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Surfing and the architecture of the dream glide: celebrating the surfer life through an architectural interpretation
No full textI grew up in Jeffreys Bay; a small surfing town where I learnt to surf at an early age. Later, as an architecture students, I began thinking about surfing as an embodied experience and how this could be expressed in rituals of surfing, which contribute to ‘surfing life’ as way of being, unlock a particular kind of architectural expression? Moreover, could the craft and embodied wisdom of making surfboards be translated into a characteristic tectonic approach? These interests grew into a specific research question and inspired this dissertation. The aim is to investigate the possibility of designing a building dedicated to surfing, in particular, drawing on the experiential richness of the dream glide, the embodied knowledge of making surfboards and the lived rituals of surfing culture. Functionally, these concerns are expressed in a surfing museum and a surfboard making (or ·shaping·) workshop. The goal being to expose people to the surfer's way of life, encouraging them to be more socially engaged in their lived situation and environment. It must be deeper than parody, yet retain the essential lightheartedness, joy and sprightliness of surfing. This dissertation follows an account of how I tried to accomplish the above mentioned. The document is structured into four parts. It starts with the investigation being set out and give the reader a background regarding the way in which I approached the design. I will also lay out the challenges that related to this investigation and the final part is a display of the final design synthesis as a process that developed from an initial idea. The last part is a personal reflection on the investigation
The context-based in teaching and learning of common fractions in grade seven
No full textThis study aimed to design the framework of teaching and learning of common fractions in Grade 7 by the use of a context-based approach. An Annual National Assessment (ANA) report released by the Department of Basic Education during 2012 indicated that learners were experiencing difficulties in fractions, in the lower levels up to the tertiary levels of the teaching and learning. The research focused on Grade 7. It is for this apparent reason that the researcher aimed to design a framework of common fractions for Grade 7 learners. Bricolage is the lens. The reason for the choice of bricolage is to ensure that the context-based strategy is designed to enhance teaching and learning of common fractions and to achieve the research objectives, due to its multi-theoretical, multi-methodological and multi-perspectival qualities. Furthermore, the researcher employed participatory action research (PAR) as the research methodology. PAR encourages co-researchers to participate actively in the research process and encourages learners to be actively involved in the teaching and learning of common fractions in Grade 7. The researcher used critical discourse analysis to present, analyse and interpret data generated from the research field. Data was analysed through three lenses, namely the textual, discursive and social practice level. The findings of the research were used to formulate the framework of teaching and learning of common fractions in grade 7 using context-based approach. I have found that the context-based strategy is a desirable way to improve the teaching and learning of common fractions in grade 7. I recommend the use of this approach in the pursuit for curriculum significance will assist all stakeholders within the DoE, such as learners, teachers and DoE
PEOP related environmental factors and occupational performance of persons with spinal cord injury in Saudi Arabia
No full textBackground: This study focused on the environmental factors as identified by the PEOP Model that influence the occupational performance of persons living with spinal cord injuries in Saudi Arabia. Spinal cord injury is a devastating and life-disrupting condition and the person living with SCI will face many impairments and complications as a consequence of their injury. Impaired performance of daily activities e.g. activities of daily living, leisure, home maintenance, vocational and educational activities is a prevailing reality for the person living with SCI. Limited research has been conducted on the impact of the environment on the occupational performance of persons living with SCI in Saudi Arabia. The aim of the study was thus to determine which environmental factors as identified by the PEOP model influence the occupational performance of persons living with SCI in Saudi Arabia. The research was conducted at a tertiary care medical facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The objectives of this research study was to identify and describe the environmental factors as identified by the PEOP model which are either barriers or facilitators of occupational performance of persons with SCI, and to compare the identified barriers or facilitators of occupational performance as it relates to the time since previous inpatient rehabilitation. A descriptive quantitative research approach was used, and convenience sampling was selected as the most appropriate sampling method. One hundred and twenty-one participants were included in the research study over a three-month period (April to June 2019). A questionnaire was developed by the researcher based on the environmental factors as described in the PEOP model of practice. Data was gathered