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In-situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles on graphene quantum dots-phthalocyanine nanoplatforms: First description of the photophysical and surface enhanced Raman scattering behaviour

  • Authors: Nwahara, Nnamdi , Achadu, Ojodomo John , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187638 , vital:44682 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2018.04.011"
  • Description: Owing to the need for new low-dimensional molecular assemblies with tailored electronic properties, the current study presents a facile approach for the synthesis and assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto functional graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-phthalocyanines (Pcs) arrays and the investigation of their photophysical and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties. The GQDs were functionalized with L-glutathione (GSH) (to form GQDs@GSH) in order to assist coupling to the low symmetry Zn tris–(tert–butyl) mono carboxyphenoxy (propionic acid) phthalocyanine (complex 1) to form 1@GQDs. The affinity of gold (Au) to sulphur (S) was exploited for the assembly of the AuNPs onto 1@GQDs platform to form 1@GQDs-AuNPs. Transmission electron microscopic investigations confirmed the formation of monodispersed, spherical Pc/GQDs@GSH/AuNPs hybrids. The nanocomposite displayed high triplet quantum yields, which translated into high singlet oxygen quantum yield as high as 87%. Furthermore, the formed composites demonstrated strong surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties with an unprecedented intrinsic maximal enhancement factor of more than 30-fold. These nanostructures also retain more than 90% of their original SERS intensities after a week of storage, displaying superb stability under ambient conditions. These results highlight the remarkable potential of this composite as a unique Raman-based PDT dosimetric agent.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2018

In-situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles on graphene quantum dots-phthalocyanine nanoplatforms: First description of the photophysical and surface enhanced Raman scattering behaviour

  • Authors: Nwahara, Nnamdi , Achadu, Ojodomo John , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188183 , vital:44730 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2018.04.011"
  • Description: Owing to the need for new low-dimensional molecular assemblies with tailored electronic properties, the current study presents a facile approach for the synthesis and assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto functional graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-phthalocyanines (Pcs) arrays and the investigation of their photophysical and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties. The GQDs were functionalized with L-glutathione (GSH) (to form GQDs@GSH) in order to assist coupling to the low symmetry Zn tris–(tert–butyl) mono carboxyphenoxy (propionic acid) phthalocyanine (complex 1) to form 1@GQDs. The affinity of gold (Au) to sulphur (S) was exploited for the assembly of the AuNPs onto 1@GQDs platform to form 1@GQDs-AuNPs. Transmission electron microscopic investigations confirmed the formation of monodispersed, spherical Pc/GQDs@GSH/AuNPs hybrids. The nanocomposite displayed high triplet quantum yields, which translated into high singlet oxygen quantum yield as high as 87%. Furthermore, the formed composites demonstrated strong surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties with an unprecedented intrinsic maximal enhancement factor of more than 30-fold. These nanostructures also retain more than 90% of their original SERS intensities after a week of storage, displaying superb stability under ambient conditions. These results highlight the remarkable potential of this composite as a unique Raman-based PDT dosimetric agent.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2018

Incidence and antibiogram fingerprints of members of the Enterobacteriaceae family recovered from river water, hospital effluents and vegetables in Chris Hani and Amathole District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province

  • Authors: Mpaka, Lindelwa
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Enterobacteriaceae
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14549 , vital:40003
  • Description: The worldwide problem of antimicrobial resistance has limited the spectrum of the current affordable and effective antimicrobials. Infections associated with resistant microorganisms impose a major threat to public health and economic stability. Globally, about 700 000 deaths every year can be accredited to antimicrobial resistance. The leading mechanism of resistance amid bacterial pathogens is the extended spectrum beta-lactamases production, which inhibits spectrum activity of several antimicrobial agents. The rise in antimicrobial resistance has compelled an urgent need of developing means of combatting resistance issue amid diseasecausing microbes. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence and antibiogram fingerprints of Enterobacteriaceae recovered from hospital effluents, river water and vegetables in the Eastern Cape Province. A total of eighteen antibiotics from ten different antimicrobial classes were used to determine antibiogram profiles of the MALDI-TOF confirmed isolates. From the MALDI-TOF confirmed isolates, 60% of Enterobacter spp. and E. coli isolates displayed resistance against colistin, while Citrobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. displayed 90% and 60% resistance against this antimicrobial respectively. These findings outline the need for the development of new antimicrobials. About 75.5% (25/33) of the presumptive Enterobacter spp. were confirmed by MALDI-TOF with 79.2% (19/24), 66.7% (2/3), 66.7% (4/6) been confirmed vegetables, hospital effluents and river water samples respectively. Likewise, about 77.8% (21/27) were confirmed as Citrobacter spp. of which 92.3% (12/13), 66.7% (2/3) and 63.6% (7/11) were from vegetables, hospital effluents and river water samples respectively. These results show that the selected vegetables were highly contaminated with resistant bacteria and thus unsafe to consume uncooked vegetable. Also river water was higly contaminated with resistant microbes, which also shows that these rivers are not fit to be used 17 as drinking water sources and recreational activities. Colistin is an antimicrobial used as a last resort of antibiotics because it exhibits broad-spectrum activity. However from the findings of the work at present, this is no longer the case. The spectrum of this antimicrobial is now reduced by Enterobacteriaceae members. To the best of my knowledge; relatively few resources have been provided to understanding, preventing, and controlling increasing antimicrobial resistance on global, national and local levels.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Incidence of bacterial infections and colonisation in patients admitted to a tuberculosis hospital

