11613 research outputs found
Sort by
Geographic distribution and habitat selection in the berg adder, Bitis atropos (serpentes, viperidae) on the Mpumalanga escarpment, and the consequences for conservation
No full textUnderstanding how species use geographic space is foundational to ecology, biogeography and conservation biology. However, such essential geographic information remains unavailable for many species. This is especially true for reptiles, which, despite being the largest group of terrestrial vertebrates, remain poorly studied relative to other groups. Moreover, the number of reptile species keeps growing, as new species are discovered and described from existing species complexes. Therefore, in this dissertation, I set out to narrow this knowledge-gap by exploring geographic patterns in the Mpumalanga population of the berg adder (Bitis atropos). This population represents a distinct evolutionary lineage within a larger species complex and justifies reconsideration as a distinct species. I began by using species distribution modelling to estimate the total geographic range size of this snake lineage and showed how it has a restricted distribution that has experienced persistent habitat loss in recent decades. Combined, these results suggest that this lineage would be classified as "Vulnerable" according to IUCN criteria should it be recognised as a new species. I then carried out repeated field surveys to study Mpumalanga berg adder habitat-use within the Buffelskloof Private Nature Reserve. These field records were combined with topographic information to quantify habitat occupancy and account for imperfect detection. Analyses showed that the snakes were more likely to occur on north-west facing slopes with higher heat load index values and, therefore, higher ambient energy. This is important for behavioural thermoregulation in ectothermic species. By understanding distribution patterns and habitat use, this thesis is an important piece in a larger puzzle of reptile spatial ecology. Ultimately, the results presented here provide a deeper evidence base on the ecology and biogeography of a poorly-studied reptile to inform future conservation and management.National Research Foundation (NRF
Predictors of emotional intelligence amongst university students
No full textDissertation (M.A.(Psychology))--University of the Free State, 2019The education of the labour force directly impacts the economy of a country. The successful employment of university students indicates a strong positive relationship with regards to students’ academic performance and emotional well-being, especially during their university years. University students experience several psychological challenges that often lead to a withdrawal from their studies. Various studies within South Africa identified psychological challenges, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, which leave students feeling despondent and vulnerable, often resulting in academic failure. Almost 50% of students complete their three-year or four-year undergraduate degree within five years. These statistics raise a concern to South Africa’s competent labour market. The emotional intelligence of undergraduate university students is thus an important matter of concern, as it seems to be on the decrease, due to the technogenic age. These students’ attention is held captive by technology use, resulting in fewer opportunities to practice emotional competencies as they find safety in the digital space rather than face-to-face interactions. However, resilience enables undergraduate university students to persevere through turbulent times. Students with a high level of resilience are better capable to alter or sustain their emotional reactions to the demands of the constantly changing emotional environment. This ability has a strong positive correlation with emotional intelligence and a positive effect on the mental health of undergraduate university students.
This study aims to investigate which variables or combination of variables explain a significant percentage in emotional intelligence amongst undergraduate university students. In order to determine the relationship between variables, a correlational design was central to the non-experimental, quantitative study. A non-probability convenience sampling method was employed to recruit 1191 registered undergraduate university students between the ages of 18 and 30 at the University of the Free State. The sample included participants from all ethnic groups, cultures, languages, genders, provinces, majors and religious backgrounds. The measuring instruments included a biographical questionnaire, The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, the Resilience Scale and the Media and Technology Usage and Attitudes Scale. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the data.
The combination of the predictor variables (Resilience, Media and Technology usage, Age, Gender, Religious Affiliation and Religious Practice) statistically and practically significantly predicted emotional intelligence. The results further indicated that resilience is the only predictor variable with a statistically significant contribution to the emotional intelligence of undergraduate university students with a large corresponding effect size (f2 = 0.48). It was found that resilience accounted for 27.8% variance in the Emotional Intelligence scores of the undergraduate university students. This finding concurs with the building blocks of the model of emotional intelligence competencies (Mayer et al., 2000). It is suggested that resilient individuals are able to (1) recognise emotions, (2) use emotions to facilitate thought, (3) make sense of emotional information and (4) regulate their emotions (Mayer, Salovey, & Caruso, 2000; Schutte, Malouff, & Thorsteinsson, 2013)
Compliance to hypertension treatment by patients attending primary health care services in Mafeteng District, Lesotho
No full textLesotho is among three countries with the highest incidence of hypertension, which
accounts for an increased number of deaths and hospital admissions due to noncommunicable
diseases. Though treatment compliance is an important component of the
effective management of hypertension, the extent of compliance behaviour of patients in
Lesotho is not well known.
