11613 research outputs found
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Evaluating the role of efflux pumps in bacterial disinfectant resistance
No full textDissertation (M.Sc.(Microbiology ))--University of the Free State, 2022The global rise of antibiotic resistance could lead to the advent of a post-antibiotic era, where disinfectants and biosecurity will be vital parts to control microbial proliferation. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shown how important proper biosecurity and disinfection protocols are to control disease outbreaks. Disinfectant resistance has the potential to alter every aspect of disease control, as this phenomenon impacts human life from food security to healthcare systems. Antimicrobial resistance at its core originates from the presence and regulation of specific genes within the genome of a microorganism able to combat/resist specific action of an antimicrobial. This study focuses on investigating whether specific resistance determinants are responsible for the insusceptibility of a highly resistant isolate, Serratia sp. HRI. This isolate has high levels of disinfectant resistance; therefore, it provides an opportune chance to study if a specific mechanism is responsible. To achieve this the genomes of the Serratia sp. HRI and its closest related type strain were investigated for efflux pump genes. The efflux pump genes were predicted using an automatic annotation pipeline. The predictions revealed a plethora of resistance efflux genes mostly harbouring multidrug functioning. Additionally, disinfectant-specific efflux pump genes were identified (emrE, sugE, qacA, qacE, and ssmE). Susceptibility testing using three disinfectants revealed how the resistance levels between the two Serratia isolates differed. Further investigation using efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) showed how specific families of efflux pumps confer resistance in both isolates. Time-kill analyses over an extended period showed how Serratia sp. HRI tolerates long-term disinfection. Using EPI reserpine, the efflux pump activity was determined during long-term disinfection. The results showed that concentration-dependent recruitment of efflux pumps was seen by Serratia sp. HRI. At low disinfectant concentrations, another mechanism was responsible for the survivability of the bacteria. Using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry it was established that disinfectant levels introduced with Serratia sp. HRI decreased over time. Suggesting that the HRI isolate has some mechanism to alter the structure of the disinfectant, such as metabolism or degradation pathways. This work highlights the role of efflux pumps in disinfectant resistance and the potential of other mechanisms to be involved. Future research will include gene deletion and expression studies to fully determine the efflux pump reliance for disinfectant resistance. The work completed in this thesis added to the knowledge of efflux-mediated disinfectant resistance. This work also highlighted the potential role of metabolism/degradation in resistance to low-level disinfection
Laughing through the virus the Zimbabwean way: WhatsApp humor and the twenty-one-day COVID-19 lockdown
No full textIn many African countries, jokes represent one of the many means used by citizens to cope with a crisis. Chibuwe and Munoriyarwa explore how Zimbabweans utilize WhatsApp jokes, which are anchored in the concept of the “everyday,” to cope with pandemic-induced lockdowns. COVID-19 jokes provide citizens momentary relief from fear and function as a defense mechanism against COVID-19 and its effects, enabling citizens to confront and rationalize fear, death, and suffering. Chibuwe and Munoriyarwa argue that jokes are also a means of speaking truth to power by disgruntled citizens attempting to cope with a health crisis, in a context characterized by corruption, state repression, and bad governance.Publisher's versio
The nature, causes and extent of land cover changes in Gamtoos River Estuary, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: 1991-2017
No full textMulti-date remotely sensed SPOT images of 1991, 2000, 2009 and 2017 were used to reconstruct changes in land cover in the Gamtoos River Estuary, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. These images were complemented by near-anniversary aerial photographs and Google Earth images that were used as ancillary sources of ground truth. The long-term trend direction of change was determined by calculating percentage changes and performing linear trend analysis. The magnitude of change was established by calculating Sen Slope estimates (SSE) and the influence of climate change on changes in land cover tested by correlating changes in rainfall and different cover types. The greatest and lowest changes were for noncultivated land and surface water (−7.94%, y = −1.2032x + 21.275, SSE = −0.292, and 0.44%, y = −0.4261x + 9.657, SSE = 0.007, respectively). Correlations between rainfall and all cover types were weak and ranged between 0.453816 and −0.643962. Rainfall exhibited a significant decrease (p = 0.0411, σ 0.05; y = −7.175x + 734.55, SSE = −11.130) that was highly correlated with changes in surface water distribution (0.813709, Critical R = 0.805). Overall, the results of this investigation point to the combined influence of climate change and human agency, with the latter tending to play a more prominent role by exerting increasing pressure on the environment’s natural supporting potentials. We therefore urge the scientific community to continue exploring actionable interventions that can be used to enhance the sustainability of this ecosystem and others elsewherePublisher's versio
