Cape Peninsula University of Technology
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Vegetation patterns in tropical forests of the Rumpi Hills and Kimbi-Fungom National Park, Cameroon, West-Central Africa
No full textThesis (DTech (Environmental health))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.Western Cameroon is thought to hold rich biodiversity and diverse vegetation types, and contains two important forest reserves: Rumpi Hills Forest Reserve (RHFR), which is lowland to montane forest located in southwestern Cameroon and Kimbi Fungom National Park (KFNP), which is a semi-deciduous and savanna forest located in northwestern Cameroon. These forest blocks form part of the continental Cameroon Mountains. Thus far, few or limited studies have been undertaken at these two sites to characterise their floristic composition, vegetation patterns, biomass, and carbon stock. Hence, the vegetation of RHFR and KFNP were inventoried from February to November 2015 in detail with the view of describing and understanding the biodiversity and vegetation patterns vis-à-vis elevation gradient. This will enable us to answer the main research questions: How does elevation and vegetation patterns influence species composition, diversity, biomass and carbon in selected wet and dry tropical forests of the Congo Basin? Are plant species equitably distributed among life forms and elevations gradient? What are the extent of land cover changes in RHFR and the KFNP? The objectives of this study were: to characterise vegetation patterns, understand how elevation influences species distributions and diversity, and evaluate biomass and carbon stock per hectare. Furthermore, the study intended to assess the vegetation cover changes over the last few decades in RHFR and KFNP in western Cameroon.
RHFR and KFNP were chosen as representative forests because limited ecological studies have been carried out on these forests, and each represented a tropical wet or dry forest, respectively. The floristic composition and vegetation patterns of the reserves were studied in 25 1-ha plots in the RHFR and 17 1-ha plots in the KFNP spread along elevation gradient and different vegetation types. In each plot, the dbh of trees and lianas of diameter at breast height ≥10 cm were measured, and dbh of shrubs <10 cm were measured in nested plots of 10 m x 10 m. Remote sensing data (Landsat images) was downloaded from the Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) websites to assess forest cover changes. Forest cover changes over time were compared for both sites. Satellite images from Rumpi Hills (2000 and 2015) and Kimbi Fungom forest (1979 and 2015) were used to compare past and present vegetation (forest cover changes over time). Phytosociological parameters such as basal area, relative density, relative dominance, and relative frequency were used to described forest structure and composition. The statistical program “PAST” version 2.17 was used to calculate species diversity and richness. Allometric equations were used to evaluate above ground biomass and carbon stock
Measurement of service quality and customer satisfaction at a children’s hospital in the Western Cape
No full textThesis (MTech (Office Management and Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.Healthcare facilities across South Africa are increasingly facing a myriad of societal, fiscal, political and cultural challenges associated with demands for greater quality in the provision of healthcare services. This study measures service quality and customer satisfaction at a Cape Town hospital (hereinafter referred to as Hospital X), with the aim of providing its management with information to enable them to enhance service quality and thus improve customer satisfaction.
It is essential to note that the respondents in this study were the parents or guardians of patients. The views of the patients were not obtained directly from them as it would have been unethical for minors to have participated in the survey. Their parents or guardians were surveyed in order to obtain the requisite data.
The problem investigated was that management at public hospitals does not regularly research what customers need from a service quality point of view, Therefore, Hospital X may be failing to provide a quality service to its customers, namely, parents and guardians. Against this background, the researcher set out to measure customer perceptions and expectations of service quality by making use of the SERVQUAL model. “Customer expectation” is what the customer can reasonably expect given the available resources and is likely to be influenced by personal needs and past experience. “Customer perceptions” are totally subjective and based on the customer’s interaction with the service provided at Hospital X.
The SERVQUAL model (reliability, assurance, tangibles, empathy and responsiveness), is commonly known as the RATER model, RATER being an acronym formed from the first letter of each of the five dimensions of SERVQUAL. The study incorporates the SERVQUAL dimensions within a survey comprising a number of questions structured on a six-point Likert scale.
The results of applying the SERVQUAL model will indicate whether or not Hospital X provides a quality service to their customers.
The study seeks to demonstrate the importance of service quality and customer satisfaction to hospital management, as well as the impact that effective service quality can have on customers’ evaluation of their overall hospital experience. (The term customer will be used interchangeably with parent and/or guardian in this study.
