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Spatial temporal change of human settlements development pattern in Afromontane region: casestudy of Thabo Mofutsanyana municipal district
No full textThe issue of settlement development change in mountainous regions has received little or no significant attention in global urban sustainable development, and this is one of the reasons why the United Nations included Sustainable Mountain Development in the Programme of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As cities expand daily because of urbanization, the surroundings of mountains are not left behind in the development and growth. However, this important feature is not fully integrated into the holistic development framework of the region. Moreover, there are many constraints to settlement growth due to liberty to own land and houses because of various policies and enhancement provided by the democratic government. However, the spatial development framework does the work of zoning in the urban areas; there is little or no control in the locations (rural areas), where development springs up every day, anywhere, and anyhow. The increase in demand for land for urban development has extended to the land in and around the mountains that result in different changes in other land use and land cover, degradation of ecosystems, and social changes within urban populations. In the same way, mountainous cities in Eastern Free State have experienced urbanization like most of the major cities in sub-Sahara Africa. These are evident in the increase in built-up over the years and the demand for land for building. The motivation for the study is the quest to monitor the trend of change in settlement development in the Afromontane region and to channel that towards a sustainable settlement development pattern. This study investigates spatial-temporal change in human settlement development pattern was conducted in Thabo Mofutsanyane municipality within the Drakensburg mountain of the Afromontane region. The objectives are to assess the land use pattern and development changes and to determine the spatio-temporal change of human settlement development patterns in the study areas using GIS, remote sensing and spatial metrics. Also, to identify and assess the factors responsible for the changes in human settlement development patterns as well as evaluating the current level of development based on the above objectives and modeling a sustainable human settlement development pattern study areas. To achieve the objectives, the study utilized GIS images downloaded from Glovis and classified using CART classifier, a cross-validation of 70% training and 30% test; the accuracy assessment was calculated for each settlement using a cross-tabulation matrix. The result showed the effectiveness of the method in monitoring land use pattern and development changes as well as importance for future planning. The result was further analyzed to describe the spatial-temporal pattern of settlement development using spatial metrics. In order to identify and assess the factors responsible for the developmental changes, a study on the perception of the community leaders, government agencies in charge of settlement development, developers, and farmers’ representative was conducted through the use of interview guides. Furthermore, the study found that there was a steady expansion in the built-up areas in the years under study, the highest increment for the three settlements was from 1989 to 1999, Harrismith experienced 136.5% (4km2 to 9.46km2), Ladybrand had 149.8% (2.73km2 to 6.82km2) while Vrede experienced 218.8% (0.53km2 to 1.69km2) increment. Though there is no sufficient population data to justify this, the available data showed a slight population increase from 2001 to 2011 and a record of migration into the settlements within these years range. The increment was also due to the democratic government’s effort in the provision of housing for the masses through the Reconstruction and development program, which aimed at building over one million houses in a year. Moreover, Harrismith was found to be the most fragmented settlement out of the three because of its undulating landform, which defined its development, Ladybrand and Vrede are more aggregated and physically connected than Harrismith. The GIS classified image correlated with the information collected from the interview confirming that the study area has experienced different land-use change, especially with urban expansion. The political factor, which is the change in government from minority to majority, various policies related to human settlement and access to housing, economic and demographic factors, and land fragmentation were the main factors that led to settlement development and in the municipality of Thabo Mofutsanyane. The effect of political factors, which is the transformation from minority government to majority rule, has a direct impact on the landscape of the municipality. With the expansion of the built-up area between five years before and five years after 1994, and the current unsustainable emerging trends of housing units at the peripheral location around cities, the indirect effect will be haphazard environment and exorbitant infrastructural cost in the long run. However, most of the changes do not pose any danger for now in most of the settlements except in few places where the allocation of land is done traditionally without any formal development control. The absence of integrated frameworks in the traditionally controlled areas is another challenge for settlement development; the study went ahead to propose a sustainable human development pattern.Afromontane Research Unit (ARU)Risk and Vulnerability Science Center (RVSC-NRF
Social discounting and risk attitudes, time preferences and social preferences: an experimental study
No full textAltruism, the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others, is a key element of human behaviour. It is vital to gain more knowledge on how altruism is associated with economic and other social preferences in order to get a more nuanced understanding of peoples’ economic and social interactions. This thesis aims to extend research on social discounting in two areas, namely: how preferences for giving and social discounting differ in laboratory and field subjects, and how preferences for giving and social discounting are associated with various other economic and social preferences. The study comprises a series of conventional laboratory experiments and a set of artefactual field experiments with students and staff, respectively, from the University of the Free State in South Africa. These experiments employ social discounting tasks (SDT), multiple price lists (MPLs) for eliciting risk and time preferences, and ultimatum games (UG) and a trust games (TG) as tools for preference elicitation. Descriptive statistical analyses that investigate associations between key variables and appropriate regression models are employed in the thesis. A number of key findings are highlighted in the thesis. First, the thesis finds no consistent evidence of significant differences in preferences for giving and social discounting across laboratory and field subjects. Secondly, the thesis finds that the motivations for altruistic behaviour amongst laboratory and field subjects differ significantly with regard to the choice of recipients and the nature of the relationships with the recipients. The third finding suggests that risk and time preferences are correlated with altruism, as measured by giving and social discounting, but that this association is complex and non-linear in nature. Finally, the thesis provides evidence that altruism is associated with egalitarianism, reciprocity and, to a lesser extent, with trust, as well as with the trustworthiness. Giving and social discounting, therefore, are important features of human behaviour and requires further investigation pertaining to its economic and social consequences.National Research Foundation's (NRF) Human and Social Dynamics Research ProgrammeThuthuka Programm
