserving biodiversity and ecosystem processes in this global biodiversity hotspot. Conservation agriculture of indigenous fynbos products grown in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) should follow five main principles in order to maximise biodiversity conservation alongside agriculture. These principles are: 1) maintain high diversity at all levels, 2) conserve soil structure and processes, 3) conserve and restore natural ecosystem processes, 4) promote ecosystem stability and self-perpetuation, and 5) maintain natural areas as sources of ecosystem components. Given the negative ecological consequences of the industrialisation of the rooibos industry, it would be in the interest of biodiversity conservation, and even of agriculture, to apply these principles to honeybush cultivation. In order to prevent further fynbos habitat loss, cultivation of honeybush could be catalysed on old fields rather than in ploughed or cleared fynbos. Here I compare germination, growth and survival of two species (Cyclopia intermedia E.Mey. and C. subternata Vogel) between different land use types (ploughed lands, old fields and intact fynbos) and treatments (cleared and uncleared) in the Langkloof, Eastern Cape, over one year. Plots of each land use type were subject to each of these two treatments, although the ploughed plot constituted only a cleared treatment. Growth was highest on ploughed land, while survival and growth were lowest in uncleared fynbos. Cleared fynbos had the lowest germination success in both species, with the other sites and treatments coming out roughly the same. These results show that although ploughed lands give highest yields, growth and survival on old fields without ploughing is comparable with that on ploughed lands and is therefore a feasible alternative. Understanding the recruitment dynamics of honeybush is imperative for adequate conservation of wild populations. Furthermore, understanding this ecological aspect of the genus will help in developing the honeybush industry as a sustainable, agroecological market that uses semi-natural populations for production. Although Cyclopia species are early-successional species that germinate after fire, recruitment of Cyclopia pubescens Eckl. & Zeyh. continues throughout the inter-fire period. Cyclopia pubescens populations near Port Elizabeth were described according to their age structure and plant densities to discern possible density-dependent recruitment effects. Results showed that dense stands for the most part do not support high post-fire recruitment. This gives insight into suitable planting densities for new or restore populations and into management guidelines for remnant populations of threatened species. This thesis highlights important issues facing the honeybush industry. Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into honeybush production is achievable, given that the industry is still relatively young, but this will require further research and strong market leadership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Beyers, Andrea
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Fynbos -- South Africa , Rooibos tea industry -- South Africa , Herbal teas -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5723 , vital:20975
- Description: Market demand for the fynbos-derived honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) tea is on the rise, and there is an urgent need for better conservation of wild Cyclopia populations and for a shift to sustainable cultivation. Rooibos is another popular fynbos product that underwent exponential market growth over the last two decades but this resulted in large-scale conversion of pristine mountain fynbos to intensively-used crop lands. Adopting a conservation agriculture approach in expanding indigenous products will help in conserving biodiversity and ecosystem processes in this global biodiversity hotspot. Conservation agriculture of indigenous fynbos products grown in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) should follow five main principles in order to maximise biodiversity conservation alongside agriculture. These principles are: 1) maintain high diversity at all levels, 2) conserve soil structure and processes, 3) conserve and restore natural ecosystem processes, 4) promote ecosystem stability and self-perpetuation, and 5) maintain natural areas as sources of ecosystem components. Given the negative ecological consequences of the industrialisation of the rooibos industry, it would be in the interest of biodiversity conservation, and even of agriculture, to apply these principles to honeybush cultivation. In order to prevent further fynbos habitat loss, cultivation of honeybush could be catalysed on old fields rather than in ploughed or cleared fynbos. Here I compare germination, growth and survival of two species (Cyclopia intermedia E.Mey. and C. subternata Vogel) between different land use types (ploughed lands, old fields and intact fynbos) and treatments (cleared and uncleared) in the Langkloof, Eastern Cape, over one year. Plots of each land use type were subject to each of these two treatments, although the ploughed plot constituted only a cleared treatment. Growth was highest on ploughed land, while survival and growth were lowest in uncleared fynbos. Cleared fynbos had the lowest germination success in both species, with the other sites and treatments coming out roughly the same. These results show that although ploughed lands give highest yields, growth and survival on old fields without ploughing is comparable