during a structured interview with participants. Results: The results are presented in three sections namely the demographic description, the known environmental factors that act as barriers or facilitators of occupational performance and the barriers or facilitators of occupational performance since previous inpatient rehabilitation. The physical layout shows that the home is a facilitator in nine self-care activities and a barrier of occupational performance of the remaining three self-care activities. Results show that three of the six components of the design properties of the home are facilitators of occupational performance. The remaining three are barriers of occupational performance. The geographical location of the home and type of terrain is a facilitator of occupational performance however climate is a barrier of occupational performance. All participants indicated that their religious beliefs and customs or traditions are facilitators of occupational performance. The results show that social acceptance and social prejudice by others is a barrier of occupational performance. Participants also indicated that social interaction and the social support by others is a facilitator of their occupational performance. The participants indicated that there was a significant change in their economic status after their injury and that their current economic status is a barrier of occupational performance. Access to health care services was also identified as a barrier of occupational performance. Conclusion: The results confirm that certain environmental factors are either barriers or facilitators of occupational performance, participation and well-being of persons living with SCI. A few limitations were identified by the researcher during the research study. Recommendations that arose from the outcomes of this study were provided on the impact for OT practice, institutional level, governmental level and opportunities for future research. Furthermore, it is the hope of the researcher that the recommendations gained from this study will aid relevant stakeholders and policymakers to ease the plight of persons living with SCI in Saudi Arabia
Mine closure narratives in the Free State Goldfields, South Africa
No full textThis study examines the experiences of mineworkers who lost their jobs after mine closure. The researcher applied qualitative methodology in this study, and interviews with selected participants narrated their experiences (the focus is on their experiences after retrenchment). The interviews were semi-structured. This study’s findings revealed significant changes regarding the South African government concerning all mining policies, ranging from the White Paper on Minerals and Mining, leading to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act No. 28 of 2002 (MPRDA) and other mining-related policies. The study discussed the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA), which deals explicitly with industrial relations and employment conditions. The National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998 (NEMA), establishes guidelines for decision-makers on environmental issues that impact people to ensure cooperative environmental governance. The discussion proceeded to the Skills Development Act No. 97 of 1998 (SDA) and Mine Health and Safety Act No.29 of 1996; its objective is to ensure sustainable skills development and individuals’ health and safety in mining operations. The study found out that The Employment Bureau of Africa (TEBA), the mining recruitment agency headhunted young men to work in the mines. Women have lately joined the mines, replacing family members who have been extraordinarily ill or passed on. Few respondents have entered the mines at a lower primary education level. The respondents did not obtain many other skills and training programs under the Social and Labor Plan, the MPRDA, and the SDA requirements. Section 189 of the South African Labor Relations Act No. 66 of 1995, concerning the retrenchment process, seemed to have been flawed, as most of the respondents indicated how shocked they were when they found out about their retrenchment. There was also no mention of any counseling given before or after the retrenchment. Family dysfunction was often a challenge due to a lack of income. Some families were unable to take the children to the anticipated institutions of higher education after their retrenchment. The study recommends the implementation of education and training in line with the SDA. Companies should use counsellors to provide counseling to workers that face retrenchment. This study found that some respondents contracted Tuberculosis (TB) during the subsistence of their working contracts and even after retrenchments. Together with the mining houses, the government and all other relevant stakeholders must improve on oversight strategies regarding the infection and reinfection of TB towards the retrenched mineworkers. The mines should continuously provide exemployees accessibility to the health care system
Effect of short-term macronutrient manipulation on endurance capacity of long-distance runners