South African disaster management framework: assessing the status and dynamics of establishing information management and communication systems in provinces
No full textSouth Africa is suffering from a magnitude of increasing human and weather-induced hazards such as drought, diseases, water shortage, urban-flooding, coastal flooding, wildfires, social unrest, and storms. In turn, these hazards instigate devastating social, economic, environmental, physical, political instability and devastating impacts. Due to increased hazards, disaster management activities have gained momentum. Activities such as preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery, require up-to-date reliable data, properly managed information, and organised communication systems. In building community resilience, the disaster management field can, thus, not avoid emerging information, communication and technological developments. In various ways, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is making enormous waves and can aid risk reduction to build resilience. Considering the above, the need for reliable data to manage disasters influenced the research into investigating the information management and communication systems in the South African Provincial Disaster Management Centres (PDMC). Additionally, the research into the status quo of the PDMCs and the dynamics surrounding the establishment of these systems added value to the study investigation. The South African Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 (as amended, Act 16 of 2015) (DMA), the National Disaster Management Framework of 2005 (NDMF), and international agreements like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) stress the importance of information management and communication systems for effective disaster management. This study was anchored in the constructivist philosophical worldview that integrates well with the mixed-methods approach. Questionnaires that allowed for semi-structured interviews during administration and an observational walk comprising of photo-taking at the Centres, contributed immensely to the empirical evidence. The study was exploratory in nature because the South African disaster information management and communication systems have not been studied more clearly. A literary study was conducted to explore information and communication-related legislation, good practices, as well as asserting the significant link between disaster risk governance and management of information as the key to successful disaster management. An in-depth literature review, together with the comparative analysis of the Stakeholder Theory, Model of an Integrated Information Management and Communication System for Disaster Risk Management, the Information and Knowledge Management for Disaster Risk Reduction Framework and the Model of Policy Implementation Process, led to an empirical inquiry into the disaster risk governance of the South African National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), as well as the nine PDMCs. Following the mixed-method approach, a field study comprised a face-to-face administering (interview style) of a closed and open-ended questionnaire, allowing the respondent to discuss and comment on each question posed. The key informants comprised mainly of the heads of the Centres and deputy or assistant directors from each directorate in the Centre. Using a thematic analytic approach, the empirical data were analysed against themes derived from the research questions and literature review. The data were then presented in a narrative report chapter, comprising of pictures from the observational walk-about at the Centres. A descriptive analysis of the quantitative findings entailing summarising and finding certain patterns was presented. Both the qualitative and quantitative findings were presented sequentially. Visits to the PDMCs revealed that integrated information management and communication systems were not established, including the NDMC. In an era where technology is increasing in speed, breadth, and depth, the study found disaster management officials collecting information informally without a formal methodology, storing information on personal computers and limited information dissemination methods like emails, as the main platform. The only systems developed since the promulgation of the DMA and the NDMF are fragmented and reactive in nature. The systems were mainly for reporting incidents contradicting the proactive approach mandated by the DMA and the NDMF. The study also confirmed that the governments idealised policy is not being implemented as expected by the government. The implementing institutions are under-capacitated in terms of human resources, irrelevant and inadequate qualifications and infrastructure. Also, politicians are not in full support or do not comprehend the disaster management function. Therefore resulting in the low prioritisation of the investments into integrated systems. Despite the dynamic setbacks, information management and communication systems remain a pivotal component to disaster management. Hence, the study recommends the national government takes the lead in establishing a uniform and integrated system that cascades down to the lower spheres of government. Based on the in-depth literature review and empirical findings, the study proposed a holistic and effective integrated framework to guide the PDMCs in developing, managing and comprehending the components of information management and communication systems. Also, the Framework guides in understanding the systems’ support for each key performance area and enablers as prescribed in the NDMF. Through strategic disaster risk governance recommendations, the study ensured the prioritisation and placement of information, its management, and dissemination at the epicentre of disaster management operations. Disaster management practitioners need to start thinking creatively, find new methods to build resilience and accept some of the latest developments in science and technology that can provide disaster management solutions. Subsequently, good stakeholder relations and good governance practice might help lessen disaster impacts and improve the response to the earlier mentioned devastations. The main recommendation for further studies included a critical analysis of an established fully functional and integrated disaster information management and communication system. As well as determining the effects of this system on disaster risk reduction in communities
Whole-genome analyses of rotavirus strains circulating pre- and post- Rotateq™ vaccine introduction in Rwanda
No full textDissertation (M.Sc.(Medical Microbiology and Virology))--University of the Free State, 2020Children living in developing countries are constantly faced with the burden of diarrheal infections that account for over 1.6 million death cases globally. Rotavirus group A (RVA) has been identified as one of the viruses implicated in most viral-induced diarrhoeal infections in children less than five years worldwide. In Rwanda, over 3500 RVA related mortality cases were reported yearly prior to the implementation of the RotaTeq® vaccine in 2012 to overcome this burden, which led to a significant decrease in rotavirus infections. Africa has a huge diversity of rotavirus strains compared to other developed continents especially Europe and North America, thus requiring a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. This study aimed at characterizing all the 11-segments of RVA strains circulating in Rwanda pre- and post-vaccine introduction as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) supported African rotavirus pilot surveillance program. The study was based on 158 rotavirus positive samples that were collected from children presenting symptoms associated with rotavirus infection between 2011 and 2016. The rotavirus double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) was extracted from the viral particles and converted into complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) prior to library preparation for whole-genome sequencing with an Illumina MiSeq platform.