with that on ploughed lands and is therefore a feasible alternative. Understanding the recruitment dynamics of honeybush is imperative for adequate conservation of wild populations. Furthermore, understanding this ecological aspect of the genus will help in developing the honeybush industry as a sustainable, agroecological market that uses semi-natural populations for production. Although Cyclopia species are early-successional species that germinate after fire, recruitment of Cyclopia pubescens Eckl. & Zeyh. continues throughout the inter-fire period. Cyclopia pubescens populations near Port Elizabeth were described according to their age structure and plant densities to discern possible density-dependent recruitment effects. Results showed that dense stands for the most part do not support high post-fire recruitment. This gives insight into suitable planting densities for new or restore populations and into management guidelines for remnant populations of threatened species. This thesis highlights important issues facing the honeybush industry. Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into honeybush production is achievable, given that the industry is still relatively young, but this will require further research and strong market leadership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Molecular characterization of Mycobacterium bovis isolated from cattle and sputum specimens from humans in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa : public health and economic implication
- Authors: Bhembe, Nolwazi Londiwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public health -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13238 , vital:39625
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), which infects both animals and humans. The primary host of Mycobacterium bovis is cattle. It remains a major global health problem. About 2 billion people are thought to be infected with TB and about 1.3 million decease each year from the disease. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of the disease, characterizing the MTBC isolates and increasing the understanding of the genetic diversity MTBC in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, from studying both samples from both humans and cattle. A total of 376 cattle lymph nodes were collected from two commercial abattoirs for investigations. Suspected 6 000 sputum specimens were also collected from humans (cattle farmers). All collected samples were cultured, and isolates were confirmed with a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the mpb64 and IS6110 genes. Positive isolates were tested for resistance against anti-TB drugs using the standard Lowenstein Jensen proportion method. Isolates from cattle lymph nodes were further characterized to species level, using the region of deletion 1 (RD1) and oxyR restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. MIRU-VNTR typing and spoligotyping assays were used to further examine the genetic diversity of all strains. Obtained spoligotype patterns were matched with isolates published in the universal spoligotyping database (SITVIT2). MTBC was detected in 162 (43.09 percent) cattle lymph nodes and 156 sputum specimens. Some isolates 25.9 percent (42/162) from the cattle lymph nodes samples were resistant to rifampicin (RIF) and 98.7 percent (154/156) were resistant to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) (of the human sputum specimens). All cattle lymph nodes isolates exhibited the RD1 gene, and the oxyR analyses classified 96.9 percent of the isolates as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and 3.1 percent as Mycobacterium bovis. Twenty seven spoligotype patterns were isolated from cattle lymph nodes, with 10 shared types (SIT) consigned to 5 lineages, including Bov_4-Caprea (1.9 percent), Microti (0.6 percent) and Beijing (17.9 percent) constituting East Asian, Latin-American-Mediterranean (LAM) (3.7 percent), X (4.3 percent), MANU (3.1percent), S (0.6 percent) and 67.9 percent were orphans that were further categorized to their designated lineages (Indo-Oceanic, Euro-American and West-African 2). Ninety one percent of the isolates from humans (farmers) were grouped into 7 clusters by spoligotyping, while the remaining 9 percent was unclustered. SITs were observed in 89.6 percent of the isolates from the Beijing, LAM, X, T and S families. The Beijing family was the most prevalent strain from both human isolates (77.2 percent) and cattle lymph nodes isolates (17.9 percent), and the T (0.6 percent) and Microti (0.6 percent) families were the least detected genotypes in both humans and cattle lymph nodes. In the cattle lymph nodes, spoligotyping showed a higher clustering rate of 82.1 percent, with the lowest (HGDI) = 0.485. The 12 MIRU-VNTR clustering rate was 64.8 percent, showing a higher HGDI of 0.671. However, a combination of both methods showed a decreased clustering rate of 53.7 percent; however these methods resulted in a higher HGDI (0.676). Isolates from human sputum specimens spoligotyping showed a higher clustering rate of 89 percent with an HGDI = 0.822. The 12 MIRU-VNTR showed the lowest clustering rate of 69 percent and an HGDI = 0.940 and the combination of the methods showed a clustering rate of 78 percent and an HGDI = 0.951. The results of this study show the diversity of MTBC strains in the Eastern Cape Province and the low clustering rate indicates continuing transmission in the province. The detection of MTBC strains from slaughtered cattle lymph nodes in abattoirs confirms the risk of providing TB infected meat in markets which has serious implications for the control of TB in South Africa. The continuing spread of MTBC in South Africa threatens both the public and economic health.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bhembe, Nolwazi Londiwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public health -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13238 , vital:39625