The objectives of this study were to assess compliance behaviour to hypertension
treatment with regard to medication taking, sodium use and the keeping of appointments
with healthcare providers, as well as the identification of factors that contribute to
compliance behaviour. The self-determination theory formed the theoretical framework of
the study. A quantitative descriptive design was applied. Ethical clearance from the Health Sciences
Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Free State and the Health Research
and Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Lesotho were obtained. The three ethical
principles that guided the study were respect for people, justice and beneficence.
Convenient sampling of the primary healthcare clinics in Lesotho was followed by
purposive sampling of the participants. The sampled clinics were St Andrew’s, Ribaneng,
Masemouse, Emmaus, Matelile, Malealea, Motsekuoa and Ts’akholo. These clinics are
all situated in the rural area of the Mafeteng district. Data was collected from 159
participants using the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy
questionnaire, and data included the pilot and the main results. Demographic data and
Hill Bone Compliance scale data were analysed by descriptive analysis, frequencies and
percentiles were calculated while open-ended questions were analysed by open coding
and thematic analysis. The majority, 62.2% of participants, were women, married (59.1%), and had attained at
least a primary school education. The mean years since the participants had been
diagnosed with hypertension were 9. The overall scores of the Hill-Bone Compliance to
High Blood Pressure Therapy questionnaire and the three domains (medication taking,
sodium use and keeping appointments) indicated good compliance levels by the
participants. The identified factors that contribute to compliance behaviour include control of blood pressure, maintenance of good health, location of health facilities, and use of
technology, as well as social support.
These findings led to recommendations related to strategies that could improve and
maintain compliance, which highlighted the need for revision of hypertensionmanagement-
related pamphlets, the establishment of hypertension support groups and
the improvement of the current health education programmes
A prospective interventional study of the efficacy of a protocol for prevention and treatment of hypotension following spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section at Pelonomi Hospital
No full textAbstract not availabl
Study of HST6 function in Candida albicans through the application of a CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system
No full textThe aim of this project was to construct a HST6 double deletion mutant of Candida albicans to elucidate the role and function of this gene. HST6 is an ABC transporter and homologue of Ste6 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) which plays a role in mating in this organism. The first method used was the SAT1 flipper system, which alters genes using an antibiotic resistant marker (Nourseothricin) to select for integration. Homozygous mutants are created by transforming the organism with DNA containing the FLP gene which are flanked by target sequences found in the genome of C. albicans. Two rounds of integration are required as this organism has a duplicate set of genes and both copies needs to be removed sequentially. For the second round of integration, the mutant is grown on Maltose to flip out and regenerate the nourseothricin resistant marker. In this study a previously constructed plasmid was used to delete the HST6 gene, but after various attempts, no success was achieved. Transformations were unsuccessful and after molecular confirmation protocols such as PCR was performed, the gene remained intact. While using the SAT1 flipper system, the article by (Vyas et al., 2015) was published and the CRISPR-Cas 9 method was used for gene deletion in C. albicans. This system relies upon the use of the endonuclease (Cas9) and guide RNA to create double stranded cleaving. This system wasn’t available to order, and so a similar system was constructed. While in the process to develop this system, another article was published, describing a CRISPR-Cas gene editing system. This system was however made available to the wider scientific community through depositing of all plasmids at Addgene (www.addgene.org). This system was subsequently obtained via Addgene and a proof of concept, the ADE2 gene was targeted as the double deletion mutant showed an easily observed phenotype where if both alleles are deleted, colonies turn from white to red. After several attempts, a double deletion mutant of ADE2 was constructed in C. albicans using the CRISPR-Cas9 system and red colonies were observed. This allowed for optimisation of the system which led to the HST6 gene to be targeted. After confirmation via PCR, the HST6 gene was removed and it was managed to create a complemented strain where the HST6 gene was added back into the genome of the organism. The wild-type strain, double deletion mutant and complemented strain was used to determine the influence of fluconazole on the different variants of the organism. The XTT assay revealed that the biofilm metabolic activity of the wild type strain was less influenced by fluconazole (55.8% reduction) as the biofilm metabolic activity of the mutants (75.1 % and 70.3 % respectively). It can be assumed that HST6 plays a role in fluconazole resistance, but further investigation is required as no significant difference was obtained between reduction in biofilm metabolic activity because of fluconazole addition, between the double deletion mutant and the complemented strain. Nonetheless, a CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system was used effectively to construct both a double deletion mutant of HST6 as well as a complemented strain in the diploid C. albicans. This system will allow for more genes to be targeted in the future and might lead to a solution to drug resistance in C. albicans.National Research Foundation (NRF