Several bioinformatics tools were utilized to construct phylogenetic trees and the proteins structures. From the sequenced samples, 36 samples were identified as G1P[8] strains, and five samples were reassortant strains. Ten G1P[8] strains were identified pre-vaccine introduction while 26 were identified post-vaccine introduction. Thirty-five of the G1P[8] strains expressed pure Wa-like genome constellations, while one of the strains that was identified in 2012 exhibited a genome constellation typical of a RotaTeq® vaccine strain. On the other hand, the five reassortant strains were identified post-vaccine introduction between 2013-2015. Whole-genome analysis revealed that the G4P[4], G9P[4] and one G12P[8] reassortant strains exhibited both the Wa-like and the DS-1-like genome constellations while two G12P[8] strains had all the three genogroup constellations. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis of most of the G1P[8] strains revealed that they segregated according to their vaccination status; strains identified pre-vaccine introduction clustered together while post-vaccine strains also formed a separate cluster.
The five reassortant strains were closely related to human RVA strains in all the gene segments and RotaTeq® vaccine strains in the VP1, VP2, NSP2, NSP4, and NSP5 gene segments. Analysis of the neutralization epitopes and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) of the G1P[8] strains revealed multiple amino acid substitutions, with some changes influencing the change in polarity thus deemed to be radical in nature. A similar trend was also observed in the reassortant strains, with 27 amino acid substitutions in the VP7 epitope region and only three substitutions in the VP4 epitope region. Changes observed in these epitope regions have the potential of generating vaccine-escape mutants that may undermine the effectiveness of the rotavirus vaccine with time. Whole-genome sequencing has proven to provide information that could have been missed when looking only at the outer capsid proteins. It is thus important to continue conducting rotavirus whole-genome studies to unpack the hidden information behind the huge diversity of rotavirus strains in African countries such as Rwanda.
___________________________________________________________________Kinders wat in ontwikkelende lande woon, word voortdurend gekonfronteer met die las van diarree-infeksies wat verantwoordelik is vir meer as 1,6 miljoen sterfgevalle wêreldwyd. Rotavirus groep A (RVA) is geïdentifiseer as een van die virusse wat betrokke is by die meeste virale-geïnduseerde diarree-infeksies by kinders jonger as vyf jaar wêreldwyd. In Rwanda is meer as 3500 RVA-verwante sterfgevalle jaarliks aangemeld voor die implementering van die RotaTeq®-entstof in 2012 om hierdie las te oorkom, wat gelei het tot 'n beduidende afname in rotavirusinfeksies. Afrika het 'n groot verskeidenheid rotavirus-stamme in vergelyking met ander ontwikkelde vastelande, veral Europa en Noord-Amerika, wat dus 'n dieper begrip van hierdie verskynsel vereis. Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om al 11 segmente van die RVA-stamme wat in Rwanda gesirkuleer het voor en ná die entstof se bekendstelling, te karakteriseer as deel van die Wêreldgesondheidsorganisasie (WGO) se nuwe ondersteunde Afrika-rotavirustoesigprogram.
Die studie is gebaseer op 158 rotavirus-positiewe monsters wat ingesamel is van kinders wat simptome getoon het wat met rotavirusinfeksie geassosieer word tussen 2011 en 2016. Die rotavirus dubbelstring ribonukleïensuur (dsRNS) is uit die virale deeltjies onttrek en in komplementêre deoksiribonukleïensuur (kDNS) omgeskakel voor biblioteekvoorbereiding vir heelgenoomvolgordebepaling met 'n Illumina MiSeq-platform. Verskeie bioinformatika-instrumente is gebruik om filogenetiese bome en die proteïenstrukture te konstrueer. Uit die opeenvolgende monsters is 36 monsters geïdentifiseer as G1P[8]-stamme, en vyf monsters was reassortante stamme. Tien G1P[8]-stamme is voor die entstofbekendstelling geïdentifiseer terwyl 26 ná die entstofbekendstelling geïdentifiseer is. Vyf-en-dertig van die G1P[8]-stamme het suiwer Wa-agtige genoomkonstellasies uitgedruk, terwyl een van die stamme wat in 2012 geïdentifiseer is, 'n genoomkonstellasie vertoon het wat tipies is van 'n RotaTeq®-entstofstam. Aan die ander kant, is die vyf reassortante stamme geïdentifiseer ná die entstof bekendstelling tussen 2013-2015. Heel-genoom-analise het aan die lig gebring dat die G4P[4], G9P[4] en een G12P[8] reassortante stamme beide die Wa-agtige en die DS-1-agtige genoomkonstellasies vertoon het terwyl twee G12P[8]-stamme al drie genogroep-konstellasies gehad het.
