11613 research outputs found
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The distribution of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus on a farm in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
No full textThe Asiatic blue tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an invasive tick species which was introduced to South Africa in 1896. Reports dating back to the early 1900s state that the displacement of the African blue tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus had occurred within the Cape region. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus has the ability to adapt to new environments, is a vector of disease and has been reported to have developed resistance towards most available acaricides over a short period of time. The control of this species has become a major challenge to producers all over the world. The Eastern Cape Province accounts for the highest percentage of cattle production in South Africa. To date there is comprehensive data available on the tick distribution in South Africa however, many of the studies conducted in the Eastern Cape were completed on communal farms and the acaricide resistance status of these localities remains unknown as the majority of the studies have not included this aspect. The aim of this study was to provide information regarding the blue cattle tick composition, distribution and acaricide resistance status of a commercial cattle farm near Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. Engorged adult females were collected directly from the cattle and questing larvae were collected from the vegetation through drag sampling technique. All ticks and larvae were identified up to species level with the aid of morphological characteristics. Polymerase Chain Reactions-(PCR), was used to complement the morphological identification of the larvae as this life stage can be difficult to identify due to under developed features. A total of seven tick species; Amblyomma hebraeum, Haemaphysalis elliptica, Hyalomma truncatum, Ixodes pilosus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, were identified on the farm. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus was found to be the predominant tick and blue tick species on the farm while R. (B.) microplus was found to be present on the farm in various different camps over the study period, however, not in large numbers. The movement of a selected herd was tracked over a year period and provided a rough picture of how R. (B.) microplus was being spread over the farm. The relationship between temperature and humidity on the number of questing larvae collected was found to be inconclusive presenting a weak correlation between both temperature and larvae collected as well as relative humidity and larval numbers questing.
The Shaw Larval Immersion test (SLIT), was conducted to establish resistance profiles for the various camps where tick collections were conducted. The chemicals which were tested included: Amitraz (Amidine), Chlrofenvinphos (Organophosphate) and Cypermethrin (Pyrethroid). Results were obtained for R. (B.) decoloratus as R. (B.) microplus was not collected in large enough numbers for testing. The results show that there is a definite shift towards the development and emergence of resistance on the farm towards Amidine based acaricides. Synthetic Pyrethroids and Organophosphates showed fewer extreme results. There was a definite variation between different camps on the farm. Multi-host tick resistance was also tested and it was found that both the three-host Amblyomma hebraeum and the two-host Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi were susceptible to all the chemical groups tested. The results of this study provide a foundation for tracking the invasion of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus as well as aiding the producer in the management of acaricide resistance on the farm.National Research Foundation (NRF
The role of technical and vocational education and training in women’s empowerment: a capabilities perspective
No full textThe Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa has conceptualised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as being transformative and developmental in addressing unemployment, inequality and poverty (DHET, 2012). Priority has been placed on increasing access to this form of post-school education, and more women have been enrolled in predominantly male fields, such as engineering studies, than before. It is, therefore, vital from a social justice perspective to analyse whether engineering education is able to enhance the opportunities and freedoms that women students have reason to value. The study uses the capability approach for analysis in understanding the experiences of women students in and through TVET education. The study acknowledges the importance of the economic and monetary benefits of education but argues that this is not sufficient. Such an analysis will lead to an understanding of the constraints and facilitators for the women students as they experience TVET education. As this study is a qualitative study, information was gathered through in-depth interviews with 14 women students studying engineering at a particular TVET college, four lecturers at the same institution and the Principal.
Findings from this study show that, while the South African government has been supporting the TVET sector through increased funding, improved infrastructure and staff training, TVET still needs to be embraced as a viable post-school system by many South Africans. None of the women participants in this study wanted to enrol at a TVET college yet ended up opting for this owing to constraints, such as poor passes, an inability to afford university education, and having dropped out of university for various reasons. An examination of the experiences of women students revealed various challenges, such as sexist comments from lecturers, feelings of alienation, sexual harassment, too much workload and the inability to actively participate in the learning environment. All these are conversion factors that end up affecting the conversion of resources into valued functionings. Evidence from this study, therefore, mostly points to the constraints that characterise the experiences of women studying engineering at a TVET college. Informed by the capabilities approach, I came up with a list of nine capabilities valued by the women studying engineering at a TVET college. From the conversion factors, which affect the well-being of students, the study recommends TVET education that fosters various capabilities for women engineering students. This way, both students’ well-being and women’s empowerment may be promoted through TVET education. Findings from this study will help in the understanding of women students’ experiences at a TVET college and may assist in the promotion of multidimensional education to foster the lives that women have reason to value. By so doing, women’s empowerment through TVET education may be promoted.National Research Foundation (NRF
Immunogenicity of Sindbis based replicons for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus
No full textThesis (Ph.D. (Medical Virology))--University of the Free State, 2019Introduction and Aim: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) infrequently causes hemorrhagic fever in humans with a case fatality rate of 30%. Currently, there is neither an internationally approved antiviral drug nor vaccine against the virus. In a move aimed at averting future epidemics, the World Health Organization has added the virus to the list of priority infectious organisms.
