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Negotiating identity in indigenous space: rediscovering the Koranna tribe through temporal spatial dialogues between modernity and traditionality: a center for cultural discovery, Karannaberg, Free State, South Africa
No full textDissertation (M.Arch.(Architecture))--University of the Free State, 2023In the heart of the Korannaberg region in the Eastern Free State, South Africa, lies the last known 'home' of the Koranna, a long-lost tribe of Southern Africa. This spatial setting becomes the canvas for an ambitious architectural intervention aimed at reviving their fading culture - the establishment of a culturally responsive and sustainable research centre. The overarching argument of this thesis is supported by theories of critical regionalism and spatial-temporal tactics to design a place of remembrance for the Koranna tribe, a haven where their rich heritage can be both studied and taught. Despite the scarcity of surviving remnants, the proposed intervention aspires to evoke the essence of their ways of living, rituals, and stories. The re-search question guiding this exertion is: How can the imprints of memory within the Korannaberg region be harnessed to inform the architectural design of a culturally immersive and research-driven institution, capable of reimagining the essence and preserving the endangered legacy of the Koranna tribe? The goal is to breathe life into their forgotten history, crafting an institution that becomes a powerful beacon of cultural preservation and understanding
Exploring the influence of effective disciplinary strategies on English FAL educators’ self-efficacy
No full textDissertation (M.Ed.(Education in Languages))--University of the Free State, 2023In this study, I explored the influence of effective disciplinary strategies on the self-efficacy of English FAL educators, and further aimed at supporting educators on how to utilise effective disciplinary strategies that might enhance an educator’s self-efficacy. In this study, a literature search explored types of disciplinary challenges educators faced in the FET EFAL classroom. The literature survey also comprised literature that investigated how disciplinary challenges affected educator self-efficacy. Furthermore, it examined effective disciplinary strategies that might enhance educator self-efficacy in the FET EFAL classroom.
The study aimed to best explain the phenomenon under investigation, namely exploring the influence of classroom discipline and to suggest effective disciplinary strategies that would contribute to enhanced educator self-efficacy in the FET EFAL classroom. The specific theoretical frameworks that were applied in this study were those utilising Skinner’s Behaviourism and Bandura’s Self-efficacy. The study employed a qualitative approach, with focus placed on the interpretivist paradigm.
Individual, semi-structured interviews, observation, and open-ended questionnaires were employed to collect data from participants. There were 12 participants in total, who all taught EFAL, in four schools within the Motheo District in Bloemfontein. I used Thematic Analysis through identifying codes and deriving themes from the data. The use of Atlas.ti was employed to ensure reliability.
Key findings of the study offered a valuable understanding of the types of behavioural issues found in the FET EFAL classroom and of the influence of disruptive behaviours and challenging classroom environments on the emotional well-being and professional commitment of educators, thereby impacting on their self-efficacy. The study further highlighted the need for establishing discipline through the consistent enforcement of rules and regulations, as well as implementing seating arrangements that discourage disruptive conduct and promote a respectful relationship between educators and learners within the FET EFAL classroom
Language matters: exploring the language barriers between dietitians and mothers during nutrition counselling related to the first 1000 days of life
No full textDissertation(M.Sc.(Dietetics))--University of the Free State, 2023South Africa is a rich melting pot of culturally and linguistically diverse citizens. Historically, the development of indigenous South African languages has been stunted while English and Afrikaans were prioritized. There has been a growing concern by healthcare professionals to serve linguistically diverse patients. Dietitians often do not share the same language as their patients. The role of language is particularly important in nutrition education and assists in achieving behavioural change. The double burden of malnutrition is a serious public health concern. The first 1000 days of life refers to the critical period of development between conception and two years of age. Adequate nutritional care is invaluable during this period; without it, poor health outcomes will track into adulthood. Nutrition education is essential in addressing the double burden of malnutrition during the first 1000 days of life. It is well known that language barriers may lead to ineffective communication between dietitians and patients. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the language barriers between dietitians and Sesotho-speaking mothers during dietetic consultations related to the first 1000 days of life.