Verder, die filogenetiese ontleding van die meeste van die G1P[8]-stamme het aan die lig gebring dat hulle volgens hul inentingstatus geskei het; stamme wat voor-entstof bekendstelling geïdentifiseer is, het saam gegroepeer terwyl post-entstof stamme ook 'n aparte groep gevorm het. Die vyf reassortant-stamme was nou verwant aan menslike RVA-stamme in al die geensegmente en RotaTeq®-entstofstamme in die VP1-, VP2-, NSP2-, NSP4- en NSP5-geensegmente. Ontleding van die neutralisasie-epitope en sitotoksiese T-limfosiete (CTL) van die G1P[8]-stamme het veelvuldige aminosuursubstitusies aan die lig gebring, met sommige veranderinge wat die verandering in polariteit beïnvloed wat dus as radikaal van aard beskou word. 'n Soortgelyke neiging is ook waargeneem in die reassortante stamme, met 27 aminosuursubstitusies in die VP7 epitoop streek en slegs drie substitusies in die VP4 epitoop-streek. Veranderinge wat in hierdie epitoopstreke waargeneem word, het die potensiaal mutante te genereer wat ’n entstof kan omseil en die doeltreffendheid van die rotavirus-entstof mettertyd kan ondermyn. Heelgenoom xv-volgordebepaling het bewys dat dit inligting verskaf wat gemis kon word wanneer slegs na die buitenste kapsiedproteïene gekyk word. Dit is dus belangrik om voort te gaan met rotavirus-heelgenoomstudies om die verborge inligting agter die groot diversiteit van rotavirusstamme in Afrikalande soos Rwanda, blot te stel.
___________________________________________________________________Bana ba phelang dinaheng tse ntseng di tswela pele ho hola, hangata ba tobana le bothata ba tshwaetso ya letshollo e bakang palo e fetang dimiliyone tse 1.6 tsa mafu ka lefatshe lohle. Rotavirus group A (RVA) e hlwailwe e le e nngwe ya dikokwanahloko tse bakang ditshwaetso tsa letshollo ho bana ba dilemo tse ka tlase ho tse hlano ka lefatshe hohle. Mane Rwanda, palo e fetang 3500 ya mafu a amanang le RVA a tsebahaditswe ka selemo le selemo pele ho tshebediso ya ente ya RotaTeq® ka selemo sa ente ka 2012 ho fedisa bothata bona, e leng ho bakileng phokotseho e kgolo ya tshwaetso tsa kokwanahloko ya rotavirus. Afrika e na le mefuta e mengata e fapaneng ya rotavirus ha e bapiswa le dinaha tse ding tse tswetseng pele, haholoholo Yuropo le Amerika Leboya, mme ka hona ho batleha kutlwisiso e tebileng ya bothata bona. Diphuputso tsena di reretswe ho hlakisa dikarolo tsohle tse 11 tsa tshwaetso ya RVA e fumanwang hohle mane Rwanda pele le kamora tlhahiso ya ente e le karolo ya World Health Organization (WHO) e tsheheditse lenaneo lena la pulamadiboho la patlisiso la African rotavirus. Diphuputso tsena di ne di theilwe hodima disampole tse amohelehang tse 158 tsa rotavirus tse bokeletsweng ho bana ba hlahisang matshwao a amanywang le tshwaetso ya rotavirus pakeng tsa 2011 le 2016.
Rotavirus double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) e ile ya ntshwa ho dikarolwana tsa kokwanahloko mme ya fetolwa ho sebetsa hammoho le complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) pele e ka sebetswa laeboraring bakeng sa ho ba whole-genome sequencing ka Illumina MiSeq platform. Disebediswa tse fapaneng tsa bioinformatics di sebedisitswe ho etsa difate tsa phylogenetic le dipopeho tsa diproteine. Ho tswa ho disampole tse hlophisitsweng ka tatelano, disampole tse 36 di ile tsa hlwauwa e le G1P[8] strains, athe tse hlano tsona ya ba reassortant strains. Tse leshome tsa G1P[8] di hlailwe pele ho hlahiswa ente athe tse 26 tsona di hlwailwe kamora tlhahiso ya ente. Tse mashome a mararo a metso e mehlano tsa G1P[8] strains di totobaditse Wa-like genome constellations, ha ente e nngwe ya mahloko e neng e hlwailwe ka 2012 e totobaditse genome constellation e tsejwang haholo ka ente ya RotaTeq® vaccine. Ka lehlakoreng le leng, reassortant strains tse hlano di ile tsa hlwauwa kamora ente pakeng tsa 2013-2015. Tshekatsheko ya whole-genome e sibolotse hore G4P[4], G9P[4] esita le e nngwe ya G12P[8] reassortant strains di bontshitse ka bobedi Wa-like le DS-1-like genome constellations athe G12P[8] strains tse pedi tsona di bontshitse genogroup constellations tsohle tse tharo.
Ho feta mona, tshekatsheko ya phylogenetic ya bongata ba G1P[8] strains e senotse hore di kgetholotse ho ya ka maemo a ente; mahloko a hlwailweng pele ho tlhahiso ya ente a bokeletswe hammoho athe a kamora tshebediso ya ente ona a theile sehlotshwana sa ona se ikgethileng. Reassortant strains tse hlano di amantswe le RVA strains tsa botho ho dikarolo tsohle tsa dijini le RotaTeq® vaccine strains ho VP1, VP2, NSP2, NSP4, le dikarolo tsa dijini tsa NSP5. Tshekatsheko ya neutralization epitopes and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) ya G1P[8] strains e bontshitse hore diphetolo tse ngata tsa amino acid, le tse ding tsa diphetoho tse bakang phetoho ho ya ka mahlakore, di bonahala jwale di sa hlalosehe hantle haholo. Ketso ya mofuta o jwalo e bonahetse hape le ho reassortant strains, tse nang le diphetolo tse 27 tsa amino acid ho VP7 epitope region le diphetolo tse tharo feela ho lebatowa la VP4 epitope. Diphetoho tsena tse bonahetseng mabatoweng ana a epitope di na le bokgoni ba ho hlahisa vaccine-escape mutants tse ka nnang tsa fokotsa bohlwahlwa ba ente ya rotavirus ho ya ka nako le ho kgema le yona. Whole-genome xv sequencing e itshupile hore e ka fana ka dintlha tse sa hlahiswang ha ho tadingwa feela bokantle ba capsid proteins. Ho molemo ke hona ho tswela pele ho etsa diphuputso tsa rotavirus whole-genome e le ho hlakisa dintlha tse patilweng mabapi le diphetoho tse ngata tsa rotavirus strains dinaheng tsa Afrika tse kang Rwanda.