No full textIntroduction: The influence of specific nutrition programmes on optimal endurance performance enjoys wide interest. However, limited knowledge in this regard accentuates the need for further research on optimal nutrition for individual endurance performance optimisation. Objectives: (i) To investigate differences in the effects of a short-term (48-hour) highcarbohydrate (high-CHO) versus a high-FAT diet on indirect respiratory indices of long-distance runners, namely maximal oxygen consumption (V̇ O₂max), oxygen consumption (V̇ O₂), carbon dioxide output (V̇ CO₂), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), minute ventilation (V̇ E), and substrate utilisation (CHO oxidation and fat oxidation), as well as on physiological and perceptual measurements such as time to exhaustion, absolute (W) and relative power output (W/kg) and work output (kJ), during a treadmill graded exercise test (GXT) to exhaustion. (ii) To determine certain threshold points that occurred during the GXT, including ventilatory threshold 1 (VT1), ventilatory threshold 2 (VT2), lactate lhreshold (LT), peak oxygen uptake (V̇ O₂peak) and maximal oxygen consumption (V̇ O₂max) after the high-CHO and high-FAT trials, respectively. (iii) To explore individual preferential fuel source use over a short-term period to enhance performance. Methods: This was a randomised controlled cross-over trial assessing the effects of a 48-hour high-CHO (67%CHO, 17%fat, 16%Prot) or 48-hour high-FAT (65%fat, 21%CHO, 14%prot) diet amongst 24 well-trained male endurance runners. After each 48-hour diet period and an overnight fast, the participants completed a GXT consisting of 3-minute stages with 1 km/h increments until exhaustion. The two dietary treatment periods were parted by a two-week washout period. The study treatments were compared with respect to the various measurements using ANOVA with diet, participant and period as fixed effects. From these ANOVAs, the mean values for each study treatment (high-FAT and high-CHO diets) were calculated, including a point estimate and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the mean difference "high-FAT – highCHO", the p-value associated with a test of the null-hypothesis of no difference between treatment means, and the effect size calculated as the ratio of the point estimate of the mean difference divided by the residual standard deviation from the ANOVA. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the diets with regard to any of the indirect indices measured [V̇ O₂max, V̇ O₂, V̇ CO₂, RER and V̇ E and carbohydrate oxidation (CHOox) and fat oxidation (FATox] as well as LT. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were observed with regard to the physiological and perceptual responses (RPE, HR, time to exhaustion, work and absolute and relative power output). Moderate effect sizes were observed for V̇ O₂ at VT1 (d = 0.58) and at VT2 (d = 0.41), and for V̇ O₂max at VT1 (d = 0.61) and VT2 (d = 0.47). Otherwise, moderate effect sizes were observed for speed at VT1 (d = 0.48) and HR at V̇ O₂max (d = 0.41). For fat contribution, moderate effect sizes were observed at both VT1 (d = 0.40) and VT2 (d = 0.43), and a medium effect size at V̇ O₂max (d = 0.56). Conclusion: No statistically significant differences were seen between the effects of the short-term high-CHO and high-FAT diets on any of the respiratory and other indices measured in endurance runners during a GTX to exhaustion. However, some moderate effects sizes observed for some of the indices either favouring high-CHO or high-FAT depending on the individual, suggest that further research is justified, possibly involving longer-term diets
Comparison between measured and simulated activity using Gafchromic™ film with radionuclides
No full textIn this study, Gafchromic™ film XR-QA2 and RT-QA2 were used to characterise the film energy response against various radionuclides. The film response was investigated with respect to different backscatter materials. The sensitivity of the two types of films was compared, and a film stack method was tested to allow the user to obtain sequential, cumulative doses at different time points. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were used to link optical density (OD) values from measurements to the absorbed dose in the film. This was achieved by using conversion factors obtained by BEAMDP, BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc simulations to get the absorbed dose in the film. A neutron depletion theoretical model was introduced that can describe film response as a function of cumulated activity and absorbed dose. Background: Gafchromic ™ film has been used for quality assurance in various studies but not in nuclear medicine applications. Once the OD has been determined after film exposure to a radionuclide, it can be linked to the absorbed dose using the air kerma rate constant at distances that approximates point sources and the dose in water can be linked to the dose in film using MC simulations to get conversion factors. MC simulations are known as a gold standard to get the absorbed dose in materials. Materials and Methods: XR-QA2 and RT-QA2 Gafchromic ™film were irradiated with the following radionuclides: Am-241, Cs-137, Tc-99m and I-131. The OD was calculated, and a function describing the relationship between the OD and the time-activity was derived based on the neutron depletion model. Different backscatter materials such as Corrugated fibreboard carton (CFC) or air equivalent material, polystyrene, Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA or perspex) and lead were used to investigate the effect it has on film response. The sensitivity of each film was investigated and compared. BEAMDP, BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc simulations were used to link the film response, OD, to the absorbed dose. The MC simulations were done replicating the exact geometry as with the physical measurements to get the absorbed dose in the film. Results: The new neutron depletion model fitted the OD vs cumulative activity