A phenomenological qualitative study design was used. A total of 22 dietitians were interviewed at ten public health institutions in the Free State province. The study involved unpacking the dietitians' lived experiences and collecting data through conversational interviewing techniques. The interviews were voice-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data was analysed and three major themes, with subthemes, were identified.
Most participants were White Africans who spoke Afrikaans as their first language; the rest were Black Africans and spoke various indigenous South African languages. Many reported experiencing language barriers, including, amongst others, dietitians lacking proficiency in Sesotho, the predominantly spoken local language. Other issues included mothers lacking proficiency in English or Afrikaans and some Sesotho- speaking mothers' resistance to receiving healthcare services in English. The role of power and privilege in language was also highlighted. Furthermore, the dietitians reported difficulty in explaining nutrition concepts in Sesotho. Strategies were identified to overcome the language barriers, including interpreters, visual aids, codeswitching, language learning and nutritional education in Sesotho.
Despite the country's eleven official languages, there is limited research on language barriers in healthcare within the South African context. This study provides evidence of language barriers experienced by dietitians and mothers of young children in a Free State public health setting and highlights that practical solutions are crucial to ensure the success of healthcare interventions as language barriers between dietitians and mothers result in communication gaps, which impact nutrition outcomes, particularly in the first 1000 days of life. It is recommended that the research be repeated for different professions and indigenous languages to explore the true complexity of language barriers in the South African healthcare system. The study also highlights the lack of research regarding appropriate Sesotho nutrition and medical terminologies. Therefore, this study provided a rationale for developing a Sesotho nutrition glossary
The influence of emotional intelligence and mindfulness on self-leadership among graduates in the early career stage
No full textDissertation (M.Com.(Industrial Psychology))--University of the Free State, 2023The study embarked on a comprehensive examination of the intricate dynamics among emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and self-leadership within the context of early-career graduates, aiming to discern the extent to which emotional intelligence and mindfulness influenced self-leadership. A secondary objective involved exploring gender differences in self-leadership levels. Employing a non-experimental, quantitative survey research design, electronic self-administered questionnaires collected data from 160 participants enrolled in a Free State higher education institution.
The study applied Multiple Regression Analysis to unravel the relationships under scrutiny. Significantly, the analysis revealed a positive relationship between emotional intelligence and self-leadership. Higher emotional intelligence levels were associated with elevated self-leadership behaviours, aligning with existing literature (Chen & Liang, 2013). This finding underscored the pivotal role of emotional intelligence in shaping effective leadership behaviours, emphasising the importance of emotional regulation and awareness in fostering self-directed leadership skills (Goleman et al., 2002).
In the context of mindfulness and self-leadership, the analysis yielded no statistically significant relationship. This nuanced finding suggested that, within the specific parameters of this study, mindfulness may not directly predict self-leadership behaviours among early-career graduates. This outcome prompted further exploration into the distinct impacts of emotional intelligence and mindfulness on self-leadership, providing a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted interplay among these constructs.
The study underscored the critical role of emotional intelligence in influencing self-directed leadership skills, evidenced by the positive correlation established through multiple regression analysis. The findings aligned with Chen and Liang’s (2013) findings, highlighting the positive correlation between emotional intelligence and self-leadership components such as self-awareness and self-regulation. The study thus contributed to the theoretical understanding of the influential factors shaping self-leadership behaviours among early-career graduates.
The finding also indicated gender difference in self-leadership levels, with females demonstrating higher levels of self-leadership than their male counterparts. The statistical significance of this difference added a noteworthy dimension to the exploration of self-leadership, suggesting potential gender-related nuances in leadership behaviours among early-career professionals. However, caution was advised in interpreting these results due to potential measurement variance, emphasising the need for further exploration in future studies.