___________________________________________________________________Izingane ezihlala emazweni asathuthuka zihlala zibhekene nomthwalo wezifo zohudo ezibangela ukufa kwabantu abangaphezu kwesigidi nezingxenye eziyisithupha (-1.6) emhlabeni jikelele. Iqembu leRotavirus A (RVA) likhonjwe njengelinye lamagciwane athinteka kakhulu ezifweni zohudo ezibangelwa yigciwane ezinganeni ezingaphansi kweminyaka emihlanu emhlabeni jikelele. E-Rwanda, zingaphezu kwezi-3500 izigameko zokufa okuhlobene ne-RVA ezibikwe minyaka yonke ngaphambi kokuqaliswa komgomo we- RotaTeq ® ngonyaka wezi-2012 ukuze kunqotshwe lo mthwalo, okwaholela ekwehleni okukhulu kwezifo ze-rotavirus. I-Afrika inokuhlukahluka okukhulu kwezinhlobo ze-rotavirus uma kuqhathaniswa namanye amazwekazi athuthukile ikakhulukazi i-Europe neNorth America, ngaleyo ndlela idinga ukuqonda okujulile kwalesi simo. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuveza zonke izingxenye eziyi-11 zezinhlobo ze-RVA ezizungeza eRwanda ngaphambi nangemuva kokuthulwa komgomo njengengxenye yeNhlangano Yezempilo Yomhlaba esekela uhlelo lokuhlola irotavirus lwase-Afrika. Ucwaningo belusekelwe kumasampuli ayi-158 erotavirus aqoqwe kusukela ezinganeni ezinezimpawu ezihlobene zokutheleleka ngerotavirus phakathi konyaka wezi-2011 nowezi-2016.
Irotavirus enedouble-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) yakhishwa ezinhlayiyeni zegciwane futhi yaguqulwa yaba icomplementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) ngaphambi kokulungiswa okumqoka kokulandelana kwegenome ephelele ngeplatifomu yeIllumina MiSeq. Amathuluzi amaningana ebioinformatics asetshenziselwa ukwakha izihlahla zephylogenetic kanye nezakhiwo zamaprotheni. Kusuka kumasampuli alandelanayo, amasampula angama-36 akhonjwe njengezinhlobo zeG1 P[8], futhi amasampula amahlanu bekuyizinhlobo ezivuselelayo. Izinhlobo eziyishumi ze-G1 P[8] zihlonzwe njengezethulo zangaphambi kokugoma ezingama-26 zihlonzwe isingeniso ngemva kokugoma. Amashumi amathathu nanhlanu ezinhlobo ze-G1 P[8] ziveze amaqoqo ezinkanyezi afana ne-Wa-like genome, kuyilapho enye yezinhlobo ezahlonzwa ngonyaka wezi-2012 ibonise umlaza wegenome ovamile wohlobo lokugoma lweRotaTeq ® . Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izinhlobo ezinhlanu ze-reassortant zihlonzwe ukwethulwa komuthi wokugoma phakathi kuka-2013 – 2015. Ukuhlaziywa kwe-Whole-genome kwembula ukuthi i-G4 P[4], G9P[4] kanye ne-G12P[8] eyodwa ye- reassortant strains ibonise kokubili i-Wa-like kanye ne-DS-1-like genome constellations kuyilapho izinhlobo ezimbili ze-G12P[8] zinakho konke. Imilaza emithathu ye-genogroup. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuhlaziywa kwe-phylogenetic kwezinhlobo eziningi ze-G1 P[ 8] kwembula ukuthi bahlukanisa ngokuvumelana nesimo sabo sokugoma; izinhlobo ezihlonze isingeniso somuthi wangaphambi kokugoma zihlanganiswe ndawonye kuyilapho izinhlobo zangemuva kokugoma nazo zakha iqoqo elihlukile.
Izinhlobo ezinhlanu zereassortant zazihlobene eduze nezinhlobo ze-RVA yabantu kuzo zonke izingxenye zofuzo kanye nezinhlobo zomuthi wokugomela iRotaTeq ® ezingxenyeni zofuzo ze-VP1, VP2, NSP2, NSP4, kanye ne-NSP5. Ukuhlaziywa kwama-epitopes eneutralization kanye ne-cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) yezinhlobo ze-G1 P[8] kwembule ukushintshwa kwama-amino acid amaningi, nolunye ushintsho olunomthelela ekushintsheni kwepholarithi okuthathwa njengokushintsha okukhulu ngokwemvelo. Ukuthambekela okufanayo kuphinde kwabonwa ezinhlotsheni zereassortant, nokushintshwa kwe-amino acid okungama-27 endaweni ye-VP7 epitope kanye nokushintshwa okuthathu kuphela endaweni ye-VP4 epitope. Izinguquko ezibonwe kulezi zifunda ze-epitope zinamandla okukhiqiza izinto eziguquguqukayo zomgomo ezingase zibukele phansi ukusebenza komgomo werotavirus ngokuhamba kwesikhathi. Ukulandelana kwegenome ephelele xv kufakazele ukunikeza ulwazi obelungaphuthelwa uma kubhekwa kuphela amaprotheni ecapsid angaphandle. Ngakho-ke kubalulekile ukuqhubeka nokwenza izifundo zerotavirus ze-genome ephelele ukuze uvule ulwazi olufihliwe ngemuva kwezinhlobonhlobo ezinkulu zerotavirus emazweni ase-Afrika njengeRwanda.