Grass nutrients estimation as an indicator of rangeland quality using satellite remote sensing
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Geography))--University of the Free State, 2022South Africa's grasslands are known for their rich biodiversity, which makes for rangelands with expansive landscapes for grazing. Numerous studies have been conducted on how species variety and composition affect the sustainability and productivity of grasslands. The provision of ecosystem functions and services, mainly grazing for both domestic livestock and wild animals, is threatened by rapid biodiversity loss. Hence crucial to develop monitoring systems for biodiversity, especially considering the anticipated impacts of global environmental changes. Nutritionally sufficient grass swards strongly influence the distribution and abundance of grazing animals. Although estimates of crucial ecological and biodiversity indicators can be obtained from in situ and remote sensing data, remote sensing offers timely and cost-effective data that can be used for species monitoring. This study sought to measure essential biodiversity variables in GGHNP related to plant productivity and nutrient availability using in situ and remote sensing approaches. In addition, by estimating grass species nitrogen using remote sensing, the research intended to improve carrying capacity models and stocking rate in the park, thus ensuring efficient rangeland management. Assessments of species diversity and richness are pivotal for devising effective conservation strategies. These biodiversity metrics are good indicators of rangeland quality, health, and ecological response to disturbances. Data collected using in situ methods showed that species richness are virtually similar across the park under different richness of disturbance regime. However, species richness were higher at landscape richness than at the site richness. Albeit criticised for their use in conservation, species diversity metrics could be useful for measurements of rangeland quality. Due to its intolerance to harsh environmental circumstances, mountainous grassland vegetation is probably the most susceptible to environmental changes on a worldwide scale. Understanding the factors that influence species distribution in alpine grasslands will be crucial for identifying biodiversity and preserving it. This evident in that an increase in topo-edaphic variables negatively affects species richness, while slope and elevation showed an improvement of species richness. The influence of topography and other accompanying factors on species diversity is highlighted, emphasizing how topography affects species dispersion in mountainous grassland communities. Understanding the value of environmental conditions are to the geographical distribution of biodiversity has been the focus of the most active ecological research. The selection of appropriate modelling algorithms could be beneficial for gaining insights into biodiversity-environment relations. Non-parametric and parametric modelling frameworks were used to assess these relationships. Topographically controlled edaphic variables continued to be the most significant drivers of species richness and diversity in grassland plant communities in the park, despite higher prediction accuracies being attained using parametric models. Remote sensing permits rapid and inexpensive recording and assessment of vegetation over short to long-term periods at a local and global scales. This study sought to predict and model species richness and diversity in GGHNP. Near-infrared (NIR) was the most selected spectral interval for predicting species diversity, further ascertaining the efficiency of NIR in vegetation mapping. Grass species N (grass N) estimation is valueable for rangeland management because it determines their forage quality which has nutritional implications for grazing animals. I used remote sensing data to predict grass N in the park using Sentinel 2 Multi-Spectral Instrument (S2 MSI). The results showed red edge bands as the optimal bands for estimating grass N, which makes S2 MSI superior for modelling grass N throughout grass phenology and among seasons because of its multiple red edge bands. Grassland monitoring is imperative for both assessing global change impacts and the security of sustainable development goals. Grasslands serve as rangelands that supply forage for domestic and wild animals. Monitoring of forage quality and quantity is crucial for evaluating carrying capacity models and thus ensuring effective rangeland management. Plant species richness and species diversity are key indicators for plant primary productivity in rangelands and many other ecosystem health parameters. Due to the immensity of rangeland landscapes, remote sensing could be the effective technology for determining and keeping track of ecological parameters in grasslands