In conclusion, this study not only enriched the understanding of the relationships between emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and self-leadership but also uncovered gender-related disparities in self-leadership levels among early-career graduates. The implications extended to the fields of career and industrial-organisational psychology, providing valuable insights for practitioners, and laying the groundwork for future research endeavours. The recommendations for future research, including the integration of established emotional intelligence competency models and exploration of context-specific mindfulness interventions, aimed to enhance the depth and generalisability of findings in diverse contexts (Goleman & Boyatzis, 2007; Dane & Brummel, 2014)
Determining the usability, user experience, and continuance use of a mobile application and an online portal: A comparative case study
No full textDissertation (M.Sc.(Computer Science and Informatics))--University of the Free State, 2023Background: The increasing number of users with access to the internet, computers, and mobile devices propels most institutions to avail their services through online portals and mobile applications. However, these online portals and mobile applications depend on users utilising them. There are instances where users underutilise or completely opt out of these platforms. The reasons may include poor usability and negative user experience. This is a cause for concern since funds are invested in their development with the anticipated return on investment.
Aim: This study aimed to compare the usability, user experience, and continuance use of a regulatory institution's mobile application and online portal with respect to performance, user satisfaction, and continuance intentions.
Methodology: This single case study followed an explanatory sequential design, wherein the initial phase consisted of data collection using a self-administered questionnaire (quantitative phase). For the second phase, the data was collected using an interview protocol (qualitative phase). The self-administered questionnaire compared the usability, user experience, and continuance use of the mobile application and the online portal. The interview protocol was used to further explain the quantitative results. Participant recruitment used systematic random sampling for the quantitative phase and purposive sampling for the qualitative phase. The analytical approach involved descriptive and inferential statistics, and thematic analysis.
Findings: The results established that the online portal was more usable than the mobile application; users had a positive user experience with the online portal and were more likely to use the online portal in future, but not so much with the mobile application. The contributing factors to the online portal findings were its efficiency, user-friendliness, understandability, and learnability. In addition, inefficiency, errors, limited functionality, and lack of user-friendliness issues were identified as contributors to the mobile application's negative experience and moderate usability. Regarding continuance use, the quantitative and qualitative results suggested that participants were keen to use the online portal in the future. However, the quantitative results for the mobile application indicated that the participants did not have interest in using the mobile application again in future, despite the interview results indicating otherwise. Participants identified improvement in efficiency and visual appeal as conditions for their future re-use of the mobile application
The effects of on chaperone-mediated autophagy in human HepG₂ liver cancer cells
No full textDissertation (MMed.Sc.((Physiology))--University of the Free State, 2023: The impact of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is most significant in developing countries, including South Africa. Emerging evidence suggests that the cell survival mechanism, chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), promotes HCC tumour progression and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. Current treatment approach for HCC is guided by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Treatment Strategy (BCLTS), which recommends different treatment approaches depending on the level of tumour progression. Despite their efficacy, currently available chemotherapeutic options have numerous limitations such acquired resistance, recurrence, and hypertension. To address these limitations, phytochemical extracts are increasingly being investigated for the anti-cancer potential. The phytochemical extracts of the medicinal plant, Moringa oleifera (MO) have been shown to induce apoptosis of HCC cells. MO leaves have the greatest abundance of phytochemicals displaying anticancer potential. Investigating the interplay between all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), a potential inhibitor of CMA, and MO regarding their effects on CMA holds potential in identifying adjuvant therapeutic approaches for treatment modalities for HCC.
: This study aimed to investigate the effects of MO aqueous leaf extract on CMA activity in human HepG₂ cancer cells.
: HepG₂ cells were cultured and exposed to MO and ATRA for 24 hours. Thereafter, a cell viability assay was performed and an inhibition concentration 50 (IC50) was determined which was used for all subsequent experiments. The cells were allocated to three treatment groups: MO, ATRA and a combination group of MO and ATRA. A Caspase-Glo™ cell death assay and western blot analysis were also conducted to evaluate changes in lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2A (LAMP2A) and hexokinase II (HK2) protein expression levels.