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Soil biota as bioindicators of levels of erosion and fire disturbances in Afromontane grassland areas within the Golden Gate Highlands
No full textSoil erosion and wildfires are serious problems throughout the terrestrial ecosystems of the world. The Golden Gate Highlands National Park (GGHNP) of South Africa experiences high incidences of erosion and wildfires due to its orographic nature and expansive grassland habitats. Various conservation strategies are employed by Park Management to lessen the effects of these environmental factors, including instating regular prescribed burn regimes for grasslands and construction of rehabilitation structures in eroded localities. While the effects of fire and erosion are investigated across a variety of habitats and fauna, little attention is given to their effects on soildwelling arthropods. The overall objective was to determine the state of soil-dwelling arthropods across eroded and currently rehabilitated localities, as well as their responses to fire regimes, in the GGHNP. Chapter 2 aimed at determining the impact of prescribed burning on soil-dwelling arthropods in an Afromontane grassland habitat, by comparing assemblage patterns and responses of species richness and diversity between a single burnt and non-burnt locality. Soil arthropod assemblages were more species rich and abundant in the burnt site, with a higher number of species only observed in the burnt site overall. The study hints at fires creating a preferable niche for soil arthropods adapted to frequent fires in the fire-prone landscape. Chapter 3 attempted to identify possible indicators of erosion in the GGHNP, and to determine differences in soil-dwelling arthropod assemblages found in non-rehabilitated and rehabilitated eroded sites. IndVal results indicated a single strong indicator species, the mite Speleorchestes meyerae Theron and Ryke, 1969, relevant to non-rehabilitated sites, suggesting that soil arthropods show potential use in grading changes in soils of the GGHNP. Statistical modelling identified phosphorus as having a significant negative correlation on species richness in both rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated eroded sites. These results form a basis for future investigations of erosion in the GGHNP, while also indicating that soil mineralogy in conjunction with soil arthropod richness may provide sufficient usability in monitoring strategies of erosion. In Chapter 4, the changes in soil arthropod assemblages in areas with implemented erosion rehabilitation, namely rock-wall gabions near dirt roads in the GGHNP, was examined. Results showed that arthropod species richness significantly interacted with increased sediment build-up in the rehabilitated sites as well as with sub-site position around the gabions. The findings of this study suggests that, if compared to an older rehabilitated site, rock-wall gabions could have an indirect effect on soil-dwelling arthropods, possibly through the resulting sediment build-up over the long-term. In Chapter 5, the renewal of deteriorated erosion rehabilitation structures provided a unique opportunity to study the effect of major restructuring of a site and subsequent implementation of alternative rehabilitation structures on soil-dwelling arthropods. Both soil arthropod species richness and diversity was higher after the restructuring of the site, possibly due to reallocation of species from the soil surrounding the flattened area. The results suggest that restructuring caused no significant changes on soil arthropod assemblages in this single site over a nine-month period, but is not conclusive as to the effects that a major disturbance, such as land reformation and renewed rehabilitation implementation, may have over the long-term. Fire-treated and non-rehabilitated eroded sites show a surprising attribute in that these habitats support a greater soil arthropod species richness and abundance than natural sites. These sites show potential as important environments that act as unique niches in the GGHNP, vital to supporting soil arthropod diversity in the soil environments of the park. Interestingly, themes discussed highlight the importance of fire and erosion in the GGHNP as natural ecosystem phenomena, and the association of soil arthropods to these areas.Afromontane Research Unit (ARU)University of the Free State (UFS)National Research Foundation (NRF
Exploring teachers’ perceptions of the relationship between resource availability and student performance in Lesotho post-primary schools
No full textAs indicated in Section 28(a) of the Lesotho Constitution, every Mosotho child has the right to the attainment of quality education. To enable quality education, the government has taken various measures to provide resources for effective and efficient teaching and learning. Based on my interest concerning the connection between the availability of resources and the attainment of quality education, I explored teachers’ perceptions of the relationship between the availability of resources and student performance in Lesotho post primary schools in this study. In the undertaking of this study, I conducted a literature review to gain an understanding of what is perceived as relevant resources for the basic functioning of a school, and by implication, for the delivery of quality education. Within the Lesotho context, it was found that quality education can be associated with the Constitution’s statement that education should be aimed at the development of the entire human personality. Based on this understanding, I foregrounded Lesotho’s commitment as a signatory of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to the Sustainable Development Goal #4, which is aimed at the provision of equitable and quality education that leads to relevant and effective learning outcomes. I complimented the literature review with a document analysis of documents I perceived relevant for the provision of quality education to all Basotho. My analysis of the Lesotho Constitution (1993), Education Act 2010, Education Sector Plan 2016-2026 and the Manual for Principals of Secondary and High Schools (2006) culminated in a policy framework that constitutes the different roles and responsibilities regarding the provision of resources towards quality education. In drawing on systems theory, the policy framework depicts not only the interconnectedness between various education-related policies, but foregrounds the interdependence of various role-players in the delivery of quality education. The delivery of quality education, however, remains dependent on these role-players assuming their assigned responsibilities in terms of the provision of resources, which in turn, are required for the provision of quality education. Guided by