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Sources of change in the money stock
No full textThis research provides an historical, theoretical and practical appraisal of exogenous and
endogenous money and money creation, with South Africa as the focus of the practical
investigation.
Monetary theory of recent decades can be categorised as belonging to one of two distinct
paradigms: mainstream (neoclassical) or post Keynesian. The mainstream (orthodox) view
presents a Euclidian or Cartesian, ergodic, deductive, and axiomatic theoretical interpretation
of the world. This is perpetuated through the continued, and inaccurate, depiction in academia
of exogenous money creation, the money multiplier concept, asset transformation by banks,
imposed alterations to the money stock by central banks and long-run closed system
equilibrium models (and associated homogeneity, and long term behavioural assumptions). In
the real world, economic agents, structures, institutions and their interrelations are perpetually
evolving.
The post Keynesian paradigm provides the theoretical framework within which to understand
such a world. Unfortunately the necessity for a multiplicity of methods and methodology makes
it a paradigm that is currently prohibitively complex, preventing simple exposition.
Money creation should, both historically, and according to the analysis conducted, be defined
according to the actual source of change in the money stock, that is, credit extension. In a nonergodic
world, changes in the stock of money take on a causal role with regard the initiation of
productive processes, and thus influence future economic conditions. The simple, although
powerful, technique of balance sheet analysis conducted herein provides a detailed method of
identification of causal changes in money stock. Within the context of the institutional and structural environment, it clearly demonstrates the residual nature of money m modern economies. This research serves to emphasise the importance of monetary matters for economic management, as well as the important difference between the money creation process and the residual deposit securities. It serves also to discourage the perpetuation of fallacies of money creation, and capabilities of monetary authorities. In South Africa, as in most countries, the central bank can influence the conditions under which borrowers and banks mutually create money, but do not themselves create or distribute money beyond the facilitation of credit extension by bank
Synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their role against human and Plasmodium falciparum leucine aminopeptidase
No full textAntimalarial drug discovery remains a challenging endeavour as malaria parasites continue to develop resistance to drugs, including those which are currently the last line of defence against the disease. Plasmodium falciparum is the most virulent of the malaria parasites and it delivers its deadliest impact during the erythrocytic stages of the parasite’s life cycle; a stage characterised by elevated catabolism of haemoglobin and anabolism of parasite proteins. The present study investigates the use of nanotechnology in the form of metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against P. falciparum leucine aminopeptidase (PfLAP), a validated biomedical target involved in haemoglobin metabolism. AgNPs were also tested against the human homolog cytosolic Homo sapiens leucine aminopeptidase (HsLAP) to ascertain their selective abilities. PfLAP and HsLAP were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. PfLAP showed optimal thermal stability at 25 °C and optimal pH stability at pH 8.0 with a Km of 42.7 mM towards leucine-p-nitroanilide (LpNA) and a Vmax of 59.9 μmol.ml⁻¹.min⁻¹. HsLAP was optimally stable at 37 °C and at pH 7.0 with a Km of 16.7 mM and a Vmax of 17.2 μmol.ml⁻¹.min⁻¹. Both enzymes exhibited optimal activity in the presence of 2 mM Mn²⁺. On interaction with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) stabilised AgNPs, both enzymes were inhibited to differing extents with PfLAP losing three fold of its catalytic efficiency relative to HsLAP. These results show the ability of AgNPs to selectively inhibit PfLAP whilst having much lesser effects on its human homolog. With the use of available targeting techniques, the present study shows the potential use of nanotechnology based approaches as “silver bullets” that can target PfLAP without adversely affecting the host. However further research needs to be conducted to better understand the mechanisms of AgNP action, drug targeting and the health and safety issues associated with nanotechnology use
Public understanding of malaria in pregnancy : selected Dar es Salaam audiences' reception of the health education film Chumo
No full textThis study examines the impact of a health education film, Chumo, in Dar es Salaam on knowledge about malaria in pregnancy. Specifically, the study examines the meanings that the selected audiences make after watching the film. Drawing on the tradition of ‘reception studies’, the data for this study was generated through focus group discussions. These discussions were preceded by thematic analysis of the film and its script.