: The cell viability assay results displayed a concentration-dependent decline in reductive capacity following MO and ATRA exposures. An IC₅₀ of 1415 μM (ATRA) and 2198 μg/mL (MO) were observed. The cell death assay revealed decreased caspase-9 activity following the respective treatment exposures. There was a corresponding decline in caspase-3/7 activity following respective treatment exposures, except for MO, where an increase in caspase-3/7 activity was observed. Western blot analysis showed a decline in the expression of LAMP2A and a corresponding increase in the expression of the CMA cargo protein HK2.
: The results revealed that MO and ATRA could inhibit the growth and proliferation of HCC cells, offering a promising adjuvant therapeutic approach against HCC. Further investigation into these compounds and their underlying mechanisms of action may contribute to developing novel treatment modalities for HCC
Bedside teaching in optometry: a millennial view on an ancient teaching and learning method
No full textBackground: Bedside teaching is a key component of a positive learning environment where non-technical skills and professional attributes can be taught. It is also one of the few ways to transfer professionalism: a core competency in a health science curriculum. This study investigated the experiences and perceptions of optometry students on bedside teaching to improve its effectiveness, and tailor it to the needs of the millennial generation students.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the experiences and perceptions of optometry students on bedside teaching (apprenticeship) during an ocular pathology clinic.
Setting: The study was done at the Department of Optometry at the University of the Free State, South Africa.
Methods: A qualitative case study was undertaken. All 17 final-year optometry students (N = 17) were invited to participate. Data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire. Content analysis was used to analyse the experiences and perceptions of the participants.
Results: Bedside teaching is a generally well-perceived experience from the student’s perspective. The role of the supervisor was mentioned as the critical factor that facilitated learning, specifically learning by observing the application of theory and handling and treatment of the patient.
Conclusion: This study showed that millennial students perceived bedside teaching positively and provided valuable insights into this teaching and learning method in an undergraduate optometry clinical education setting. Experiential learning benefited these millennial students who prefer learning by observation.
Contribution: A blueprint for the learning triad in bedside teaching is provided for optometry educators to apply this teaching and learning method successfully according to the needs of the current generation of students.Publisher's versio
Characteristics of fluid electrical conductivity (FEC) profiles associated with a contaminant plume in porous and weathered basement aquifer systems
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Geohydrology))--University of the Free State, 2023The fluid electrical conductivity (FEC) profiling method has been commonly applied to aid in the compilation of site-specific conceptual models and understanding of the subsurface environment. Although research has recently been conducted to help improve the knowledge and understanding of the evolution of FEC profiles under natural and saline contaminated environments within the fractured-rock aquifer system, a research gap still exists for such studies in other aquifer types. The type of aquifer system plays a significant role in determining the migration patterns and behaviour of contaminants. Therefore, it is expected that the evolution of FEC profiles in different aquifer systems will vary, and this needs to be understood. It is against this background that this research aimed to investigate the behaviour of FEC profiles associated with a saline contaminant plume in typical unconfined porous and weathered basement aquifer systems, using laboratory-based aquifer models. This was done to improve the conceptual understanding of contaminant migration within these aquifer systems, which will essentially improve the interpretation of their FEC profiles. To achieve this, two physical models were developed in the laboratory to represent an unconfined porous aquifer system and a weathered basement aquifer system. The performance of the models was evaluated and tested, and subsequently used to investigate the progression of FEC profiles associated with a saline contaminant plume. The outcome of the laboratory tests was also verified in the field. This study also explored the effects that the distance of a source from a monitoring point would have on the shape of FEC profiles. Unlike previous studies which conducted the FEC profiling technique under induced groundwater flow, this study investigated the efficiency of a non-invasive approach of applying the method under natural gradient conditions. From the analysis of profiles obtained within the two simulated aquifer systems conceptual profiles were developed.