Bioactive compounds from selected medicinal plants used in antidiabetic treatment
No full textThesis (MTech (Chemistry))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.The continued use and popularity of plant-based traditional medicine demands scientific validation of the therapeutic potential of the medicinal plants used in disease management and treatment. These medicinal plants are to be evaluated for phytochemical constituents and pharmacologically screened for their bioactivity and include the isolation and identification of their bioactive compounds. The diabetes tea and its eight individual plants constituents were collected from Sing Fefur Herbs in McGregor, Western Cape. The plant material was ground to a fine powder form using a milling machine. The powdered plant material was sequentially extracted with hexane, 1:1 DCM, DCM:MeOH, MeOH and water.
The antioxidant activity of the tea and its plants was evaluated with comparison to the antioxidant activity of brewed rooibos tea in literature. The concentration of antioxidants in the plants and the tea were found to be significantly high. The ORAC assay results of the water extracts were significantly higher than that of rooibos tea in all plants. Salvia africana-caerulea water extract ORAC results were 14147.10±1.02 μmol TE/g and this is 10 times better than the brewed rooibos tea results of 1402±44.1 μmol TE/g. The alpha-amylase enzyme inhibition assay showed no significant results while the alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays showed significant results in some of the extracts. The highest inhibitory activity towards alpha-glucosidase was found in the Urtica urens hexane extract and the Thymus vulgaris hexane extract (69.66% and 68.43%, respectively). This observation suggests that alpha-glucosidase enzyme is inhibited mostly by the less polar or medium polarity chemical components of the plant extracts.
The crude plant extracts that showed significant activity in the antidiabetic bioassays were further subjected to cytotoxicity assay to ascertain the safety of extracts. The T. vulgaris DCM extract, Salvia officinalis DCM extract and Salvia officinalis hexane extract showed a cell growth inhibition of 54.91%, 62.14% and 63.87% at 100 μg/ml, respectively. The Salvia africana-caerulea DCM extract showed a cell growth inhibition of 59.10% at 50 μg/ml and 62.14% at 100 μg/ml. In the cytotoxicity analysis Salvia africana-caerulea DCM extract is the only extract that showed cell viability below 50% for both concentrations. Phytochemical screening of selected methanolic and aqueous extracts of the diabetes tea and the Salvia africana-caerulea showed the presence of alkaloids, sugars, flavonoids, glycosides, proteins & amino acids, phenolics & tannins and saponins.
Furthermore isolation, purification and analysis of two Salvia africana-caerulea crude extracts (DCM and DCM:MeOH) were done in order to try and obtain pure compounds. The compound characterization was done through the use of chromatographic techniques. Thin layer chromatography (TLC), flash chromatography and column chromatography resulted in the generation of 29 fractions. Spectroscopic techniques utilized for chemical structural elucidation for compounds of interest included Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Of all the fractions generated, DM 23 was the purest and its structural elucidation was attempted
The influences of a gross motor development programme on the lives of rural marginalised multi-grade primary school learners
Get PDFThesis (DEd (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.This study investigates the impact of a Gross Motor Development (GMD) programme
on the lives of learners in marginalized multi-grade environments in rural areas of the
Western Cape. Numerous studies globally suggest that gross motor development
programmes bring stability, positive motivational changes and structure in learners’
lives constrained by challenging socio-economic environments (Portela, 2007, &
Lopes et al., 2013).
A transformative research paradigm was employed in order to address the research
questions posed by this study. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect
data from three schools, one in each of three Western Cape rural educational
districts that border the Cape Metro; West Coast/Hopefield, Cape
Winelands/Wellington and Overberg/Grabouw. In all three schools the Centre for
Multi-grade Education had an academic research/training and support partnership.
Within a trans-current mixed method design, qualitative data are used to substantiate
and augment phenomena exposed by the quantitative data. The data in the
qualitative phase of this study are collected using observations, reflective journals
and journal notes.
The research investigated the influence of an 18-month gross motor development
programme on learners’ lives in three multi-grade schools in the Western Cape of
South Africa. A sample of 50 (N=30 males and N=20 females), grade 4-6 multi-grade
learners participated in the study. The gross motor skills were assessed using Project
4 – IMAD+ Test Battery, previously developed by the Cape Peninsula University of
Technology, Centre for Multi-grade Education. The test battery consisted of a series
of physical exercises designed to assess gross motor proficiency. The scholastic
achievement of learners was understood from the Annual National Assessment
scores (ANA) of 2013.The data revealed that a total gross motor ability percentage
score change occurred in the sample 50 (N=30 males and N=20 females) from 32.12
% to 56.82 %, indicating a significant overall gross motor improvement of 24.7 % in
an 18 month period. Improved self-esteem, positive attitudinal and motivational changes and increases in
class attendance occurred among the learners. This improvement aligns itself with
research that indicates that the development and improvement of motor skills through
physical activity are related to positive development of self-esteem among learners
(Corbin, 2002:128-145).
