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Analysis of peristaltic nanofluid flow in a microchannel
Get PDFThesis (M. Sc. (Applied Mathematics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022Nanofluids are a class of heat transfer fluids created by suspending nanoparticles in base fluids. Due to their enhanced thermal conductivity, nanofluids are fast replacing conventional heat transfer fluids like water, mineral oil, ethylene glycol and others. They contribute to advancement of technology and modernity through pertinent applications in fields such as biomedical, automotive industry, cooling technologies and many others.
This study documents a survey of nanofluids and their applications and an investigation of
peristaltic nanofluid flow through a two dimensional microchannel with and without slip effects. Peristaltic fluid transport plays an important role in engineering, technology, science and physiology. The Buongiorno model formulation is employed and the governing equations for peristaltic nanofluid flow in a two dimensional microchannel are non-dimensionalised and solved semi-analytically using the Adomian decomposition method. Series solutions for axial velocity, temperature and nanoparticle concentration profiles are coded into symbolic package MATHEMATICA for easy computation of the numerical solutions. The effects of the various parameters embedded in the model are simulated graphically and discussed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results are compared with those in literature that were obtained using other approximate analytical methods and the homotopy analysis method. The study revealed that the Brownian motion, thermophoresis, buoyance and the slip parameters have significant influence
on the peristaltic flow axial velocity, temperature and nanoparticle concetration profiles.
In the flow without slip, both the Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameters caused a cooling effect around the channel walls and a marginal temperature enhancement in the channel core region and significant flow reversal was noticed in the channel half-space with maximum axial velocity recording in the channel core region. In the slip flow, both Brownian motion and thermophorisis had a retardation effect on the nanoparticle concentration profile
The effects of budget deficit on fixed investment in selected African Countries
Get PDFThesis (M.Com. (Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effects of budget deficit on fixed
investment using annual data for the period 1990-2017 in selected African countries
namely, Cameroon, Namibia, Ghana, Egypt, Seychelles, Mauritius, Botswana, Lesotho
and South Africa. The study employed panel unit root tests including the Augmented
Dickey-Fuller test, Philips Perron test and Levin Lin and chu test. The tests revealed that
all the variables are integrated at 1st difference. The study further employed the Panel
ARDL bounds test to examine the relationship between budget deficit, fixed investment,
money supply and inflation. The empirical findings indicated that a long run relationship
exists between the variables of interest. Furthermore, the results revealed that the budget
deficit has a negative and statistically significant effect on fixed investment. A one percent
increase in the budget deficit, ceteris paribus, leads to a reduction in fixed investment by
44 percent in the long run. The findings further postulated a bidirectional causal
relationship between budget deficit and fixed investment, between money supply and
fixed investment and between fixed investment and inflation. It was evident in the
research that indeed the budget deficit is a problematic macroeconomic policy in African
countries. Policy makers should limit high government expenditures as they contribute to
increased and persistent budget deficits which crowd out private investment
Challenges facing the secondary school teachers in the implementation of curriculum and assessment policy statement in Mankweng Circuit, Limpopo Province
Get PDFThesis (M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022South African educators have experienced problems understanding and
implementing various previous curriculum policies such as Curriculum 2005 and the
Revised National Curriculum Statement. These problems have made it necessary
for the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to introduce the national Curriculum
and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) in 2012.
The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges experienced by secondary
school teachers in implementation of CAPS in Mankweng Circuit of Limpopo
Province.
This qualitative study conducted at two secondary schools in Mankweng Circuit,
Limpopo province aimed to
Identify resources needed by secondary school teachers in Mankweng Circuit
on the implementation of Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement.
Investigate the kind of training the Department of Basic Education provides to
secondary school teachers in Mankweng Circuit when implementing
Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement.
To investigate how secondary school teachers conduct assessment when
implementing Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement.
Identify mechanisms that are used by secondary school teachers in the
implementation of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement.
The study embedded within interpretivist paradigm. It also adopted a qualitative
approach and the case study design was employed, where document analysis, semi structured interviews and observations were data-collection instruments used. Two
secondary schools with their respective school heads were purposefully selected to
participate in the study. Two principals, six Heads of Department and Eight teachers
comprised the purposefully selected participants.
