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The use of Sentinel Organisms to evaluate the health of metal contaminated forest ecosystems in the Western Cape, South Africa
No full textThesis (DPhil (Environmental Health))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019.Chronic exposure to high levels of metals in the environment can cause severe
damage to ecosystems and human health. The City of Cape Town, an immense
contributor to atmospheric pollution lies beneath the Table Mountain range, one of
the Seven Wonders of the World and renowned for its biodiversity and ancient,
indigenous forests, yet no plan exist to monitor metal concentrations. These
ecosystems are subjected to considerable metal inputs all year round, which greatly
increases during brown haze episodes in winter. Soil, leaf litter, moss, lichen and
millipedes are key organisms in forests and reliable indicators for determining critical
loads and preventing broader impacts to forests, which leads to the main purpose of
this study: to determine the health of metal-contaminated forest ecosystems in the
western cape, the smallest biome in South Africa, yet of utmost importance to our
environment and ultimately human health. The objectives of this study were a) to
determine concentrations of prominent metals in soil, leaf litter and sentinel
organisms in a pilot study b) to compare the dry and wet season with regard to: (i)
seasonal fluctuations of the concentrations of the metals (ii) the oxidative stress
effect of metals, using two markers indicative of induced oxidative stress (oxidative
lipid damage products and glutathione (total GSH levels) in the pill millipede,
Spaerotherium compressum, the moss, Hypnum cupressiforme and the lichen,
Parmotrema sp. and c) to expose millipedes to metal contaminated soil for a period
of six weeks: (i) to determine whether they accumulated metals and (ii) to assess the
induced oxidative damage to lipids and redox status of glutathione in the pill
millipede, Spaerotherium compressum. Three sampling sites in three afromontane
forests in the Western Cape, Platbos, Orange Kloof and Newlands forest formed the
study area. Five subsamples of soil, leaf litter and each sentinel organism were
collected and chemically analysed to determine the metal concentrations, using an
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICP–MS). The oxidative
stress effect was determined in freeze dried samples. Millipedes were exposed in
terrariums to a cocktail of metals Al, Fe and Mn for six weeks at control, low and high
concentrations and analysed thereafter. Significant (P<0.05) findings in this study
were the metal contamination patterns observed at the sites and forests in closest
proximity of the City of Cape Town and related pollutant sources, especially vehicle
volumes, and traffic behaviour. Even more significant (P<0.05) was the enhanced
metal concentrations found during winter in the forest in closest proximity of the city,
impacted by the brown haze phenomena. Metals may further have triggered an
overproduction of ROS (reactive oxygen species) judging from the activated
antioxidant, tGSH levels in an effort to scavenge ROS, as well as the MDA
(malondialdehyde) levels (measured as TBARS), which indicated damage to cells.
An important finding was that MDA levels were mostly higher in winter during the
brown haze episodes signifying more damage in the organisms during that season.
A programme to monitor metals in these forests was also suggested in view of a
concern for the survival of forests and human health, as a result of the growing
population, vehicle traffic and urbanization
Adoption of conventional management accounting practices by small and medium enterprises operating in the hotel sector of the Cape Metropole
No full textThesis (Master of Management Accounting)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in hotel sector are perceived to be underperforming partly due to their failure to adopt Conventional Management Accounting Practices (CMAPs). This study sought to determine the extent to which SMEs operating in the hotel sector of the Cape Metropole have adopted CMAPs. Specifically, the study aimed to assess the suitability of CMAPs to SMEs, the extent for which SMEs have adopted CMAPs, the perceived usefulness of the CMAPs adopted, and the factors that inhibit SMEs from adopting CMAPs. The study was motivated by a lack of research on the adoption of CMAPs by SMEs operating in the hotel sector. Data was collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire survey. Purposeful sampling method was employed to draw the sample of 100 respondents. The findings of the study revealed that CMAPs are perceived to be suitable for the sampled SMEs as most of these entities need accounting information to: analyse their risks and uncertainty, optimise on their utilisation of scarce resources and require accurate data on costs of various products. As far as the extent of adoption of CMAPs is concerned, the study revealed that although most of the sampled SMEs had adopted some of the CMAPs, budgeting was the only CMAP that was used to great extent by a majority of the sampled SMEs. Other CMAPs, such as variance analysis, and cost, volume and profit analysis were only used by a minority of the sampled SMEs. Concerning the perceived usefulness of the CMAPs adopted, the findings of the study also revealed that only budgeting and forecasting were perceived to be useful by a majority of the sampled SMEs. Other CMAPs such as variance analysis were only perceived to be useful by only a minority of the sampled SMEs. The findings further revealed that most of the sampled SMEs faced various factors that inhibited them from adopting CMAPs. Key among the factors were a lack of skills to adopt CMAPs as well as a lack of resources. This study does not only contribute significantly to the literature on the adoption of CMAPs by filling in the gap in the literature in the South African context. The study also provides invaluable insights on the adoption of CMAPs which should be of value to t the Department of Small Business Development and Small Enterprises Development agency (SEDA), as the findings can inform their interventions aimed at reducing the high failure rate of SMEs in South Africa, by for instance developing a CMAPs training programme for SMEs. The findings may also assist SMEs to improve their adoption of CMAPs with a view to optimising the benefits derived, as well as overcoming the factors that inhibit them from adopting CMAPs