Using teachers’ lived experiences to enhance pedagogy in English second language in Zambian secondary schools
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Curriculum Studies))--University of the Free State, 2023English as second language has been extensively studied on the Zambian research landscape, with much attention being given to ESL methodologies. However, ESL has other areas such as lived experiences of teachers. According to Oxford Reference (2021), personal knowledge about the world is gained via direct, first-hand involvement in everyday occurrences rather than through representation generated by other people is what lived experiences are. This concept demonstrates how people create information and meaning about the world they live in through their experiences, which shapes what they may see as reality. In this study, I focused on how teachers lived experiences could be used to enhance pedagogy in English as a Second Language in Zambian secondary schools. The objectives of the study were to; (I) ascertain how secondary school teachers conceptualised ESL teaching using their lived experiences within the Zambian context, (II) explore how teachers expressed their memories of learning ESL in the Zambian context, (III) establish how teachers described their in-service experiences of teaching ESL in the Zambian context and, (IV) ascertain how lived experiences influenced teaching of ESL in Zambian secondary schools.
This study was interpreted using the narrative theory. The primary claim of this theory is that information is more convincing when provided in a narrative format rather than in an argumentative approach. My study sample was made up of eight (08) secondary schools, from which eight (08) teachers were drawn, one (1) teacher from each school. I adopted a purely qualitative research design, following the narrative inquiry strategy. I gathered my data using face to face narrative interviews and classroom observations. I analysed my data thematically. The findings from the first objective showed that ESL teachers of secondary schools in Zambia conceptualised ESL teaching in various ways such as it being cognitively oriented, rule explanation dominated, increased exposure to material, eclectic oriented and practice dominated. The findings from the second objective showed that teachers of ESL in Zambia had memories of how they were exposed to ESL in their homes, at preschool level, in primary schools, in secondary schools, colleges and universities. The home memories showed that in their childhood, teachers were not only exposed to ESL alone but other languages such as Bemba, Nyanja, and Tonga.
These past language experiences were what constituted their cognition about ESL teaching and learning. The findings from the third objective posted that ESL teachers’ in-service experiences were in terms of the number of years they served, teaching routines, negative and positive experiences, conflicts in knowledge and day-to-day challenges such as overcrowded classrooms, inadequate teaching materials and low reading proficiency levels among pupils. The findings from the fourth objective indicated that, influenced by their lived experiences, ESL teachers were observed in their classrooms engaging in pedagogical practices such as correcting punctuations and pronunciations, translanguaging, monolingualism, anti-apprenticeship of observation, teacher-learner corroborations, eclecticism and language material integration. In view of these findings, I recommend that ESL teachers of Zambia should reconceptualise their view of ESL teaching as constituting isolated elements and adopt an integrated approach. In addition, I recommend that before they implement what they saw their prior language teachers do, ESL teachers must be encouraged to evaluate their past ESL learning experiences in the light of current ESL research and practice. This may help their pedagogical practices to remain relevant and dynamic. The government must also create enough teaching space, deploy enough ESL teachers and produce enough teaching materials so as to reduce overcrowding and give learners adequate ESL learning experiences.
___________________________________________________________________Engels as tweede taal (T2) is omvattend bestudeer op die Zambiese navorsingslandskap, met baie aandag wat aan Engels as T2-metodologieë gegee is. Engels as T2 het egter ander areas, soos geleefde ervarings van onderwysers. Volgens Oxford Reference (2021) word persoonlike kennis oor die wêreld verkry deur direkte, eerstehandse betrokkenheid by alledaagse gebeure eerder as deur voorstelling wat deur ander mense gegenereer word, wat geleefde ervarings is. Hierdie konsep toon hoe mense inligting en betekenis skep oor die wêreld waarin hulle leef, deur hul ervarings, wat bydra tot die vorming van wat hulle as werklikheid sien. In hierdie studie het ek gefokus op hoe onderwysers se geleefde ervarings gebruik kan word om pedagogie in Engels as ʼn Tweede Taal in Zambiese sekondêre skole te verbeter.
