11613 research outputs found
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Physiological, biochemical and root proteome responses of maize seedlings to drought stress
No full textDissertation (M.Sc.(Botany))--University of the Free State, 2022A primary limiting factor for maize during its growing period is drought stress. With the decrease in yield and biomass triggered by drought stress in maize, drought has become a critical issue that must be considered due to the changing climate conditions. This study aimed to comparatively analyse the morpho-physiological, biochemical and root proteome changes of two maize varieties in response to drought stress. In this study, two maize varieties CN07/8-224 and CN07/8-292 with unknown drought phenotypes were used. The plant growth experiments were conducted in a growth chamber for mild stress with ~ 54% and ~48% of soil moisture content and a greenhouse for severe stress with ~51% and ~43% soil moisture content. In both growth experiments, 7-day-old maize seedlings were exposed to a 14-day drought stress treatment, while continuing to water the controls every other day. Thereafter, a range of morpho-physiological parameters such as shoot and root length/weight, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll and carotenoid content were measured. In addition, biochemical parameters such as the level of lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxide (APX) were measured. The root proteome was analysed using the isobaric tags for absolute and relative quantitation (iTRAQ) method coupled with liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry to identify differentially expressed proteins in response to drought stress. To annotate the proteins, bioinformatics studies were carried out by using the UniProt and InterPro databases. The Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and protein families were allocated to each protein that showed differential expression in response to the drought stress. Then, the proteins were functionally categorized using a modified version of the Bevan classification scheme. The results of the study showed some significant differences between the drought treated plants and control plants of CN07/8-224 and CN07/8-292, as well as between the maize varieties. Results indicated that both maize varieties experienced reductions in chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids during drought stress. In addition, there were differences in the amounts of chlorophyll that accumulated in the various varieties. These reductions may be attributed to a reduced water supply observed in soil moisture content, which reduced the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in maize plants. However, only the drought-stressed CN07/8-224 maize variety lengthened its roots to adapt to limited water supply. Higher lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide levels correlated with increased antioxidant activities of CN07/8-292 drought-stressed roots as compared to control plants. This could be because there was more significant ROS detoxification under drought stress, which led to higher activities of SOD and APX in comparison to control plants. The root samples of CN07/8-224 and CN07/8-292 maize varieties were used to conduct iTRAQ analysis. A total of 1 232 and 1 558 proteins were positively identified in CN07/8-224 and CN07/8-292 varieties, respectively in response to mild drought stress conditions. A total of 116 and 146 of these proteins were responsive to the mild stress. The CN07/8-224 and CN07/8-292 varieties shared seven drought-responsive proteins, while the rest were unique to each variety. Collectively, the drought responsive proteins of both maize varieties were involved in primary/secondary metabolism, disease defence, and protein synthesis, all of which are involved in the response of maize varieties to drought. However, the expression of drought responsive proteins varied across the maize varieties. Overall, physiological and biochemical results have shown how the CN07/8-224 and CN07/8-292 maize varieties responded to drought stress using a range of mechanisms. In addition, strong root system architecture, as shown by higher root length and fresh root weight in CN07/8-224 variety under drought stress, could be responsible for the improved growth and greater stress tolerance. On the other hand, CN07/8-292 variety might happen to be sensitive to drought stress relative to CN07/8-224 based on the observed results. The obtained results would help researchers to find solutions on the impact of gene expression under drought
Analysis of dissolution trapping mechanisms on CO₂ plume: Carbon capture and storage