  • Authors: Annear, Dale John
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Medical microbiology , Microbiology Bacteriology Tuberculosis -- Hospitals -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21482 , vital:29526
  • Description: Patients with drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) are treated with multiple antibiotics including moxifloxacin, linezolid, and meropenem, which puts them at greater risk for colonisation by multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess the antimicrobial prescribing patterns practiced within the hospital by retrospective patient file review; (ii) determine the spectrum of bacterial colonisation in TB patients upon admission and during hospitalisation; (iii) identify bacterial isolates and evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility profiles; (iv) detect antimicrobial resistance genes in the bacterial isolates by PCR and DNA sequencing; and (v) investigate genetic relatedness of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates using Multi Locus Sequence Typing. Nasal, groin and rectal swabs [for the detection of extended spectrum beta lactamases (EBSLs), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)] were analysed from a cohort of patients (n=37) admitted either from the community (n = 28) or from other healthcare facilities (n=9) to a TB hospital. Swab samples were collected at admission and at four week intervals thereafter during hospitalization. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates (n=62) were determined at the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) by the VITEK-MS and Vitek 2 systems respectively. Additional antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted by Sensititre Gram Negative Xtra (GNFX2) MIC plates. PCR and DNA sequencing were used for detection of resistance genes. Patients (n=13/37; 35%) were colonized by MDR bacteria (ESBLs [n=11], MRSA [n=2]) on admission. Colonization rates were lower in patients admitted from the community (9/28; 32%) compared to those transferred from other healthcare facilities (4/9; 44%). All admitted patients who did not exhibit colonization at baseline and who were resident within the hospital for longer than 4 weeks (17/37; 46% of total patients) became colonised by an ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae species. No patients acquired MRSA during hospitalisation. Among ESBL Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli (41/62; 66%) and K. pneumoniae [14/62; 23%]) predominated. Nineteen percent (7/37) of patients demised during their hospitalization. Both the Vitek system and Sensititre Gram Negative Xtra (GNFX2) MIC plates susceptibilities were similar for most antimicrobials, however there were discrepancies for tigecycline susceptibility profiles. A high number of isolates exhibited resistance to aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. Genes encoding for ESBLs (CTX-M-14, CTX-M-15, SHV-28, OXA-1, and OXY-2-9) were detected among ESBL Enterobacteriaceae. Two Enterobacteriaceae isolates with reduced carbapenem susceptibility did not contain carbapenemase-encoding genes. MLST revealed unique sequence types and genetic diversity among the K. pneumoniae isolates from hospitalised patients. However, the source and colonization routes of these isolates could not be determined, which requires further investigation. This study provides insight into the spectrum of bacterial pathogen colonisation in hospitalised TB patients and suggests a review of infection control programs and practices at the TB hospital.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Incidence of porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine parvoviruses in swine herds of some communities in Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Afolabi, Kayode Olayinka
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Swine -- Diseases Swine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9691 , vital:34820
  • Description: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one of the swine pathogens of global economic importance. Since its first detection in early 1990s as the main etiologic agent of porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and many other porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD), the virus has been extensively studied and has been found to be present in virtually all the pig producing countries of the world. As a viral pathogen that brings about clinical diseases aided by co-infecting pathogens, the involvement of many other viral agents including porcine parvoviruses (PPVs) have caught the attention of stakeholders worldwide. However, no surveillance study of the viral pathogens has been carried out in South Africa as there are little or no information on their prevalence in the swine herds of the country. This present study therefore aimed at detection and molecular characterization of PCV2 and PPVs in swine herds of some selected communities in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 375 field samples were collected from seven commercial and communal farms from three District Municipalities of Eastern Cape, South Africa between 2015 and 2016. Structured questionnaires were also administered to each farm at the time of sample collection to obtain some important information relating to health status and farm management practices in the sampled farms. With the aid of conventional PCR method, 339 samples were initially screened for the presence of PCV2; positive amplicons were sequenced and obtained partial genomes of the virus were preliminarily analyzed. In order to obtain the complete genomes of the virus, four overlapping primer pairs were used to amplify the full-genome of PCV2 from the initial positive samples; amplified genomes were sequenced using the Sanger methods, sequenced PCV2 genomes were assembled and characterized. Furthermore, the prevalences of some designated PPVs in the sampled farms were obtained using 110 samples randomly selected from the previously archived samples and screened with 6 different primer pairs specific for the detection of 7 PPVs. All the amplified parvoviruses’ genomes were sequenced; their sequenced partial genomes were subsequently base-culled and analysed. The data obtained revealed that 54/339 (15.93 percent) samples from the swine herds were positive for PCV2; whereas the degree of occurrence of the viral pathogen as observed at farm level ranges from approximately 5.6 to 60 percent. The majority 15/17 (88 percent) of the analyzed partial sequences were found clustering with other PCV2b strains in the phylogenetic analysis. More interestingly, two other sequences obtained were also found clustering within PCV2d genotype in the initial screening and analysis. Furthermore, 15 complete PCV2 genomes were successfully amplified, sequenced and assembled. NJ and ML phylogenetic analysis of the complete ORF2 gene and full genomes unanimously showed 11 of the assembled genomes belonging to genotype PCV2b. Another 3 of the characterized sequences formed clade with other reference mutant PCV2b and PCV2b subtype 1C (PCV2d) strains from different parts of the world. The last sequence however, clustered with other reference strains belonging to PCV2 intermediate clade 2 (PCV2-IM2) recently identified in a global PCV2 strains phylogenetic analysis. Other genetic analyses including multiple sequence alignment and p-distance analysis also confirmed the outcomes of the phylogenetic analyses of the complete capsid gene and fullgenomes of the virus. On the other hand, the findings of the molecular profiling for PPVs showed that all the screened parvoviruses were present in the study area, having prevalence of 29.1 percent (PPV1), 21.8 percent (PPV2), 5.5 percent (PPV3), 43.6 percent (PPV4), 21.8 percent (PBo-likeV) and 44.6 percent for PBoV1 and PBoV2. Double infection of the screened PPVs was observed to be very rampant among the pigs as high as 20/110 (18.2 percent) for PPV2/PPV4 and PPV4/PBoV; followed by 19/110 (17.3 percent) of the samples for PPV1/PPV4 and PPV1/PBoV. Three of the viruses were found simultaneously in 19 of the screened samples representing 17.3 percent, whereas 8 (7.3 percent) samples were positive for four of the viruses. Phylogenetic analyses of PPV1, PPV2 and PBoVs 1 and 2 were conducted with two major clades homologous for each of them. This is the first report of PCV2 in swine herds of the Province and the first detection of PCV2b, PCV2d and PCV2-IM2 strains in South African swine herds. It follows the first reported case of PCV2a in an outbreak of porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in Gauteng Province, South Africa over two decades ago. Also, this is the first major epidemiologic study on PPVs in the country following the initial case study of 1975. These findings confirmed the presence of the allimportant viral pathogens among pigs and also give preliminary insights into the possibility of co-infections of the pathogens in the studied area. This could however result in a serious large scale outbreak of devastating disease(s) associated with the viral pathogens, thereby ultimately resulting in huge economic losses if no appropriate measures are taken to effectively curb their spread across the country.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Incorporation of metal free and Ga 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-bromophenyl) porphyrin into Pluronic F127-folic acid micelles

  • Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Ngoy, Bucolome P , Mafukidze, Donovan M , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/233256 , vital:50073 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2017.09.045"
  • Description: ClGa 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis (4-bromophenyl) porphyrinato (ClGaTBrPP) and its metal free derivative were successfully synthesized and incorporated into Pluronic F127 polymeric micelles that has been conjugated to folic acid (FA) to form ClGaTBrPP-F127-FA (or H2TBrPP-F127-FA). For comparison, ClGaTBrPP-F127 and H2TBrPP-F127 (without FA) were also formed. The singlet oxygen quantum yield for ClGaTBrPP-F127-FA was higher (ΦΔ = 0.44) than that of H2TBrPP-F127-FA (ΦΔ = 0.37), due to the heavy atom effect of Ga in the former which encourages intersystem crossing to the triplet state. The same applies to ClGaTBrPP-F127 (ΦΔ = 0.47) and H2TBrPP-F127 (ΦΔ = 0.41). Thus, ΦΔ values decreased in the presence of FA, but still high enough for practical application of the nanodrug system. The binding constants Kb were determined to be 1.08 × 104 M−1, 2.51 × 105 M−1, 1.52 × 103 and 2.68 × 103 for H2TBrPP+F127-FA, ClGaTBrPP+F127-FA, ClGaTBrPP-F127 and H2TBrPP-F127, respectively. The Kp values were determined in biphasic octanol and water system.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Index optimisation for structural equation models (SEM)