accurately as well as the OD vs absorbed dose. The XR-QA2 Gafchromic ™ film has shown to be the most sensitive film when using air equivalent material with radionuclides, especially with low energy radionuclides such as Am-241. When using more than one layer, the OD sensitivity of the film can be increased as well. The film stack method investigated also showed to be less time consuming when relating stacked film data to single film data. The fluence obtained from BEAMDP confirmed that the radionuclide containers have an effect on the radionuclide spectra’s. Lead was also the backscatter material which showed higher OD change but lower absorbed dose values. Conclusions: The neutron depletion theoretical model is more accurate than higher-order polynomial fits because it contains less free parameters. The XR-QA2 Gafchromic ™ is better to use in nuclear medicine because of its sensitivity at low energies and because the sensitivity can be increased by using multiple layers of film. Film stack methods can be used to decrease experiment times. BEAMnrc can be used to accurately model radionuclides within their containers to evaluate the container effects. Lead showed a higher induced OD with lower absorbed dose, and the air equivalent material showed the lower OD change but higher absorbed dose
Connect : prognostic awareness and structured serious illness conversations in stage IV cancer patients
No full textPrognostic awareness has been shown to be a key aspect regarding a patient’s understanding of their diagnosis, the available treatment options and the likely treatment and disease outcomes. It is recognised as essential to informed decision making in the setting where there is no curative therapy available, such as in advanced cancer. Palliative care aims to deliver holistic care to both the patient and their carers by enhancing the quality of life of a patient while also considering the role and burdens of the carers and family. A patient’s prognostic awareness is critical in advance care planning and studies have shown that patients and their families wish to discuss prognosis so as to help with decision making regarding a patient’s wishes at the end of life. Advanced care planning has been shown to result in reduced ICU admission and intensive interventions at end of life, while end of life discussions resulted in earlier hospice enrolment for patients and better quality of life and reduced depression in bereaved caregivers. This study represents the first South African study to evaluate prognostic awareness in stage IV cancer patients. An interventional study was used to evaluate the baseline prognostic awareness of 40 patients with incurable cancer being treated with palliative intent and attending our oncology outpatient clinic. Patients were randomised to standard of care with the addition of a measurement of prognostic awareness vs. the same plus a structured communication intervention designed to explore patients’ understanding of their diagnosis and expected illness trajectory, concerns and wishes for end-of-life care. The baseline subjective prognostic awareness of all patients was measured using face to face interviews utilising three questions based on different timeframes to adjudge the risk of death from cancer as described by Helft et al during two consecutive outpatient visits. Objective prognosis was determined using survival curves relevant to the specific cancer type and stage and discussed with the oncologist, while subjective prognosis was evaluated at both visits using the three questions which evaluated the patient’s perceived level of risk of dying from their disease over one year, five years and beyond five years. Thus, the unstructured approach used with half the patients consisted of the standard of care with the addition of three questions to determine prognostic awareness followed by an open ended, patient directed prognostic discussion of questions and views the patient may have had following the prognostic questions, these patients comprised the control group. In contrast with the interventional group, the same standard of clinical care and three questions to determine prognostic awareness was followed by a physician directed guided serious illness conversation administered in the standardised format as described by Bernacki et al. By comparing the objective prognosis with the patient’s subjective prognosis, patients were grouped as having high, low or poor prognostic awareness in each of the three timeframes. Data was analysed to evaluate the change from baseline values. There was a high level of willingness to participate in the study and discuss prognosis with a >95% participation rate. Results indicated that at baseline most patients had low to poor prognostic awareness with the majority significantly overestimating their prognosis. More patients in the interventional group had high PA both at baseline and at the second visit while there was a greater increase in high PA within the control group with the unstructured approach to discussing prognosis. The difference in baseline PA may be a confounding factor to parallel comparison of the groups. In evaluating for change in prognostic awareness within the control and intervention groups, both groups showed a trend towards increased prognostic awareness, however statistical analysis of the interventional and standard of care groups for the 1 year (p = 0.52 and p = 0.6), five year (p = 0.84 and p = 0.26) and open timeframe ( p = 0.84 and p = 0.38) did not reach statistical significance. Thus, the addition of a structured guided prognostic discussion