Formulation and evaluation of captopril loaded polymethacrylate and hydroxypropyl methycellulose microcapsules
- Khamanga, Sandile Maswazi Malungelo
- Authors: Khamanga, Sandile Maswazi Malungelo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Hypertension -- Treatment , Hypertension -- Chemotherapy , Angiotensin converting enzyme -- Inhibitors , Hypotensive agents -- Development , Pharmacokinetics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3860 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013443
- Description: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are some of the most commonly prescribed medications for hypertension. They are cited in many papers as the treatment most often recommended by guidelines and favoured over other antihypertensive drugs as first-line agents especially when other high-risk conditions are present, such as diabetic nephropathy. The development of captopril (CPT) was amongst the earliest successes of the revolutionary concept of structure-based drug design. Due to its relatively poor pharmacokinetic profile or short half-life of about 1 hour, the formulation of sustained-release microcapsule dosage form is useful to improve patient compliance and to achieve predictable and optimized therapeutic plasma concentrations. Currently, CPT is mainly administered in tablet form. One of the difficulties of CPT formulation has been reported to be its instability in aqueous solutions. CPT is characterized by a lack of a strong chromophore and, therefore, not able to absorb at the more useful UV–Vis region of the spectrum. For this reason, an accurate, simple, reproducible, and sensitive HPLC-ECD method was developed and validated for the determination of CPT in dosage forms. The method was successfully applied for the determination of CPT in commercial and developed formulations. Possible drug-excipient and excipient-excipient interactions were investigated prior to formulating CPT microcapsules because successful formulation of a stable and effective solid dosage form depends on careful selection of excipients. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used for the identification and purity testing of CPT and excipients. The studies revealed no thermal changes during stress testing of binary and whole mixtures which indicate absence of solid state interactions. There were no shifts, appearance and disappearance in the endothermic or exothermic peaks and on the change of other associated enthalpy values on thermal curves obtained with DSC method. Characteristic peaks for common functional groups in the FT-IR were present in all the mixtures indicating the absence of incompatibility. The techniques used in this study can be said to have been efficient in the characterization and evaluation of the drug and excipients. The technique of microencapsulation by oil-in-oil was used to prepare CPT microcapsules. The effects of polymer molecular weight, homogenizing speed on the particle size, flow properties, morphology, surface properties and release characteristics of the prepared CPT microcapsules were examined. In order to decrease the complexity of the analysis and reduce cost response surface methodology using best polynomial equations was successfully used to quantify the effect of the formulation variables and develop an optimized formulation thereby minimizing the number of experimental trials. There was a burst effect during the first stage of dissolution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated that the initial burst effect observed in drug release could be attributed to dissolution of CPT crystals present at the surface or embedded in the superficial layer of the matrix. During the preparation of microcapsules, the drug might have been trapped near the surface of the microcapsules and or might have diffused quickly through the porous surface. The release kinetics of CPT from most formulations followed Fickian diffusion mechanism. SEM photographs showed that diffusion took place through pores at the surface of the microcapsules. The Kopcha model diffusion and erosion terms showed predominance of diffusion relative to swelling or erosion throughout the entire test period. Drug release mechanism was also confirmed by Makoid-Banakar and Korsmeyer-Peppas models exponents which further support diffusion release mechanism in most formulations. The models postulate that the total of drug release is a summation of a couple of mechanisms; burst release, relaxation induced controlled-release and diffusional release. Inspection of the 2D contour and 3D response surfaces allowed the determination of the geometrical nature of the surfaces and further providing results about the interaction of the different variables used in central composite design (CCD). The wide variation indicated that the factor combinations resulted in different drug release rates. Lagrange, canonical and mathematical modelling were used to determine the nature of the stationery point of the models. This represented the optimal variables or stationery points where there is interaction in the experimental space. It is difficult to understand the shape of a fitted response by mere inspection of the algebraic polynomial when there are many independent variables in the model. Canonical and Lagrange analyses facilitated the interpretation of the surface plots after a mathematical transformation of the original variables into new variables. In conclusion, these results suggest the potential application of Eudragit® / Methocel® microcapsules as suitable sustained-release drug delivery system for CPT.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Khamanga, Sandile Maswazi Malungelo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Hypertension -- Treatment , Hypertension -- Chemotherapy , Angiotensin converting enzyme -- Inhibitors , Hypotensive agents -- Development , Pharmacokinetics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3860 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013443
- Description: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are some of the most commonly prescribed medications for hypertension. They are cited in many papers as the treatment most often recommended by guidelines and favoured over other antihypertensive drugs as first-line agents especially when other high-risk conditions are present, such as diabetic nephropathy. The development of captopril (CPT) was amongst the earliest successes of the revolutionary concept of structure-based drug design. Due to its relatively poor pharmacokinetic profile or short half-life of about 1 hour, the formulation of sustained-release microcapsule dosage form is useful to improve patient compliance and to achieve predictable and optimized therapeutic plasma concentrations. Currently, CPT is mainly administered in tablet form. One of the difficulties of CPT formulation has been reported to be its instability in aqueous solutions. CPT is characterized by a lack of a strong chromophore and, therefore, not able to absorb at the more useful UV–Vis region of the spectrum. For this reason, an accurate, simple, reproducible, and sensitive HPLC-ECD method was developed and validated for the determination of CPT in dosage forms. The method was successfully applied for the determination of CPT in commercial and developed formulations. Possible drug-excipient and excipient-excipient interactions were investigated prior to formulating CPT microcapsules because successful formulation of a stable and effective solid dosage form depends on careful selection of excipients. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used for the identification and purity testing of CPT and excipients. The studies revealed no thermal changes during stress testing of binary and whole mixtures which indicate absence of solid state interactions. There were no shifts, appearance and disappearance in the endothermic or exothermic peaks and on the change of other associated enthalpy values on thermal curves obtained with DSC method. Characteristic peaks for common functional groups in the FT-IR were present in all the mixtures indicating the absence of incompatibility. The techniques used in this study can be said to have been efficient in the characterization and evaluation of the drug and excipients. The technique of microencapsulation by oil-in-oil was used to prepare CPT microcapsules. The effects of polymer molecular weight, homogenizing speed on the particle size, flow properties, morphology, surface properties and release characteristics of the prepared CPT microcapsules were examined. In order to decrease the complexity of the analysis and reduce cost response surface methodology using best polynomial equations was successfully used to quantify the effect of the formulation variables and develop an optimized formulation thereby minimizing the number of experimental trials. There was a burst effect during the first stage of dissolution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated that the initial burst effect observed in drug release could be attributed to dissolution of CPT crystals present at the surface or embedded in the superficial layer of the matrix. During the preparation of microcapsules, the drug might have been trapped near the surface of the microcapsules and or might have diffused quickly through the porous surface. The release kinetics of CPT from most formulations followed Fickian diffusion mechanism. SEM photographs showed that diffusion took place through pores at the surface of the microcapsules. The Kopcha model diffusion and erosion terms showed predominance of diffusion relative to swelling or erosion throughout the entire test period. Drug release mechanism was also confirmed by Makoid-Banakar and Korsmeyer-Peppas models exponents which further support diffusion release mechanism in most formulations. The models postulate that the total of drug release is a summation of a couple of mechanisms; burst release, relaxation induced controlled-release and diffusional release. Inspection of the 2D contour and 3D response surfaces allowed the determination of the geometrical nature of the surfaces and further providing results about the interaction of the different variables used in central composite design (CCD). The wide variation indicated that the factor combinations resulted in different drug release rates. Lagrange, canonical and mathematical modelling were used to determine the nature of the stationery point of the models. This represented the optimal variables or stationery points where there is interaction in the experimental space. It is difficult to understand the shape of a fitted response by mere inspection of the algebraic polynomial when there are many independent variables in the model. Canonical and Lagrange analyses facilitated the interpretation of the surface plots after a mathematical transformation of the original variables into new variables. In conclusion, these results suggest the potential application of Eudragit® / Methocel® microcapsules as suitable sustained-release drug delivery system for CPT.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Fostering information security culture through intergrating theory and technology
- Van Niekerk, Johannes Frederick
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Johannes Frederick
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Information technology -- Security measures , Data protection , Corporate culture -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9754 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1404 , Information technology -- Security measures , Data protection , Corporate culture -- South Africa