  • Authors: Stindt, Carmen
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Structural equation modelling
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17919 , vital:28518
  • Description: Structural equation modelling (SEM), a statistical technique used extensively in quantitative marketing research and other domains, is an analytical approach used to model latent (unobservable) variables. Unlike distribution fitting where simple chi-squared goodness-of-fit assessment yields satisfactory results, model fit in SEM is more difficult. Descriptive goodness-of-fit indices have been developed over the past 50 years to assist in the assessment of model fit. The traditional assessment method requires reporting multiple indices, all of which should reflect an adequate model fit in order for the overall model fit to be deemed good. The choice of indices to report are left to the researcher’s discretion, leading to the indices used to differ considerably. The combination of using the traditional assessment method and differing indices often lead to conflicting results. This study proposes a composite index, combining frequently used indicators in an attempt to obtain a single index method for assessing model fit in SEM that performs better when compared to the traditional assessment method. Composite indices have been used in other domains as an improved method of assessing performance (Barr and Kantor, 2004). The composite index proposed is evaluated using a Monte Carlo simulation study under different experimental conditions. The experimental conditions investigated are sample size, estimation method and model misspecification. These experimental conditions are chosen to investigate as each has been shown to affect the traditional indices performances. The ideal fit indices should be able to detect model misspecification while being insensitive to sample size and estimation methods. This is not always the case with the traditional indices. The composite index proposed is shown to outperform the traditional assessment method under many of the experimental condition combinations. This provides evidence that composite indices may be a more beneficial method of assessing model fit in SEM.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Indigenous knowledge for agricultural development: a framework for potato farming in Bui division, North West Region of Cameroon

  • Authors: Ngek, Shillie Peter
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Cameroon -- Bui , Agricultural industries -- Cameroon , Sustainable agriculture , Sustainable development , Indigenous peoples
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33703 , vital:32974
  • Description: Over the years, people have planned and carried out their activities depending on their indigenous knowledge base. In agriculture, documented importance of indigenous knowledge has been noted in different ways such as in crop health management, soil nutrient management, and food processing and food preservation. Indigenous smallholder farmers across the world have developed techniques that reflect their intimate knowledge of their local environments and ecosystems to improve their agricultural yields and minimise postharvest losses. However, such indigenous knowledge techniques are rarely documented or enhanced to boost agricultural practice and ensure food security. The present study has identified potato farming in Cameroon as a potential contributor to the socio-economic development of farmers, their communities and their country. The potato farming industry largely consists of smallholder farmers, predominantly women, producing primarily of immediate consumption. Historically, these farmers have been sustaining their farms through indigenous knowledge and practices that are not being exploited to the fullest beneficial opportunities for these farmers. It has often been suggested that Western highly mechanised approaches should be implemented to commercialise these farms in order to access these benefits. These approaches of mechanisation require large capital outlays, which these smallholder farmers cannot afford, hence the approach taken by the present study to capitalise on the indigenous knowledge and practices of these farmers. The present study argued that working with the existing indigenous knowledge and practices of these farmers, a level of commercialisation, with the resulting job creation and economic benefits, could be achieved. This study has succeeded in identifying the causes of postharvest potato losses on the smallholding farms, the obstacles in reducing these losses and the techniques to reduce these losses. The study provides important recommendations to improve smallholder potato farming in Cameroon. By implementing the findings of this study, the Cameroon government, prospective potato farmers, entrepreneurs, traditional authorities and NGOs could make a significant contribution to the improvement of socio-economic conditions and the reduction of poverty levels in these farming communities.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Ineffective quality management on civil engineering projects

  • Authors: Kruger, Casper Stephanus
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Total quality management , Quality management -- South Africa Civil engineering -- South Africa Construction industry -- South Africa -- Management Project management -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30984 , vital:31243
  • Description: Quality is a fundamental expectancy in the construction industry. Together with cost and time, it is one of the basic and most important performance indicators in construction projects. The non-achievement of such a crucial aspect of construction can result in construction failures and client dissatisfaction (Zunguzane et al., 2012: 20). The increased pressure on project stakeholders to produce projects that achieve these aspects can become unrealistic, which in turn can contribute to the development of disputes within the construction sector (Love et al., 2010a: 405). Civil engineering project stakeholders employ Quality Management Systems as a tool to increase industry quality performance. The effective implementation of these systems contribute to the mitigation and elimination of rework/non-conformances while enhancing client satisfaction and increasing the project performance concerning cost, quality and time (Bello et al., 2010: 9). The main objectives of this study were to determine whether quality management is implemented effectively on civil engineering projects in order prevent claims against consulting engineers and to further investigate the barriers that impact quality management on civil engineering projects. In addition, the research aimed to determine what impact, if any, the aspects of public sector procurement policy, implementation and management have on the ability of civil engineering stakeholders to manage quality during the design, procurement and construction phases of a project. The study therefore focussed on quality management in the civil engineering industry and investigated the barriers that contribute to ineffective quality management on civil engineering projects under design, procurement and construction related barriers. This study was done in two parts. Firstly, the research adopted a quantitative research approach with a descriptive research strategy. The second part entailed an in-depth study of the current existing theory by means of a literature review. Data was collected via a questionnaire survey and analysed to test the three hypotheses and answer questions relating to the current status of the subject of inquiry. iv The findings of the research confirmed the challenges and frustrations experienced during the procurement implementation activities of public sector clients. The results confirmed that the appointment of incompetent and unqualified civil engineering contractors has a direct impact on the quality of civil engineering projects and the effective implementation of quality management systems.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Influence of annealing on thermoluminescence of natural quartz: kinetic analysis and experimental study of apparent inverse thermal quenching