The aim of the study was to investigate mechanisms of immunogenicity of Sindbis replicons encoding CCHFV glycoproteins and nucleoproteins for future development of an efficacious vaccine. Methodology: Genes encoding the complete open reading frames of the CCHFV nucleoprotein and glycoprotein precursor proteins of South African strains were amplified by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique and cloned into a Sindbis virus replicon vector. Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing were carried out to confirm gene sequences. Nucleoprotein and glycoprotein expression were demonstrated by transfecting baby hamster kidney cells and human embryonic kidney cells. Vaccine construct self-replication rates were assessed by transfecting BHK-21 cells and assaying for CCHFV RNA using gene-specific primers. Apoptosis induction in transfected BHK-21 cells was determined by measuring the enrichment of nucleosomes in the cytoplasm using an ELISA. Groups of three NIH mice were immunized with 100 μg of vaccine constructs three times intramuscularly three weeks apart with plasmid constructs pSinCCHF-31S, pSinCCHF-52S and pSinCCHF-52M. To augment cytokine responses the adjuvant poly (I:C) was co-inoculated with pSinCCHF-52S and pSinCCHF-52M separately. In addition, the constructs pSinCCHF-52M and pSinCCHF-52S were co-immunised with and without poly(I:C) to induce a response against both proteins simultaneously. Two weeks after receiving the third dose mice were sacrificed and blood was collected for determination of humoral immune responses while harvested splenocytes were stimulated with a CCHFV antigen for cytokine responses. Results: Two vaccine constructs (pSinCCHF-31S and pSinCCHF-52S) expressing CCHFV nucleoprotein and a construct (pSinCCHF-52M) expressing CCHFV glycoprotein were prepared. Recombinant protein expression was demonstrated by immunofluorescence assays targeting the histidine tag fused to the CCHFV proteins. Further confirmation of protein expression was performed by immunofluorescence assays using serum from CCHF survivors. All prepared vaccine constructs transcribed CCHFV RNA, as demonstrated by detection of protein using immunofluorescent antibody assays, and induced apoptosis in transfected cells. Immunized mice responded with the production of high titers of CCHFV IgG NP specific antibodies and higher levels of IgG2a in comparison to IgG1 responses were observed in responders suggesting a predominant Th1 antibody response. CCHFV IgG GP specific antibodies were not induced in vaccinated mice. Vaccine construct pSinCCHF-52S resulted in higher secretion of IL-2, (p = 0.0495) IFN-γ (p = 0.0369) and TNF-α (p = 0.0495) relative to immunisation with pSinGFP. An enhanced secretion of IFN-γ and IL-2 (p = 0.0463) was observed from splenocytes from mice co-immunised with pSinCCHF-52S and pSinCCHF-52M while vaccinating with pSinCCHF-52M increased IL-2 secretion (p = 0.0463). Co-administration of pSinCCHF-52M and pSinCCHF-52S constructs augmented IFN-γ (p = 0.0463) secretion. Co-inoculation of vaccine constructs with adjuvant poly (I:C) did not enhance cytokine secretion.
