11613 research outputs found
Sort by
A conceptual framework to improve the reporting quality of strength training exercise descriptors in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction rehabilitation programs
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Human Movement Studies))--University of the Free State, 2023Muscle weakness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is persistent and associated with abnormal biomechanics, poor knee function, new knee injury and development of osteoarthritis. The proposed drivers of persistent muscle weakness after ACLR are changes in muscle morphology, atrophy-inducing cytokines in the knee joint, and neurological alterations on a cortical and spinal level. The most accessible approach to target muscle weakness is various types of strength training exercises. However, another explanation for persistent weakness after ACLR rehabilitation could be that programs are not following the best practice for strength training. Failure to improve muscle strength after ACLR could be caused by faulty programming of exercise descriptors (e.g., exercise type, frequency, load).
The main aim of this study was to develop a conceptual framework to improve the reporting quality of strength training exercise descriptors in ACLR rehabilitation programs.
The study was conducted in three stages, including a Scoping Review, focussing on which strength training exercise descriptors are reported in ACLR research after ACLR surgery, and comparing the current standards of reporting ACLR strength training exercise descriptors to international best practice strength training guidelines. The modified e-Delphi survey was utilised to formulate a conceptual rehabilitation framework for ACLR. The last stage included validating the preliminary ACLR conceptual framework that included a core outcome set (COS) of strength training exercise descriptors for reporting after ACLR.
We extracted data on 117 exercises from 41 studies. A median of seven of the 19 possible exercise descriptors were reported (range 3-16). Reporting of specific exercise descriptors varied across studies from 93% (name of the strength training exercise) to 5% (exercise aim). On average, 46%, 35%, and 43% of the exercise descriptors included in the ACSM, CERT, and Toigo and Boutellier guidelines were reported, respectively. The e-Delphi results from 27 ACLR experts regarding the 21-exercise descriptor definition was 100% consensus agreement (>80% agreement), also 100% consensus agreement on a COS of strength training exercise descriptors (). However, very low consensus agreement on exercise dosages prescribed in ACLR strengthening programs. The validation meeting consisted of four panellists that validated the preliminary ACLR conceptual framework and proposed to re-organise the 13 COS of exercise descriptors into levels of importance regarding the frequency of reporting.
The proposed ACLR conceptual framework for researchers and clinicians provided a platform for the reporting of strength training rehabilitation after ACLR. Improving the reporting quality of strength training exercise descriptors, definitions, and exercise dosages for ACLR rehabilitation programs can aid in the transfer of ACLR rehabilitation research towards private practice. Therefore, enabling clinicians to implement evidence-based strength training exercise configurations
evaluation of expression levels of ABC-transporter genes on needle biopsies of prostate cancer patients treated with chemotherapy
No full textDissertation(M.Med.Sc.(Pharmacology))--University of the Free State, 2023: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second-most diagnosed cancer among men worldwide, and the foremost male malignancy in South Africa. Various therapies are used in the treatment of PCa patients. However, despite advances in cancer therapy, treatment failures still lead to the advancement of the disease, relapse, and ultimately mortality. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for metastatic PCa, but it is challenged by multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells. Various mechanisms participate in the MDR of cancer cells, including an increase in drug efflux facilitated by members of the ATPbinding cassette (ABC) transporters such as ATP-binding cassette sub-family C (ABCC1) / multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1), ABCC2/MRP2, and ABCC10/MRP7. Therefore, discovering drug resistance biomarkers and mechanisms is essential in both understanding and combating chemoresistance. This study identifies cellular drug
transporter genes (ABCC1, ABCC2, and ABCC10) as possible targets for the prediction of docetaxel treatment outcomes in PCa patients.
: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a correlation exists between the expression levels of ABCC1, ABCC2, and ABCC10 transporter genes and good versus (vs) poor responses to chemotherapy.
Methods: A total of nine Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue biopsies of PCa patients were obtained from National Health Laboratory Service, Universitas academic hospital, and divided into two categories, good and poor responders. RNA and proteins were extracted from the FFPE tissues, quantified, and evaluated using quantitative RT-PCR and western blot.