Data collected from document analysis, semi structured interviews and observations
revealed that while educators welcomed the introduction of CAPS for its clarity,
structure, clear guidelines and time frames, they however experienced challenges
related to CAPS implementation, quality and the amount of training, inadequate
resources, increased assessment activities and the impact of rapid pace of the
curriculum on teaching and learning. Based on these results, recommendations are
made for the improvement of the implementation of CAPS.
The study findings revealed that while teachers welcomed the introduction of CAPS
for its clarity, structure, clear guidelines and time frames, they however experienced
challenges related to the quality and the amount of training, inadequate resources,
increased assessment activities and the impact of rapid pace of the curriculum on
teaching and learning. Based on these results recommendations are made for the
improvement of the implementation of CAPS.
The implication of this study is that, CAPS is a viable policy in theory, but its
implementation is erroneous, from the planning stage to the implementation stage.
Key resources, for example, suitable human resources, infrastructure, textbooks
were not taken into serious consideration
Advancing phenomenology as an emerging field of research in education in South Africa
Get PDFJournal article published in African Perspectives of Research in Teaching & Learning Journal (APORTAL) Vol 6 (3) (2022) Special Issu
Economics student teachers’ experiences-as-lived in a flipped pedagogical approach during crisis times
Get PDFJournal article published in African Perspectives of Research in Teaching & Learning Journal (APORTAL) Vol 6 (3) (2022) Special IssueScholars of teacher education had been reported phenomenology both as a philosophical and
methodological construct in reporting students' experiences of learning. In recent decades,
research studies on the flipped-class pedagogy strategy have shown that it has significant
educational benefits for student learning across subjects and contexts. This research explores, describes, and gains insights into student teachers' experiences as lived during an online teaching course at an open distance e-learning (ODeL) university. An interpretive
phenomenological lens was employed using virtual videoconferencing to collect data. A
purposive sample of Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) student teachers were selected. This study contributes to the literature on pedagogical dimensions that drives the functionality of flipped learning in an ODeL context. Furthermore, this exploratory study contributes to the practical implementation of flipped learning. Future research may extend the inquiry to other pedagogical dimensions by examining the effect of motivational factors for example the self-efficacy of student teacher
Teaching sexuality education in the HIV and AIDS education curriculum : the voices of high school guidance and counselling teachers
Get PDFJournal article published in African Perspectives of Research in Teaching & Learning Journal (APORTAL) Vol 6 (2) (2022)The study focused on teaching sexuality education in the HIV and AIDS education curriculum in high schools. In spite of the importance of HIV and AIDS education in preventing HIV infections, Guidance and Counseling (G&C) teachers are not engaging optimally with the current curriculum, and hence, they are not serving the needs of the learners in the context of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Situated within a qualitative research design, and informed by a critical paradigm, we used participatory visual methodology, with drawing and focus group discussion as methods for data generation. Eight female G&C urban secondary school teachers, purposively selected, comprised the sample of participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the G&C teachers have an understanding of the curriculum and made their voices heard on how it is to be taught. Even though they were enthusiastic to teach sexuality education - in the age of HIV and AIDS they became aware that their system of education did not appear to optimally support their work. They understood that the participatory visual methodology could enable them to teach their current G&C curriculum. They, furthermore, could reflect on themselves, the context in which they taught their sexuality education, work and learn from each other. In this way, their agency seemed to have been enabled to address the challenges and consider how they could teach sexuality education in their schools. Drawing on Cultural Historical Activity Theory, we conclude that the G&C teachers could be enabled to teach sexuality education if the three Activity Systems, namely the G&C teachers, the school system, and the community, work together as one Activity System, engaging with each other in a generative way focused on the same outcome
Green synthesis of Zinc sulphide (ZnS) nanostructures using S. frutescences plant extract for photocatalytic degradation of dyes and antibiotics