Cost analysis of violence-related medical imaging in a Free State Tertiary Trauma Unit
No full textBackground: Violence is a leading public health problem worldwide. Beyond the pain and suffering, violence has a significant economic impact on a country’s health, policing, and judicial services. Due to the lack of current and comprehensive data in South Africa, local violence-related economic impact studies are largely estimations. Violence-related imaging expenditure, as a component of a public hospital’s expenditure, is yet to be determined. Objectives: To measure the violence-related patient burden on Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital’s (PTH) trauma and radiology services, determine the imaging-component cost of violence-related injuries and calculate the financial burden violence has on the hospital’s expenditures. Method: From the PTH’s Trauma Unit patient registry, 1 380 patients with violence-related injuries were consecutively sampled for six months ending 31 December 2017. Imaging investigations were documented and categorised according to the South African National Department of Health’s (SANDOH) 2017 Uniform Patient Fee Schedule (UPFS). Descriptive analysis and cost calculations were performed using the 2017 UPFS tariff schedule and hospital-specific health efficiency indicators i.e. Patient Day Equivalent (PDE) and Expenditure per Patient Day Equivalent (ExPDE). Results: Violence-related injuries accounted for 50.64% of all trauma department visits and received a total of 5 475 imaging investigations. Violence-related imaging investigations represented 14.81% of all investigations performed by the radiology department in the study period. Overall violence-related admission costs amounted to R35 410 241.85 (8.33% of the hospital’s total expenditure) of which 20.08% (R7 108 845.00) was attributed to imaging investigations. Conclusion: Violence-related admissions had a high patient and financial burden on PTH. The pinnacle of health care cost saving is violence prevention; however, the cost-conscious radiologist could assist with cost saving if responsible and ethical imaging practices are followed
Strategies registered nurses use to implement integrated primary health care in Maseru District, Lesotho
No full textIntegrated primary health care (IPHC) is a fundamental method of service delivery at a primary level of care. Registered nurses in charge and registered nurses at health centres are the main implementers of IPHC, and their main focus is to deliver a package of combined services based on each person’s needs. In Lesotho, there are no documented strategies on how registered nurses implement IPHC in Maseru district, Lesotho.
The study sought to explore and describe the strategies used by registered nurses who are engaged in the day-to-day implementation of IPHC. A qualitative, exploratory design was applied and the nominal group technique used to collect data. The researcher randomly selected eight health centres where IPHC was implemented and recruited the registered nurses who had been providing IPHC for at least one year at the selected health centres. Two nominal groups were held, one with registered nurses in charge of the health centres, and another with registered nurses working at the health centres. Each group had a separate session, which was conducted by an expert facilitator who is conversant with the use of the nominal group technique.
The findings of the study are provided in the form of prioritised statements made by the participants; the statements were later arranged into themes by the researcher and checked by an expert group of nurse researchers. Four priority themes were identified. Participants indicated that they used the following four main strategies to implement IPHC, namely, organisation of services around the health centre, person-centred care, collaboration and staff capacity. The participants indicated that they organised services around the health centre by four means: service delivery through referrals to different departments within the health centre (supermarket approach), utilising available human resources, timing (providing all services needed during one visit) and documentation (proper documentation of care in registers and booklets). The registered nurses ensure that care is person-centred through giving health the relevant information. Collaboration with community structures (community health workers and health centre committees) is also practiced to implement IPHC. Lastly, staff capacity is built through attendance of frequent workshops and sharing of information among all the staff at the health centre.University of the Free Stat
Continuous-time Markov modelling of the effects of treatment regimens on HIV/AIDS immunology and virology
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Mathematical Statistics))--University of the Free State, 2019As the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enters the human body, its main target is the CD4+ cell, which it turns into a factory that produces millions of other HIV particles, thus compromising the immune system and resulting in opportunistic infections, for example tuberculosis (TB). Combination Anti-retroviral therapy (cART) has become the standard of care for patients with HIV infection and has led to the reduction in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related morbidity and mortality, an increase in CD4+ cell counts and a decrease in viral load count to undetectable levels. In modelling HIV/AIDS progression in patients, researchers mostly deal with either viral load only or CD4+cellcountsonly, as they expect these two variables to be collinear. The purpose of this study is to fit a continuous-time