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), which infects both animals and humans. The primary host of Mycobacterium bovis is cattle. It remains a major global health problem. About 2 billion people are thought to be infected with TB and about 1.3 million decease each year from the disease. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of the disease, characterizing the MTBC isolates and increasing the understanding of the genetic diversity MTBC in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, from studying both samples from both humans and cattle. A total of 376 cattle lymph nodes were collected from two commercial abattoirs for investigations. Suspected 6 000 sputum specimens were also collected from humans (cattle farmers). All collected samples were cultured, and isolates were confirmed with a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the mpb64 and IS6110 genes. Positive isolates were tested for resistance against anti-TB drugs using the standard Lowenstein Jensen proportion method. Isolates from cattle lymph nodes were further characterized to species level, using the region of deletion 1 (RD1) and oxyR restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. MIRU-VNTR typing and spoligotyping assays were used to further examine the genetic diversity of all strains. Obtained spoligotype patterns were matched with isolates published in the universal spoligotyping database (SITVIT2). MTBC was detected in 162 (43.09 percent) cattle lymph nodes and 156 sputum specimens. Some isolates 25.9 percent (42/162) from the cattle lymph nodes samples were resistant to rifampicin (RIF) and 98.7 percent (154/156) were resistant to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) (of the human sputum specimens). All cattle lymph nodes isolates exhibited the RD1 gene, and the oxyR analyses classified 96.9 percent of the isolates as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and 3.1 percent as Mycobacterium bovis. Twenty seven spoligotype patterns were isolated from cattle lymph nodes, with 10 shared types (SIT) consigned to 5 lineages, including Bov_4-Caprea (1.9 percent), Microti (0.6 percent) and Beijing (17.9 percent) constituting East Asian, Latin-American-Mediterranean (LAM) (3.7 percent), X (4.3 percent), MANU (3.1percent), S (0.6 percent) and 67.9 percent were orphans that were further categorized to their designated lineages (Indo-Oceanic, Euro-American and West-African 2). Ninety one percent of the isolates from humans (farmers) were grouped into 7 clusters by spoligotyping, while the remaining 9 percent was unclustered. SITs were observed in 89.6 percent of the isolates from the Beijing, LAM, X, T and S families. The Beijing family was the most prevalent strain from both human isolates (77.2 percent) and cattle lymph nodes isolates (17.9 percent), and the T (0.6 percent) and Microti (0.6 percent) families were the least detected genotypes in both humans and cattle lymph nodes. In the cattle lymph nodes, spoligotyping showed a higher clustering rate of 82.1 percent, with the lowest (HGDI) = 0.485. The 12 MIRU-VNTR clustering rate was 64.8 percent, showing a higher HGDI of 0.671. However, a combination of both methods showed a decreased clustering rate of 53.7 percent; however these methods resulted in a higher HGDI (0.676). Isolates from human sputum specimens spoligotyping showed a higher clustering rate of 89 percent with an HGDI = 0.822. The 12 MIRU-VNTR showed the lowest clustering rate of 69 percent and an HGDI = 0.940 and the combination of the methods showed a clustering rate of 78 percent and an HGDI = 0.951. The results of this study show the diversity of MTBC strains in the Eastern Cape Province and the low clustering rate indicates continuing transmission in the province. The detection of MTBC strains from slaughtered cattle lymph nodes in abattoirs confirms the risk of providing TB infected meat in markets which has serious implications for the control of TB in South Africa. The continuing spread of MTBC in South Africa threatens both the public and economic health.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
If I still want to breathe
- Authors: Billie, Ayanda
- Date: 2016
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6012 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1021231
- Description: One theme of this collection is the joy and the deep seated grief of my community of Kwa-Nobuhle; the brightness of hope on the faces on children running around our streets, the strides made by their mothers, the confusion of factory workers who are lost in darkness since the dawn of new dispensation. Then there are more personal poems: my own joys as well as the difficulties that have kept me from sleep and strangled my dreams as a writer, even though like Mafika Gwala, I believe that “words are born the way mothers beget children/words are born to survive time”. My style is influenced by imagistic, mystic and soulful poetry, such as the haunting Spanish voice of Garcia Lorca who wrote “I lose myself in the heart of certain children” and the absorbing isiXhosa voice of S E K Mqhayi. In response to their poetry my