the literature review and the document analysis, I conducted two semi-structured interviews and two focus group interviews with participants from two Lesotho post-primary schools in the Berea district. The schools were selected based on their perceived status regarding resources. The one is perceived as well-resourced while the other is perceived as under-resourced. Data generation subsequently involved conducting interviews with the two principals, and having focus group interviews with five teachers from each participating school. The generated data assisted me in answering the main research question, namely what are teachers’ perceptions of the relationship between the availability of resources and student performance in Lesotho post primary schools? The findings revealed that the participants consider resources as very important for the delivery of quality education in the respective subjects they teach. They indicated that a lack of sufficient resources not only has an influence on the quality of teaching and learning, but by implication, on student performance as well. All the participants perceived resources, specifically teaching resources, at their respective schools as being insufficient for quality education. While the participants displayed agency regarding innovative ideas to address the lack of resources, they suggested that stakeholders such as the government through MoET, the school administration and the community at large should accept co-responsibility for the provisioning of sufficient resources for the attainment of quality education. The discussion of the findings was framed within systems theory’s advocacy for the school as an organisation in which various role-players should be working interdependently towards of quality education for all Basotho. The study concludes by proposing three suggestions for addressing the shortage or lack of resources in schools. In this regard, I advocate for teacher and principal associations to become more functional and active in spaces where challenges regarding resources can be deliberated, and where creative and innovative ideas for support can be generated. Framed within the understanding of a school as an organisation that remains dependant on various role-players to collectively contribute towards quality education, I suggest the strengthening of the relationship between the school and other stakeholders. In order to supplement the financial resources at a school, I also make some suggestions towards fundraising. In conclusion, this study reveals that teachers do perceive a close link between the availability of resources, the delivery of quality education and good student performance. While the availability of resources seems to be experienced as a problem within the context of teaching and learning, teachers are prepared to improvise and to generate creative ideas to account for insufficient resources so that quality education can continue and students can perform well
A descriptive study of the temperature at which anaesthetic refrigerated drugs are stored in operating theatre suites at Universitas Academic Hospital
No full textBackground: Temperature sensitive anaesthetic drugs require storage within individual theatre suites in order to be easily accessible to the anaesthetist for immediate use. This easy accessibility of drugs poses a risk of drug degradation due to incorrect temperature storage range. The method of storing refrigerated anaesthetic drugs in theatre suites, within a cooler box with a frozen eutectic gel pack (referred to as a cold drug storage unit) is well recognised and practiced. Yet, this method is poorly supported by literature and ill-defined in practice guidelines. The aim of this study is to determine whether refrigerated drugs in the operating theatre suites at Universitas Academic Hospital (UAH), during working weekdays, are stored according to the manufacturer’s temperature storage recommendation. Method: A descriptive observational study was done on the cold drug storage units in nine theatres suites at Universitas Academic Hospital, at six fixed time slots from 07:30 to 17:00, on five consecutive weekdays. The cold drug storage unit temperatures were measured and was assessed for adequacy of storage of refrigerated anaesthetic drugs according to the manufacturer’s recommendation on the package leaflet. The factors that could influence the internal environment of the cooler box were investigated; theatre room temperature, storage method of drugs within the cold drug storage unit, number, size and placement of the gel packs, the number of ampoules/vials and the utilisation of the operating theatre. Results: Five hundred and forty five temperature measurements were taken of which 268 were theatre room temperature with an accompanying 267 cold drug storage unit temperature measurements and ten main storage refrigerator temperature measurements. The cold drug storage unit temperature, for all theatres for the five days, was in the range of 4,30C – 23,80C with a median of 14,80C. This method of drug storage was not conducive to store all temperature sensitive anaesthetic drugs (requiring storage at 20C – 80C) on 235 temperature measurement (88%with a 95% Confidence Interval of 83,6% to 91,4%). The statistically significant factor (p <0,001) determining the cold drug storage unit temperature to fulfil the manufacturers recommendation to maintain temperatures below 80C was the number, size and placement of the eutectic gel packs within the cold drug storage unit. With the use of two eutectic gel packs, placed above and below the drugs within a Styrofoam® cooler box, a desired temperature range of 20C – 80C can be maintained for an average of 4 hours and 30 minutes, to a maximum time frame of 9 hours and 30 minutes, in a theatre suite with a maximum room temperature of 25,70C. Conclusion: The current method of storing temperature sensitive drugs, in operating theatre suites at Universitas Academic Hospital does not fulfil the temperature storage requirements as set out by the drug manufacturer’s most of the time. This method of passive refrigeration should not be abandoned as this study highlights the potential to maintain temperature below 80C...This potential success demonstrated in the study can be utilised to further research in determining the optimal storage conditions to store temperature sensitive anaesthetic drugs in an operating theatre suite within a resource limited environment
Motivational factors that influence employee productivity within Raubex Construction (Pty) Ltd