No full textDissertation (M.Sc.(Geohydrology))--University of the Free State, 2022The practice of carbon capture and storage effectively lowers greenhouse gas emissions and mitigates climate change and global warming. To determine whether long-term geological CO₂ sequestration is safe and practical, scientists have increasingly relied on model-based predictions of CO₂ behavior beneath the earth's surface in recent years. This investigation aims to get a firm grasp of the CO₂ dissolution trapping process and mathematical models depicting the behavior of the CO₂ convective dissolution process (Fingering) in saline aquifers. This comprehension will eventually help to ensure that the CO₂ plume stays inside the designated locations of CO₂ storage. The approach involved employing the concept of fractional differentiation by replacing the classical time derivative with the Caputo, Caputo Fabrizio, and Atangana Baleanu fractional derivative. To analyze the finger development process using three non-local operators: Power law, exponential law, and Mittag-Leffler function. Equally important, through performing linear stability analysis, we considered the stability evolution equation for the perturbation, which incorporated the exponential law and thus resulted in a memoryless function. We then replaced the exponential kernel with the Mittag-Leffler kernel to the perturbation equation to modify it into a process that has memory. By incorporating the Mittag-Leffler kernel into the perturbation equation, we suggest a new approach that provides a more accurate, robust, and efficient solution algorithm to capture finger development. In conclusion, we demonstrated some numerical simulations obtained using MATLAB
Exploring school safety models adopted by selected high schools in Berea district, Lesotho
No full textDissertation (M.Ed.(Policy in Education))--University of the Free State, 2022Cases of violence in schools suggest that schools are not safe enough to promote effective teaching and learning, though schools need to be conducive and free from any form of violence. In line with the Constitution, documents such as the Child and Welfare Act and Education Act documents that govern schools, advocate for safety in schools (Kingdom of Lesotho, 2010). This study is a qualitative case study conducted within the interpretivism paradigm. The aim was to explore safety models in specific high schools in the Berea district of Lesotho. To achieve this aim, literature on models of school safety, school safety policies, measures for ensuring school safety and violence in schools were reviewed. Data was generated using document analysis, focus group and individual interviews. Five principals from five selected high schools and three teachers from each of the five high schools took part in this study. To analyse the data, invitational theory which emphasises the importance of creating friendly and inviting environment was used as a lens. This theory asserts that in the creation of a friendly environment, principles such as trust, respect, optimism, as well as intentionality play a vital role.
Findings revealed that there are still cases of violence prevalent in schools some of which are perpetrated by teachers and learners. It was also observed that teachers still use corporal punishment as a way of disciplining learners and there are learners who still bully others in schools. The study recommends cooperation between teachers and police to try and improve safety in schools as well as abolishing corporal punishment which is prevalent in schools to protect learners from any form of harm. The role played by the Ministry of Education and Training to ensure safety in schools should be clarified and all documents with directives that ensure safety in schools be put into practice
The effectiveness of the national school nutrition programme (NSNP) in alleviating hunger amongst Quintile 1 school learners in Tzaneen circuit
No full textDissertation (MDS (Development Studies))--University of the Free State, 2022The fight against hunger is globally envisaged by the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) which talks about ending hunger by 2030. The National Development Plans (NDPs) of many countries, including South Africa, further conform to the SDG's aims of promoting the end of hunger among children and women. The Constitution of South Africa Act No. 8 of 1994 further endorsed the children's rights. As a result, school feeding as one of the programmes to alleviate short term hunger was resuscitated. The SDG 2 gave impetus to the school feeding programme in South Africa and in other countries. The NDPs were launched in different countries with a focus on ending hunger and promoting the welfare of the people (development of the people). The feeding programme in South Africa was relaunched in 1994 and it was called the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). The study focused on the effects of the NSNP in alleviating the hunger of the school learners in the Tzaneen Circuit. The schools are quintile 1 as they are located on the farms around the Tzaneen town. The study employed the utilitarian and the theory of change concepts which align with the intervention programme for the happiness and the well-being of most people. The majority of the learners are from disadvantaged homes and are found in the quintile 1 schools. Thus, the programme is crucial for this cohort of learners as most of their parents cannot afford proper meals. The school meals remain the hope of these children, by keeping them happy and well in their school journey. The decentralised model was piloted at the farm schools in the Tzaneen Circuit, and it was preferred