Within the unconfined porous aquifer system, FEC profiles recorded from the borehole located closer to the source were notably different from the FEC profiles recorded from a borehole positioned further away from the source, thus it was evident that the distance of a monitoring point from the source influenced the orientation of the plume, and ultimately the resulting FEC profile. This brought to light the phenomenon of “plume orientation”. The orientation of the plume is usually disregarded in groundwater models and assessments, however this research showed that it is an important aspect which can be used to assist with FEC data interpretation and contaminated site characterisation studies. The orientation of the plume was strongly influenced by the magnitude of the forces acting upon it, primarily the gravitational and advection force. Closer to the source, the plume took on a vertical to sub-vertical orientation, whereas as the plume continued to migrate further away from the source it aligned with the flow lines of the system which resulted in a horizontal orientation. From the analysis of the weathered basement aquifer system two distinct signatures were identified and conceptualised: the low FEC profile and the elevated FEC profile. The low FEC profile not only represented a profile captured under natural conditions in the absence of contamination, but also represented a profile that would be observed when the majority of the contaminant has passed the borehole and the system was in the process of re-establishing initial conditions. It had three distinct zones: the weathered zone, transition zone, and the impermeable zone. The elevated FEC conceptual profile was associated with contaminated groundwater conditions within the weathered basement aquifer system. It had two distinct zones: the weathered zone and the impermeable zone
Characterisation of evapotranspiration in the Orange River Basin of South Africa-Lesotho with climate and MODIS data
No full textEvapotranspiration (ET) is crucial to the management of water supplies and the functioning of numerous terrestrial ecosystems. To understand and propose planning strategies for water-resource and crop management, it is critical to examine the geo-temporal patterns of ET in drought-prone areas such as the Upper Orange River Basin (UORB) in South Africa. While information on ET changes is computed from directly observed parameters, capturing it through remote sensing is inexpensive, consistent, and feasible at different space–time scales. Here, we employed the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived spectral indices within Google Earth Engine (GEE) to analyze and characterize patterns of ET over the UORB from 2003 to 2021, in association with various climatic parameters. Our results show spatially consistent ET patterns with the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), with lower values in the west, increasing toward the eastern section of the basin, over the Lesotho highlands. We noted that the UORB faced significant variability in ET and VCI during pronounced drought episodes. The random forests (RF) model identified precipitation, temperature, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)-6, Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), and VCI as variables of high importance for ET variability, while the wavelet analysis confirmed the coherence connectivity between these variables with periodicities ranging from eight to 32 months, suggesting a strong causal influence on ET, except for PDSI, that showed an erratic relationship. Based on the sequential Mann–Kendall test, we concluded that evapotranspiration has exhibited a statistically downward trend since 2011, which was particularly pronounced during the dry periods in 2015–2016, 2019, and 2021. Our study also confirmed the high capacity of the GEE and MODIS-derived indices in mapping consistent geo-temporal ET patterns.Publisher's versio
Strengthening Namibia's flood early warning system through a critical gap analysis
No full textFloods are considered leading hydrometeorological disasters, which are increasing in frequency, intensity and complexity with the evolution of climate change. Their associated impacts have detrimental and often prolonged implications for humankind, especially communities heavily reliant on the natural environment. The development and implementation of effective flood early warning systems (FEWSs) can serve to enhance coping strategies and strengthen the adaptive capacities of target communities while simultaneously minimising flood risks. However, shortcomings related to the lack of information on the operationalisation of these systems, the technical and financial requirements, the challenges faced and the directives related to their implementation have persisted, subverting risk reduction efforts at the grassroots level. Using data from key informant interviews and focus group discussions, this study employed a systematic analysis of the official Namibian flood early warning system based on the system’s implementation in Kabbe, Namibia. The study results revealed a need for significant changes across all system components as the FEWS follows a top-down, disintegrated and response-driven approach. Roles are undefined among institutions; funding is inadequate; and community risk perceptions, coping capacities and participation are disregarded. Based on the study findings, the researchers recommend significant changes in the design and application of the system, urging practitioners to recognise FEWSs as the continuous and integrated tools that they are.Publisher's versio