: quantitative RT-PCR shows that ABCC1/MRP1, ABCC2/MRP2, and ABCC10/MRP7 were expressed in the good and poor responder categories of PCa patients. In the good responder category, 50 % of the patients showed elevated expression levels of ABCC1/MRP1 and ABCC10/MRP7 in the normal sections compared to their tumour sections. The expression level of ABCC2/MRP2 was elevated in 75 % of the patients’ normal sections in comparison to their tumour sections. Moreover, in the poor responder category, 80 % of the patients showed elevated expression of ABCC1 in the tumour sections compared to the normal sections, and 60 % of patients showed elevated expression levels of ABCC10 in the tumour sections compared to their normal sections. The expression levels of ABCC2 in the tumour and normal sections of patients in this category of poor responders, could not be compared because the expression levels of ABCC2 could not be determined in 50 % of the patient samples. The average expression levels of ABCC1 and ABCC10 were upregulated in the tumour sections of patients in the poor responder category but were deregulated in the tumour sections of patients in the good responder category. Additionally, ABCC1, ABCC2, and ABCC10’s average expression levels were upregulated in the normal sections of patients in the good responder category and deregulated in the normal sections of patients in the poor responder category.
: The results suggest that a correlation exists between the expression levels of ABCC1, ABCC2, and ABCC10 and drug resistance reported in the poor responder category. Also, the detection of these transporter genes could potentially be used as indicators of possible docetaxel treatment outcomes
Examining the influence of principal’s leadership approaches on the school climate
No full textDissertation (M.Ed.(Education Management and Leadership))--University of the Free State, 2023The school's climate plays a crucial role in achieving its goals, ensuring quality teaching and learning, and job satisfaction. As a leader and manager of the school, the principal has many responsibilities, including the constant improvement of the school's climate. Therefore, this study aims to examine how the principals’ leadership approaches influence the school's climate.
This study was conducted at four primary schools in the Mangaung district of the Free State Department of Education. It was qualitative research that utilised a phenomenological research design, and the interpretivist paradigm was used as a philosophical lens. The participants included the four principals, deputy principals, departmental heads, and 12 educators from each school, all of whom were purposefully selected. The principals were interviewed individually, while open-ended questionnaires were distributed to the deputy principals, departmental heads and educators. The data were supported by observations and field notes.
The study found that the school climate is greatly influenced by the leadership style of the principal. The data also showed that certain leadership approaches such as the democratic, transformative, charismatic, invitational, and servant leadership approaches are creating a conducive climate. Leadership approaches such as the autocratic leadership approach and authoritarian leadership negatively influenced the climate. The study revealed that effective leadership, characterised by clear communication, collaborative decision-making, support, and trust, plays a crucial role. The study highlighted the value of the physical environment in establishing a conducive climate.
Based on the findings, it is recommended also that the school principal should set clear guidelines and expectations, maintain good relationships, delegate tasks effectively, and have clearly defined goals and expectations. The principal should also create a welcoming, appealing physical environment focusing on the entire playground, buildings, and classrooms
Unveiling the role of investment tangibility on financial leverage: insights from African-listed firms
No full textThe asset structure of a firm plays a pivotal role in determining its leverage. A higher proportion of physical assets is often associated with high debt ratios. This study explores the impact of investment tangibility on financial leverage, examining both tangible and intangible investments. Using a dynamic panel data model estimated through the two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM), we analyse a dataset encompassing 815 non-financial listed firms from 22 African stock markets. The results show that African firms have higher inclinations to invest in physical assets. We found a statistically significant negative relationship between leverage and tangible and intangible investments. The findings indicate that African firms tend to maintain lower leverages regardless of whether they invest in tangible or intangible assets. The observed relationship aligns with the hypothesis that high-growth firms, in their expansion efforts, strategically tend to opt for low debt to mitigate the agency costs associated with debt and to help prevent underinvestment. This outcome underscores the interconnected nature of financing and investment decisions. This research contributes to the literature on financial leverage and investment by dissecting investments into tangible and non-tangible components and highlighting their distinct impacts on leverage. Moreover, it provides empirical evidence for previously unexplored African firms, shedding light on the reasons behind the relatively low leverage levels observed in African firms.Publisher's versio
’n Missiologiese ondersoek na die rol van vaders in die morele agteruitgang van jongmense in die Dwarsrivier Vallei
No full textThesis(Ph.D.(Praktiese en Missionale Teologie))--University of the Free State, 2023Die afwesigheid van ’n vader of vaderfiguur binne die gesinsisteem is ’n groot probleem aangesien dit ’n vakuum in die ouerskapsrol laat ontstaan en ’n negatiewe invloed het op ’n gesin se vermoë om doeltreffend te funksioneer. Die navorsing fokus eerstens op die rol van biologiese vaders van jongmense tussen die ouderdomme van 12 tot 23 jaar. Die navorsing maak gebruik van ’n World Café navorsingsmetode, asook persoonlike onderhoude wat met leiers van vyf gemeentes gevoer is om die data vir die studie in te samel. Tydens die navorsing het die navorser ook vaderfigure ingesluit (moeders, voogde, ander agente wat die rol vertolk), wat toegelaat word binne ’n kritiese realis paradigma, en probeer vasstel hoe vyf gemeentes in die Dwarsrivier Vallei (DRV) vaders en vadersfigure bemagtig om hulle taak as missionale leiers en die bekamping van die morele verval van jongmense aan te spreek. Die bevinding van die studie sluit in: dat gemeentes ’n rol kan speel in die bemagtiging van vaders en vaderfigure deur onder andere die prediking, liturgie, en in wese ’n missionale gemeente te wees wat as ’n transformasieruimte vir vaders en vaderfigure kan dien
Dynamics of managing learners’ classroom disruptive behaviour: experiences of secondary school staff, South Africa
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Education Management and Leadership))--University of the Free State, 2023The efficacy of the classroom environment in facilitating learning is contingent upon the teacher’s successful management of Classroom Disruptive Behaviour (CDB) and the degree to which learners adhere to the strategies the teachers use. The function of schools in influencing learners’ good behaviour is paramount due to the intricate nature of the behavioural challenges learners encounter, which stem from the different factors.