- Description: Today information can be seen as a basic commodity that is crucial to the continuous well-being of modern organizations. Many modern organizations will be unable to do business without access to their information resources. It is therefor of vital importance for organizations to ensure that their infor- mation resources are adequately protected against both internal and external threats. This protection of information resources is known as information security and is, to a large extent, dependent on the behavior of humans in the organization. Humans, at various levels in the organization, play vital roles in the pro- cesses that secure organizational information resources. Many of the prob- lems experienced in information security can be directly contributed to the humans involved in the process. Employees, either intentionally or through negligence, often due to a lack of knowledge, can be seen as the greatest threat to information security. Addressing this human factor in information security is the primary focus of this thesis. The majority of current approaches to dealing with the human factors in information security acknowledge the need to foster an information security culture in the organization. However, very few current approaches attempt to adjust the "generic" model(s) used to define organizational culture to be specific to the needs of information security. This thesis firstly proposes, and argues, such an adapted conceptual model which aims to improve the understanding of what an information security culture is. The thesis secondly focuses on the underlying role that information security educational programs play in the fostering of an organizational information security culture. It is argued that many current information security edu- cational programs are not based on sound pedagogical theory. The use of learning taxonomies during the design of information security educational programs is proposed as a possible way to improve the pedagogical rigor of such programs. The thesis also argues in favor of the use of blended and/or e-learning approaches for the delivery of information security educational content. Finally, this thesis provides a detailed overview demonstrating how the various elements contributed by the thesis integrates into existing trans- formative change management processes for the fostering of an organizational information security culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Johannes Frederick
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Information technology -- Security measures , Data protection , Corporate culture -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9754 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1404 , Information technology -- Security measures , Data protection , Corporate culture -- South Africa
- Description: Today information can be seen as a basic commodity that is crucial to the continuous well-being of modern organizations. Many modern organizations will be unable to do business without access to their information resources. It is therefor of vital importance for organizations to ensure that their infor- mation resources are adequately protected against both internal and external threats. This protection of information resources is known as information security and is, to a large extent, dependent on the behavior of humans in the organization. Humans, at various levels in the organization, play vital roles in the pro- cesses that secure organizational information resources. Many of the prob- lems experienced in information security can be directly contributed to the humans involved in the process. Employees, either intentionally or through negligence, often due to a lack of knowledge, can be seen as the greatest threat to information security. Addressing this human factor in information security is the primary focus of this thesis. The majority of current approaches to dealing with the human factors in information security acknowledge the need to foster an information security culture in the organization. However, very few current approaches attempt to adjust the "generic" model(s) used to define organizational culture to be specific to the needs of information security. This thesis firstly proposes, and argues, such an adapted conceptual model which aims to improve the understanding of what an information security culture is. The thesis secondly focuses on the underlying role that information security educational programs play in the fostering of an organizational information security culture. It is argued that many current information security edu- cational programs are not based on sound pedagogical theory. The use of learning taxonomies during the design of information security educational programs is proposed as a possible way to improve the pedagogical rigor of such programs. The thesis also argues in favor of the use of blended and/or e-learning approaches for the delivery of information security educational content. Finally, this thesis provides a detailed overview demonstrating how the various elements contributed by the thesis integrates into existing trans- formative change management processes for the fostering of an organizational information security culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Framework for local government to implement integrated water resource management linked to water service delivery
- Haigh, Eliria H, Fox, Helen E, Davies-Coleman, Heather D
- Authors: Haigh, Eliria H , Fox, Helen E , Davies-Coleman, Heather D
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:7097 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012440
- Description: The Water Services Act (No. 8 of 1997) of South Africa states that water service delivery is the responsibility of local government as Water Services Authorities. The principal legal responsibility is to complete a Water Services Development Plan (WSDP) every 5 years with annual review. The WSDP encapsulates all the responsibilities and tasks required in water service delivery. However, it does not spell out local government’s role in water resource protection or its responsibilities as far as integrated water resource management is concerned. It is well known in South Africa that there is a challenging level of inadequate capacity in technical and administrative skills in local government to adequately fulfil water service delivery. This paper highlights the consequences of this incapacity for municipalities and their difficulties in fulfilling their responsibilities as service providers. A framework is provided within which improvements can be brought about, with guidance on how to engage in the practice of integrated water resource management (IWRM) in the context of the legal framework for water services. The additional tasks and changes required to practise IWRM are set in the context of the WSDP. The framework provides a guide for a municipality to first accomplish an adequate WSDP, and then to gradually implement IWRM. A discussion on the skills needed to accomplish, firstly, a comprehensive WSDP, and secondly, IWRM, is included.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Haigh, Eliria H , Fox, Helen E , Davies-Coleman, Heather D
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:7097 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012440
- Description: The Water Services Act (No. 8 of 1997) of South Africa states that water service delivery is the responsibility of local government as Water Services Authorities. The principal legal responsibility is to complete a Water Services Development Plan (WSDP) every 5 years with annual review. The WSDP encapsulates all the responsibilities and tasks required in water service delivery. However, it does not spell out local government’s role in water resource protection or its responsibilities as far as integrated water resource management is concerned. It is well known in South Africa that there is a challenging level of inadequate capacity in technical and administrative skills in local government to adequately fulfil water service delivery. This paper highlights the consequences of this incapacity for municipalities and their difficulties in fulfilling their responsibilities as service providers. A framework is provided within which improvements can be brought about, with guidance on how to engage in the practice of integrated water resource management (IWRM) in the context of the legal framework for water services. The additional tasks and changes required to practise IWRM are set in the context of the WSDP. The framework provides a guide for a municipality to first accomplish an adequate WSDP, and then to gradually implement IWRM. A discussion on the skills needed to accomplish, firstly, a comprehensive WSDP, and secondly, IWRM, is included.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Framing the foreigner : a close reading of readers' comments on Thought leader blogs on xenophobia published between May and June, 2008
- Authors: Mwilu, Lwanga Racheal
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Xenophobia in mass media -- South Africa Immigrants in mass media -- South Africa Mail & Guardian Thought leader Blogs -- South Africa Online hate speech -- South Africa Freedom of expression -- South Africa Online journalism -- Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3472 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002927
- Description: This study was conducted to identify and analyse Mail and Guardian Online moderation outputs which contradicted the platform‟s own stated policy on hate speech and other forms of problematic speech. The moderation outputs considered were a battery of readers‟ comments that were posted in response to Thought Leader blogs on xenophobia published between May and June, 2008. This was the same period a series of xenophobic attacks was taking place in some parts of South Africa, leaving an estimated 62 people dead, more than 30,000 displaced, and countless victims injured and robbed of their property. The attacks were a catalytic moment that enabled a whole range of discursive positions to be articulated, defended, contested and given form in the media. They also made visible the potential tensions between free speech on the one hand, and hate and other problematic speech on the other. Using qualitative methods of thematic content analysis, document review, individual interviews, and an eclectic approach of framing analysis and rhetorical argumentation, this study found instances of divergence between the M&G policy and practice on User Generated Content. It found that some moderator-approved content advocated hate, hatred, hostility, incitement to violence and/or harm, and unfair discrimination against foreign residents, contrary to the M&G policy which is informed by the constitutional provisions in both section 16 of the Bill of Rights and section 10 of the Equality Act. Based on examples in the readers‟ comments of how „the foreigner‟ was made to signify unemployment, poverty, disease, unfair competition, and all manner of deprivation, and bearing in mind how such individuals have also become a site for the violent convergence of different unresolved tensions in the country, the study‟s findings argue that the M&G – a progressive paper dealing with a potentially xenophobic readership (at least a portion of it) – should have implemented its policy on acceptable speech more effectively. The study also argues that the unjustifiable reference to foreigners as makwerekwere, illegals, illegal aliens, parasites, invaders and border jumpers, among other terms, assigned them a diminished place – that of unwanted foreigner – thereby reproducing the order of discourse that utilises nationality as a space for the expurgation of the „other‟. The study argues that the use of bogus (inflated) immigration statistics and repeated reference to the foreigners‟ supposedly parasitic relationship to the country‟s resources also unfairly constructed them as the „threatening other‟ and potentially justified action against them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mwilu, Lwanga Racheal