compared to an unstructured approach was not shown to be superior in this study. At baseline the percentage of patients in the population as a whole with high prognostic awareness was 20%, 25% and 35% for the three timeframes. In contrast after a single application of the interventions used in our study, a trend for improved prognostic awareness from baseline in the population was evident with high prognostic awareness measured in 22.5%, 37.5% and 52.5% of patients for the three timeframes. It may be that the inclusion of a formal evaluation of prognostic awareness in itself results in a trend towards improved prognostic awareness, this study did not provide evidence that following such an evaluation the administration of a structured prognostic discussion yielded superior results to an unstructured discussion on prognosis. Further study in South African patients may advance the role and utility of high prognostic awareness in patients, families and caregivers faced with incurable illness
Implementing a film club to enhance English second-language students’ basic interpersonal communicative and basic English literacy skills
No full textThe impact of the entry of national retailers into townships on South African spaza shops in Bloemfontein
No full textDissertation (MBA (Business Administration))--University of the Free State, 2020Purpose: The primary objective of this research was to investigate the impact of the entry of national retailers into the Bochabela, Bloemanda, Freedom Square, Grassland, Heidedal, Joe Slovo, Namibia Phahameng, and Rocklands locations on South African-owned spaza shops in Bloemfontein. Methodology: The research methodology was positivist in nature and used a quantitative method design with a survey research strategy using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. A simple random sampling strategy was used, and the study respondents comprised 104 spaza shop owners. The online questionnaire was distributed to all respondents using the online questionnaire. Findings: The main results confirm that spaza shops near shopping malls are more likely to be negatively impacted than those in outlying areas. In a competitive market, spaza shops are vulnerable to prices. Very few of the spaza shops have adopted business strategies in response to their larger competitor. Conclusion: Local spaza shop owners therefore need to implement measurable competitive strategies to improve competitiveness in the retail industry
The integration of GeoGebra software in the teaching of mathematics in South African high schools
No full textMathematics achievement is known to be the pillar of a prospering society because of the critical and analytical skills it imparts to those who excel in it. South Africa is rated among the worst-performing countries internationally with the worst performance on high school level. Poor performance in mathematics is a global phenomenon and better performing countries have resorted to the integration of information and communication technology software as being one of the solutions to the problem. In South Africa, the issue of poor performance is acknowledged and various intervention strategies for improving mathematics performance have been implemented. Such initiatives include, among other things, lesson study, the use of manipulatives and the integration of technology. However, the Second Information and Technology in Education Study 2006 report, which probed the pedagogical use of information and communication technology across the world, found that South Africa was lagging behind in the integration of technology, although most South African schools had access to computers and the Internet. There is a widespread phenomenon of training teachers in the integration of information and communication technology and, particularly, GeoGebra software in the teaching of mathematics in South African high schools. Using technological pedagogical content knowledge as a lens, this qualitative study used semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations and document analysis to collect the necessary data. The data were collected from four purposively selected high school mathematics teachers from three different schools in the North-West Province. The key finding from this study was that teachers perceived GeoGebra as a valuable tool in the teaching of high school mathematics within the South African context, despite the challenge that it was time consuming to prepare for a lesson incorporating GeoGebra. They found GeoGebra useful in creating a fun learning environment while allowing learners to visualise and conceptualise the abstract concepts in mathematics. Furthermore, the study established that teachers had limited knowledge of GeoGebra features and lacked pedagogical content knowledge in terms of their practices in teaching with GeoGebra. The study concludes that the integration of GeoGebra and any other mathematics software or hardware does not happen in isolation to the social factors that affect the learning environment. Furthermore, the study concludes that professional development of teachers in the integration of GeoGebra is not conducted in a manner specified in the Guidelines for Teacher Training and Professional Development in ICT (DBE, 2007). Therefore, this study recommends the enhancement of professional development with a focus on GeoGebra because of its strong link to the South African curriculum. Professional development takes strong measure in securing information and communication technology tools for learners to gain practical experience of learning with technology