This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on education at rural,
marginalized schools, and suggests that providing learners with the opportunity to
participate in a structured programme is likely to improve motivation which will
contribute toward positive scholastic achievement. It is recommended that policymakers
should encourage and implement structured gross motor skills development
programmes at school. Further research on the influence of GMD provincially and
nationally should be encouraged
The implications of deviating from software testing processes : a case study of a software development company in Cape Town, South Africa
Get PDFThesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.Ensuring that predetermined quality standards are met is an issue which software development companies, and the software development industry at large, is having issues in attaining. The software testing process is an important process within the larger software development process, and is done to ensure that software functionality meets user requirements and software defects are detected and fixed prior to users receiving the developed software. Software testing processes have progressed to the point where there are formal processes, dedicated software testing resources and defect management software in use at software development organisations.
The research determined implications that the case study software development organisation could face when deviating from software testing processes, with a focus on function performed by the software tester role. The analytical dimensions of duality of structure framework, based on Structuration Theory, was used as a lens to understand and interpret the socio-technical processes associated with software development processes at the case study organisation. Results include the identification of software testing processes, resources and tools, together with the formal software development processes and methodologies being used. Critical e-commerce website functionality and software development resource costs were identified. Tangible and intangible costs which arise due to software defects were also identified.
Recommendations include the prioritisation of critical functionality for test execution for the organisation’s e-commerce website platform. The necessary risk management should also be undertaken in scenarios with time constraints on software testing, which balances risk with quality, features, budget and schedule. Numerous process improvements were recommended for the organisation, to assist in preventing deviations from prescribed testing processes. A guideline was developed as a research contribution to illustrate the relationships of the specific research areas and the impact on software project delivery
Hydroponic propagation of Siphonochilus aethiopicus: an endangered medicinal plant
No full textThesis (MTech (Horticultural Sciences))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.The increasing demand for medicinal plants has led into serious over-harvesting of wild populations and presents an opportunity for potential profitable cultivation. Production of medicinal plants in controlled environments particularly hydroponic technology provides opportunities for high quality biomass accumulation and optimizes production of secondary metabolites. Water availability and supplies are becoming scarce, thus search for innovative irrigation practices is desirable and vital. The proper irrigation interval and growing media can play a major role in increasing the water use efficiency. Thus, Siphonochilus aethiopicus was cultivated by means of the hydroponic technique, under various substrate combinations and watering regimes
Mitigating interference from switch-mode power supplies in sampling receivers
No full textThesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.This thesis reports on the research and development of techniques applied to mitigate interference from switch-mode power supplies in sampling receivers and also more specifically for FMCW radar receiver applications. During the system testing phase of an FMCW Radar at Reutech Radar Systems (RRS), it was found that a large false target was emerging on the Range-Doppler Map (RDM). It was concluded that the problem was originating from interference caused by the switch-mode power supplies (SMPS), which supply DC power to the radar receiver subsystem. This then created the need for a new DC power supply, which is able to minimize the interference, as well as, mitigate the effects of the interference caused by the switching of the power supply. The mitigation techniques and power supply development was divided four main sections, namely, research, simulation, design and evaluation. The research involved obtaining background information on sampling receivers, sampling theory, Range-Doppler Processing, switch-mode power supplies, their effects and mitigation thereof. In the simulation phase, the research was utilised to simulate the various interference mitigation techniques. A power supply PCB was then designed in the design phase to practically illustrate the techniques being utilised. Lastly, during evaluation, this PCB was evaluated against the criteria set out in the research phase. The results demonstrated that the technique of synchronising the PWM clock to the Sampling frequency and SRF yielded a significant reduction in the SMPS noise on the Range-Doppler Map
Thermodynamic study of the biodegradation of cyanide in wastewater
No full textThesis (DTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.The high rate of industrialisation in most developing countries has brought about challenges of wastewater management especially in the mineral processing industry. Cyanide has been used in base metal extraction processes due to its lixiviant properties thus, its presence in wastewater generated is inevitable. Furthermore, partial and/or the use of unsuitable treatment methods for such wastewater is a potential hazard to both human and the environment. There are several reports on biotechnological treatments of cyanide containing wastewater but few mineral processing industries have adopted this approach. Hence, the thermodynamic study of biodegradation of cyanide containing wastewater was undertaken. The primary aim of this study was to explore the application of bioenergetic models and biological stoichiometry to determine the functionality and thermodynamic requirements for cyanide degrading isolate (Fusarium oxysporum EKT01/02), grown exclusively on Beta vulgaris, for a system designed for the bioremediation of cyanidation wastewater. Chapter 2 reviews some of the applicable thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy, entropy, heat of combustion, heat capacity, Gibbs energy, including stoichiometry models in relation to their applicability for microbial proliferation in cyanidation wastewater. The chapter places emphasis on the application of agro-industrial waste as a suitable replacement for refined carbon sources for microbial proliferation in bioremediation systems because such systems are environmentally benign. The choice of using agro-industrial waste is due to organic waste properties, i.e. agro-industrial waste is rich in nutrients and is generated in large quantities. Chapter 3 presents the materials and various standardised methods used to address the research gaps identified in chapter 2.