Markov model that best describes mortality of HIV infected patients on cART by eventually including both CD4+ cell counts monitoring and viral load monitoring in a single model after treating for collinearity of these variables using the Principal Component approach. Acohortof320HIVinfectedpatientsoncARTfollowedupat a Wellness Clinic in Bela Bela, South Africa, is used in this thesis. These patients are administered with a triple therapy of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTIs) and one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). The thesis is divided into five sections. In the first section, a continuous-time homogeneous Markov model based on CD4+ cell count states is fitted. The model is used to analyse the effects of tuberculosis (TB) co-infection on the immunologic progression of HIV/AIDS patients on cART. TB co-infection was of interest because it is an opportunistic infection that takes advantage of the compromised immune system. Results from this section showed that once TB is diagnosed prior to treatment initiation and managed, mortality rates are reduced. However, if TB is diagnosed during the course of treatment, it increases the rates of immune deterioration in patients, leading to high rates of mortality. Therefore, this section proposes the need for routine TB screening before treatment initiation and a tevery stage of the follow up period, to avoid loss of lives. The goal of cART is not only to boost the immune system but also to suppress the viral load to undetectable levels. Thus, in the second section, a non-homogeneous continuous-time Markov model based on viral load states is fitted. This model helped in revealing possibilities of viral rebound among patient son cART. Although there were no significant gender differences on HIV/AIDS virology, the model explained the progression of patients better than the model based on CD4+ cell count fitted in the first section. In the third section, determinants of viral rebound are analysed. Viral rebound was notable mainly after patients had attained a viral load suppressed to the levels between 50 copies/mL and 10 000 copies/mL. The major attributes of viral rebound were non-adherence, lactic acid, resistance to treatment, and different combination therapy such as AZT-3TC-LPV/r and FTC-TDF-EFV. This section suggests the need to closely monitor HIV patients to ensure attainment of undetectable viral load (below 50 copies/mL) during the first six months of treatment uptake, as this reduces chances of viral rebound, leading to life gain by HIV/AIDS patients. The fourth section compares the use of viral load count and CD4+cell count in monitoring HIV/AIDS disease progression on patients receiving cART in order to establish the superiority of viral load over CD4+ cell count. This was done by fitting two separate models, one for CD4+ cell count states and the other one for viral load states. Comparison of the fitted models were based on percentage prevalence plots for the fitted model and for the observed data and likelihood ratio tests. The test confirmed that viral load monitoring is superior compared to CD4+cell count monitoring. Viral load monitoring is very good at detecting virologic failure, thereby avoiding unnecessary switches of treatment lines. However, this section suggests the use of both CD4+cellcount monitoring and viral load monitoring because CD4+ cell count monitoring helps in managing possibilities of the development of opportunistic infections. In the fifth section, continuous-time homogeneous Markov models are fitted, including both CD4+ cell count monitoring and viral load monitoring in one model. Since these variables are assumed to be collinear, principal component analysis was used to treat for the collinearity among these two variables. The models are fitted in such a way that when Markov states are based on CD4+ cell count, the principal component of viral load is included as a covariate, and when the Markov states are based on viral load, the principal component of CD4+cell count is included as a covariate. Results from the models show an improvement in the power of the continuous-time Markov model to explain and predict mortality when both CD4+cellcount and viral load routine monitoring are included in one model
Urban groundwater development and management for metropolitan areas in South Africa-case study: Gautrain tunnel
No full textUrbanization is a predominant challenge for urban groundwater management in most Metropolitan Municipalities (MMs) in South Africa. Most urban areas comprise of high-yielding aquifers, with sufficient potential to expand water supply incrementally and reduce the dependence on the existing municipal water supply system (Foster, 2013). The study assessed the status quo of urban groundwater management in four (4) MMs, namely; The City of Johannesburg (CoJ), City of Tshwane (CTMM), Ekurhuleni (EMM), and eThekwini (eTMM) to improve urban groundwater management practices and implement strategies to ensure the resource is protected and sustainable. MMs are using groundwater resources to varying degrees. However, groundwater makes up a small percentage of the total supply, reaching 6% in Tshwane. Additionally, treated acid mine drainage (i.e. rebounding groundwater) is added to the Vaal River System (VRS), making up to 3% of the current supply to the MMs in Gauteng. The overarching findings from the assessment are that groundwater use and management are poorly integrated into the key planning processes at the MMs. In no cases is there a coherent plan for groundwater development and management evident from the MMs and no such plan is integrated across each of the necessary and available planning documents. In light of the findings, we propose that groundwater development be planned and budgeted for in the Integrated Development Plans and protection of groundwater be strengthened within the Spatial Development