Conclusion: The study demonstrated the expression of CCHFV nucleoproteins and glycoproteins by a Sindbis virus vector in mammalian cells. Vaccination of mice with construct pSinCCHF-52S induced type 1 immunity. Immunoglobulin G subtyping demonstrated IgG2a/IgG1 >1 as well as significantly higher IL-2, IFN- γ and TNF- α. Immunisation with pSinCCHF-31S and pSinCCHF-52M did not elicit specific antibody production and cytokines responses were weak. Further studies in CCHFV susceptible animals are necessary to determine whether the immune responses generated by vaccinating with pSinCCHF-52S are protective. However, this study shows the utility of Sindbis replicons in vaccine development against CCHFV.National Health Laboratory Service Research TrustPolio Research FoundationSouth African Chairs initiative National Research FoundationUniversity of the Free State School of Medicine, Dr. Edward Tiffy Scholarshi
An exploration of the sustainability of a public transportation system for a smaller metropolitan area in South Africa: a case study of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
No full textThe South African public transportation system is often associated with words such as ‘poor service delivery’, ‘unreliable’, ‘inaccessible’, ‘unsafe’, ‘unaffordable’, and ‘uncomfortable’. Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality currently has a state-subsidised transportation system which residents can use to travel between and within the various towns and cities of the metropolitan region (Chobokoane & Horn, 2015:81). Urban sprawl is a common phenomenon in South African cities, and Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is no exception, which results in low density areas on the edges of the city that have limited access to basic services such as public transportation (Knaap & Talen, 2005:108). Although the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality’s Bus Rapid Transit project has many constraints (e.g. limited funding and expectations of high performance and quality) and is far behind on its original operation timeline, the value that this project may bring to the community is not doubted. This study aims to explore the factors that will promote a sustainable public transportation system for a medium size metropolitan area in South Africa such as MMM. The four research objectives derived from the aim guide the empirical and non-empirical facets of this study. The first objective calls for the non-empirical exploration of the literature on spatial planning and transportation development guidelines which may influence the sustainability of public transportation systems. The theoretical foundation of the first objective informs the empirical investigation expressed in the second and third objectives. The second objective investigates the transportation needs of the population of the study area, whereas the third objective identifies the spatial planning, transportation and sustainable development parameters of the current public transportation system of the study area. The fourth and final objective involves the convergence, synthesis and integration of the findings obtained through the investigations pertaining to the first three research objectives in order to propose plausible policy guidelines for the development of a sustainable public transportation system for the study area. The research is conducted within the interpretivist paradigm with a single case-study approach. Although this study employed a mixed method research design, the interpretivist paradigm was chosen since the individual commuter’s opinion is of particular value in this research study. Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is the metropolitan municipality with the smallest population and the lowest density of all the metropolitan municipalities within South Africa and has a population of approximately 750 000 people (Stats SA, 2012). A purposive sampling method was used to select the first round of research assistants in the study area as a starting point for a snowball sampling technique. The data collection tool of this study employed a self-administered, self-explanatory mixed method questionnaire which was informed by the literature. A total of 550 questionnaires were distributed, with 447 respondents completing and returning the questionnaires (81.24% response rate). The contribution and significance of this study are the generation of new knowledge regarding sustainable public transportation systems for smaller cities and metropolitan areas on which there is limited published research, and to address the gap in knowledge between the areas of spatial, transportation and sustainable development practices in South Africa. The proposed plausible policy guidelines acknowledge the need to protect the environment, contribute to the economic development of the country and provide social justice to the residents of the area. Although the policy guidelines might be generalisable to other public transportation systems of other metropolitans or secondary cities such as George, Buffalo City, Ekurhuleni, Msunduzi and Polokwane, the purpose of this study was to investigate the specific transportation needs of the population of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. Future research pertaining to the policy guidelines for the design of a sustainable public transportation system in smaller areas can be conducted through in-depth interviews with spatial and transportation planners to expand on the proposed guidelines derived from this study. If the proposed policy guidelines discussed in section 8.5 are implemented, it may open the way for the exploration of the feasibility and effectiveness of the application of these guidelines into the national policies of South Africa
African traditional bereavement rituals amongst Methodist Church members in Mamelodi, Pretoria
No full textThis study examined the significance, understanding, and meaning of African traditional bereavement rituals amongst Methodist Church members, particularly the Methodist Church based in Mamelodi, Pretoria, Gauteng province. This study specifically focuses on the meaning of some of the African bereavement rituals, particularly the dual practice of both the Christian and more African-related (ancestral veneration-related) rituals during bereavement. These factors are explored within the Methodist Church doctrine and theology, as well as African spirituality and philosophy. Qualitative research methodology was used, which included one-on-one and group interviews, as well as observations and case studies.
This study has found that not all Methodist Church members practise African bereavement rituals. However, those who do practise different African bereavement rituals do so due to a number of reasons. Amongst other reasons, some practise these rituals as influenced by their upbringing, while others practise them due to the pressure of family elders and extended family members. Others practise these rituals due to the fact that it is the norm and common practice in their family and community.National Research Foundation (NRF
The spatial act of curation: how the intersectional spatial relationship between place and artwork unlocks meaning
No full textThe aim of this dissertation is to investigate how meaning is unlocked through
the intersectional relationship between space and artwork. By the use of
specific curatorial techniques, an architect’s understanding of architectural
principles can assist in the act of curation in order to reveal meaning.
The study is practice-based, and through an autoethnographic approach
I will determine how meaning was revealed by retrospectively exploring
case studies of my own work. These case studies are my personal previous
curatorial experimentations and exhibitions which will be explored with the
benefit of hindsight.