For an organism to degrade free cyanide in wastewater, it must be able to survive and perform its primary function in the presence of such a toxicant. Chapter 4 exemplifies both molecular and biochemical characteristics of Fusarium oxysporum EKT01/02 isolated from the rhizosphere of Zea mays contaminated with a cyanide based pesticide. The molecular analyses confirmed the fungal isolate to be Fusarium oxysporum EKT01/02 and the nucleotide sequence of the isolates were deposited with National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) with accession numbers KU985430 and KU985431. The biochemical analyses revealed a wide substrate utilisation mechanism of the isolate dominated by aminopeptidase including nitrate assimilation capabilities. A preliminary investigation showed free cyanide degradation efficiency of 77.6% (100 mg CN-/L) after 5 days by the isolate. The excess production of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was attributed to the isolates’ strive to protect itself from cyanide toxicity
A solar assisted high temperature refrigeration system for postharvest pre-storage fruit cooling
No full textThesis (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.Agriculture has emerged as a major economic activity in the African continent.
Therefore, fruits and vegetables are considered as essential source of vitamins,
minerals and proteins. However, fruits and vegetables are perishing rapidly. Thus, the
adequate handling starts from the field, by applying appropriate method of storage
and preservation in order to reduce post-harvest losses and extend its shelf life.
Preservation by removing heat from the products is the most common method of
preservation. In rural areas, the access to the grid is expensive or in some cases
impossible. Therefore, researchers have been paying more attention to find
alternative sources of power to run the cooling units.
This study provides proof of a concept for the use of solar energy to cool down
harvested fruits and vegetables at the farm level to an adequate farm storage
temperature. The target storage temperature range is between 5 and 15 oC. A model
refrigerator was designed and constructed in the mechanical engineering workshop of
Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It was installed and tested in outdoor
conditions to get the effect of different weather conditions. The model consists of a
typical vapour compression system powered by a 12 V solar PV system. A DC
compressor was used, and therefore, there is no inverter. The model was first tested
without a product and then with 20 kg batches of different fruits for a period of two
weeks in April 2016. Wind speed, ambient temperature and solar radiation intensity
data were monitored and collected from a Campbell Scientific weather station
mounted on the roof adjacent to the model. By monitoring the temperatures and
compressor current hourly, the refrigeration effect, power consumption and coefficient
of performance were determined. The overall COP based on input solar energy was
2.8. It was thus proved that a suitably sized PV system could be designed and
implemented at farm level to cool harvested fruits from ambient to storage
temperature without the use of an inverter. This could go some way to helping retard
deterioration of fruits and vegetables before delivery to a marketplace or to storage
Perceptions of the financial sustainability of an indigent policy in a selected municipality in the Western Cape, South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Public Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.The eradication of poverty is an important priority for the South African government. The Constitution makes provision for vulnerable households. Local government has to formulate policies to address the needs of the poor. Municipalities formulated and adopted Indigent Policies to ensure that poor households have access to essential basic services. This led the researcher to identify what challenges are related to the financial sustainability of the Indigent Policy in its implementation process in the City of Cape Town for the period 2003 to 2016. This study followed a qualitative research approach. Data was collected by conducting in-depth interviews. The selected participants had access to information relevant to the policy. The researcher respected the rights of participants by allowing them the freedom to withdraw at any stage of the research study, ensuring confidentiality, ensuring anonymity, ensuring fair treatment and protecting the participants from any harm and discomfort throughout the research study. The researcher holds that all the respondents are confident that the Indigent Policy is sustainable. However, should it become too expensive for the City of Cape Town, it could result in the budget being reprioritised. It is recommended that the City of Cape Town develops a beneficiary system for qualifying indigents to allow them to receive additional benefits from other facilities such as libraries, swimming pools and the MyCiTi bus services