The relationship between burnout and turnover intention amongst employees at a selected electronics manufacturing company in South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019The main aim of this dissertation is to examine the relationship between burnout and turnover intention at a selected electronics manufacturing company in South Africa. Voluntary turnover at the selected company has almost doubled during the five years preceding the study. As a result of the considerable pressures faced by employees at the selected company, due to its history of mergers and downsizings, this research proposes that turnover is high because employees are suffering from burnout. The literature review revealed that employees suffering from high burnout are more likely to consider leaving an organisation compared to those experiencing lower levels of burnout. This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative research methodology to evaluate the relationship between burnout and turnover intention at the selected company. The research data was collected by means of a self-administered structured questionnaire that included the Maslach Burnout Inventory − General Survey (MBI-GS) and a modified version of the Brough and Frame Turnover Intention survey. Although burnout is generally conceptualised as a three-dimensional construct, an analysis of the data in the present study revealed a two-dimensional solution with the MBI-GS items loading on two factors, namely exhaustion/cynicism and professional efficacy. This study shows that exhaustion/cynicism is the only burnout dimension that is associated with turnover intention at the selected company. According to the results, the levels of exhaustion/cynicism experienced by electronics manufacturing employees are positively significantly related to job cognitions, job search activities, likelihood of leaving and turnover intention. The research identified the job functions of employees and their satisfaction with stakeholder relationships as factors that can influence burnout and ultimately turnover intention at the selected company. According to the results, employees performing functions related to manufacturing indicated significantly higher levels of exhaustion/cynicism compared to those performing other functions. The results show that exhaustion/cynicism is negatively significantly associated with supervisor and subordinate relationships whereas professional efficacy is positively significantly associated with supervisor relationships. This dissertation concludes with recommendations to reduce burnout and ultimately increase retention of employees at the selected company. It is in the interest of the selected company to introduce training and wellness programmes that are prioritised for managers and factory workers to ensure that the affected employees have the required resources to cope with the job demands during periods of major organisational change
Design optimisation of pillar-mounted sun tracking solar-water purifiers for large households
No full textThesis (Master of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019This study was conducted to design a pillar-mounted sun tracker for solar-water purifiers for large households. The main reason for doing this research was to reduce the ground space taken up by solar-water purifiers when used by large households and increase yields. No previous work has been done by researchers to address this problem. Moreover, most people in sub-Saharan Africa and in other developing countries do not have access to clean water. There is need for a solar water purification method to be used by households to purify water for human consumption. Research on the following four different types of solar water purification methods was conducted: Solar-water disinfection, Solar-water pasteurization, Solar-water distillation and Solar-water reverse osmosis. At the university, research work has been done by two students on water purifiers by distillation for small households in rural areas. Their work focused on ground-mounted single basin type design solar water purifiers units that do not track the sun. Larger families would need multiple units of the type developed by these students. These would occupy much space in the compounds, and therefore necessitate to look upward without having to compromise performance or effort to refill the purifiers., Additionally, the effectiveness of the purifiers is to be improved increasing its yields by allowing them to rotate to track the sun since they will all be mounted off the ground. A single axis pillar sun tracker was designed, constructed and tested at the roof top of the Mechanical Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The tracking system consists of a compound gearbox and a stepper motor driven by an Arduino Uno powered by 2 DC 12V batteries. The stepper motor was programmed to rotate intermittently at 15 degrees per hour in the East-West direction. Four Engohang-Kanyarusoke solar water purifier's were mounted on the tracking system and another unit was ground-mounted. Experiments were performed from the 29th of May 2018 to the 07th of June 2018 for 10 connective days at Bellville; Cape Town; South Africa. An area of 30 m2 was saved by mounting four purifiers on the pillar this could however go up to 35 m2 if the full potential of the designed pillar is utilised. The pillar-mounted tracking solar water purifies out-performed the ground mounted still by about 31% in terms of daily water yield