The study explored secondary school staff’s experiences in the dynamics of managing learners’ disruptive behaviour in the classroom. The following subsidiary questions guided the study: What are the views of secondary school staff on the factors that cause learners’ CDB in school? How do secondary school staff manage the dynamics of learners’ disruptive behaviour in the classroom? What challenges do secondary school staff experience when managing learners’ disruptive behaviour in the classroom? What strategies can be used to address the challenges and strengthen the management of learners’ disruptive behaviour in the classroom?
The study adopted a qualitative approach and employed interpretive paradigm as the lens and descriptive phenomenology as the design to explore staff’s lived experiences of CDB management. The study was grounded in Assertive Discipline Theory. Seven teachers and six School Management Team members were selected purposively from four quintile three secondary schools. Seven teachers formed a focus group discussion, while semi-structured interviews were conducted with six School Management Team (SMT) members. Three data-collecting instruments, namely focus group discussion, semi-structured interviews and document analysis, were used during data collection. To extract significant concepts pertinent to the generated data accurately, inductive content analysis was used to analyse data.
This study found that a mix of external, school and learner factors contribute to CDB. This research offered evidence that the schools are likely to endure academic underperformance since CDB significantly affects teaching and learning.The research threw light on how schools were making concerted efforts to address CDB through various initiatives related to policy. The study also revealed that the staff members adopt ed non-policy-related approaches when managing CDB and that when the staff members confronted CDB, they experienced both internal and external difficulties.
To address the schools’ contextual factors contributing to CDB, the study recommends that staff, especially the School Management Team (SMT), be capacitated with skills in areas like monitoring, setting up functional school committees (Disciplinary and School-Based Support Team), putting in place effective textbook retrieval systems, starting functional induction programmes for new teachers and outsourcing professional development.
The study further recommends that the district set up a District Support Team to show the staff how to create effective classroom rules, implement policies related to the suspension of learners, understand the difference between discipline and punishment, and put the National School Safety Framework into place.
The study also suggests that the district monitors the admission of learners in schools. The research provided evidence that there was overcrowding in schools and that such a situation propelled CDB. In addition, the study recommends that the district assist the school in establishing various athletics opportunities for learners to showcase their talents.
Implementing the Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support policy should be mandatory across every school. Presently, schools are just being encouraged to screen learners. The research found that secondary schools admit learners without Screening Assessment Needs forms. Thus, such practice makes it tough to establish proactive measures to manage disruptive behaviour among learners efficiently, particularly those with severe learning impairments.