  • Authors: Folley, Damilola E , Chithambo, Makaiko L
  • Date: 2018
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109996 , vital:33212 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2018.04.010
  • Description: The influence of annealing on the main thermoluminescence glow-peak of natural quartz is reported. For comparison, results from un-annealed quartz are included. The glow-curve measured at 1 °Cs−1 after beta irradiation to 50 Gy revealed six peaks each for quartz annealed at 800 °C for 1 h and the un-annealed sample. The main peak in both quartzes was observed at 72 °C. This report focusses on kinetic analysis of the main peak. The analysis was carried out using various methods consisting of the initial rise, whole glow-peak, peak shape, variable heating rate and phosphorescence-based methods. The activation energy obtained using the various methods ranges between and for the annealed sample and between and for the un-annealed sample. The result suggests that annealing has little effect on the activation energy. The luminescence intensity decreased with heating rate in the un-annealed sample in a manner suggestive of thermal quenching. In contrast, the dependence of intensity on heating rate in the annealed sample is influenced by the dose the sample is irradiated to. Whereas thermal quenching was noted for a dose of 50 Gy in the un-annealed sample, the annealed sample showed evidence of thermal quenching at a low dose of 3 Gy with the opposite effect when irradiated to 50 Gy. The activation energies of thermal quenching were found as and for the un-annealed and annealed samples respectively. We ascribe the apparent dependence of thermal quenching on dose in the annealed sample to competition between radiative and non-radiative transitions at the recombination centre.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Influence of family structure on food security status of farming households in Alice, South Africa

  • Authors: Ijila, Olusegun Jeremiah
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Food security Families--South Africa--Eastern Cape Farms, Small
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Agricultural Economics
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11537 , vital:39081
  • Description: Achieving food security in sub-Saharan Africa remains a major challenge despite efforts made by a majority of the countries to reduce abject poverty and food insecurity. Just as these countries prioritized food security under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they are equally putting it on top of the agenda under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the face of the political and economic developments seen in the country since 1994, South Africa is overwhelmed by poverty and unemployment. But efforts to address these problems have not given due recognition to the question of family structure which is complex and varied, with immense potential implications for ownership and distribution of resources and the bargaining strength that are likely to determine the food security status of various farming households. Furthermore, the contribution of households towards agricultural production differs according to the way family organizes itself. This study was carried out to determine the influence of family structures on food security status of farming households in Alice, South Africa. Data were collected from 120 farming households’ selected using purposive sampling method. To collect data, a well-structured questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. Consequent to that, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and binary logistic regression model. The dominant family structures are nuclear, single-parent, working parent and cohabiting. The analysis revealed that nuclear family where father, mother and their children have access to labour and financial resources could be more comfortable than single parent family. Working parents would probably be more food secure because both parents are able to combine incomes while food insecurity might exist within cohabiting families since the union is less stable because of scarce resources occasioned by their inability to combine their resources to pursue a common goal. The results further revealed that single parent family structures and socio-economic characteristics like age, marital status and year of education of the household head were significant in terms of their influence on food security. The study therefore, recommends that old people should be encouraged to participate in agricultural production due to the wealth of experience gathered over the years. It is probably safe to conclude that encouraging marriage would provide better opportunities to raise the necessary capital to support positive productivity changes that would have implications for enhanced food availability and affordability.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Influence of knowledge of the end-point on pacing during a 2000m rowing time trial