An analysis of the audiences’ responses reveals that Chumo, mostly, successfully conveyed new knowledge about malaria in pregnancy, and reinforced existing knowledge bases about the disease. The audiences were able to ‘decipher’ most of the preferred meanings (of the producers) with regard to the disease, particularly in relation to the transmission of the disease and its prevention in pregnant woman. For example, the analysis indicates that both women and men become more aware of the importance of attending antenatal care sessions at local clinics (hereafter ANC). An interesting finding is that men, mostly, expressed a reluctance to attend ANC with their wives because they fear having to undergo HIV/AIDS testing. Men also expressed the sentiment that attending ANC is a women’s responsibility. The discussion groups also raised issues about the use of insecticide-treated nets - some people believe that using them will affect their health because of the chemicals used to treat the nets.
From the reception analysis, various other meanings and themes, relating to the choice of storylines and gender stereotypes used in the story, were raised in discussion. The study attempted to assess whether the storyline was advantageous in conveying the core educational messages, or if some elements of the storyline either ‘got in the way’ or reinforced gender roles in ways that may or may not be helpful in terms of combatting malaria in pregnancy.
The study also found that Chumo stimulated interpersonal communication, which may trigger behaviour change. It can be demonstrated, at least for the participants in these focus groups, that the film motivated positive attitudes towards behaviour change, i.e. created at least some intention to change. However, interpersonal communication and attitude to change are not, of course, actual change of behaviour: these elements only indicate the possibility of behaviour change in the future. Further study needs to be undertaken to explore whether the actual change took place and whether the change is a result of the exposure to Chumo
Newspapers' institutional voices in Zimbabwe : speaking to power through editorials between 1 June and 31 December 2013
No full textThis study investigates the complex role editorials – a newspaper's institutional voice – play in
highly-polarised political contexts. Employing Van Dijk's insight that editorials "are usually not
only, and even not primarily, directed at the common reader: rather they tend to directly or
indirectly address influential news actors" (1992: 244), the study focuses on how the editorials of
two Zimbabwean daily newspapers – The Herald, a perceived pro-government newspaper, and
NewsDay, a perceived pro-opposition newspaper – speak to those in power. The study looks at
these two newspapers' editorials from 1 June to 31 December 2013, which covers the period
prior to, during and after the 2013 national elections. The 31 July, 2013 elections took place after
four years of an uneasy government of national unity (GNU), which comprised ZANU-PF and
the two MDC formations (Raftopoulos, 2013:978). Given the polarisation that is pervasive in the
Zimbabwean politics and media, the study draws on Hallin and Mancini (2004)'s "Polarised
Pluralist Model". In this model the media are used as instruments of struggle in conflicts,
sometimes by dictatorships and by movements struggling against them, but also by contending
parties in periods of democratic politics (Hallin and Mancini, 2004:61). Further, the
methodological approach that informs this study is primarily qualitative. A qualitative content
analysis of 30 editorials seeks to identify themes covered in the editorials. The study also
employs a rhetorical analysis of 12 editorials and in-depth interviews and these form the adopted
three-stage research design. The findings of this research somewhat contradict the common view
in Zimbabwe that the privately-owned media blindly support the opposition while the stateowned
media do the same to ZANU-PF (Chari, 2009:10; Mabweazara, 2011:110). Although The
Herald openly supported ZANU-PF prior to the election, it shifted after the election as it pushed
the ruling party to fulfill pledges made on the campaign trail. Some ZANU-PF officials were also
censured by The Herald, although this selective criticism can be linked to factionalism in the
party. NewsDay editorials reminded the newly formed government to mend the economy and
provide basic services. While, the daily constantly censured Mugabe and ZANU-PF prior to the
election, it also occasionally berated the MDC, which can be attributed to its participation in the
GNU as that took away the privilege it previously had of not being hold accountable by the
press
An investigation into the synergistic action of cellulose-degrading enzymes on complex substrates
No full textBusiness Information Systemes I : BIS10P1
No full textExamination on Business information Systems I: BIS10P1, June 201
Management of Information III : MOI3113