offering will be words that enliven us; my style will be what I see in the mirror, through the window, the sound of rain on my zinc roof and what frightens me. , Ndixomoloze ndiboph’ amaxonya, ndisenza eli linge lokuzama ukuxhathalaza kulo msinga uzakutshayela ulwimi lwethu. Nantso ke incwadana ndiyithe qhiwu ngendebe endiyithiye ngegama elithi Umhlaba Umanzi. Umhlaba umanzi ziinyembezi zabalilayo, umanzi kukubila kwabasebenzi besombha eludakeni, ufumile ziinkathazo zeminyaka zesizukulwana sesizukulwana. Injongo endifuna ukuyifezekisa ngeli nqaku yeyokuba umntu achole ntwana ithile ngokujonga imeko esiphila kuzo gabalala, ekuhlaleni, emakhayeni ethu nakwii ndawo esixelenga kuzo. Mhlawumbi kuyakuvuseleleka iingcinga neenkumbulo zamhla-mnene, okanye ibophe nezilonda ezimanzi. Ukwanda kwaliwa ngumthakathi. . . Nangomso. , This thesis is presented in two parts: English and isiXhosa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Billie, Ayanda
- Date: 2016
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6012 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1021231
- Description: One theme of this collection is the joy and the deep seated grief of my community of Kwa-Nobuhle; the brightness of hope on the faces on children running around our streets, the strides made by their mothers, the confusion of factory workers who are lost in darkness since the dawn of new dispensation. Then there are more personal poems: my own joys as well as the difficulties that have kept me from sleep and strangled my dreams as a writer, even though like Mafika Gwala, I believe that “words are born the way mothers beget children/words are born to survive time”. My style is influenced by imagistic, mystic and soulful poetry, such as the haunting Spanish voice of Garcia Lorca who wrote “I lose myself in the heart of certain children” and the absorbing isiXhosa voice of S E K Mqhayi. In response to their poetry my offering will be words that enliven us; my style will be what I see in the mirror, through the window, the sound of rain on my zinc roof and what frightens me. , Ndixomoloze ndiboph’ amaxonya, ndisenza eli linge lokuzama ukuxhathalaza kulo msinga uzakutshayela ulwimi lwethu. Nantso ke incwadana ndiyithe qhiwu ngendebe endiyithiye ngegama elithi Umhlaba Umanzi. Umhlaba umanzi ziinyembezi zabalilayo, umanzi kukubila kwabasebenzi besombha eludakeni, ufumile ziinkathazo zeminyaka zesizukulwana sesizukulwana. Injongo endifuna ukuyifezekisa ngeli nqaku yeyokuba umntu achole ntwana ithile ngokujonga imeko esiphila kuzo gabalala, ekuhlaleni, emakhayeni ethu nakwii ndawo esixelenga kuzo. Mhlawumbi kuyakuvuseleleka iingcinga neenkumbulo zamhla-mnene, okanye ibophe nezilonda ezimanzi. Ukwanda kwaliwa ngumthakathi. . . Nangomso. , This thesis is presented in two parts: English and isiXhosa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The design of an internet sever facility in central, Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Binda, Mathew Ryan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: City planning -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Urban renewal -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Land use, Urban -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Central places -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18762 , vital:28720
- Description: The concepts underlying this treatise develop from an observation of contemporary society’s inherent reliance on technology, its growing popularity as an information exchange mechanism and Africa’s lack of connection to it’s foundation, the internet. Human interaction with digital technology, supported by the internet, has created a new social culture which manifests meaning through visual and virtual cues. These make reference to place and are experienced as real and individual, relating to theories such as Heidegger’s imagined place (Heidegger 1971). In order to enhance Southern Africa’s connection with the global network of the internet, the design of an Internet Server Facility will bridge previously under-utilized international lines into the country at Port Elizabeth engaging with the existing infrastructural system. At this point of connection the infrastructural zone impedes the extension of a public environment. The design seeks to challenge the conception of the highway infrastructure in Port Elizabeth as objects that dehumanise space. It intends to emphasise structure and building as a set of processes or systems able to work together to enable not only the functional aspects of data infrastructure, but also respond to the urban fabric providing a multitude of spatial environments that engage with everyday human activity. Investigations of the previous impact of infrastructure which has been layered onto the edge of Port Elizabeth’s historical core, reveal the stripping of it’s place-making qualities over time, resulting in an urban wasteland. In considering the placement of an infrastructural system, an existing vacant space that forms part of the current infrastructure is more appropriate than using up other urban spaces. In its response, the system would need to respond to its urban environment in a way that infrastructure has previously failed to do in this area, due to its position adjacent to the CBD. For this reason the design is concerned with the urban rejuvenation of the scarred landscape and a design strategy for the development of a contemporary digital infrastructural system, capable of not only being a non-evasive to the urban environment but also a catalyst in the creation of physical and digital place-making in the public realm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Binda, Mathew Ryan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: City planning -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Urban renewal -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Land use, Urban -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Central places -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18762 , vital:28720