No full textDissertation (MBA (Business Administration))--University of the Free State, 2020The purpose of this study is to identify and rank the most important motivational factors that influence employee productivity within the construction industry, specifically focusing on Raubex Construction (Pty) Ltd. The present study contains a quantitative research design. A structured close-ended questionnaire was developed to collect data in order to rank the motivational factors that influence employee productivity in the construction industry. The questions were grouped into four types of motivational factors, including organisational factors, work-environment factors, monetary factors and facilities factors. The responses were quantified using the Relative Importance Index (RII) technique to analyse the collected data to ease the analysis and interpretation of a large number of respondents’ quantified data. The self-completion questionnaire consisted of 25 questions and was randomly sent to the 479 permanent employees of Raubex Construction (Pty) Ltd. A total of 187 complete questionnaires were returned. Respondents were asked to rate the effect and significance of all the motivational factors on a Likert Scale of 1 to 5. The five highest-ranked motivational factors were salaries which are paid on time (RII = 0.957), followed by transport facilities (RII = 0.865), job security (RII = 0.865), good work relationship with team members leading to respectable team cohesiveness (RII = 0.842), the worker’s department provides all the equipment, supplies, and resources necessary for him/her to perform his/her duties (RII = 0.837). In conclusion, monetary , facilities and work environment-related motivational factors appear to have the greatest impact on motivating employees within Raubex Construction (Pty) Ltd. However, other aspects such as company culture, communication skills and the socio-economic status of employees has an important role to play in how employees are motivated
Strategic support to students' competency development in the mathematical modelling process: a qualitative study
No full textThis article reports on third-year mathematics students’ competency and sub-competency development through providing intentional support in the learning of mathematical modelling. Students often experience modelling as difficult, and obstructions in the modelling process can lead to a dead end. Literature reports confirm that the modelling task is central in the modelling experience and a carefully planned task, aligned with a suitable activity sheet, can be used as a scaffold in learning mathematical modelling. Hence, this inquiry was conducted to provide a scaffold, as strategic support, for students’ mathematical modelling competency development in the early stages of a modelling cycle. Guided by the framework of the Zone of Proximal Development, key elements suggested by the metaphor scaffolding are considered in the learning experience.
Based on an analysis of activity sheets collected through group work, an example of a realistic and an unrealistic solution is presented, and students’ development of mathematical modelling competencies is argued. Finally, suggestions for intentional support in the modelling process are discussed.Publisher's versio
Influence of the physico-chemical characteristics of nopalitos on its eating quality
No full textMore than 820 million people in the world are suffering from hunger and 1.3 billion from food
insecurity. People experiencing food security have sufficient access to safe, sufficient and
nutritious food in both quality and quantity. In Africa, food insecurity is on the rise because
of population increase, global warming and desertification. There is a need for droughtresilient crops which will be less impacted by climate change as only climate-smart food
systems can lead to food security.
The cactus pear is capable of providing sustainable food production in arid and semi-arid
areas. Cactus pears (Opuntia ficus-indica) produces young and edible cladodes known as
nopalitos. Nopalitos are a source of sustainable, economic and nutritious food and could be
an important food source to livestock and human alike. In Mexico, nopalitos are a traditional
food, eaten fresh or cooked in dishes enjoyed through many generations.
The aim of the study was to identify the most ideal size, cultivar and harvesting season for
optimal eating qualities. The characteristics of nopalitos from the two cultivars (Fusicaulis and
Morado) were compared to be able to select the most ideal eating cultivar. Nopalitos were
also compared to different well-known vegetables to describe the texture, taste and juiciness.
Consumers are reluctant to try unknown food, therefore, a description of how nopalitos taste
was attempted in this study. The ideal post-harvest handling, the preferred cooking methods
and the optimal cooking times to use in cooking instructions and recipes for South African
consumers were determined in this study.
Physicochemical characteristics (length, weight, width, diameter, surface area, volume,
colour, firmness, compressibility, TA, pH, TSS, mucilage, moisture and viscosity) of Fusicaulis
and Morado nopalitos were determined and compared between size (9 cm, 12 cm, 15 cm,
18 cm, 21 cm and 24 cm), two seasons (autumn and spring) and over two years (2017 & 2018).
The nopalitos were compared to different vegetables (baby marrow, carrot, celery,
cucumber, green beans, green pepper, onion and tomato) in order to observe the differences
and similarities of nopalitos compared to other popular vegetables. The influence of cooking
methods and different time increments on the texture of nopalitos and green peppers was
compared.
The important differences between the characteristics of the two cultivars were influenced
by size and season as opposed to cultivar and year. The optimal size and cultivar were
observed between 15 cm and 18 cm of Morado nopalitos. There were similarities observed
between nopalitos and vegetables in the turgidity, texture and taste. The taste of nopalitos
could be described as being more sour than tomatoes, and as having comparable sugar
content compared to celery, green pepper and green beans. Nopalitos can be cooked using
the following methods roasting, boiling and shallow frying over a shorter cooking time.
Both cultivars of Opuntia ficus-indica were observed to be suitable for use as fresh vegetable
source between the size of 15 cm and 18 cm as they were thinner, brighter green, softer and
less slimy. It is ideal to harvest nopalitos over the autumn season because nopalitos had
highest quality attributes. Nopalitos can be prepared similarly to most vegetables using the
simple cooking methods (roasting, boiling and shallow frying) for a limited cooking period.
Nopalitos have potential as a source of fresh vegetables in South Africa because of similarities
in turgidity, texture and taste to popular vegetables. Cactus pear plants have been thriving in
the world for decades and could contribute to decreasing the number of people suffering
from food insecurity.University of the Free State (UFS