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Xenophobia in mass media -- South Africa Immigrants in mass media -- South Africa Mail & Guardian Thought leader Blogs -- South Africa Online hate speech -- South Africa Freedom of expression -- South Africa Online journalism -- Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3472 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002927
- Description: This study was conducted to identify and analyse Mail and Guardian Online moderation outputs which contradicted the platform‟s own stated policy on hate speech and other forms of problematic speech. The moderation outputs considered were a battery of readers‟ comments that were posted in response to Thought Leader blogs on xenophobia published between May and June, 2008. This was the same period a series of xenophobic attacks was taking place in some parts of South Africa, leaving an estimated 62 people dead, more than 30,000 displaced, and countless victims injured and robbed of their property. The attacks were a catalytic moment that enabled a whole range of discursive positions to be articulated, defended, contested and given form in the media. They also made visible the potential tensions between free speech on the one hand, and hate and other problematic speech on the other. Using qualitative methods of thematic content analysis, document review, individual interviews, and an eclectic approach of framing analysis and rhetorical argumentation, this study found instances of divergence between the M&G policy and practice on User Generated Content. It found that some moderator-approved content advocated hate, hatred, hostility, incitement to violence and/or harm, and unfair discrimination against foreign residents, contrary to the M&G policy which is informed by the constitutional provisions in both section 16 of the Bill of Rights and section 10 of the Equality Act. Based on examples in the readers‟ comments of how „the foreigner‟ was made to signify unemployment, poverty, disease, unfair competition, and all manner of deprivation, and bearing in mind how such individuals have also become a site for the violent convergence of different unresolved tensions in the country, the study‟s findings argue that the M&G – a progressive paper dealing with a potentially xenophobic readership (at least a portion of it) – should have implemented its policy on acceptable speech more effectively. The study also argues that the unjustifiable reference to foreigners as makwerekwere, illegals, illegal aliens, parasites, invaders and border jumpers, among other terms, assigned them a diminished place – that of unwanted foreigner – thereby reproducing the order of discourse that utilises nationality as a space for the expurgation of the „other‟. The study argues that the use of bogus (inflated) immigration statistics and repeated reference to the foreigners‟ supposedly parasitic relationship to the country‟s resources also unfairly constructed them as the „threatening other‟ and potentially justified action against them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Gaming culture: what lessons for pedagogy in South Africa?
- Kaschula, Russell H, Mostert, André M
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175189 , vital:42551 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC30895
- Description: Gaming culture is becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Whereas before it was the reserve of those who were prepared to invest in the latest gaming hardware, increasingly powerful entry level machines coupled with more powerful mobile technologies are impacting on how young learners and students assimilate information. This evolving characteristic exhibited by the learners across South Africa must generate a serious reflection of education and training methodologies. Historically, education structures have been slow to embrace the changes that are imperative if the products of the process are to be adequately prepared for the future that faces them. One of the most telling realities of the modern era, or the planetary phase as it is now being tagged, is rapid change. The question that all educators need to ask is 'how is my pedagogic approach evolving'?.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175189 , vital:42551 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC30895
- Description: Gaming culture is becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Whereas before it was the reserve of those who were prepared to invest in the latest gaming hardware, increasingly powerful entry level machines coupled with more powerful mobile technologies are impacting on how young learners and students assimilate information. This evolving characteristic exhibited by the learners across South Africa must generate a serious reflection of education and training methodologies. Historically, education structures have been slow to embrace the changes that are imperative if the products of the process are to be adequately prepared for the future that faces them. One of the most telling realities of the modern era, or the planetary phase as it is now being tagged, is rapid change. The question that all educators need to ask is 'how is my pedagogic approach evolving'?.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Gender and racial stereotyping in rape coverage: an analysis of rape coverage in Grocott's Mail
- Authors: Bonnes, Stephanie Marie
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Grocott's Mail (Grahamstown, South Africa) Rape in mass media Rape -- South Africa Stereotypes (Social psychology) in mass media Sexism in mass media Racism in mass media Women -- Crimes against -- South Africa Violence in mass media Sex discrimination against women -- South Africa Journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2762 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002972
- Description: This thesis analyzes rape coverage in a Grahamstown newspaper, Grocott’s Mail. Critical discourse analysis is used to discuss and analyze articles about rape that appear in Grocott’s Mail between October 14th 2008 and October 29th 2009. Drawing on existing literature on ‘rape myths’ in media coverage of rape, this thesis argues that Grocott’s Mail perpetuates racial and gender stereotypes through the way in which it reports on rape. While not all of the articles included in the analysis use rape myths, most use one or more when discussing rape incidents. Specifically, Grocott’s Mail tends to use rape myths that blame the victim for the rape and de-emphasize the role of the perpetrator in the rape. This is problematic as it sustains existing racial and gender inequalities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Bonnes, Stephanie Marie
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Grocott's Mail (Grahamstown, South Africa) Rape in mass media Rape -- South Africa Stereotypes (Social psychology) in mass media Sexism in mass media Racism in mass media Women -- Crimes against -- South Africa Violence in mass media Sex discrimination against women -- South Africa Journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2762 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002972
- Description: This thesis analyzes rape coverage in a Grahamstown newspaper, Grocott’s Mail. Critical discourse analysis is used to discuss and analyze articles about rape that appear in Grocott’s Mail between October 14th 2008 and October 29th 2009. Drawing on existing literature on ‘rape myths’ in media coverage of rape, this thesis argues that Grocott’s Mail perpetuates racial and gender stereotypes through the way in which it reports on rape. While not all of the articles included in the analysis use rape myths, most use one or more when discussing rape incidents. Specifically, Grocott’s Mail tends to use rape myths that blame the victim for the rape and de-emphasize the role of the perpetrator in the rape. This is problematic as it sustains existing racial and gender inequalities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Generation of polyclonal antibodies against Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis virus protein 2C, and their use in investigating localisation of the protein in infected cells
- Authors: Jauka, Tembisa Innocencia
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Picornaviruses , RNA viruses , Immunoglobulins , Encephalomyelitis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3959 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004018 , Picornaviruses , RNA viruses , Immunoglobulins , Encephalomyelitis
- Description: The Picornavirus family of positive sense RNA viruses includes some significant human and animal pathogens including Poliovirus (PV), Foot-and-Mouth disease virus (FMDV) and Human Rhinovirus (HRV). The genome is translated within the host cell into a polyprotein that is proteolytically cleaved into the structural and nonstructural proteins. The highly conserved, non-structural protein 2C has numerous roles during the virus life cycle and is essential for virus replication. Although the protein has been well studied in the case of PV, its interactions with the host cell during picornavirus infection is poorly understood. Theiler’s Encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) is a picornavirus that infects mice, and is being used in our laboratory as a model in which to study the 2C protein. In this study, polyclonal antibodies against the TMEV 2C protein were generated and used to localise the protein in infected cells by indirect immunofluorescence. To produce antigen for immunisation purposes, the TMEV-2C protein sequence was analysed to identify hydrophilic and antigenic regions. An internal region of the 2C representing amino acid residues 31-210 was selected, expressed in bacteria and purified by nickel NTA affinity chromatography. Time course analysis of 2C (31-210) showed that the peptide was maximally expressed at 5 hours post induction. The peptide was solubilised using a mild detergent and 1.5 mg of purified antigen was used for immunisation of rabbits. Western blot analysis confirmed that the antibodies could detect both bacteriallyexpressed antigen, and virally-expressed 2C. Examination of virus-infected baby hamster kidney cells by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy using the antiserum (anti-TMEV 2C antibodies) showed that the protein had a diffuse distribution upon early infection and at later stages it was located in a large perinuclear structure representing the viral replication complex. Furthermore, 2C localised to the Golgi apparatus as revealed by dual-label immunofluorescence using anti-TMEV 2C antibodies and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). Furthermore, it was shown that TMEV infection results in changes in cell morphology and a redistribution of the cytoskeletal protein, β-actin. The successful production of antibodies that recognise TMEV 2C opens the way for further studies to investigate interactions between 2C and hostencoded factors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Jauka, Tembisa Innocencia
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Picornaviruses , RNA viruses , Immunoglobulins , Encephalomyelitis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3959 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004018 , Picornaviruses , RNA viruses , Immunoglobulins , Encephalomyelitis