A framework for operationalising Information technology strategies in organisations
No full textThesis (DPhil (Informatics))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Information Technology (IT) has become a significant part of our day-to-day lives, particularly for businesses, including government activities. IT is a vital and pervasive instrument for any organisation's existence, competitiveness and sustainability. But with its pervasiveness comes the need for organisations to continuously advance and improve their businesses. Hence, organisations constantly strive to improve and grow their businesses through innovative means. This is where IT departments play a pivotal role to enable and support innovations within organisations. However, the use of IT brings its own complexities. These complexities, and the sheer importance of IT, require an IT strategy. Many organisations try to operationalise their IT strategies with the aim of realising their organisational goals and objectives. However, if only some human actors adopt, implement and operationalise the strategy, the realisation of goals and objectives may be hindered. Organisations constantly develop and implement IT strategies, often unaware of the challenges that hamper the operationalisation of the IT strategy. This study is aware of research conducted concerning IT, including IT strategy and implementation and operationalisation of IT strategy. Hence, literature pertaining to these concepts are presented. Two underpinning theories structuration theory and diffusion of innovations were employed as lenses to guide the data analysis and interpretation of the findings. Qualitative research was undertaken with the aim of developing a framework to be adopted by organisations to operationalise their IT strategy. Data was collected from two cases, one in the private and the other in the public sector, employing semi-structured interviews. In this study, Broad Spectrum is referred to as case #1 and Triumph Technologies, case #2. From these two cases, 13 and 16 people at the point of saturation were interviewed at Broad Spectrum and Triumph Technologies, respectively. From the analysis, six factors were determined to influence the operationalisation of the IT strategy in Broad Spectrum (BS): problematisation; business and IT alignment; technological solutions; governance; power relationships; and skills and development. And from Triumph Technologies, the six factors identified were hierarchical consciousness; technology solutions; network of people; training and skill-set; exclusivity vs inclusivity; and language differentiation. The findings from cases #1 and #2 were mapped. Based on the mapping, the factors were grouped into four main components: 1) business vision; 2) skill and knowledge; 3) control and management; and 4) interactive schemes. Findings from the analysis were interpreted by following the interpretivist approach, based on which a framework (Operationalisation of IT Strategy Framework) was developed. The framework, Operationalisation of IT Strategy Framework (OITSF) comprised of seven main components: collaboration, heterogeneity of actors, strategic and operational intent, diverse organisational culture, technology advancement, macro and micro levels, and operational architecture. The research recommends various factors influencing and constituting operationalisation of IT strategy in organisations. Organisations in both the public and private sectors should attend to these factors, addressing and rectifying them as early as possible when operationalising their IT strategies
An exploration of the relationship between the intentions of the hospital designer and the primary users’experience
No full textThesis (MTech (Interior Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Healthcare facilities such as hospitals are some of the most complex types of buildings, and it is important to take into account that these facilities serve a diverse group of users who often have competing needs. Literature reviewed indicates that the focus of healthcare design has predominantly been placed on the needs of the patient, with less research on the environment of the medical staff as users, and their experiences thereof. This study explores the intentions of the hospital designer and the primary user experiences, specifically those of nurses, with regard to design criteria in healthcare design for hospital wards. The research follows a qualitative approach consisting of observational studies and interviews, informed by design approaches in the literature. An explorative approach is taken to understand what the design intentions were, how the primary users experience the design intentions and to what extent the intentions and experiences correspond. Findings indicate that the intentions of the designer do not always correspond with the primary users' experience. This suggests that, although some primary users are consulted during the design phase, their experiences may still differ to that of the intentions set out by the designer. Recommendations are made regarding the need for visual and verbal communication during the design process as well as highlighting the role of the designer as facilitator in participatory design methods with primary users
A study of grawlix as an alternative to conventional linguistic and typographic communication