Die doelwitte van die studie was om; (I) vas te stel hoe sekondêre skoolonderwysers Engels as T2-onderrig konseptualiseer deur hul geleefde ervarings binne die Zambiese konteks te gebruik, (II) te ondersoek hoe onderwysers hul herinneringe van die leer van Engels as T2 in die Zambiese konteks uitdruk, (III) vas te stel hoe onderwysers hul indienservarings van Engels as T2-onderrig in die Zambiese konteks beskryf en, (IV) vas te stel hoe geleefde ervarings die onderrig van Engels as T2 in Zambiese sekondêre skole beïnvloed het. Hierdie studie is geïnterpreteer met behulp van die narratiewe teorie. Die primêre aanspraak van hierdie teorie is dat inligting meer oortuigend is wanneer dit in ʼn narratiewe formaat verskaf word eerder as in ʼn argumentatiewe benadering. My studie se steekproef het bestaan uit agt (08) sekondêre skole, waarvan agt (08) onderwysers gekies is, een (1) onderwyser van elke skool. Ek het ʼn kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp aangeneem en die narratiewe ondersoekstrategie toegepas. Ek het my data ingesamel deur van aangesig-tot-aangesig narratiewe onderhoude en klaskamerwaarnemings te gebruik. Ek het my data tematies geanaliseer. Die bevindinge van die eerste doelwit het getoon dat Engels as T2-onderwysers van sekondêre skole in Zambië, Engels as T2-onderrig op verskeie maniere gekonseptualiseer het, soos dat dit kognitief georiënteerd is, reëlverduideliking oorheers, verhoogde blootstelling aan materiaal, asook eklekties-georiënteerd en praktykgedomineerd. Die bevindinge van die tweede doelwit het getoon dat Engels as T2-onderwysers in Zambië herinneringe het van hoe hulle aan Engels as T2 in hul huise, op voorskoolse vlak, in laerskole, in sekondêre skole, kolleges en universiteite blootgestel is. Die huisherinneringe het getoon dat onderwysers in hul kinderjare nie net aan Engels as T2 alleen blootgestel was nie, maar ook aan ander tale soos Bemba, Nyanja en Tonga. Hierdie vorige taalervarings was wat hul kognisie oor Engels as T2-onderrig en -leer gevorm het. Die bevindinge van die derde doelwit het getoon dat Engels as T2-onderwysers se indienservarings in terme van die volgende gegroepeer is, naamlik die aantal jare wat hulle gedien het, onderrigroetines, negatiewe en positiewe ervarings, konflikterende kennis en daaglikse uitdagings soos oorvol klaskamers, onvoldoende onderrigmateriaal en lae leesvaardigheidsvlakke onder leerlinge.
Die bevindinge van die vierde doelwit het aangedui dat Engels as T2-onderwyser, beïnvloed deur hul geleefde ervarings, in hul klaskamers waargeneem is waar hulle betrokke is by pedagogiese praktyke soos die regstelling van leestekens en uitsprake, transtaling, eentaligheid, anti-vakleerlingskap van waarneming, onderwyser-leerder samewerking, eklektisisme en taalmateriaalintegrasie. In die lig van hierdie bevindinge beveel ek aan dat Engels as T2-onderwysers van Zambië hul siening van Engels as T2-onderrig as geïsoleerde elemente moet herkonseptualiseer en ʼn geïntegreerde benadering moet volg. Daarbenewens beveel ek aan dat voordat hulle implementeer wat hulle hul vorige taalonderwysers sien doen het, Engels as T2-onderwysers aangemoedig moet word om hul vorige Engels as T2-leerervarings te evalueer in die lig van huidige Engels as T2-navorsing en -praktyke. Dit kan help dat hul pedagogiese praktyke relevant en dinamies bly. Die regering moet ook genoeg onderrigruimte skep, genoeg Engels as T2-onderwysers ontplooi en genoeg onderrigmateriaal produseer om oorbevolking te verminder en leerders voldoende Engels as T2-leerervarings te gee.