- Description: The Picornavirus family of positive sense RNA viruses includes some significant human and animal pathogens including Poliovirus (PV), Foot-and-Mouth disease virus (FMDV) and Human Rhinovirus (HRV). The genome is translated within the host cell into a polyprotein that is proteolytically cleaved into the structural and nonstructural proteins. The highly conserved, non-structural protein 2C has numerous roles during the virus life cycle and is essential for virus replication. Although the protein has been well studied in the case of PV, its interactions with the host cell during picornavirus infection is poorly understood. Theiler’s Encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) is a picornavirus that infects mice, and is being used in our laboratory as a model in which to study the 2C protein. In this study, polyclonal antibodies against the TMEV 2C protein were generated and used to localise the protein in infected cells by indirect immunofluorescence. To produce antigen for immunisation purposes, the TMEV-2C protein sequence was analysed to identify hydrophilic and antigenic regions. An internal region of the 2C representing amino acid residues 31-210 was selected, expressed in bacteria and purified by nickel NTA affinity chromatography. Time course analysis of 2C (31-210) showed that the peptide was maximally expressed at 5 hours post induction. The peptide was solubilised using a mild detergent and 1.5 mg of purified antigen was used for immunisation of rabbits. Western blot analysis confirmed that the antibodies could detect both bacteriallyexpressed antigen, and virally-expressed 2C. Examination of virus-infected baby hamster kidney cells by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy using the antiserum (anti-TMEV 2C antibodies) showed that the protein had a diffuse distribution upon early infection and at later stages it was located in a large perinuclear structure representing the viral replication complex. Furthermore, 2C localised to the Golgi apparatus as revealed by dual-label immunofluorescence using anti-TMEV 2C antibodies and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). Furthermore, it was shown that TMEV infection results in changes in cell morphology and a redistribution of the cytoskeletal protein, β-actin. The successful production of antibodies that recognise TMEV 2C opens the way for further studies to investigate interactions between 2C and hostencoded factors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Geographies of juvenile crime: a study of crime in selected high schools in East London, South Africa
- Authors: Ladokun, Ayodele Olanrewaju
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Juvenile delinquency -- South Africa -- East London , School violence -- South Africa -- East London , Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- East London , High schools -- South Africa -- East London , School management and organization -- South Africa -- East London , Crime--South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geography)
- Identifier: vital:11507 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/345 , Juvenile delinquency -- South Africa -- East London , School violence -- South Africa -- East London , Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- East London , High schools -- South Africa -- East London , School management and organization -- South Africa -- East London , Crime--South Africa -- East London
- Description: Youth crime has been and still is a social problem in South Africa. It is a problem that shakes the very fabric of the society. The problem with the youth in modern society is both a national concern and an important subject for academic study. High school environments are where youths converge for learning purposes, but they have also turned to hotspots for crime. Different theories on explanations for high school crime have been developed over time. This particular study, conducted in 2008, adopts the criminal opportunity theory to study the social, economic and the demographic characteristics of selected environments in which high schools are located to determine significant factors that are conducive for high schools to be crime hotspots. Three schools were selected in different neighbourhoods in East London for the study. The study used an intensive case design technique to conduct the research. Different characteristics of the communities in which the schools that were studied were located showed different crime pattern. The Law enforcement agencies also realize these differences and they try to address crime issues in various communities in the study areas individually
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Ladokun, Ayodele Olanrewaju
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Juvenile delinquency -- South Africa -- East London , School violence -- South Africa -- East London , Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- East London , High schools -- South Africa -- East London , School management and organization -- South Africa -- East London , Crime--South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geography)
- Identifier: vital:11507 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/345 , Juvenile delinquency -- South Africa -- East London , School violence -- South Africa -- East London , Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- East London , High schools -- South Africa -- East London , School management and organization -- South Africa -- East London , Crime--South Africa -- East London
- Description: Youth crime has been and still is a social problem in South Africa. It is a problem that shakes the very fabric of the society. The problem with the youth in modern society is both a national concern and an important subject for academic study. High school environments are where youths converge for learning purposes, but they have also turned to hotspots for crime. Different theories on explanations for high school crime have been developed over time. This particular study, conducted in 2008, adopts the criminal opportunity theory to study the social, economic and the demographic characteristics of selected environments in which high schools are located to determine significant factors that are conducive for high schools to be crime hotspots. Three schools were selected in different neighbourhoods in East London for the study. The study used an intensive case design technique to conduct the research. Different characteristics of the communities in which the schools that were studied were located showed different crime pattern. The Law enforcement agencies also realize these differences and they try to address crime issues in various communities in the study areas individually
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Geology of the Kroonstad kimberlite cluster, South Africa
- Authors: Howarth, Geoffrey H
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Geology -- South Africa -- Kroonstad , Kimberlite -- South Africa -- Kroonstad
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4961 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005573 , Geology -- South Africa -- Kroonstad , Kimberlite -- South Africa -- Kroonstad
- Description: The Cretaceous (133Ma) Kroonstad Group II Kimberlite Cluster is located approximately 200km south west of Johannesburg on the Kaapvaal Craton. The cluster is made up of six kimberlite pipes and numerous other intrusive dike/sill bodies. Three of the pipes are analysed in this study, which includes the: Voorspoed, Lace (Crown) and Besterskraal North pipes. These pipes were emplaced at surface into the Karoo Supergroup, which is comprised of older sedimentary rocks (300-185Ma) overlain by flood basalts (185Ma). At depth the pipes have intruded the Transvaal (2100-2600Ma) and Ventersdorp (2700Ma) Supergroups, which are comprised dominantly of carbonates and various volcanic units respectively. The pipes have typical morphology of South African pipes with circular to sub-circular plan views and steep 82o pipe margins. The Voorspoed pipe is 12ha in size and is characterised by the presence of a large block of Karoo basalt approximately 6ha in size at the current land surface. This large basalt block extends to a maximum of 300m below the current land surface. The main Lace pipe is 2ha is size with a smaller (<0.5ha) satellite pipe approximately 50m to the west. No information is available on the morphology of the Besterskraal North pipe as it is sub-economic and no mining has occurred. Samples from the Besterskraal North pipe were collected from the De Beers archives. The Kroonstad Cluster has been subjected to approximately 1750m of erosion post-emplacement, which has been calculated by the analysis of the crustal xenoliths with the pipe infill. The hypabyssal kimberlite from the three pipes shows a gradational evolution in magma compositions, indicated by the mineralogy and geochemistry. The Lace pipe is the least evolved and has characteristics more similar to Group I kimberlites. The Voorspoed and Besterskraal North kimberlite are intermediately and highly evolved respectively. The gradational evolution is marked by an increase in SiO2 and Na2O contents. Furthermore the occurrence of abundant primary diopside, aegirine, sanidine, K-richterite and leucite indicates evolution of the magma. The root zones of the pipes are characterised by globular segregationary transitional kimberlite, which is interpreted to be hypabyssal and not the result of pyroclastic welding/agglutination. The hypabyssal transitional kimberlite (HKt) is characterised by incipient globular segregationary textures only and the typical tuffisitic transitional kimberlite (TKt) end member (Hetman et al. 2004) is not observed. The HKt contact with the overlying volcaniclastic kimberlite (VK) infill is sharp and not gradational. The presence of HKt in the satellite blind pipe at Lace further indicates that the distinct kimberlite rock type must be forming sub-volcanically. The HKt is distinctly different at the Voorspoed and Lace pipes, which is likely a result of differing compositions of the late stage magmatic liquid. Microlitic clinopyroxene is only observed at the Lace HKt and is interpreted to form as a result of both crustal xenolith contamination and CO2 degassing. Furthermore the HKt is intimately associated with contact breccias in the sidewall. The root zones of the Kroonstad pipes are interpreted to form through the development of a sub-volcanic embryonic pipe. The volcaniclastic kimberlite (VK) infill of the Kroonstad pipes is not typical of South African tuffisitic Class 1 kimberlite pipes. The VK at Voorspoed is characterised by numerous horizontally layered massive volcaniclastic kimberlite (MVK) units, which are interpreted to have formed in a deep open vent through primary pyroclastic deposition. MVK is the dominant rock type infilling the Voorspoed pipe, however numerous other minor units occur. Normally graded units are interpreted to form through gravitational collapse of the tuff ring. MVK units rich in Karoo basalt and/or Karoo sandstone are interpreted to form through gravitational sidewall failure deep within an open vent. Magmaclasts are interpreted to form in the HKt during the development of an embryonic pipe and therefore the term autolith or nucleated autolith may be applied. Debate on the validity of the term nucleated autolith is beyond this study and therefore the term nucleated magmaclast is used to refer to spherical magmaclasts in the VK. The emplacement of the Kroonstad pipes is particularly complex and is not similar to typical Class 1 tuffisitic kimberlites. However the initial stage of pipe emplacement is similar to typical South African kimberlites and is interpreted to be through the development of an embryonic pipe as described by Clement (1982). The vent clearing eruption is interpreted to be from the bottom up through the exsolution of juvenile volatiles and the pipe shape is controlled by the depth of the eruption (+/-2km) (Skinner, 2008). The initial embryonic pipe development and explosive eruption is similar to other South African kimberlites, however the vent is cleared and left open, which is typical of Class 2 Prairies type and Class 3 Lac de Gras type pipes. The latter vent infilling processes are similar to Class 3 kimberlites from Lac de Gras and are dominated at the current level by primary pyroclastic deposition.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Howarth, Geoffrey H