  • Authors: Ferreira, Dean
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Rowing -- Training , Rowing -- Coaching , Endurance sports -- Training , Rowers -- Ability testing , Rowing -- Training -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61636 , vital:28044
  • Description: Introduction: A typical 2000 m rowing race requires maximal force production over six to eight minutes. Optimal distribution of energetic resources during such a race is vital for optimal performance. There is little research examining the pacing strategies employed by rowers, particularly at the sub-elite level. Aim: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of knowledge of the end-point on pacing during a 2000 m rowing time trial. Methods: Eleven male rowers from a university rowing club volunteered to partake in the study. Each participant completed three experimental trials on an indoor rowing ergometer, each 2000 m. The only difference between the trials was the nature of the information provided beforehand. At the start of the control trial, participants were correctly informed about the distance to be covered. Participants were not informed of the distance to be completed in the unknown trial. For the deceptive trial, participants were told 1000 m would be completed, but when this distance was reached, they were told to continue for another 1000 m. During each trial muscle activity, power output, heart rate, performance time and perceptions of effort were measured.Results: The control trial was significantly (p<0.05) faster than both the unknown and deceptive trials, however the deceptive trial was the fastest of all trials at the 1000 m distance. The unknown trial was slowest at 1000 m and at 2000 m. Muscle activity, RPE, heart rate and power output were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the unknown trial compared to the control and deceptive trial. The control trial exhibited a reverse J-shape pacing profile. The deceptive trial revealed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in performance time, heart rate, power output and muscle activity after the 1000 m interval. The first 500 m interval had the fastest performance and highest power output in all trials. In all trials, RPE was highest at the end of the 2000 m, the greatest reading being obtained at the end of the control trial. During the first 1000 m of the deceptive trial, the dependant variables were similar to those in the control trial. Once the deception was revealed, there was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the muscle activity, heart rate and power output. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that accurate end-point information is crucial to the development of an optimal pacing strategy, and ultimately to successful performance. Rowers tend to adopt the reverse J-shape pacing profile most often due to the tactical and physiological benefits offered by this strategy. Unknown or inaccurate end-point information resulted in performance decrements due to the uncertainty associated with the exercise bout.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Influence of land cover, proximity to streams and household topographical location on flooding impact in informal settlements in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Dalu, Mwazvita , Shackleton, Charlie M , Dalu, Tatenda
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182089 , vital:43799 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.12.009"
  • Description: Patterns of land use, household topographical location and state of natural vegetation influence the spatial distribution of flooding impact. Using field observations and GIS mapping techniques, we investigated how landscape factors influenced structural flooding impact in informal settlements. This study was carried out in the informal settlements of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, after the October 2012 floods. Increasing slope significantly raised the probability and level of damage by at least 30% in five of the seven sites, whereas proximity to river and wetlands (more than 100 m) was significant in only two of the sites and at lower levels. Multi-regression analysis highlighted that land cover, proximity to streams and household topographical location influenced the impact of flooding on housing structures. We found that the impact on housing structures in informal settlements during the floods were significantly influenced by their proximity to water bodies, slope factor and patterns of land cover.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Influence of trans-border trading activities on senior secondary school students' academic performance in economics in Ogun State, Nigeria

  • Authors: Titus, Adesegun Benedict
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Smuggling -- Education (Secondary) Borderlands -- Nigeria
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9659 , vital:34814
  • Description: The study investigated the influence of transborder trading activities on senior secondary school students’ academic performance in economics in Ogun state, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design involving 320 students that comprised males and females were selected through stratified random sampling technique. Two self-developed instruments were used: student questionnaire on transborder trading activities (SQTTA) with a Cronbach alpha index of 0.7845; and the economics achievement test (EAT) with a co-efficient index of r= 0.814. The results of the data collected were collated, coded, analyzed and interpreted through the use of descriptive research statistics of frequency, mean, percentages, and standard deviation while Step-wise regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses raised in the study, and the inferential statistics t-test was used to test the significant differences between the independent and dependent variables. The results revealed that there is a positive significant influence of smuggling on students’ academic performance in economics concepts (t=4.123; df =307, p<0.05) and a negative significant influence of school location on students’ academic performance in economics concepts (t=0.952; df=307, p>0.05). The study revealed that the most prevalent transborder trading activities like smuggling of used tyres, small firearms and fairly used clothes had negative influence on students’ academic performance. Based on these findings, discussions were focused on the involvement of students in trans-border trading activities and the location of schools, amongst others, which has no significant influence on students’ academic performance. However, it was recommended that schools should not be located near border areas in future.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Informal urban fuelwood markets in South Africa in the context of socio-economic change

  • Authors: Guild, J , Shackleton, Charlie M
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/179779 , vital:43179 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.03.023"
  • Description: In developing countries, fuelwood is important to livelihoods and energy security because it is used for heating, cooking and can provide additional income to households through trade. The global trade in fuelwood is valued between USD 4–26 billion per annum. In South Africa, fuelwood is a widely used domestic energy source; but how that has changed with rapid urbanisation and socio-economic development over the last two decades is unknown. This study examined the presence and nature of urban fuelwood markets in 39 urban areas of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces. Data were collected from 170 informal fuelwood sellers regarding the prevalence, structure, characteristics, and changes over time of the informal fuelwood markets. Over 80% of the sampled towns had an informal fuelwood market and there was a positive relationship between the number of sellers and town population size. For most sellers, the fuelwood trade was their primary occupation and the income earned was supplemented by government social grants. Sellers earned, on average, over US$9 per day. These results show that despite rapid urbanisation and socio-economic development, fuelwood remains an important domestic fuel in towns and cities of South Africa, and an income source for the urban poor.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Information needs of undergraduate nursing students at the point of care for clinical decision making