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The creation of an ombud office to improve access to justice and cooperation among education stakeholders
No full textThesis (Ph.D. (Public Law))--University of the Free State, 2022This dissertation argues the appropriateness of the creation of an Ombudsman office as a suitable dispute resolution mechanism to improve access to administrative justice, and cooperation among education role-players. The main focus of the dissertation is to determine alternatives to litigation for education role-players, including school governing bodies (SGBs) and provincial departments of education (PDEs) to ensure that cooperative governance principles are realised and to improve access to administrative justice
Characterisation and effects of different levels of water stress at different growth stages in malt barley under water-limited conditions
No full textMalt barley is typically grown in dryland conditions in South Africa. It is an important grain after wheat, but little is known about its water requirements and, most importantly, how it responds to water stress. Determining when water stress sets in and how malt barley responds to water deficit during its growing season is crucial for improved management of crop water requirements. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the response of transpiration (T), stomatal conductance (SC), and leaf water potential (LWP) to water stress for different growth stages of malt barley and to characterise water stress to different levels (mild, moderate, and severe). This was achieved by monitoring the water stress indicators (soil- and plant based) under greenhouse conditions in well-watered and water-stressed lysimeters over two seasons. Water stress was characterised into different levels with the aid of soil water content ‘breaking points’ procedure. During the first season, at the end of tillering, flag leaf, and milk/dough growth stages, which represent severe water stress, plant available water (PAW) was below 35%, 56%, 14%, and 36%, respectively. LWP responded in accordance to depletion of soil water during the growing season, with the lowest recorded value to −5.5 MPa at the end of the milk/dough growth stage in the first season. Results also show that inducing water stress resulted in high variability of T and SC for both seasons. In the second season, plants severely stressed during the anthesis growth stage recorded the least total grains per pot (TGPP), with 29.86 g of grains. The study suggests that malt barley should be prevented from experiencing severe water stress during the anthesis and milk/dough stages for optimum malt barley production. Quantification of stress into different levels will enable the evaluation of the impact of different levels of stress on the development, growth, and yield of barley.Publisher's versio
Challenges faced by SMME's during Covid-19 pandemic in Mangaung Metro Municipality
No full textDissertation (MBA (Business Administration))--University of the Free State, 2022Small, medium, and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) are important economic drivers in South Africa. SME's account for 95% of all businesses worldwide and contribute 40% of all economic activity. South Africa's small businesses are a major source of job creation. The COVID-19 Pandemic, also known as Coronavirus, has had a significant impact on business operations as well as customer activities and trends. Because of the virus's rapid spread, the Pandemic has had immediate socioeconomic consequences in both developed and growing countries and is now the new normal. The study aims to investigate and identify challenges faced by SMME during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Mangaung Metro Municipality, the effects it has on business development, and identifying possible solutions to these challenges. This study was executed using a qualitative approach. Purposive sampling was used, which allows participants to be chosen solely on the essential characteristics that make them the holders of the data needed for the study. A sample size of 20 SMMEs within Mangaung municipality was used. This sample included representatives from Bloemfontein, Thaba-Nchu, and Botshabelo. Open-ended questions were used in conjunction with other interviewing techniques to delve deeply into topics, allowing participants to elaborate and express their views freely. Qualitative interviews were based primarily on patterns and recognising the point of data saturation. South Africa's SMMEs were faced with many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, these challenges include but not limited to lack of access to funding, limited access to local and international markets, strict Legislations and regulations, lack of training and education and access to technology. Themes and interpretive analysis were performed. The inability to obtain financing was identified is one of the main challenges that SMMEs in Mangaung Metro Municipality face. This severely impedes the development and expansion of these businesses. To survive in this region, SMMEs must acknowledge the importance of trying to access markets locally and internationally, as well as have the necessary skills and resources while pursuing government support. Perception and sample size were two of the limitations, and recommendations includes increased market accessibility, skills development, access to proper infrastructure, and technology advancement in SMME development. Future research may investigate the challenges that SMMEs may face if these findings are not addressed in future