- Description: The concepts underlying this treatise develop from an observation of contemporary society’s inherent reliance on technology, its growing popularity as an information exchange mechanism and Africa’s lack of connection to it’s foundation, the internet. Human interaction with digital technology, supported by the internet, has created a new social culture which manifests meaning through visual and virtual cues. These make reference to place and are experienced as real and individual, relating to theories such as Heidegger’s imagined place (Heidegger 1971). In order to enhance Southern Africa’s connection with the global network of the internet, the design of an Internet Server Facility will bridge previously under-utilized international lines into the country at Port Elizabeth engaging with the existing infrastructural system. At this point of connection the infrastructural zone impedes the extension of a public environment. The design seeks to challenge the conception of the highway infrastructure in Port Elizabeth as objects that dehumanise space. It intends to emphasise structure and building as a set of processes or systems able to work together to enable not only the functional aspects of data infrastructure, but also respond to the urban fabric providing a multitude of spatial environments that engage with everyday human activity. Investigations of the previous impact of infrastructure which has been layered onto the edge of Port Elizabeth’s historical core, reveal the stripping of it’s place-making qualities over time, resulting in an urban wasteland. In considering the placement of an infrastructural system, an existing vacant space that forms part of the current infrastructure is more appropriate than using up other urban spaces. In its response, the system would need to respond to its urban environment in a way that infrastructure has previously failed to do in this area, due to its position adjacent to the CBD. For this reason the design is concerned with the urban rejuvenation of the scarred landscape and a design strategy for the development of a contemporary digital infrastructural system, capable of not only being a non-evasive to the urban environment but also a catalyst in the creation of physical and digital place-making in the public realm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The role of emotional awareness in the retirement transition
- Authors: Black, Beverley Mary
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Retirement -- Psychological aspects , Aging -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5645 , vital:20947
- Description: This study examines the role of emotional awareness in the retirement transition. Retirement is viewed as one of the transitions in later life and has psychological consequences. It is an objective development and social-psychological transformation that is related to physical and psychological well-being. Research has shown that emotional awareness can have an impact on the retirement transition. A correlational research survey design was used for this study to determine and establish the role of emotional awareness, preparation and emotional responses in the retirement transition. Using a five-point Likert Scale, respondents were asked to score their responses to twenty-eight items. The questionnaire was distributed to retirees on the data bases of two financial companies that manage retirement funds. The SurveyMonkey application was used to distribute the survey to one financial company’s data base, and email was used for the other. Statistics such as means, relationships between factors, Cronbach’s Alpha, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings of this study demonstrate inconclusive evidence of emotional awareness in retirement. In addition to this, there were no significant findings regarding preparation for retirement or emotional response to retirement which indicates a neutral attitude to preparation and retirement, on average. There is a need for further future studies that include a more balanced sample representation of men and women, a comparative study based on different cultures to determine if differences exist in the experience of emotions in the retirement transition, and a field study in retirement homes and villages to corroborate the findings of this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Black, Beverley Mary
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Retirement -- Psychological aspects , Aging -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5645 , vital:20947