For the purpose of this study, art is considered to include sculpture, murals
and totems, and space is open ended, questioning the understanding that art
belongs in a gallery.
By means of precedent studies, I investigate artists, curators, art historians
and critics who have shifted the paradigm of curation or exhibition-making.
These include Harald Szeemann, Hans-Ulrich Obrist, Julia Peyton-Jones,
Marcel Broodthaers and Gordon Froud.
The case studies will be examined by means of three curatorial approaches:
1. Performative curation: performative curation is an active, hands-on
curatorial approach without a preconceived idea of the end result. An example
of performative curation discussed in this dissertation is the Saadjies travelling
collection, comprised of over 100 small sculptures, that was exhibited at five
unconventional and diverse locations as well as “photobombed” across the
world.
2. Independent commissioning curation: independent commissioning refers
to a curation method where the curator commissions an artist to create an
artwork with a specific site in mind. To illustrate independent commissioning
curation, I discuss Rabbid by Guy du Toit as part of the A Re Yeng sculpture
project for Tshwane Rapid Transit (Pty) Ltd (TRT).
3. Convener as facilitator for curation: a convener or facilitating curator
establishes a platform or vehicle for others to independently interact with
various spaces in order to implement their interventions. The Cool Capital
initiative will be explored. Cool Capital is the world’s first citizen-driven
guerrilla biennale centred in the City of Tshwane that boasts more than 1000
participants. Cool Capital as a whole, as well as individual projects executed
during this biennale, will be discussed.
The culmination of this study was a practical curation experiment within an
unconventional space. By utilising various curatorial approaches, a unique
exhibition was curated.
Neither artwork, nor space is as successful in creating meaning as curation of
the intersection between the two
The role of pastoral counselling in healing spiritual woundedness of official first responders
No full textThe spiritual woundedness of official first responders is a problem that is not often recognised or acknowledged by mental health practitioners. Holistic healing in mental health focuses mostly on the biopsychosocial wounds suffered by traumatised persons. Spirituality, with no agreed upon definition, has been condensed to its core in this study, consisting of elements featured in most spiritual definitions. The major elements were that of meaning-making, connectedness, and hope. The study was grounded in a narrative approach to therapy and positioned within a postfoundational notion of practical theology. The Art of War, written by Sun Tzu, was used as a metaphor throughout the study to explain the war-like work environment in which the official first responders find themselves. The study aimed at examining the nature of the spiritual woundedness of the official first responders and to explore the possibility of a narrative pastoral approach to therapy in the healing of their spiritual woundedness. By employing purposive sampling, co-researchers were selected to narrate their experiences. The main findings were that spirituality forms part of the official first responders’ religious schemas, and therefore it would be vital to incorporate spirituality in the therapeutic process. Spirituality has been found to be a salient predictor of mental health. In addition, the study found that OFRs struggle with concepts that influence their spiritual healing such as violent acts towards others, masculinity in the workplace, and the burden of a hero-mentality, distrust towards therapeutic interventions, and a lack of support for their families
The incidence of acute kidney injury amongst very low birth weight neonates in the neonatal unit at Universitas Academic Hospital during the period of January 2016 to June 2016
No full textBackground. Acute kidney injury is common amongst patients admitted in neonatal intensive care. It is associated with mortality and mobility especially in very low birth weight infants. We diagnose and define Acute kidney injury using the kidney disease improving global outcomes guidelines and looked at the incidence especially before two weeks of age. Objectives. The main objective of this study is to determine the incidence of Acute Kidney injury in Very low birth neonates admitted at neonatal intensive care unit of the Universitas Academic Hospital, from January 2016 to June 2016. Using recent proposed neonatal Acute kidney Injury classifications by Kidney disease: Improving Global Outcomes workgroup definition modified for neonates secondary objective was to look at the risk factors associated with AKI and that the Acute kidney injury in the first two weeks of life is associated with increased mortality in Very Low birth infants. Method. This was a retrospective descriptive study of Very Low Birth Weight infants (<1500) infants admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Universitas Academic Hospital. This study included 58 patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and other patients were excluded. Patients’ data were obtained through files, Medical records (Meditech) and National Laboratory health services. KIDGO (Kidney disease improving global outcomes) guidelines was used to make the diagnoses of Acute kidney Injury. Results were then classified as Early and Late onset Acute kidney injury and creatine categorized to look at the outcome. Ethical approval was obtained from Health Sciences Ethic committee: Faculty of Health sciences of the University of Free state. Results. The overall incidence of Acute kidney injury was noted to be 8.6 %(n=7). The incidence of AKI in the early onset Acute Kidney injury group were 6.9 % (n=4) as compared to lower rates of 5.2% (n=3) in the late onset Acute kidney injury group. The most common risk factors for Acute kidney injury was noted to be Sepsis, drug exposure, Perinatal asphyxia and Respiratory distress syndrome. Suspected Sepsis being the highest at 80%. There was a 14.28% (n=1) mortality rate amongst those who had Neonatal Acute kidney injury. Conclusion. Neonatal AKI is common among VLBW infants in our setting corresponding to other single Centre studies in developed countries. However, we could not establish a relationship between Acute kidney injury and in hospital increased mortality. Risk of Acute kidney injury among infants diagnosed with suspected sepsis was higher compared to those without suspicion of sepsis
