5975 research outputs found
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Secured, not connected : South Africa’s adult education system
No full textThis paper addresses an area that has been largely neglected by researchers: state provision of adult education in South Africa. It argues that there have been decades of neglect, or at best, token support for our country’s adult education system, and looks at how the system could be revitalised, both in terms of minimal requirements for immediate basic improvement as well as for a more radical and forward looking transformation of the system.
South Africa has a history of attempts to provide school equivalent education to black adults through night schools. Suppressed in the 1950s and 1960s, they resurfaced after the 1976 Soweto revolt, and in 1996 the Constitution secured adult basic education as a right. State night schools were renamed ‘Public Adult Learning Centres (PALCs)’, and seemed poised to become a powerful delivery mechanism, but continued as inadequate night schools. In 2015 the PALC system was ostensibly transformed into a community college one, but this transformation was based on the weak foundation of inadequate PALCs.
A new 2019 plan for the Community Education and Training College System includes long needed major overhauls that must be made if adults’ right to effective and relevant education is to be finally realised
Finding the plot in South African reading education
No full textThis article argues that we have lost the plot in South African reading education. To find it, we need to move beyond the predominant mode of reading as oral performance, where the emphasis is on accuracy and pronunciation, to reading as comprehension of meaning in text. While reading research in South Africa has been conducted mainly in school contexts, this case study is of a school and Adult Basic Education and Training Centre in a rural KwaZulu-Natal community near Pietermaritzburg. It found that an oratorical approach to reading dominated in both settings. It suggests that developing the way in which teachers understand the teaching of reading and transforming the teaching practices of those who teach as they were taught in the education system of the apartheid era are key to improving the teaching of reading
Student engagement with, and participation in, an e-Forum
No full textThis paper examines engagement with an online discussion forum, aiming to identify the different levels of participation and to investigate factors that encourage or discourage student participation. The case involved the posing of a short real-life problem via a forum on the university's virtual learning environment. An in-class survey was conducted to identify students' participation and attitudes toward the forum. Students understood the benefits of the task, but did not participate due to time pressures and lack of motivation. The reasons for this were found to be inadequate explanation and encouragement to do the task, and insufficient moderator participation. Recommendations for improving forum participation are provided. © International Forum of Educational Technology & Society (IFETS)
Critical factors for growth and sustainability of small and medium enterprises : a systematic review and propositions propositions for a successful transition into large corporate organizations
No full textIn today’s contemporary business environment, small, and medium, enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in driving
a country’s economic growth. However, despite their undeniable significance, SMEs often struggle to evolve into
large corporate organisations (LCOs) in Africa. The factors and requirements involved in this transition have been
a subject of much debate and contention within the research community. This analysis aims to understand factors
influencing SMEs' transition into sustainable LCOs, contributing to achieving sustainable development goals
(SDGs), the Africa Agenda 2063, and fostering sustainable growth. The study adopts a systematic literature review
(SLR) approach. A comprehensive assessment of 647 scholarly scientific research articles published from 2012 to
2022 was conducted, followed by a meticulous statistical analysis of 108 selected studies. The RStudio application,
an integrated development environment (IDE) programming tool was used for the analysis of the graphical
representation. The findings of this study revealed that leadership, business models, and human capital were
crucial factors in SMEs evolving into LCOs. This research endeavoured to bridge the gap in understanding the
factors driving the growth of SMEs into LCOs, thereby enabling more informed decision-making and policy
development aimed at fostering sustainable economic development in Africa and beyond
Cheminformatic and in vitro bioprospection of Capsicum Annuum L. metabolites as DNA Gyrase B inhibitors
No full textIntroduction: Capsicum species are known in food and trado-medicinal uses for maladies management due their rich content of phytochemicals, but with little work done on in silico bioprospection of its volatilome. Objectives: This study targeted chemometric profiling, virtual bioprospection of potential lead metabolites in 2 Capsicum annuum L. fruit variants’ (green and red) to identify lead gyrase B inhibitors (GBIs) and provide new mechanistic insights. Methods: Metabolites were profiled using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and quantitative phytochemical assays. Extracts antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) and antibacterial (susceptibility testing) activities were also determined. In silico [docking, pharmacokinetics, DFT] analyses were used to identify and predict chemical features of potential lead GBIs key to extracts molecular mechanism of action. Results: Mass spectral analysis identified hydrocarbons, fatty acid and other derivatives. Quantitative phytochemical analysis showed flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids. The green C. annuum extract had better antioxidative action, while extracts of both green and red variant showed similar antimicrobial profiles against resistant bacterial pathogens. In silico highest docking scores were observed for [1-Ethyloctyl) cyclohexane (-6.6 kcal/mol)] and dibutyl phthalate (-6.4 kcal/mol). All lead GBIs had desirable pharmacokinetics in line with the Lipinski rule of 5, and chemical reactivity properties. Conclusion: In silico and in vitro methods combination provided robust metabolomic profiling. The identified lead C. annuum-based natural GBIs contribute to the bioactivity profile and molecular mechanism of action of fractions. The study provided a first-hand report on natural GBIs derivable from Capsicum fruits which could be exploited in formulations for non-food and pharmaceutical applications