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Geology -- South Africa -- Kroonstad , Kimberlite -- South Africa -- Kroonstad
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4961 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005573 , Geology -- South Africa -- Kroonstad , Kimberlite -- South Africa -- Kroonstad
- Description: The Cretaceous (133Ma) Kroonstad Group II Kimberlite Cluster is located approximately 200km south west of Johannesburg on the Kaapvaal Craton. The cluster is made up of six kimberlite pipes and numerous other intrusive dike/sill bodies. Three of the pipes are analysed in this study, which includes the: Voorspoed, Lace (Crown) and Besterskraal North pipes. These pipes were emplaced at surface into the Karoo Supergroup, which is comprised of older sedimentary rocks (300-185Ma) overlain by flood basalts (185Ma). At depth the pipes have intruded the Transvaal (2100-2600Ma) and Ventersdorp (2700Ma) Supergroups, which are comprised dominantly of carbonates and various volcanic units respectively. The pipes have typical morphology of South African pipes with circular to sub-circular plan views and steep 82o pipe margins. The Voorspoed pipe is 12ha in size and is characterised by the presence of a large block of Karoo basalt approximately 6ha in size at the current land surface. This large basalt block extends to a maximum of 300m below the current land surface. The main Lace pipe is 2ha is size with a smaller (<0.5ha) satellite pipe approximately 50m to the west. No information is available on the morphology of the Besterskraal North pipe as it is sub-economic and no mining has occurred. Samples from the Besterskraal North pipe were collected from the De Beers archives. The Kroonstad Cluster has been subjected to approximately 1750m of erosion post-emplacement, which has been calculated by the analysis of the crustal xenoliths with the pipe infill. The hypabyssal kimberlite from the three pipes shows a gradational evolution in magma compositions, indicated by the mineralogy and geochemistry. The Lace pipe is the least evolved and has characteristics more similar to Group I kimberlites. The Voorspoed and Besterskraal North kimberlite are intermediately and highly evolved respectively. The gradational evolution is marked by an increase in SiO2 and Na2O contents. Furthermore the occurrence of abundant primary diopside, aegirine, sanidine, K-richterite and leucite indicates evolution of the magma. The root zones of the pipes are characterised by globular segregationary transitional kimberlite, which is interpreted to be hypabyssal and not the result of pyroclastic welding/agglutination. The hypabyssal transitional kimberlite (HKt) is characterised by incipient globular segregationary textures only and the typical tuffisitic transitional kimberlite (TKt) end member (Hetman et al. 2004) is not observed. The HKt contact with the overlying volcaniclastic kimberlite (VK) infill is sharp and not gradational. The presence of HKt in the satellite blind pipe at Lace further indicates that the distinct kimberlite rock type must be forming sub-volcanically. The HKt is distinctly different at the Voorspoed and Lace pipes, which is likely a result of differing compositions of the late stage magmatic liquid. Microlitic clinopyroxene is only observed at the Lace HKt and is interpreted to form as a result of both crustal xenolith contamination and CO2 degassing. Furthermore the HKt is intimately associated with contact breccias in the sidewall. The root zones of the Kroonstad pipes are interpreted to form through the development of a sub-volcanic embryonic pipe. The volcaniclastic kimberlite (VK) infill of the Kroonstad pipes is not typical of South African tuffisitic Class 1 kimberlite pipes. The VK at Voorspoed is characterised by numerous horizontally layered massive volcaniclastic kimberlite (MVK) units, which are interpreted to have formed in a deep open vent through primary pyroclastic deposition. MVK is the dominant rock type infilling the Voorspoed pipe, however numerous other minor units occur. Normally graded units are interpreted to form through gravitational collapse of the tuff ring. MVK units rich in Karoo basalt and/or Karoo sandstone are interpreted to form through gravitational sidewall failure deep within an open vent. Magmaclasts are interpreted to form in the HKt during the development of an embryonic pipe and therefore the term autolith or nucleated autolith may be applied. Debate on the validity of the term nucleated autolith is beyond this study and therefore the term nucleated magmaclast is used to refer to spherical magmaclasts in the VK. The emplacement of the Kroonstad pipes is particularly complex and is not similar to typical Class 1 tuffisitic kimberlites. However the initial stage of pipe emplacement is similar to typical South African kimberlites and is interpreted to be through the development of an embryonic pipe as described by Clement (1982). The vent clearing eruption is interpreted to be from the bottom up through the exsolution of juvenile volatiles and the pipe shape is controlled by the depth of the eruption (+/-2km) (Skinner, 2008). The initial embryonic pipe development and explosive eruption is similar to other South African kimberlites, however the vent is cleared and left open, which is typical of Class 2 Prairies type and Class 3 Lac de Gras type pipes. The latter vent infilling processes are similar to Class 3 kimberlites from Lac de Gras and are dominated at the current level by primary pyroclastic deposition.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Global Climate Change, Adaptation and Abatement in a Context of Risk and Vulnerability
- Lotz-Sisitka, Heila, Le Grange, Lesley
- Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Le Grange, Lesley
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/437338 , vital:73371 , ISBN 9780826440655 , https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/climate-change-and-philosophy-9780826440655/
- Description: Climate Change and Philosophy presents ten original es-says by an international team of expert contributors, ex-ploring the important contribution philosophical inquiry can make to contemporary debates to do with climate change and the global environment. Examining this hugely topical issue through the lens of environmental philosophy, political theory, philosophy of technology, philosophy of education and feminist theory, these es-says interrogate some of the presumptions that inform modernity and our interaction with natural processes. The book asks fundamental questions about human na-ture and, more importantly, the concept of 'nature' itself. The conceptual frameworks presented here contribute to an understanding of the processes of change, of social transformation, and the means of adapting to the con-straints that problems such as climate change pose. The book proposes a way of beginning the important task of rethinking the relationship between humanity and the natural environment. Through enquiry into the basic philosophical principles that inform modern society, each author asserts that reflection informs change and that change is both required and possible in the context of the environmental crisis facing us today.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Le Grange, Lesley
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/437338 , vital:73371 , ISBN 9780826440655 , https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/climate-change-and-philosophy-9780826440655/
- Description: Climate Change and Philosophy presents ten original es-says by an international team of expert contributors, ex-ploring the important contribution philosophical inquiry can make to contemporary debates to do with climate change and the global environment. Examining this hugely topical issue through the lens of environmental philosophy, political theory, philosophy of technology, philosophy of education and feminist theory, these es-says interrogate some of the presumptions that inform modernity and our interaction with natural processes. The book asks fundamental questions about human na-ture and, more importantly, the concept of 'nature' itself. The conceptual frameworks presented here contribute to an understanding of the processes of change, of social transformation, and the means of adapting to the con-straints that problems such as climate change pose. The book proposes a way of beginning the important task of rethinking the relationship between humanity and the natural environment. Through enquiry into the basic philosophical principles that inform modern society, each author asserts that reflection informs change and that change is both required and possible in the context of the environmental crisis facing us today.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Global resonance, local amplification: Antjie Krog on a world stage
- Authors: Garman, Anthea
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159736 , vital:40338 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02533950903562468
- Description: As a result of the publication of Country of my Skull, an extraordinary literary enactment of witness and confession, Antjie Krog has become internationally known as a writer profoundly engaged with the events and human drama uncovered by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Her voice is read as that of an expert witness of trauma, forgiveness and the means by which the horrors of the past may be addressed. In seeking to understand how Krog came to be taken up internationally as a representative voice of the South African transition, I focus on a particular global–local nexus for an explanation. I theorise that dealing with the past via truth commissions, a global publishing context and the work of a local writer with a record of excellent literary output and political action enabled a fit which resulted in Krog coming to prominence on a world stage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Garman, Anthea
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159736 , vital:40338 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02533950903562468
- Description: As a result of the publication of Country of my Skull, an extraordinary literary enactment of witness and confession, Antjie Krog has become internationally known as a writer profoundly engaged with the events and human drama uncovered by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Her voice is read as that of an expert witness of trauma, forgiveness and the means by which the horrors of the past may be addressed. In seeking to understand how Krog came to be taken up internationally as a representative voice of the South African transition, I focus on a particular global–local nexus for an explanation. I theorise that dealing with the past via truth commissions, a global publishing context and the work of a local writer with a record of excellent literary output and political action enabled a fit which resulted in Krog coming to prominence on a world stage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Goat production in the Northern Cape: what are the impacts of farmer training?