by the schools over the centralised model. The latter is not favoured due to the challenges such as the late deliveries, the delivery of low-quality products and the lack of flexibility. On the one hand, through the decentralised model, the schools buy, save money, choose suitable food items, and terminate contracts with retailers where necessary. As a result, the school learners benefit greatly as when there are leftovers the needy identified learners get food parcels to take home for the holidays. The model strides critically to alleviate these learners' short term hunger challenges to ensure their well-being. The introduction of a decentralised model in phases will increase the rollout of the school feeding programme as the programme will end in six years. The rigorous monitoring of the programme will ensure its success and it will guard against any mischievous usage of the resources. The role of the NSNP was crucial during the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) peak, as the children were able to access food even though there was no schooling. The organisations such as Section 27, the Equal Education Law Centre and Equal Education ensured that the children's rights were safeguarded. They ensured that the children who were not at school or those who were learning at home due to COVID-19 also received food. They approached the high court, which enforced the offering of meals to the learners by the Department of Basic Education. Scholar transport also adds great value to the children's education and to their access to the school meals. Without scholar transport, many learners may not be able to go to school and they will not be able to access meals as they are from poor backgrounds. Most learners rely on the school meals as their parents cannot afford food. Therefore, the DBE and the Provincial Departments partnerships with the stakeholders such as the other departments, the Non -Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the Private Sector and the Community Based Organisations (CBOs) is crucial for the success of the NSNP
Social entrepreneurship and community development: The case of the Centre of Faith, Universitas, Bloemfontein
No full textDissertation (MDS (Development Studies))--University of the Free State, 2022A case study about the Centre of Faith, Universitas, Bloemfontein, represents a
scenario where social entrepreneurship allows the Centre to develop the community.
The research focuses on what the volunteers contribute to assisting community
development through the social entrepreneurship approach and strategies the
volunteers use to cultivate community development. By examining what defines volunteering, social entrepreneurship, and community
development, the researcher highlights the relationship between the three aspects and
how these aspects play a role in the South African context. The research project was
based on a qualitative case study. Data was collected through individual interviews,
then using thematical analysing to interpret the data. The research ends by discussing the limitations and concludes with the three aspects
of the study: social entrepreneurship, community, and volunteering. The investigation
ultimately indicates the relationship between these three aspects and their interaction;
how the three aspects work together, depend on one another, and interlock between
the three aspects. The Centre of Faith indicated that relationships or connections
between the community and development projects are necessary. The case study
signified the importance of social networks among communities, social enterprises,
and the project organiser. Thus, sharing knowledge and resources is essential to
ensure community development
A South African disaster legislative perspective of information management and communication systems
No full text: Establishing a disaster information management and communication system (IMCS) is a mandate of the South African National Disaster Management Framework of 2005 (NDMF). The inception of such systems is supposed to be at the initial set-up of disaster management centres. The comprehensive functioning of a disaster centre will require an interoperable system that can collect, process, store and disseminate data. The lack of such a system might result in poor disaster risk reduction (DRR) and ineffective response.
: This article identified and described IMCSs from the South African disaster policy perspective.
: Qualitative in-depth interviews were used to investigate the status quo of all nine provincial disaster management centres (PDMCs) regarding the existence, functioning and understanding of IMCSs. The NDMF informed the interview questions administered to 29 purposively selected participants. Themes from descriptions by informants were used to analyse the data.
: All the centres operating for more than 10 years lack integrated IMCSs. The disaster managers perceive IMCSs as more information technology, computers and other physical devices and less human input systems and governance capabilities. The lack of integrated and well-governed disaster information and communication affects disaster management operations and service delivery mandate.