Framework and Water Sensitive Design in the respective MMs. The findings further underpinned gaps that led to the identification of an urban groundwater challenge (excess ingress of groundwater into the Gautrain Tunnel) that could be solved by the development of innovative technical solutions. Currently, a total of 3.1 million m3/annum ingress groundwater is dewatered and discharged from 3 of the 5 localities. The discharge is mainly at Shaft E21, Shaft E7, and Sandspruit Discharge Point while discharge at Shafts E3 and Shaft E4 is unknown due to continuously low discharge rates (and are thus considered negligible). The inference from the average discharge volumes between 2013 and 2017 confirmed that 68% of the total groundwater is discharged from E2, 17% from E7 and 15% from Sandspruit Point. Of these points, only the Sandspruit Point discharges directly into the Sandspruit River and the remainder discharge into stormwater systems. Notwithstanding the combined discharge volume making up to 0.3% of the CoJ annual water demand, it remains a significant amount as CoJ faces a projected water deficit by 2030 (DWAF, 2009b). We, therefore, argued that a by-law prohibiting the discharge of groundwater from the tunnel with no beneficial use must be established. In instances where ingress groundwater will not be utilized for any bulk supply, active management is still a requirement to protect and conserve the resource. Based on the significant volume and generally good to excellent water quality (with few cases of elevated salt concentrations requiring minimal treatment) suitable for all uses, including human consumption, the following were beneficial uses identified for the available groundwater emanating from Shaft E2, Shaft E7 and the Sandspruit Discharge Point: (i) Decentralized Supply, (ii) Aquatic and Groundwater-dependent Ecosystem Augmentation, (iii) In-House use2, (iv) Augmenting Existing Bulk Water Systems, and (v) Bottling of the Water to Generate Revenue. The Pre-Feasibility Analysis was undertaken in terms of benefits, financial costs and legislative requirements with each scenario proving to be economically feasible with return on investments. In conclusion, the benefits and opportunities from the current study, particularly the Pre-Feasibility Analysis, were fully recognized and contributed to a shift from inadequate management of groundwater resources in urban areas with no beneficial use, to active management leading to the potential for bulk water supply.Water Research Commissio
Tracking the development of pre-service teachers' competencies for integrating information and communication technology in the teaching of high school physics in Ghana
No full textThe study used a Design-Based Research approach with an explanatory case study design to track and understand the process of development of pre-service teachers’ competencies for integrating information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the teaching and learning of high school physics in Ghana. To achieve this goal, Physics Education Technology (PhET) simulation was used as an interactive tool by which the study sought to: 1) produce an ICT-based intervention that fits the Ghanaian senior high school physics classroom context; 2) examine the effectiveness of the ICT intervention; and 3) provide explanations on how and why improvements in teaching using ICTs and enhanced students’ learning of physics concepts through the implementation processes are possible. Seventeen pre-service physics teachers from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana participated in the study – eight of them (in their 3rd and 4th years) were the competencies understudy while the remaining nine pre-service teachers (2nd years) only served as “learners” to mimic the roles of high school students. The eight competencies understudy were enrolled in a professional development arrangement to develop their competencies in using PhET simulations to teach high school physics in an interactive and learner-centred manner. Based on the experiences gained through the professional development arrangement, this group of pre-service teachers collaborated to design PhET simulation-supported lessons in Design Teams and afterwards, enacted the intervention in two try-outs of microteaching among themselves and their peers who only served as “learners” in the study. Questionnaires, observations, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, pre- and post-tests, and lesson artefacts developed by the pre-service teachers were the data sources employed in this study. The findings of the study revealed that the ICT-based intervention promoted learner-centred and interactive teaching of physics based on its inherent characteristics. The study therefore suggests that the intervention developed herein signifies the kind of ICT intervention that fits the realities in the senior high school physics classrooms in Ghana. The results also showed that the pre-service teachers improved in their teaching practices with the ICT- based intervention owing to their developed technological pedagogical and content knowledge; improved content knowledge; and developed competencies in the exploration of the PhET simulations. The PhET simulations as an interactive ICT tool was revealed to facilitate enhanced students’ learning of concepts in physics, motivate students’ interest in physics as a science subject as well as promote meaningful learning when used for physics instruction. Central to these findings herein is the professional development arrangement considered for the study. The specific features of the professional development arrangement that matter for the development of pre-service teachers’ competencies for integrating ICT in the teaching of physics as well as the implications of the findings of this study are discussed.SANRAL CHAIR in Science, Mathematics and Technology EducationUniversity of the Free Stat