- Authors: Burgess, Roberta
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Northern Cape (South Africa) Animal culture -- South Africa -- Northern Cape -- Management Animal culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Northern Cape Goat farmers -- South Africa -- Northern Cape -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:747 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003868
- Description: The main millennium development goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in the world by 2015. South Africa is one of the countries that signed this pledge at the millennium summit in 2000. The Department of Agriculture, has initiated a number of projects to assist farmers and communities with reaching this goal. In the Northern Cape, the commercialization of goats is one such anchor project. The major activities of this project is to train farmers in applied and appropriate production practices, assist them with accessing markets and supporting them with improved livestock. The main aim of this research was to evaluate whether the project has achieved its outcome and whether this outcome, is having an impact on the livelihoods of the farmers involved in the project. After reviewing the literature on evaluation research and programme evaluation across time, the different paradigms and approaches, participatory methodology was used in this study. A case study approach was applied to evaluate the outcomes and effects of the training received by farmers, as part of the commercialization of goats programme. The results of the study proved that the training received by members of the Campbell Agricultural Co-operative Enterprises, changed their goat production practices. The training also had a secondary impact. Trained farmers were imparting (technology transfer) their acquired knowledge to other members of the co-operative. This appeared very effective as all members of the cooperative were farming more scientifically. These changes to the production practices had a positive impact on the livelihoods of the farmers, as their animals were of a better quality and they were able to sell their animals at different markets and for better prices. This has however not commercialized their farming operations as they are still faced with many challenges. These challenges are the lack of a proper marketing structure, access to financial assistance, proper infrastructure and adequate transport for the animals to mention a few. If the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs is serious about assisting these farmers to move from the status of “emerging farmer” to “commercial farmer” they will have to look at addressing the problems experienced with financial access and access to adequate and appropriate transport.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Burgess, Roberta
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Northern Cape (South Africa) Animal culture -- South Africa -- Northern Cape -- Management Animal culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Northern Cape Goat farmers -- South Africa -- Northern Cape -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:747 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003868
- Description: The main millennium development goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in the world by 2015. South Africa is one of the countries that signed this pledge at the millennium summit in 2000. The Department of Agriculture, has initiated a number of projects to assist farmers and communities with reaching this goal. In the Northern Cape, the commercialization of goats is one such anchor project. The major activities of this project is to train farmers in applied and appropriate production practices, assist them with accessing markets and supporting them with improved livestock. The main aim of this research was to evaluate whether the project has achieved its outcome and whether this outcome, is having an impact on the livelihoods of the farmers involved in the project. After reviewing the literature on evaluation research and programme evaluation across time, the different paradigms and approaches, participatory methodology was used in this study. A case study approach was applied to evaluate the outcomes and effects of the training received by farmers, as part of the commercialization of goats programme. The results of the study proved that the training received by members of the Campbell Agricultural Co-operative Enterprises, changed their goat production practices. The training also had a secondary impact. Trained farmers were imparting (technology transfer) their acquired knowledge to other members of the co-operative. This appeared very effective as all members of the cooperative were farming more scientifically. These changes to the production practices had a positive impact on the livelihoods of the farmers, as their animals were of a better quality and they were able to sell their animals at different markets and for better prices. This has however not commercialized their farming operations as they are still faced with many challenges. These challenges are the lack of a proper marketing structure, access to financial assistance, proper infrastructure and adequate transport for the animals to mention a few. If the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs is serious about assisting these farmers to move from the status of “emerging farmer” to “commercial farmer” they will have to look at addressing the problems experienced with financial access and access to adequate and appropriate transport.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Google docs and skype for a low bandwidth virtual classroom for developing countries
- Thinyane, Hannah, Mufeti, Tulimevava K, Terzoli, Alfredo, Wright, Madeleine
- Authors: Thinyane, Hannah , Mufeti, Tulimevava K , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wright, Madeleine
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430757 , vital:72713 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5753006
- Description: There has been much attention recently on the use of virtual class-rooms to support distance learning. However, the required real-time and high-rate transfers for multimedia contents such as video and audio that comprise most off-the-shelf virtual classrooms make them infeasible for developing countries where bandwidth is typically more restricted. This paper describes the findings of an ongoing investigation to develop a low bandwidth virtual classroom that can provide the necessary func-tionality to deliver courses to distant students. By combining Google Docs and Skype, we realised a low bandwidth virtual classroom alterna-tive that could provide adequate functionality within our teaching con-text.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Thinyane, Hannah , Mufeti, Tulimevava K , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wright, Madeleine
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430757 , vital:72713 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5753006
- Description: There has been much attention recently on the use of virtual class-rooms to support distance learning. However, the required real-time and high-rate transfers for multimedia contents such as video and audio that comprise most off-the-shelf virtual classrooms make them infeasible for developing countries where bandwidth is typically more restricted. This paper describes the findings of an ongoing investigation to develop a low bandwidth virtual classroom that can provide the necessary func-tionality to deliver courses to distant students. By combining Google Docs and Skype, we realised a low bandwidth virtual classroom alterna-tive that could provide adequate functionality within our teaching con-text.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Government failure and state incapacity: the South African public sector in the 1990s
- Dollery, Brian, Snowball, Jeanette D
- Authors: Dollery, Brian , Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71343 , vital:29835 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10113430309511164
- Description: In their editorial introduction to the 1994 Special Issue of the South African Journal of Economic History devoted to a sectoral analysis of the South African economy during the 1980s, Stuart Jones and Jon Inggs described this period as a "lost decade", with per capita incomes even lower in 1990 than they had been in 1980. Moreover, "no other Western country experienced a comparable decline in the 1980s and South Africa herself had never experienced anything like it since the formation of Union in 1910". Thus, from the perspective of economic growth, the decade of the 1990s could not have had a less auspicious beginning.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Dollery, Brian , Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71343 , vital:29835 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10113430309511164
- Description: In their editorial introduction to the 1994 Special Issue of the South African Journal of Economic History devoted to a sectoral analysis of the South African economy during the 1980s, Stuart Jones and Jon Inggs described this period as a "lost decade", with per capita incomes even lower in 1990 than they had been in 1980. Moreover, "no other Western country experienced a comparable decline in the 1980s and South Africa herself had never experienced anything like it since the formation of Union in 1910". Thus, from the perspective of economic growth, the decade of the 1990s could not have had a less auspicious beginning.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2010
Grade 9 second-language learners in township schools : issues of language and mathematics when solving word problems
- Authors: Sepeng, Johannes Percy
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Language , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Language and languages -- Mathematics , Second language acquisition -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: vital:9498 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1455 , Mathematics -- Language , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Language and languages -- Mathematics , Second language acquisition -- Study and teaching