The study further recommends that the admissions policy should outline the age limits for learners to be enrolled in each grade level. The policy should also expressly state that parents should enrol their children in Adult Basic Education and Training if they surpass the stipulated age restriction. The study offers evidence that older learners cause behavioural problems for teachers and their peers in the same classroom. In the context of secondary schools, the policy should specifically restrict the admission of learners who exceed the designated age limit. Presently schools can only go as far as encouraging parents to enrol their older children in Adult Basic Education and Training. There is a loophole in that parents may refuse to follow the schools’ suggestions. To add to existing strategies and strengthen the management of CDB, the study proposed the Alternatives to the Establishment of the Conducive Learning Environment model
Exploring the use of YouTube videos in the teaching and learning of fractions in Grade 4
No full textDissertation (M.Ed.(Curriculum Studies))--University of the Free State, 2023The purpose of this study is to explore the teaching and learning of fractions using YouTube videos in grate 4. The study focused on two schools in Bethlehem/Bohlokong location in Free State province South Africa. The use of YouTube videos is a very new way of learning in the South African context. This new teaching approach might prove to be exciting for young learners in grade 4 because it has many options like animations, colourful videos, and pictures. Even though YouTube learning is exciting and fun, its implementation has challenges such as teachers wanting to use chalk and board and finding it demanding to change, and secondly, currently in South Africa there is a load shedding that happens almost after every 4 hours. This study was guided by Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK). The research participants in this research were two educators from different schools and 37 learners form School A (coloured dominated school) and 40 learners from School B (Zulu dominated school). The main key findings for this study are: Firstly, teachers find the teaching using YouTube videos very productive and helpful, as it makes their workload lighter. The YouTube videos are making learners to understand better and faster because it has options of pause and play, and learners can play them several times at home at their convenient time. Secondly this study has shown that learners enjoy learning by means of YouTube videos. Learners in school A and school B stated that they love the use of YouTube videos because they are colourful, they have pause and play options, one can play them at his or her convenient time. The implication for the teaching is that educators might have to plan thoroughly for lessons. Much time might be required during planning when they choose relevant videos and making snapshots. However, during teaching educators might play lighter role of pausing the video and explaining a few things. Lastly, the policies for the schools and department of education must be amended so that they can allow the use of gadgets in classrooms. It is recommended that, the use of YouTube videos in schools are good and can yield positive results for improvement of learning. Lastly these videos are loved by learners hence these learners are part of forth industrial revolution (4IR), and technology is a very important part of 4IR
Impact of the invasive alien plant species clearing programme on socio-economic benefits and plant biodiversity along the northern Drakensberg, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
No full textDissertation (M.Sc.(Botany))--University of the Free State, 2023The Working for Water (WfW) programme started in 1995, with the aim of controlling invasive alien plants in South Africa to protect a range of ecosystem services such as water and rangeland productivity, to protect biodiversity and create employment opportunities for previously disadvantaged rural communities targeting women, youths and people leaving with disabilities. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the WfW programme focusing on three of their main objectives: (1) create sustainable jobs; (2) remove invasive alien plants from the river courses, grasslands, and indigenous forest; and (3) increase biodiversity. This study investigated the success of these objectives in the northern Drakensberg escarpment, Mpumalanga province, South Africa, by (1) determining the perceptions of employees and landowners on the impacts of the WfW programme through questionnaires, and (2) determining the impact of clearing on plant biodiversity through field surveys comparing plant diversity and cover-abundance in plots cleared by WfW and neighbouring uncleared grasslands.
To determine whether the programme had created sustainable jobs, questionnaires were submitted to 80 community members who were employed in the WfW programme, in the study area, and 65 completed questionnaires. The surveyed family size ranged from one individual to eleven persons per household with an average of five people per household, and all had indicated that their primary source of income was from the WfW programme. The study found that most (46%) of the participants had a good knowledge of invasive alien plants (IAPs) while 86% of the respondents believe IAPs are a major problem, and 91% of the participants believed that WfW had benefitted communities living in the northern Drakensberg escarpment, with 97% indicating that the programme had improved their living conditions. This study further revealed that the programme has significantly contributed to rural communities’ livelihoods, but short-term contracts and intermittent funding have significant implications for the communities now relying on the funding. In addition, a limited number of landowners (10) were interviewed on their perceptions of the WfW programme. The findings revealed that most (60%) of the landowners who responded believed the programme was beneficial, and 70% of the landowners indicated that clearing of IAPs had increased stream flow and water availability. In addition, 90% of the landowners indicated that they had seen an estimated reduction of IAPs of between 20% to 80% on their properties due to clearing by WfW.
Vegetation surveys were conducted at sites previously cleared by WfW teams (some as early as 1995) and paired with adjacent uncleared control sites. Initially, approximately 30 study sites were selected for investigation, which were refined to five suitable sites. The diversity and cover-abundance of plant species were surveyed in plots along transects within each pair of sites. Results showed that species diversity was significantly lower in cleared sites than in natural sites at Blyde river and Robbers Pass, while Graskop had significantly lower species diversity overall in both natural and cleared habitats. The NMDs plots showed that vegetation community assembly varied between cleared plots and open veldt across all sites, and more species were shared between sites in the Blyde river catchment and Pilgrims Rest. In addition, PERMANOVA results indicated that there were significant differences in plant communities between cleared and uncleared sites with lower species diversity in cleared plots. The study showed that despite areas being cleared for over ~25 years many important native species have not returned, and the communities remain different. Presumably, species recovery might not occur without some form of additional management, therefore restoration actions including monitoring of cleared sites should be considered to accelerate native vegetation recovery. In addition, landowner cooperation is critical to the success of WfW which seemed to be a challenge and needs to be strengthened to ensure improvement in the implementation of the programme.