No full textThesis (MTech (Graphic Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Typography appears every day in our life. The arrival of digital technologies allows people to interact frequently through the typography on various digital screens. Many online digital platforms also allow people to be connected and produce typographic elements through generating their own online contents. This opens up new perspectives of typographic genres and shapes the way we perceive typography differently from the printed medium. Grawlix is one such case which it has been influenced by new technologies and new users. Grawlix is a series of typographic symbols which often appears in comic strips or cartoons. The purpose of grawlix is to censor profanity used in speech (e.g.,!@#$) and it is also used as a visual effect to enhance narratives such as text effects and background effects. However, grawlix is being reintroduced by online fan communities who are actively engaged in their interest in particular characters from comics, manga or animated series. As online fans incorporate new uses of grawlix in their daily online interactions. This leads to new typographic genres are starting to emerge. Therefore, this research explores online communities' use of typography in two of their online settings, Twitter and Osu. These two settings are undertaken as a case study to understand the changing roles of typography in the current society. It is important to understand that new typographic genres and practices by non-professionals are crucial to the practice of graphic design, as designers' primary aim is to communicate visually with their audience. Equipping Graphic Design students and designers with new typographic knowledge produced by online users (non-professionals) may assist students and designers in developing new perspectives and approaches to typography in contemporary contexts. In this thesis, Waller's (1987) typographic genres model is used to examine the relationship between online users, typography and the medium to understand the typographic conventions embodied in a document. Owing to the nature of this research, a hermeneutic approach is adopted. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis is used to understand the layers of meaning embodied in online text. In such a study, there is a need for the researcher to be fully immersed in the participants' context. Data for the current study were obtained online through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and the analysis of documents produced by online fans, as well as of the interface of the medium and the grawlix examples produced by online fans. Findings show that there has been a shift in the typographic paradigm. As online fans create bricolages of various forms of subjective knowledge and interact on digital platforms, they design many non-conventional typographic variations and the resulting genres differ from grawlix used in comics and provide new ideas of traditional typographic knowledge of our professional discipline
The role of blood groups in preventing or enhancing HIV infection in Botswana
Full text linkThesis (DPhil (Biomedical Science))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019.Knowledge of population vulnerabilities to infectious diseases is key in managing many public health problems and for mapping appropriate strategies for prevention or intervention. A number of genes associated with resistance to HIV infection, such as the double deletion of 32 base pairs in the CCR5 gene , have been described and potentially account for lower HIV infections in some populations. The magnitude of the HIV pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa warrants an investigation of the peculiar genetic factors that may have exacerbated its spread. An understanding of the genetic factors that are involved may aid in the development of specific strategies for prevention such as vaccine development, genetic counselling as well as gene therapy. The aim of this project was therefore to study the relationship between blood groups and HIV-infection in Botswana. HIV infection in Africa has not been linked to particular blood groups. The project was undertaken in two phases from December 2012 to December 2017. In the first phase, 346 subjects of known HIV status (negative or positive) were phenotyped for 23 erythrocyte antigens via standard scientific procedures. A Chi-square analysis was used to determine those antigens associated with increased or reduced risk of HIV infection. In the second phase, 120 samples were phenotyped for the protective blood group (RhC) and the risk-associated groups (Lub and P1). The samples were also characterized according to their laboratory results for viral load, lymphocyte sub-populations, complete blood count and blood chemistry, including total cholesterol. Some of the samples were also assessed for erythrocyte-associated viral RNA. Generally, the prevalence of the blood groups in the general population in Botswana did not differ with the known prevalence for Africans broadly. Three novel findings were established. First, the blood group Rh(C) was associated with a 40% risk reduction for HIV infection. Immunologically, carriage of the C antigen was associated with a more robust cell-mediated immunity as evidenced by enhanced cytotoxic T cell counts. Moreover, this antigen occurred with a frequency lower than 30% in all countries where HIV prevalence was high. There was therefore an inverse relationship between Rh(C) frequency and HIV prevalence. An examination of reports from previous studies revealed that the pattern was consistent in Africa, Europe, Asia, South America and Caribbean countries. It appears that the population frequency of this antigen explains, at least in part, a genetic factor that puts some African populations at higher risk for HIV infection. These results are novel in that Rh antigens have not been previously associated with immunity in any reports.