: To date, no studies have explored the establishment and management of interoperable IMCSs in disaster management centres. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature on disaster information and communication discourse and practical contributions to improve the capacity of PDMCs. This article provides insight into the significance of IMCS for building resilient communities and recommendations for establishing and maintaining the systems.Publisher's versio
The socio-economic impact of mining on the livelihoods of Liqhobong village mining communities
No full textDissertation (MBA. (Business Administration))--University of the Free State, 2022Lesotho is a mountainous country found in southern Africa and surrounded by South Africa. The economy of Lesotho relies heavily on the textile sector, remittances from its citizens who live and work in South Africa, agriculture, and income from the Southern African Customs Union to survive (Central Bank of Lesotho 2021:3). According to the Lesotho Central Bank (2021:12), the nation also exports water, clothes, wool and mohair, as well as diamonds. The majority of this population’s economic activities include subsistence farming and animal herding as nearly three-quarters of the country’s people reside in rural areas (Lesotho Bureau of Statistics 2018a:59). Agriculture has been the main driver of economic growth in Lesotho for many years. However, the contribution of agriculture to the economy has decreased as a result of periodic droughts and land degradation brought on by subpar farming methods (Makhetha 2017:22). Furthermore, Makhetha (2017) notes that the drop was exacerbated by labour migration to South African mines, which increased the ability of more families to support themselves and reduced their reliance on agriculture. The discovery of diamonds in the country resulted in a change in commercial interest. The United National Development Programme (UNDP) (2014:2) claims that the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho recognises the expanding economic significance of the mining industry, which is affected by diamond mining. In the upcoming fiscal years, the industry is predicted to contribute a rising trend of 5% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to the UNDP (2014), the government has identified diamond mining and important water projects as the key “accelerators of growth” for the 2012/2013-2016/2017 implementation period of the National Strategic Development Plan. The Lesotho Chamber of Mines (2018:20) emphasised the importance of the diamond mining business in Lesotho by stating that the sector produces an estimated 3 000 direct jobs and roughly 5 000 indirect jobs, which is consistent with the UNDP Report from 2014. The Chamber of Mines (2018) claims that despite its modest employment contribution owing to the high degree of mechanisation of the industry, mining has a major economic impact on the nation. In addition to the findings of the UNDP and the Chamber of Mines, the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics reported that the mining sector contributed 6,5% to the GDP during the 2018/2019 fiscal year, ranking it as the fifth largest contributor (Lesotho Bureau of Statistics 2019:88). In particular, developing nations such as Lesotho have turned into investment destinations for diamond mining owing to the anticipated development in demand for mineral resources as nations adopted a favourable policy toward the mining sector. Foreign direct investment was attracted owing to an improvement of the policy environment. The socio-economic and ecological conditions have changed as a result of the increase in foreign direct investment mainly in rural areas. The extractive sector produces unfavourable externalities that result in permanent changes to the local natural conditions, harming the local economy and jeopardising the viability of local livelihood systems (Maliganya & Paul 2013:1)
Whiteness and destitution: Deconstructing whiteness and white privilege in postcolonial Zimbabwe
No full textThesis (Ph.D. (Africa Studies))--University of the Free State, 2022This research entailed an ethnographic and netnographic study of white destitution to establish how white destitution is understood and framed differently in the changing material and political contexts of Zimbabwe. This research documented and analysed the narratives of those facing destitution at the Braeside Salvation Army Centre, including those in the streets of the Northern suburbs of Harare. It also explored the manifestations of destitution among these people as well as the attitudes and beliefs of members of dedicated expatriate Facebook groups regarding the issue of white destitution. Furthermore, using these narratives, the research explored how destitution is understood in ways that (re)produce white nationalism, white supremacy, racism and, in some extreme cases, anti-blackness. This study also examined the mechanisms in which white solidarity, white racial iconoclasm and escapism manifest through philanthropic help given to white people facing destitution through engaging with these narratives. The analysis was guided by a postcolonial intersectional whiteness lens combining key concepts from postcolonial theory such as notions of difference and hybridity by Homi Bhabha, an array of concepts associated with whiteness studies, intersectionality theory borrowed from feminist theory cross-fertilised with the works of Frantz Fanon, and Michel Foucault’s notion of heterotopia. This lens offered a useful approach to studying the phenomenon of white destitution within a qualitative research methodology. The conceptually rich theoretical framework facilitated the in-depth understanding of the empirical data and allowed for the problematising of the notion of ‘whiteness’ beyond the limits of the current theoretical boundaries in whiteness studies. The study contributed to examining the making of national racial history through transnational and global linkages, practices, philosophies, and professional and personal associations. The major contribution of this research can be described as problematising white social identity through intersectionality, which revealed that ‘whiteness’ functions as a complicated continuum of privilege and dependency rather than a static and homogenous bloc.