- Description: This study examines the role of emotional awareness in the retirement transition. Retirement is viewed as one of the transitions in later life and has psychological consequences. It is an objective development and social-psychological transformation that is related to physical and psychological well-being. Research has shown that emotional awareness can have an impact on the retirement transition. A correlational research survey design was used for this study to determine and establish the role of emotional awareness, preparation and emotional responses in the retirement transition. Using a five-point Likert Scale, respondents were asked to score their responses to twenty-eight items. The questionnaire was distributed to retirees on the data bases of two financial companies that manage retirement funds. The SurveyMonkey application was used to distribute the survey to one financial company’s data base, and email was used for the other. Statistics such as means, relationships between factors, Cronbach’s Alpha, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings of this study demonstrate inconclusive evidence of emotional awareness in retirement. In addition to this, there were no significant findings regarding preparation for retirement or emotional response to retirement which indicates a neutral attitude to preparation and retirement, on average. There is a need for further future studies that include a more balanced sample representation of men and women, a comparative study based on different cultures to determine if differences exist in the experience of emotions in the retirement transition, and a field study in retirement homes and villages to corroborate the findings of this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Possible futures for science and engineering education
- Blackie, Margaret, Le Roux, Kate, McKenna, Sioux
- Authors: Blackie, Margaret , Le Roux, Kate , McKenna, Sioux
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66796 , vital:28994 , ISSN 1573-174X , https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-015-9962-y
- Description: Publisher version , From Introduction: The understanding that the science, engineering, technology and mathematics disciplines (STEM) have a significant and directly causal role to play in economic productivity and innovation has driven an increased focus on these fields in higher education. Innovation in this context is a shorthand for the harnessing of the knowledge economy and the provision of products with novel significant ‘added value’. The assumption in both developed and developing economies alike is that STEM will drive national growth (World Bank 2002; UNESCO 2009), and this impacts on demands that universities provide competent graduates in sufficient numbers. However, exactly what ‘competency’ might mean in this context is open to debate.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Blackie, Margaret , Le Roux, Kate , McKenna, Sioux
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66796 , vital:28994 , ISSN 1573-174X , https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-015-9962-y
- Description: Publisher version , From Introduction: The understanding that the science, engineering, technology and mathematics disciplines (STEM) have a significant and directly causal role to play in economic productivity and innovation has driven an increased focus on these fields in higher education. Innovation in this context is a shorthand for the harnessing of the knowledge economy and the provision of products with novel significant ‘added value’. The assumption in both developed and developing economies alike is that STEM will drive national growth (World Bank 2002; UNESCO 2009), and this impacts on demands that universities provide competent graduates in sufficient numbers. However, exactly what ‘competency’ might mean in this context is open to debate.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
A critical assessment of team building as a tourism offering in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Blumel, Astrid
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tourism -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6225 , vital:21057
- Description: This study researched team building as a tourism offering. Team building has particular potential to benefit tourism in the Western Region of the Eastern Cape. Team building has grown in popularity and is offered by several tourism operators in the Western Region of the Eastern Cape. Team building can be practiced throughout the year by the use of numerous indoor and outdoor activities thereby attracting participants and tourists. The activity involves a wide range of tourism-related services and facilities which shows its potential value as tourism resource. The research methodology for this study aimed to identify the link between team building and tourism. Additionally, the study draws attention to team buildings possible socio-economic value which is added to a tourism business’s offering range and its effect on the host destination. A survey was conducted among a randomly selected target population representing role-players involved in team building and tourism activities, for which a questionnaire was developed by adapting the SERVPERF model. This enabled the researcher to identify the team building participants’ level of satisfaction with the team building operator, activity and host destination. Emerging from the gained insight into the dynamics between team building offerings and tourism businesses, recommendations have been formulated as to the relevance of team building for a tourism businesses’ offering range and the impact on the host destination. The research study identified numerous beneficial spin-off effects for the Western Region of the Eastern Cape driven from team building activities. These benefits were an increase in awareness of the destination, improved image of the Western Region of the Eastern Cape, and tourist engagement in other tourism offerings during their stay at the destination, among others.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Blumel, Astrid