  • Authors: Williams, Marie Rosalina
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Nursing students -- South Africa , Nursing -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Clinical competence -- South Africa Information services -- South Africa -- Students
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23315 , vital:30527
  • Description: A need was identified to assess the perceptions of fourth year nursing students regarding the information required by undergraduate nursing students at the point of care for clinical decision making. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used to conduct this study. The research population comprised of all fourth year nursing students who have been subjected to experiential learning in the various clinical areas during their four years of training. Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews from a purposively selected sample and then analysed using the steps of qualitative data analysis described by Tesch (1990). A pilot study was conducted prior to the main study to determine whether the sampling and interviewing techniques of the researcher as well as the research question, were adequate for data collection. Trustworthiness was ensured by utilising Guba and Lincoln’s (1985) strategies of credibility, dependability, transferability and conformability. Strategies to ensure respect for persons, beneficence and justice were implemented throughout the study. The findings of the study was categorised into two main themes. Theme one; Participants shared their various experiences regarding information needed at the point of care. This theme had five sub-themes which were discussed in detail in chapter three. The second theme was; Participants offered suggestions to address their information needs at the point of care. This theme had four sub-themes and was discussed further in chapter three. The study concludes with recommendations made to the Department of Nursing Science at the Institution where the study was conducted to address clinical practice, education and future research.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Inhibition of NOS- like activity in maize alters the expression of genes involved in H2O2 scavenging and glycine betaine biosynthesis

  • Authors: Phillips, Kyle , Majola, Anelisa , Gokul, Arun , Keyster, Marshall , Ludidi, Ndiko , Egbichi, Ifeanyi
  • Date: 2018
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/5256 , vital:44425 , https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-31131-z#citeas
  • Description: Nitric oxide synthase-like activity contributes to the production of nitric oxide in plants, which controls plant responses to stress. This study investigates if changes in ascorbate peroxidase enzymatic activity and glycine betaine content in response to inhibition of nitric oxide synthase-like activity are associated with transcriptional regulation by analyzing transcript levels of genes (betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase) involved in glycine betaine biosynthesis and those encoding antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase and catalase) in leaves of maize seedlings treated with an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase-like activity. In seedlings treated with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, transcript levels of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase were decreased. In plants treated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, the transcript levels of ascorbate peroxidase-encoding genes were down-regulated. We thus conclude that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase-like activity suppresses the expression of ascorbate peroxidase and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase genes in maize leaves. Furthermore, catalase activity was suppressed in leaves of plants treated with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor; and this corresponded with the suppression of the expression of catalase genes. We further conclude that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase-like activity, which suppresses ascorbate peroxidase and catalase enzymatic activities, results in increased H2O2 content.Background:Context-specific factors influence adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among pregnant womenliving with HIV. Gaps exist in the understanding of the reasons for the variable outcomes of the prevention ofmother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme at the health facility level in South Africa. This study examinedadherence levels and reasons for non-adherence during pregnancy in a cohort of parturient women enrolled in thePMTCT programme in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.Methods:This was a mixed-methods study involving 1709 parturient women in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Weconducted a multi-centre retrospective analysis of the mother-infant pair in the PMTCT electronic database in 2016.Semi-structured interviews of purposively selected parturient women with self-reported poor adherence (n= 177)were conducted to gain understanding of the main barriers to adherence. Binary logistic regression was used todetermine the independent predictors of ART non-adherence.Results:A high proportion (69.0%) of women reported perfect adherence. In the logistic regression analysis, afteradjusting for confounding factors, marital status, cigarette smoking, alcohol use and non-disclosure to a family memberwere the independent predictors of non-adherence. Analysis of the qualitative data revealed that drug-related side-effects, being away from home, forgetfulness, non-disclosure, stigma and work-related demand were among the mainreasons for non-adherence to ART.Conclusions:Non-adherence to the antiretroviral therapy among pregnant women in this setting is associated withlifestyle behaviours, HIV-related stigma and ART side-effects. In order to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV,clinicians need to screen for these factors at every antenatal clinic visit.Keywords:Adherence, Non-adherence, HIV, Antiretroviral therapy, Elimination of mother-to-child transmission,Prevention of mother-to-child transmission, Stigma, South Africa
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Inmate incarceration and rehabilitation : a cross sectional study of rehabilitation programmes and facilities in correctional centres in North Western Nigeria