___________________________________________________________________Tsvagurudzo ino yakaitwa nenzira yeongororo yemafungiro nemaonero evanhu mutsika nemagariro avo pamwe neyeongororo yemawadzanirano evanhu padandemutande iyo iri pamusoro pekushaya cheuviri kwevachena. Chinyorwa chinochinoburitsa pachena manzwisisirwo eurombo hwevachena uye kuti hunotsanangurwa zvakasiyana-siyana zvichienderana nemasandukiro emamiriro ezveupfumi nematongerwo enyika muZimbabwe. Itsvagurudzo inotsigirwa nezvinyorwa pamwe nekuongorora ngano dzevachena vanotambudzika paMuzinda weBraeside Salvation Army Centre neavo vari mumigwagwa yemisha iri Kumaodzanyemba kweguta reHarare. Gwaro rino rinoongorora zvekare maonekerwo eurombo muvanhu ava uyezve nemafungiro nematendero enhengo dzemapoka akazvipira emaFesibhuku ezvizvarwa zvedzimwe nyika zvine muono wekuti Zimbabwe inyika yavo yechipikirwa nezvimwe zvizvarwa zvechichenzveZimbabwe maringe nenyaya yehurombo kwevachena. Kubva mungano idzi, gwaro rino rinoongorora manzwisisirwo anoitwa urombo hwevachena nenzira dzinoburitsa shuviro yekuzvitonga kuzere kwavachena, kuzvitutumadza kwavachena, rusaruraganda, kubatana kwavachena apo vanenge vaine fungidziro yekuti zvido zvavo zvinoita sezvinomhurwa uye kutaridza ruvengo rwukuru rwevatemaOngororo ino
yakaedza zvakare kuongorora kubva mungano dzavachena mabudire anoita kubatana kwavachena, kuzvitutumadza kwavachena nekuedza kunzvenga chokwadi kunoita vachena apo vanenge vachipanana batsiro yekurwisana nehurombo pakati pavo. Ongororo iyi inotungamirwa neziso repfungwa yeuchena yekubatana kweurongwa hwekusaenzana munyika dzakambodzvanyirirwa nedzimwe ichibwerengedza pfungwa dzakakosha dzehwaro hwemaonero epfungwa dzeupenyu hwevanhu vakambogara muudzvanyiriri hwakaita semanzwisisirwo ekusiyana kwezvinhu/vanhu pamwe nemusanganiswa wetsika dzinobva kuna Homi Bhabha, ungwanda-ungwanda hwepfungwa dzinofambidzana nezvidzidzo zveuchena, pfungwa yekubatana kweurongwa hunokonzera kusaenzana dzakakweretwa kubva kupfungwa yemaonero yehunhukadzi ichisanganisa nepfungwa dzezvinyorwa zvaFrantz Fanon, pamwe nepfungwa yaMichel Foucault yenzvimbo dzehurukuro dzakasiyana nedzimwe. Maonero aya akapa nzira ine budiriro yekudzidza pamusoro pezvechiitiko cheurombo hwevachena kuri muhwaro hwenzira yetsvagurudzo inokoshesa kubudisa chokwadi kuburikidza neongororo yemafungiro nemaonero evanhu mutsika nemagariro. Hwaro hwepfungwa yemaonero hwakapfuma kudai hwakabatsira kunzwisisa kwakadzama kwemashoko ekuzvionera pachezvako uye kwakabvumira kuti zano re‘uchena’ rive dambudziko rinoda tsvagurudzo inodarika mberi kwemiganhu yepfungwa dzehwaro hwemaonero amazuvano muzvidzidzo zveuchena. Tsvagurudzo ino inowedzera ruzivo maererano nezvekuongororwa kwemaumbirwo enhoroondo yenyika yezvemarudzi kuburikidza nezvekudyidzana pakati penyika nepasi rose, tsika, pfungwa dzakadzama, uye newadzano dzezveunyanzvi hwemabasa nemunhu pachezvake. Wedzero huru yetsvagurudzo ino kuruzivo inokwanisa kutsanangurwa kuburikidza nekutora chimiro chemagariro evachena sedambudziko rinoda tsvagurudzo kuburikudza nepfungwa yekusangana kweurongwa hwekusaenzana, iyo yakaburitsa pachena kuti ‘uchena’ hunoshanda semuronda wakaoma wekodzero nekurarama uye nekubatsirwa
nevamwe, pane kuonekwa sechimisikidzwa chisingasanduke uye chine zviri machiri zvakangofanana.