- Description: Second language (English) learning of mathematics is common in South African mathematics classrooms, including those in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where isiXhosa speakers are taught in the language that is not spoken at home by both teachers and learners. The purpose of this research was to investigate issues of language, both home (isiXhosa) and the language of learning and teaching (LoLT), i.e. English, when 9th grade second language learners engage in problem-solving and sense-making of wor(l)d problems in multilingual mathematics classrooms. In addition, the aim of the study was to explore whether the introduction of discussion and argumentation techniques in these classrooms can ameliorate these issues. The study used a pre-test – intervention – post-test mixed method design utilising both quantitative and qualitative data. The data collection strategies for the purpose of this study included interviews (learners [n=24] and teachers [n=4]), classroom observations, and tests (experimental [n=107] and comparison [69]) in four experimental and two comparison schools in townships of Port Elizabeth. This study is framed by socio-cultural perspective which proposes that collective and individual processes are directly related and that students‘ unrealistic responses to real world problems reflect the students‘ socio-cultural relationship to school mathematics and their willingness to employ the approaches emphasised in school. Analysis of the data generated from pre- and post-tests, interviews and classroom observation schedule suggest that the interventional strategy significantly improved the experimental learners‘ problem-solving skills and sense-making abilities in both English and isiXhosa (but more significantly in English). The statistical results illustrate that the experimental group performed statistical significantly (p < .0005) better in the English posttest compared to comparison group. The data also suggests that the interventional strategy in this study (discussion and argumentation techniques) positively influenced the participating learners‘ word problem-solving abilities. The experimental group appeared to show a tendency to consider reality marginally better than the comparison group after the intervention. In particular, learners seemed to make realistic considerations better in the isiXhosa translation post-test compared to the English post-test. A large practical significant (d = 0.86) difference between the experimental group and the comparison group was also noted in the isiXhosa translation compared to a moderate practical significance (d = 0.57) noted in the English tests after the intervention. As such, the results of the study suggest that the introduction of discussion and argumentation techniques in the teaching and learning of mathematics word problems had a positive effect on learners‘ ability to consider reality during word problem-solving in both languages. Analysis of learners‘ interviews suggests that, although English is the preferred LoLT, they would prefer dual-use/parallel-use of English and isiXhosa for teaching and learning mathematics. There was also evidence of the benefits of code-switching throughout most of the lessons observed, coupled with instances of peer translation, and/or re-voicing. Overall results in this study illustrate that number skills displayed and mathematical errors made by learners seem to be directly related to language use in the classroom.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Sepeng, Johannes Percy
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Language , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Language and languages -- Mathematics , Second language acquisition -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: vital:9498 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1455 , Mathematics -- Language , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Language and languages -- Mathematics , Second language acquisition -- Study and teaching
- Description: Second language (English) learning of mathematics is common in South African mathematics classrooms, including those in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where isiXhosa speakers are taught in the language that is not spoken at home by both teachers and learners. The purpose of this research was to investigate issues of language, both home (isiXhosa) and the language of learning and teaching (LoLT), i.e. English, when 9th grade second language learners engage in problem-solving and sense-making of wor(l)d problems in multilingual mathematics classrooms. In addition, the aim of the study was to explore whether the introduction of discussion and argumentation techniques in these classrooms can ameliorate these issues. The study used a pre-test – intervention – post-test mixed method design utilising both quantitative and qualitative data. The data collection strategies for the purpose of this study included interviews (learners [n=24] and teachers [n=4]), classroom observations, and tests (experimental [n=107] and comparison [69]) in four experimental and two comparison schools in townships of Port Elizabeth. This study is framed by socio-cultural perspective which proposes that collective and individual processes are directly related and that students‘ unrealistic responses to real world problems reflect the students‘ socio-cultural relationship to school mathematics and their willingness to employ the approaches emphasised in school. Analysis of the data generated from pre- and post-tests, interviews and classroom observation schedule suggest that the interventional strategy significantly improved the experimental learners‘ problem-solving skills and sense-making abilities in both English and isiXhosa (but more significantly in English). The statistical results illustrate that the experimental group performed statistical significantly (p < .0005) better in the English posttest compared to comparison group. The data also suggests that the interventional strategy in this study (discussion and argumentation techniques) positively influenced the participating learners‘ word problem-solving abilities. The experimental group appeared to show a tendency to consider reality marginally better than the comparison group after the intervention. In particular, learners seemed to make realistic considerations better in the isiXhosa translation post-test compared to the English post-test. A large practical significant (d = 0.86) difference between the experimental group and the comparison group was also noted in the isiXhosa translation compared to a moderate practical significance (d = 0.57) noted in the English tests after the intervention. As such, the results of the study suggest that the introduction of discussion and argumentation techniques in the teaching and learning of mathematics word problems had a positive effect on learners‘ ability to consider reality during word problem-solving in both languages. Analysis of learners‘ interviews suggests that, although English is the preferred LoLT, they would prefer dual-use/parallel-use of English and isiXhosa for teaching and learning mathematics. There was also evidence of the benefits of code-switching throughout most of the lessons observed, coupled with instances of peer translation, and/or re-voicing. Overall results in this study illustrate that number skills displayed and mathematical errors made by learners seem to be directly related to language use in the classroom.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Growth and longevity of Exosphaeroma hylocoetes (Isopoda) under varying conditions of salinity and temperature
- Henninger, Tony O, Froneman, P William, Booth, Anthony J, Hodgson, Alan N
- Authors: Henninger, Tony O , Froneman, P William , Booth, Anthony J , Hodgson, Alan N
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124571 , vital:35630 , https://doi.org/10.3377/004.045.0118
- Description: Numerous studies have documented the importance of both temperature and salinity in influencing aquatic crustacean metabolic processes such as respiration and growth. For example, increased water temperatures have been shown to increase respiration rates in various species of shrimp (Chen & Nan 1993; Spanonopoulos-Hernándeza et al. 2005; Allan et al. 2006), and copepods (Isla & Perissinotto 2004). The response of invertebrates to changes in salinity is more complex, largely reflecting their evolutionary origins (Kinne 1966). For example, juvenile blue swimming crabs, Portunus pelagicus, displayed significantly faster growth and higher survival in response to increasingsalinity (Romano & Zeng 2006). Additional factors that may influence the growth rates of crustaceans include photoperiod (Gambardella et al. 1997), food availability (Shuster & Guthrie 1999) and sex (Newman et al. 2007).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Henninger, Tony O , Froneman, P William , Booth, Anthony J , Hodgson, Alan N
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124571 , vital:35630 , https://doi.org/10.3377/004.045.0118
- Description: Numerous studies have documented the importance of both temperature and salinity in influencing aquatic crustacean metabolic processes such as respiration and growth. For example, increased water temperatures have been shown to increase respiration rates in various species of shrimp (Chen & Nan 1993; Spanonopoulos-Hernándeza et al. 2005; Allan et al. 2006), and copepods (Isla & Perissinotto 2004). The response of invertebrates to changes in salinity is more complex, largely reflecting their evolutionary origins (Kinne 1966). For example, juvenile blue swimming crabs, Portunus pelagicus, displayed significantly faster growth and higher survival in response to increasingsalinity (Romano & Zeng 2006). Additional factors that may influence the growth rates of crustaceans include photoperiod (Gambardella et al. 1997), food availability (Shuster & Guthrie 1999) and sex (Newman et al. 2007).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Growth, reproduction and population structure of Diplotaxodon limnothrissa in the southeast arm of Lake Malawi