  • Authors: Amali, Sadiq Ewaoda
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Criminal -- Rehabilitation Prisoners -- Counseling of Prisoners -- Mental health services
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Social Sciences
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9984 , vital:35215
  • Description: The study was conducted in Kano Central and Goron-Dutse prisons, North Western, Nigeria to determine the effectiveness of these correctional centres with regards to inmate rehabilitation. Both quantitative and qualitative collection was conducted concurrently and incorporated in the explanation of the results. This was achieved as the study empirically examined the experiences of convicted inmates and correctional officials in both correctional centres with a sample that compromised of both convicted male and female inmates as well as male and female correctional officials. A total of 250 questionnaires were administered to convicted inmates in Kano central and Goron-Dutse prisons. A sample size of 250 was determined using the sample size calculator at a confidence level of 95 percent, confidence interval of +/-5.97 percent, and with a population of 3488. Data for this study was generated from 250 respondents. Out of 250 respondents, questionnaires were administered to 140 inmates in Kano Central Prison and 110 questionnaires were administered to inmates in Goron Dutse Prison. The number of respondents in Kano Central Prisons is higher than that of Goron-Dutse Prison due to disparity in population of inmates. Also, 207 questionnaires were administered to correctional officials in Kano Central and Goron-Dutse prisons. A sample size of 207 was determined using the sample size calculator at a confidence interval of +/-5, confidence level of 95 percent and population of 449 correctional officials. Out of the 207 respondents, 107 questionnaires were administered to correctional officials in Kano Central Prison and 100 to correctional officials in Goron-Dutse Prison. The number of respondents in Kano Central Prison is higher than that of Goron-Dutse prison due to disparity in population of correctional officials. The selections were done using purposive sampling procedures. Rank, involvement in rehabilitation programmes were also used as criteria for selection of correctional officials as respondents. Furthermore, 28 correctional officials were selected purposively across the two correctional centres were interviewed. Thus, 14 correctional officials each were selected in Kano Central and Goron Dutse prisons using purposive sampling method. Thus, a total of 28 in-depth interviews were conducted in the study area. This study empirically probed into the factors mitigating against the effective rehabilitation of inmates. Therefore, against this background, this study involved an appraisal of rehabilitation programmes and facilities which was followed by an evaluation of inmates’ opinion of the correctional centre social setting and overall practices. Thus, inmate’s perceptions of correctional officials’ attitudes towards them and also its implication for re-integration principle was thoroughly appraised. The findings of this study were analyzed with the assistance of computer applications such as SPSS and atlas.ti.6. Some findings from this study revealed that only 15.7 percent of inmates in Kano Central prisons were satisfied with rehabilitation programmes, 37.3 percent were satisfied in Goron-Dutse prison while the majority of the inmates (88 percent) in Goron-Dutse prison stated that the relationship with correctional officials was cordial compared to 53.5 percent of the inmates in Kano Central prison. Also, data revealed that 64.2 percent of the inmates in Goron-Dutse Prison stated that medical attention was good and very good. The results also reveals that (58.9 percent) correctional officials stated that their relationship with inmates was very cordial compared to those of Goron-Dutse Prison (41.1 percent).Pearson Chi-square statistics showed that there was no statistical difference in correctional officials’ perceptions of the relationship with inmates between the two correctional centres (p.value>0.05). This study recommends that it is imperative for the Nigerian government to make more efforts with the provision of adequate rehabilitation programmes and facilities in the two correctional centres and correctional centres across the country as an exploration of existing literature reveals that most correctional centres in Nigeria lacked basic facilities for inmate rehabilitation as inmates were idle during incarceration.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Innovative teaching strategies for empowering foundation phase teachers in an inclusive classroom

  • Authors: Kusterer, Gail Lee
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Inclusive education -- South Africa , Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa Classroom management -- South Africa Foundation phase
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30951 , vital:31234
  • Description: The introduction of Inclusive Education into South African schools has been fraught with difficulty and this, coupled with the poor matric pass rate, has become a cause for major concern. Many teachers are unprepared for the challenge of teaching learners with diverse learning needs. Innovative and creative teaching strategies need to be implemented in order to address the learning needs of all the learners so that all learners can achieve their maximum potential and exit school with the school leaving certificate they seek. Consequently, the aim of this research was to identify creative and innovative teaching strategies which could be implemented by teachers in order to address this diversity. Furthermore, it was hoped that such creative teaching strategies would encourage cognitive learning whereby the study material was fully comprehended and could be used by the learners in different contexts. Music and games were identified as innovative and creative ways in which learners could be encouraged to apply the study material to mock real-life scenarios without having to suffer the consequences of incorrect choices. Since all children love to sing and play, it was believed that the introduction of music and games into the classroom would put the fun back into learning. The study was a qualitative study, with Grade Three teachers, learners and their parents being the participants. The data was generated through the use of observations, a teacher journal, questionnaires and focus group interviews. The findings of this study indicated that the learners benefitted from the introduction of music and games into the classroom as they began to read, write and do calculations more effectively. Not only did their academic skills improve, but music and games had the incidental positive consequence of improving their behaviour. This meant that they were better able to comply with classroom rules and conducted their relationships with others in a more respectful and understanding manner. The study concludes with suggestions on strategies that can be implemented by teachers and parents in order to improve the learning and behaviour of the learners. An improvement in the overall academic achievement of the learners may result in an improvement in the matric pass rate in South Africa as a whole, as well as an improvement in tolerance for and understanding of our fellow man.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2018

Installation view: Chale Wote Festival 2018

  • Authors: Simbao, Ruth K
  • Date: 2018
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147059 , vital:38589 , https://www.contemporaryand.com/magazines/chale-wote-festival-accra-2018/
  • Description: The Chale Wote festival opened on the Day of Re-Membering (20 August), when the Nai Priest poured libations at Brazil House in order to invoke the ancestral spirits. Core events took place on the streets and at various public spaces in James Town from 25 – 26 August. A number of artists including Kiffouly Youchaou, Kresiah Mukwazhi, Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi (crazinisT artisT), Charlotte Brathwaite, Percy Nii Nortey and the Ubulungiswa/Justice collective created works inside Ussher Fort and James Fort, which were built as slave forts by the Dutch and the British.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2018
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