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Characterization of the endophytic mycobiome in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) from a single location using illumina sequencing
No full textCowpea is an important crop for small-scale farmers in poor areas but is also being developed for commercial agriculture as a possible substitute for commercial legumes. Endophytic fungi are omnipresent and play crucial but diverse roles in plants. This study characterized the endophyte component of the cowpea mycobiome from leaves, main and crown stems and roots using Illumina MiSeq of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal operon. Ascomycetes exhibited the highest diversity, with Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) assigned as Macrophomina, Cladosporium, Phoma, Fusarium and Cryptococcus, among the most dominant genera. Certain MOTUS showed preferential colonization patterns for above or below ground tissues. Several MOTU generic groups known to include phytopathogenic species were found, with relative abundances ranging from high to very low. Phylogenetic analyses of reads for some MOTUs showed that a level of identification could be obtained to species level. It also confirmed the absences of other species, including phytopathogens. This is the first study that adopted a holistic metagenomic typing approach to study the fungal endophytes of cowpea from a single location, a crop that is so integral for low-income households of the world.Publisher's versio
Rethinking the priestly formation of St. John Vianney Seminary: A critical practical theological analysis
No full textThesis (Ph.D. (Practical and Missional Theology))--University of the Free State, 2022St John Vianney Seminary was established in response to the requirements made by Pope Benedict XV in 1919 to have indigenous priests trained and formed in their own countries. He emphasised that European missionaries train and value indigenous clergy so that one day they can be able to take spiritual leadership of their people. However, in South Africa, the apartheid laws brought in racial formation. This is why St John Vianney Seminary initially was established for white priest candidates only. But later on, when the political climate was conducive, in 1978, it merged with St Peter's Seminary, which had been for black candidates only. In its history, St John Vianney shared the sufferings, struggles, and liberation of South Africans. Since democracy in 1994, formators and seminarians have dominantly been black, and this has encouraged and enriched Inculturation. The encouragement of Pope Benedict XV, therefore, has borne fruit because today African priests get adequate faith formation to be missionaries of accepted quality. To enrich their pastoral ministry in taking the laity seriously in the Church, recent priestly formation documents encourage the holistic integrated priestly formation aimed at empowering priests for the fulfilment of their mandate in the mission of the Church and formation of the laity. The findings of this study revealed a gap between formation of parishioners, priests, and formators, implementation, and involvement in the mission of the Church in South Africa. In their position within the structure of the Church, participants were asked to define their call as parishioners, priests, and formators to locate their role in the mission of God and the mission of the Church. Participants provided suggestions to be considered for change in priestly formation to enable priests to fulfil their mission and ministry efficiently in the multicultural democratic South African society. For the Church to be relevant and practical in society, all her members are called to participate in her mission. Priests are responsible to see this realised and the mission of the Church accomplished