- Kanyerere, Geoffrey Z, Weyl, Olaf L F, Booth, Anthony J
- Authors: Kanyerere, Geoffrey Z , Weyl, Olaf L F , Booth, Anthony J
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124583 , vital:35633 , https://doi.org/10.2989/16085910509503832
- Description: With a surface area of ca 28 800km2, Lake Malawi (9°30’S–14°30’S) is the second largest of the African Rift Valley lakes, supporting at least 500, and possibly 2 000, fish species (Turner 1995). The ichthyofauna is dominated by haplochomine cichlids, most of which are confined to the demersal and littoral zones. As a result of over-fishing, the abundance of many of these species has declined (Turner 1994a, 1995, Bulirani et al. 1999, Allison et al. 2002). In contrast, the lake’s offshore fish stocks are considered to be unexploited or only lightly exploited (Thompson and Allison 1997, Turner et al. 2000) and the redirection of fishing effort to these stocks is a high priority (Thompson and Allison 1997, Turner et al. 2000, Allison et al. 2002). Consequently, the Malawi government is currently collaborating with the African Development Bank to develop the deepwater/ offshore fishery in order to increase yields by an estimated 11 000 tons (MC Banda, National Research co-ordinator, pers. comm.). The most abundant cichlid species in the pelagic zone is the small (<210mm TL) zooplanktivorous Diplotaxodon limnothrissa (Turner 1994, Thompson and Allison 1997). It has been recorded throughout the lake at depths ranging from 20 metres down to the anoxic zone at ca 220 metres (Turner 1994b, Thompson et al. 1996, Duponchelle et al. 2000a) and it makes up ca 52% to the total fish biomass (Thompson and Allison 1997). Diplotaxodon limnothrissa will therefore be a major target species in the pelagic fishery, and already comprises in excess of 50% of the mid-water trawl fishery in the southeast arm (SEA) of the lake (Turner 1996).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Kanyerere, Geoffrey Z , Weyl, Olaf L F , Booth, Anthony J
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124583 , vital:35633 , https://doi.org/10.2989/16085910509503832
- Description: With a surface area of ca 28 800km2, Lake Malawi (9°30’S–14°30’S) is the second largest of the African Rift Valley lakes, supporting at least 500, and possibly 2 000, fish species (Turner 1995). The ichthyofauna is dominated by haplochomine cichlids, most of which are confined to the demersal and littoral zones. As a result of over-fishing, the abundance of many of these species has declined (Turner 1994a, 1995, Bulirani et al. 1999, Allison et al. 2002). In contrast, the lake’s offshore fish stocks are considered to be unexploited or only lightly exploited (Thompson and Allison 1997, Turner et al. 2000) and the redirection of fishing effort to these stocks is a high priority (Thompson and Allison 1997, Turner et al. 2000, Allison et al. 2002). Consequently, the Malawi government is currently collaborating with the African Development Bank to develop the deepwater/ offshore fishery in order to increase yields by an estimated 11 000 tons (MC Banda, National Research co-ordinator, pers. comm.). The most abundant cichlid species in the pelagic zone is the small (<210mm TL) zooplanktivorous Diplotaxodon limnothrissa (Turner 1994, Thompson and Allison 1997). It has been recorded throughout the lake at depths ranging from 20 metres down to the anoxic zone at ca 220 metres (Turner 1994b, Thompson et al. 1996, Duponchelle et al. 2000a) and it makes up ca 52% to the total fish biomass (Thompson and Allison 1997). Diplotaxodon limnothrissa will therefore be a major target species in the pelagic fishery, and already comprises in excess of 50% of the mid-water trawl fishery in the southeast arm (SEA) of the lake (Turner 1996).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Handspring Puppet Company, Jane Taylor (Ed.)
- Authors: Krueger, Anton
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/229658 , vital:49697 , xlink:href="https://0hdl.handle.net.wam.seals.ac.za/10520/EJC31088"
- Description: Handspring Puppet Company recently won three prestigious London awards (including the Olivier) for their design of the production War Horse, which is still running to great acclaim in the West End. This beautiful book has been released at exactly the right time, at a highpoint of an extraordinary company which has been producing astonishing work for 28 years already. It is an appropriate celebration of their many marvellous designs for 11 plays and two operas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Krueger, Anton
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/229658 , vital:49697 , xlink:href="https://0hdl.handle.net.wam.seals.ac.za/10520/EJC31088"
- Description: Handspring Puppet Company recently won three prestigious London awards (including the Olivier) for their design of the production War Horse, which is still running to great acclaim in the West End. This beautiful book has been released at exactly the right time, at a highpoint of an extraordinary company which has been producing astonishing work for 28 years already. It is an appropriate celebration of their many marvellous designs for 11 plays and two operas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Heritage transformation and the role of museums in post-apartheid South Africa: the case of the East London museum
- Sokupa, Thabile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2265-477X
- Authors: Sokupa, Thabile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2265-477X
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Museums , Cultural property , Museums -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29054 , vital:76526
- Description: The traditional understandings of museums and the heritage sector in general have been challenged in post apartheid South Africa. The main challenge has been how to transform meaning making, heritage construction, and knowledge production in these sectors from the colonial and apartheid past to represent the diversity of South Africans. Based on an in-depth study using unstructured interviews from a sample of museum staff, museum visitors and community members; this study investigated the extent to which permanent displays in the East London museum have transformed to depict cultural diversity and heritage of all South Africans, in particular the history of black South Africans. The main argument is that despite the efforts made by government to transform the heritage sector since 1994, permanent displays in South African are still Eurocentric and do not sufficiently represent the cultural diversity of all South Africans, in particular the culture of the African majority. Findings seem to confirm the initial argument, that even though government has had good policies to address the transformation of the heritage sector and museums in particular, not much has been translated into real change of permanent displays in museums. Thus, for effective transformation to occur in the museum sector, the study strongly recommends that government should put in place properly skilled personnel and accountability structures to monitor and evaluate its transformation policies. Most importantly, a clear policy framework and a transformation charter to guide the transformation processes of museums and related displays need to be developed. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2010
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Sokupa, Thabile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2265-477X
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Museums , Cultural property , Museums -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29054 , vital:76526
- Description: The traditional understandings of museums and the heritage sector in general have been challenged in post apartheid South Africa. The main challenge has been how to transform meaning making, heritage construction, and knowledge production in these sectors from the colonial and apartheid past to represent the diversity of South Africans. Based on an in-depth study using unstructured interviews from a sample of museum staff, museum visitors and community members; this study investigated the extent to which permanent displays in the East London museum have transformed to depict cultural diversity and heritage of all South Africans, in particular the history of black South Africans. The main argument is that despite the efforts made by government to transform the heritage sector since 1994, permanent displays in South African are still Eurocentric and do not sufficiently represent the cultural diversity of all South Africans, in particular the culture of the African majority. Findings seem to confirm the initial argument, that even though government has had good policies to address the transformation of the heritage sector and museums in particular, not much has been translated into real change of permanent displays in museums. Thus, for effective transformation to occur in the museum sector, the study strongly recommends that government should put in place properly skilled personnel and accountability structures to monitor and evaluate its transformation policies. Most importantly, a clear policy framework and a transformation charter to guide the transformation processes of museums and related displays need to be developed. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2010
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Hipper redacted:
- Authors: Jamal, Ashraf
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147902 , vital:38683 , DOI: 10.1080/02560046.2010.511888
- Description: The work of contemporary South African artist, mark Hipper, has been dogged by controversy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Jamal, Ashraf
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147902 , vital:38683 , DOI: 10.1080/02560046.2010.511888
- Description: The work of contemporary South African artist, mark Hipper, has been dogged by controversy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010