No full textExamination on Management of Information : MOI3113, June 201
Articulating the nature of clinical nurse specialist practice
No full textCritical care nursing is a clinical specialist nursing practice discipline. The critical care nurse provides a constant presence in the care of a critically ill patient. She/he creates a thread of continuity in care through the myriad of other health care professionals and activities that form part of a patient’s stay in the critical care environment (World Federation of Critical Care Nurses [WFCCN], 2007). During conversations with people who have had intimate experience of the critical care environment, they have offered anecdotes that describe their interaction with critical care nurses who they perceive to be different from and better than other critical care nurses they encountered. Despite having met common professional requirements to be registered as a clinical specialist nurse, these distinctive, unique abilities that seem to be influential in meeting the complex needs and expectations of critically ill patients, their significant others as well as nursing and medical colleagues, are not displayed by all critical care nurses. While students of accredited postgraduate nursing programmes are required to advance their nursing knowledge and skill competence, many students do not seem to develop other, perhaps more tacit, qualities that utilisers characterise in their anecdotes of ‘different and better’ nursing practice. The overarching research question guiding this study was how can ‘different and better’ critical care nursing practice as recognised by a utiliser be explained? The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the qualities that those people who use critical care nursing practice recognise as ‘different and better’ to the norm of nursing practice they encounter in this discipline. The participant sample included patients’ significant others, nursing colleagues and medical colleagues of critical care nurses, collectively identified as utilisers. The stated aim of this work was to construct a grounded theory to elucidate an understanding of the qualities that a utiliser of critical care nursing recognises as ‘different and better’ critical care nursing practice in order to enhance the teaching and learning encounters between nurse educators and postgraduate students in learning programmes aiming to develop clinical specialist nurses. The method processes of grounded theory are designed to reveal and confirm concepts from within the data as well as the connections between these concepts, supporting the researcher in crafting a substantive theory that is definitively grounded in the participants’ views and stories (Streubert & Carpenter, 2011: 123, 128-129). Two data collection tools were employed in this study, namely in-depth unstructured individual interviews and naïve sketch. Constant comparative analysis, memo-writing, theoretical sampling, theoretical sensitivity and theoretical saturation as fundamental methods of data generation in grounded theory were applied. The study unfolded through three broad parts, namely:
Forming & shaping this grounded theory through exploration and co-creation
Assimilating & situating this grounded theory through understanding and enfolding
Reflecting on this grounded theory through contemplating and reconnecting
The outcome of the first part of the study was my initial proposition of a grounded theory co-created in the interactions between the participants and myself. This was then challenged, developed and assimilated through a focussed literature review through the second part of the study. Through these two parts of this study, an inductively derived explanation was formed and shaped to produce an assimilated and situated substantive grounded theory named Being at Ease. This grounded theory articulates how ‘better and different’ nursing is recognised from the point of view of those who use the nursing ability of critical care nurses through the core concern ‘being at ease’ and its four categories ‘knowing self’, ‘skilled being’, connecting with intention’ and’ anchoring’. The final part of this study unfolded in my reflections on what this grounded theory had revealed about nurses and elements of nursing practice that are important to a utiliser in recognising ‘different and better’ critical care nursing. I suggest that as nurses we need to develop a language that enables us to reveal with clarity these intangible and tacit elements recognised within the being and doing of ‘different and better’ nursing. I reflected on the pivotal space of influence a teacher has with a student, and on how the elements essential in being and doing ‘different and better’ nursing need to be evident in her/his own ways of being a teacher of nursing. Teaching and learning encounters may be enhanced through drawing what this theory has shown as necessary elements that shape ‘different and better’ nurses through the moments of influence a teacher has in each encounter with a studen