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tourism -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6225 , vital:21057
- Description: This study researched team building as a tourism offering. Team building has particular potential to benefit tourism in the Western Region of the Eastern Cape. Team building has grown in popularity and is offered by several tourism operators in the Western Region of the Eastern Cape. Team building can be practiced throughout the year by the use of numerous indoor and outdoor activities thereby attracting participants and tourists. The activity involves a wide range of tourism-related services and facilities which shows its potential value as tourism resource. The research methodology for this study aimed to identify the link between team building and tourism. Additionally, the study draws attention to team buildings possible socio-economic value which is added to a tourism business’s offering range and its effect on the host destination. A survey was conducted among a randomly selected target population representing role-players involved in team building and tourism activities, for which a questionnaire was developed by adapting the SERVPERF model. This enabled the researcher to identify the team building participants’ level of satisfaction with the team building operator, activity and host destination. Emerging from the gained insight into the dynamics between team building offerings and tourism businesses, recommendations have been formulated as to the relevance of team building for a tourism businesses’ offering range and the impact on the host destination. The research study identified numerous beneficial spin-off effects for the Western Region of the Eastern Cape driven from team building activities. These benefits were an increase in awareness of the destination, improved image of the Western Region of the Eastern Cape, and tourist engagement in other tourism offerings during their stay at the destination, among others.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The role of the Dohne Agricultural Research Institute in rural agricultural development in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Bolana, Khayalethu Kenneth
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8198 , vital:25965
- Description: The decline of sustainable farming in the past twenty years in the villages of Amahlathi Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province is a cause for concern as this has resulted in reduced food security and increased levels of poverty and unemployment in the villages. As this decline continues to escalate even to date, this study was intended to investigate the role that could be played by the Dohne Agricultural Research Institute in the reduction of poverty through sustainable agricultural activities in these villages. Using a case study of Kubusi village in Amahlathi Local Municiplality, data was gathered through interviewing farming and non-farming households as well as the extension officer for Kubusi village and Dohne officials in order to understand the reasons for and the nature of the decline in farming activities in the villages. The study was conducted against the background of sustainable liveIihood (SL) theory. Important findings revealed that economic factors, primarily lack of money to buy fence and hire tractors to plough are primary causes for the decline, this followed by the effects of global warming and the lack of interest by the young generation to participate in crop farming. The study recommends that the government of the Eastern Cape should intervene through the Dohne Agricultural Research Institute in reskilling rural people in modern farming methods and assisting rural farmers with inputs, primarily fence, tractors and irrigation systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bolana, Khayalethu Kenneth
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8198 , vital:25965
- Description: The decline of sustainable farming in the past twenty years in the villages of Amahlathi Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province is a cause for concern as this has resulted in reduced food security and increased levels of poverty and unemployment in the villages. As this decline continues to escalate even to date, this study was intended to investigate the role that could be played by the Dohne Agricultural Research Institute in the reduction of poverty through sustainable agricultural activities in these villages. Using a case study of Kubusi village in Amahlathi Local Municiplality, data was gathered through interviewing farming and non-farming households as well as the extension officer for Kubusi village and Dohne officials in order to understand the reasons for and the nature of the decline in farming activities in the villages. The study was conducted against the background of sustainable liveIihood (SL) theory. Important findings revealed that economic factors, primarily lack of money to buy fence and hire tractors to plough are primary causes for the decline, this followed by the effects of global warming and the lack of interest by the young generation to participate in crop farming. The study recommends that the government of the Eastern Cape should intervene through the Dohne Agricultural Research Institute in reskilling rural people in modern farming methods and assisting rural farmers with inputs, primarily fence, tractors and irrigation systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016