Novel findings regarding the P1 blood group was its association with a double risk for HIV infection. While the plasma viral load did not differ between P1-positive and P1-negative subjects, P1-positive erythrocyte lysate yielded more viral RNA than P1-negative cells, implying more intracellular HIV RNA. Intra-erythrocytic viral RNA was detected even in patients with an undetectable plasma viral load. Glycosphingolipids, of which P1 is an example, have been documented to promote viral fusion to cells independent of CD4 receptors or other ligands. In at least one report, the presence of sphingolipids in lipid rafts was considered to be sufficient for viral fusion. The presence of viral RNA even in erythrocyte lysates corroborates this phenomenon and potentially explains the double risk of HIV infection observed. The occurrence of HIV RNA in erythrocyte lysate is a novel finding that suggests a new viral reservoir. Apparently, P1 has a high frequency among Africans and low in other races
The development of algebraic thinking in the foundation phase: a comparative study of two different curricula
No full textThesis (MEd)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019.The mathematics results in South Africa are alarmingly low, with a number of high school learners unable to compute basic operations. International test results show South Africa consistently ranks low in comparison to other countries whilst Singapore continues to perform well. Some schools in South Africa have decided to adopt the Singaporean method of teaching mathematics, known as Singapore Maths, in the hope of improving learner results. This study seeks to understand how two different curricula, South African and Singapore, provide opportunity for the development of algebraic thinking in the Foundation Phase. There is ongoing research which suggests a link between algebraic thinking (Early Algebra) and a deeper conceptual understanding of mathematics (Blanton & Kaput, 2003). This study comprises a qualitative case study of two schools using different curricula and textbooks to teach algebraic thinking with a special focus on patterns and functional thinking. Data were gathered using document analysis of curriculum and textbooks; learner tests; semi structured interviews with class teachers and focus group interviews with Grade 3 learners from each curriculum group. The analysis process involved pattern matching and building explanations related to each data collection instrument using Blanton, Brizuela, Gardiner, Sawrey and Newman-Owen’s (2015) levels of sophistication in learner’s thinking about functional relationships. The results of the study suggest that although South African learners have the potential to think algebraically, they are not, however, always offered the opportunities to do so. The importance of suitable mathematical activities and scaffolding is highlighted and the critical need for professional development for teachers in which the importance of Early Algebra is defined and explained. It is imperative that the curriculum and textbooks activities are relooked at to address the development of algebraic thinking in the early grades and shift the focus from an emphasis on arithmetic relationships to thinking in generalised ways about functional relationships
Determinants of savings and investment among low-income households in South Africa
Full text linkThesis (MTech (Cost and Management Accounting))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019This study examined the determinants of savings and investment among low-income households in South Africa. Savings and investment play a significant role in improving living standard of people and also act as important factors for state survival in times of economic crises. The benefits of household savings and investment cannot be easily quantified, especially in achieving economic growth. Despite the numerous benefits, low income household savings and investments remain an issue that has characterised the lives of many low-income households in South African since post-apartheid.
The study is based on Non-Ricardian Households (NRH) which comprises medium and high-income households, which are involved in the financial market, participate in buying bonds or stocks, and are classified as saving households. Non-Ricardian households comprise low-income households which largely depend on government welfare benefits for sustenance and are classified as the low savings and hence low-income households.
The research used National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) dataset wave one to five. Four different panel models were analysed in determining the socio-economic characteristics of NRH in South Africa. The panel estimators include Pooled OLS, fixed and random effects methods. The results show that households’ income, household size, household geographical local and household grants among others are major determinant of households’ savings and investment in South Africa. Government grants received by households have positive relationship with savings and negative relationship with investment. This is because the low-income households do not save to invest but save for delay consumption. The results have also showed the likelihood of government grants to household’s crowd out household investment as they over depend on the government for both present and future expenditure. The study recommends that government should create a more enabling environment for Non-Ricardian households to engage in productive activities and to also create more low skills jobs and encourage reduction of birth rate among low-income households