Interplay of poultry-microbiome interactions : influencing factors and microbes in poultry infections and metabolic disorders
No full text1. The poultry microbiome and its stability at every point in time, either free range or reared under different farming systems, is affected by several environmental and innate factors. The interaction of the poultry birds with their microbiome, as well as several inherent and extraneous factors contribute to the microbiome dynamics. A poor understanding of this could worsen poultry heath and result in disease/metabolic disorders.2. Many diseased states associated with poultry have been linked to dysbiosis state, where the microbiome experiences some perturbation. Dysbiosis itself is too often downplayed; however, it is considered a disease which could lead to more serious conditions in poultry. The management of interconnected factors by conventional and emerging technologies (sequencing, nanotechnology, robotics, 3D mini-guts) could prove to be indispensable in ensuring poultry health and welfare.3. Findings showed that high-throughput technological advancements enhanced scientific insights into emerging trends surrounding the poultry gut microbiome and ecosystem, the dysbiotic condition, and the dynamic roles of intrinsic and exogenous factors in determining poultry health. Yet, a combination of conventional, -omics based and other techniques further enhance characterisation of key poultry microbiome actors, their mechanisms of action, and roles in maintaining gut homoeostasis and health, in a bid to avert metabolic disorders and infections.4. In conclusion, there is an important interplay of innate, environmental, abiotic and biotic factors impacting on poultry gut microbiome homoeostasis, dysbiosis, and overall health. Associated infections and metabolic disorders can result from the interconnected nature of these factors. Emerging concepts (interkingdom or network signalling and neurotransmitter), and future technologies (mini-gut models, cobots) need to include these interactions to ensure accurate control and outcomes
Model Hamiltonians of open quantum optical systems : evolvement from hermiticity to adjoint commutativity
No full textIn the conventional quantum mechanics of conserved systems, Hamiltonian is assumed to be a Hermitian operator. However, when it comes to quantum systems in presence of dissipation and/or noise, including open quantum optical systems, the strict hermiticity requirement is nor longer necessary. In fact, it can be substantially relaxed: the non-Hermitian part of a Hamiltonian is allowed, in order to account for effects of dissipative environment, whereas its Hermitian part would be describing subsystem’s energy. Within the framework of the standard approach to dissipative phenomena based on a master equation for the reduced density operator, we propose a replacement of the hermiticity condition by a more general condition of commutativity between Hermitian and anti-Hermitian parts of a Hamiltonian. As an example, we consider a dissipative two-mode quantum system coupled to a single-mode electromagnetic wave, where we demonstrate that the adjoint-commutativity condition does simplify the parametric space of the model.
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Do we need a non-perturbative theory of Bose-Einstein condensation?
No full textWe recall the experimental data of one-dimensional axial propagation of sound near the center of the Bose-Einstein condensate cloud, which used the optical dipole force method of a focused laser beam and rapid sequencing of nondestructive phase-contrast images. We reanalyze these data within the general quantum fluid framework but without model-specific theoretical assumptions; using the standard best fit techniques. We demonstrate that some of their features cannot be explained by means of the perturbative two-body approximation and Gross-Pitaevskii model, and conjecture possible solutions
Navigating affordability challenges and opportunities in mixed-income housing : a case study of Cornubia in South Africa
No full textThis article offers a comprehensive exploration of the complex dynamics within the Cornubia mixed-income housing development. Positioned as a microcosm of challenges in creating sustainable living environments for affordable housing, the paper navigates through theoretical discussions to propose actionable strategies. The study employs a rigorous qualitative methodology rooted in a relativist perspective, utilizing semi-structured interviews, context-sensitive approaches, and local collaboration to delve into participants’ affordability challenges and the constraints/limitations of living in the Cornubia mixed-income housing. The findings, driven by the experiences of 254 low-income residents, illuminate two key themes on affordability: high living costs and affordable living in Cornubia. Findings highlight three factors that exacerbate high costs of living: Electricity, Water, and Transport. These multifaceted challenges underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions. In the context of sustainable development, the study identifies key areas for lasting impact, aligning with environmental sustainability and social equity goals
Potentials for adopting sustainable mixed-income housing in African cities : a bibliometric and systematic review
No full textThis paper offers an overview of mixed-income housing in African cities, emphasising its importance, challenges, and potential solutions. As urbanisation increases, mixed-income housing becomes crucial for addressing housing inequality, fostering social inclusion, and promoting sustainable urban development. However, its application in African contexts is under-researched. Through bibliometric analysis and systematic review, the study utilised VOSviewer to examine existing research, identifying publication trends, dominant themes, emerging trends, and mapping out research gaps of mixed-income housing in the African context. The study highlights geographical biases and calls for diverse research settings to understand mixed-income housing complexities across different African cities. The emerging trends further underscore the need for tailored policies, community integration, sustainable financing, and long-term impact assessments. However, gaps remain in understanding environmental sustainability, economic impacts, and community dynamics in mixed-income housing. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research, advocating interdisciplinary collaboration and mixed-method approaches to formulate a comprehensive strategic framework. Addressing these gaps can guide evidence-based policies to promote inclusive, sustainable mixed-income housing in African cities, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering resilient urban futures