Get PDFJournal article published in Journal of Mater. Research Express 9 (2022) 015001Pollutants such as dyes and pharmaceuticals have become a problem in the environment, thus there is a need to find multifunctional materials that are safe and can be used for the removal of various pollutants. In this study, we report on the synthesis of Zinc sulphide (ZnS) nanostructures and their use as photocatalysts for the degradation of dyes and various antibiotics. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the functional groups found in plants and these were linked to the biomolecules identified through Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). Ultravioletvisible spectroscopy (UV–vis) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of the ZnS nanostructures. Thermal Gravimetric Analysis(TGA) and Brunner Emmet Teller(BET) confirmed the material was thermally stable up until 480 °C and mesoporous in nature, respectively. Scanning
electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM)showed that the material is spherical in shape and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS)further corroborated their formation. From the degradation analysis, 90% of the malachite green (MG) dye could be degraded in 60 min at optimum conditions(pH 6, 25 mg and 10 mg l−1
) and the holes were responsible for the degradation. Lastly, when tested against antibiotics, the ZnS material managed to degrade both the sulfisoxazole (SSX) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). These results showed that the ZnS nanoparticles could be used as a multifunctional material for the degradation of various pollutants
Self-objectification and muscle dysmorphia among African males : self-esteem and Afrocentric identification as mediators
Get PDFThesis (M. A. (Research Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022Body image concerns have been a worldwide issue in females and recently there
is rising literature on male body dissatisfaction and self-objectification. The present
study used a quantitative method to explore the possible mediator role of self esteem and ethnic identity in the relationship between self-objectification and
muscle dysmorphia. A purposive sample (N = 348) of male undergraduates at the
University of Limpopo was used and data was collected using a structured and
composite questionnaire within a correlation research design. Correlation analysis
found a statistically significant relationship between self-objectification and muscle
dysmorphia (p < .05), but there was no relationship between ethnic identification
and muscle dysmorphia (p >. 05). Mediational analysis showed that self-esteem
does mediate the association between self-objectification and muscle dysmorphi
Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 inpatient deaths during the first and second waves in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Get PDFJournal article published in The Journal of Respiration 2022, 2, 111–122Abstract: More COVID-19 inpatient deaths occurred during the second wave when compared to the
first wave in South Africa in both the public and private sectors. This study describes the characteristics
of 969 COVID-19 inpatient deaths in the public sector of Limpopo Province during the first and
second waves using population-based retrospective design. The results indicate that about 84% of
deaths were aged 50+ years; 53.6% were females; 43% occurred in Capricorn district; 56% occurred
in PUI wards; 64% had hypertension followed by diabetes mellitus; 88% manifested with shortness
of breaths/respiratory distress on admission. The study concludes that as the average age among
the population aged 60+ was greater among females than males, the increased death among females
compared to males might be influenced by the older age of female inpatients during the first and second
waves in Limpopo Province. Some COVID-19 inpatient deaths are possibly preventable if older
women may be taken into consideration when planning prevention and management interventions
in future pandemics
The use of interlanguage by first-year English language students at the University of Limpopo
Get PDFThesis (M. A. (English Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022Interlanguage (IL) is a phenomenon that occurs in different language learning contexts including institutions of Higher Education (HE) were English is used as a language of tuition in South Africa (SA). This study researched the IL of first-year English language students at the University of Limpopo (UL) within Polokwane Municipality in Limpopo Province (LP). The research design was explanatory, and a qualitative approach was used. Through interview sessions with first-year English language students and lecturers responsible for teaching these first-years, important insights into the dynamisms of IL in practice were gained. Some of the key findings of this explanatory study was that first-year English language students were unable to communicate effectively in L2, hence, the IL traits manifested in students’ communication. This enhances some understanding of the challenges they experience inside and outside the classroom. The study re-asserts that IL hampers the students’ optimal participation in the target language learning process. The study further highlights that students’ inadvertent use of IL affect their command of the Language of Learning and Teaching in an English language learning environment. This study has also revealed that although lecturers regard IL as an important teaching and learning resource, they do not seem to hone in IL use in a bid to improve the English language students’ performance and mastery of the Language of Learning and Teaching at first-year level