This study concludes that there is a need for quantitative, long-term, post management evaluations and assessments of the impacts of the funding models on communities used in broad scale initiatives. This will ensure that both the benefits and the failures of the project can be accurately determined to ensure its continued development and success. In addition, WfW should have dedicated funding for research to provide valuable long-term capacity. Finally, WfW should develop long-term clearing management plans with clear and realistic goals for all priority areas, and progress towards those should be routinely monitored to ensure continued improvement in the implementation of the programme
Are admission laboratory values in isolation meaningful for predicting surgical outcome in patients with perforated peptic ulcers?
No full textBackground
The study aimed to calculate the predictive value of admission laboratory values in patients with perforated peptic ulcers.
Methods
A retrospective, cohort analytical, observational study was performed, including patients with surgically confirmed perforated peptic ulcers over a 5-year period. Demographic data and admission laboratory values were collected from hospital electronic databases. Outcomes measured were in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and length of stay. The significance of categorical variables was calculated by chi-square and Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine univariately statistically significant variables.
Results
In total, 188 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 46 (range 15–87) years with a male predominance of 71.3 % (n = 134). The median length of hospital stay was 7 (range 1–94) days and 31.4 % (n = 59) of patients were admitted to the ICU. Post-operative in-hospital mortality was 25.0 % (n = 47). Predicting the categorical outcome of in-hospital mortality, abnormal haemoglobin, platelet count, urea, creatinine and potassium levels were all found to be statistically significant in the univariate analysis. Age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03), haemoglobin (OR 4.36) and creatinine (OR 7.76) levels were significant in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusions
Mortality rate among patients with perforated peptic ulcer disease is still substantial. Admission laboratory values showed statistical significance as outcome indicators and were valuable to assist in predicting the prognosis. An abnormally high serum creatinine level was the strongest single predictor of both mortality and ICU admission.
Key message
Initial laboratory findings of patients admitted for perforated peptic ulcer showed that an abnormally high serum creatinine level was the strongest single predictor of both mortality and ICU admission.Publisher's versio
Integrating information and communication technologies into the teaching and learning of science in Lesotho
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Subject Education in Science & Technology))--University of the Free State, 2023Information and communication technology (ICT) integration in Basic education has been regarded a struggle in some countries, even though the value of technology in education is globally appreciated. Scholars recognised the underutilisation of ICT and many schools in developing countries either have no ICT infrastructure or conditions do not match those where training on ICT integration was held, Lesotho included. This qualitative multiple case study investigated how teachers use ICT in science, currently referred to as Science and Technology at Basic Education in Lesotho, from the interpretive perspective. Three purposively selected Grade 6 - 7 teachers were studied through the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) theory, supported with the High Possibility Classroom (HPC) model with their principals engaged in exit interviews. The study reveals the discourses that inform teachers’ ICT integration practices in Lesotho and document classroom practices of ICT integration into the teaching of science and technology in the reviewed curriculum. Lastly, it accounts for the way teachers integrate ICT into teaching of science in Lesotho. Findings from content analysis of interviews, classroom observations and policy framework revealed some interesting factors that contribute to the way teachers integrate ICT in Lesotho. Specifically, the study highlights the status of teachers’ exposure to productive discourses motivating ICT integration. It further reveals the selected teachers’ patterns of classroom practices of ICT integration, incorporating assessment of learners’ 21st-century skills and how contextual constraints to ICT integration were confronted. The study highlights pointers of ICT integration in the Policy frameworks and gaps in Curriculum and Assessment Policy, 2009 and the Science and Technology curriculum for Grade 7. The study recommends Continuous Professional Development for teachers to strengthen their ICT competences and pedagogy; teachers taking responsibility for improving their careers to fit into the global world; support for experienced ICT-integrating teachers to become model teachers for ICT pedagogy and developing Communities of Practice on ICT integration. The study proposed the model for effective ICT integration in primary schools that could inform the education system, curriculum developers, teachers and policy makers especially, of ICT policy for education in Lesotho currently at draft stage. The study further suggests direction for future studies