Marian shrine pilgrimages: a multi-sited exploration of Ngome, Maseru Farm and Ha Ramabanta
No full textPilgrimages take place all over the world for various reasons which range from spirituality to tourism. These are journeys embarked on by a group of people or an individual, stretching from one place to the other. In South Africa, various religions have specific pilgrimages to their designated sacred places. Equally, Catholics have their pilgrimages to Marian shrines; be it where there is a Marian apparition or where there isn’t any. The lack of research on Marian pilgrimages instigated this study. This study focuses on three Marian shrines, each with unique characteristics. They are Ngome Marian shrine, Fatima Ha Ramabanta and Fatima Maseru Farm. Ngome Marian shrine and Fatima Maseru Farm are located in South Africa although in different provinces. Fatima Ha Ramabanta is in Lesotho. There was a Marian apparition in Ngome Marian shrine while, in the two Fatima pilgrimages there are no apparitions. All three sites used for the case studies are sacred to Catholics and often visited by them. Their reasons for embarking on these pilgrimages differ from person to person and are not so general as often believed. The reasons for going on a are twofold; spiritual and materialistic. The spiritual reasons for going on a pilgrimage for my participants are among others; to be in solitude with the divine mother, to gain spiritual fulfilment, to offer gratitude and express penitence through the sacrament of reconciliation which is known as confessions. On the other hand, the materialistic reasons for going on a pilgrimage include praying for wellness and success. The main reason for going on a Marian pilgrimage for my participants was healing; both materialistic and spiritually. Water become an important topic in this study. Pilgrims get holy water from the shrine which they use for both domestic and spiritual purposes. These domestic purposes are bathing, washing and cooking, while the spiritual purposes are cleansing and healing. Rain also played an important role to my participants as they had different interpretations of what it means when it rains at the end of the pilgrimage. Pilgrims see Mary as the mother and the intercessor whom they run to both in good times. Just as a mother does, Mary protects and takes care of her children especially those who run to her. When a pilgrim is at the Marian shrines, it is important to respect the sacred space at all times
Clinical placement models for undergraduate health professions students: a scoping review
No full textBackground: Clinical learning is fundamental to undergraduate health professions students. There are several calls for the transformation of health professions education, which have direct implications on clinical learning. Clinical placement models provide structure to clinical learning. Therefore, this scoping review could contribute to supporting curriculum transformation to enhance learning in the clinical environments for undergraduate health professions students.
Objectives: This scoping review identified the characteristics of research evidence related to mapping the purpose, methodologies used, outcomes, and specific recommendations associated with clinical placement models in undergraduate health professions education.
Design: A scoping review method was used in this study. A search string developed from the title of the review was used to search online databases to identify research published between January 2000 and March 2020.
Results: Forty-eight articles reporting on ten clinical placement models were included in this review. The majority of these articles originated from Australia and predominantly report on nursing. The aims of these articles aligned with the evaluation of the implementation of a clinical placement model. Seven categories of outcomes of the clinical placement models are reported namely, relationships, influence, environment, facilitation, inputs, knowledge scores, and student perceptions.
Conclusions: As clinical learning is fundamental to undergraduate health professions education, clinical placement models should prioritise the development of competence among undergraduate students. Insights into outcomes reported in literature could guide educators in fostering optimal learning in students who may then be able to influence community health outcomes positively.Publisher's versio