Development of a fractal advection-despersion equation and new numerical schemes for the classical, fractal and fractional advection-despersion transport equations
No full textGroundwater is a vital source of fresh water to many people across the globe, but it is prone to contamination by human activities. In the last few decades, great strides have been made in legislation protecting and controlling the quality of groundwater, creating awareness of potential groundwater contamination and the importance of prevention and mitigation. The accurate representation of contaminant movement within a groundwater system is important, because misrepresentation could increase the environmental impact due to inadequate mitigation or remediation measures. However, groundwater transport is particularly complex due to the inherent heterogeneity of aquifers. Where, predicting the movement of contaminants within groundwater systems, especially in fractured systems, is prone to discrepancies between modelled and observed. There are two general approaches to improve the simulation of groundwater transport: develop the physical characterisation of the heterogeneous system, or redefine the formulation of the governing equations. The focus of this research is to advance the simulation of groundwater transport by examining the formulation of the governing advection-dispersion equation. To achieve this aim, improved numerical approximation schemes for the classical advection-dispersion equation are developed, fractal and fractional derivatives are incorporated into the formulation, and fractional and fractal derivatives are combined.
Augmented upwind finite difference numerical approximation schemes, which are better suited for advection-dominated systems, are applied to the solution of the classical advection-dispersion equation for fractured groundwater systems. The simulation of anomalous transport in fractured aquifer systems is improved by providing a fractal advection-dispersion equation with numerical integration and approximation methods for solution. The fractal advection-dispersion equation is proven to simulate superdiffusion and subdiffusion by varying the fractal dimension, without explicit characterisation of fractures or preferential pathways. To improve the governing equation for groundwater transport modelling, the Caputo and Atangana-Baleanu in Caputo sense (ABC) fractional derivatives are applied to the advection-dispersion equation with a focus on the advection term to account for anomalous advection. Appropriate numerical approximation methods for the fractional advection-dispersion equations are provided and analysed for stability requirements. A fractional-fractal advection-dispersion equation is developed to provide an efficient non-local, in both space and time, modelling tool. The fractional-fractal model provides a flexible tool to model anomalous diffusion, where the fractional order controls the breakthrough curve peak, and the fractal dimension controls the position of the peak and tailing effect. These two controls potentially provide the tools to improve the representation of anomalous breakthrough curves that cannot be described by the classical model.
A modest step is taken forward to advance the use of fractional calculus, achieve the collective mission of resolving the difference between modelled and observed, and to increase the comprehension and management of natural systems
The development of reading for cross-curricular learning at a special school: a community of practice-approach
No full textThis study explored the use of a Community of Practice (CoP) approach to in-service teacher development in the domain of reading for cross-curricular learning at a special school.
The following came to the fore in this study: the influence of a teaching philosophy on the implementation of reading for cross-curricular learning; factors that sway the establishment and maintenance of a CoP; advantages and disadvantages of a CoP approach to professional learning; and teachers’ perceptions of both a CoP approach to professional learning and reading for cross-curricular learning at a special school.
Participatory Research (PR) was used for this qualitative study which was framed within the theory of Critical Community Psychology. Semi-structured focus group interviews, in the form of Community of Practice Sessions, were the main form of data collection. The data gained were thematically analysed.
The findings revealed that teachers need to understand why and how a constructivist approach to teaching and learning benefits learners’ growth and development within a democratic environment. If teachers experience the value of constructivist approach to teaching and learning, they may be more likely to embrace this approach to facilitate the learning process. A CoP can become a support network to teachers as they attempt to support learners who experience barriers to learning such as reading difficulties. This bodes well for practice in inclusive education. It should be noted though, that the support of the principal is fundamental for the establishment and maintenance of a CoP. The teacher autonomy can be strengthened, and reliance on so-called experts can be diminished through participation in a CoP. In this study, the CoP was effective in offering context-specific, school-based, teacher-led professional development about reading for cross-curricular learning