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Kant and the experience of skepticism: rranscendental arguments, skepticism, and a version of the problem of the justification of foundational assumptions
Get PDFImmanuel Kant is a key thinker in the History of Western Philosophy whose ideas continue to fascinate contemporary English-speaking academic philosophers. One such idea is Kant's conception of transcendental arguments. Although these arguments do not originate in Kant's philosophy, Kant's conception of them occupies a special place in the English-speaking literature on the topic. A growing trend in this literature is to claim that Kant's transcendental arguments are unique because they aim to achieve an anti-skeptical end through deductive means. I call the basic assumption behind readings of transcendental arguments like these the deductive/anti-skeptical assumption. This assumption claims that deduction is the best means to achieve an anti-skeptical end. In this thesis, I argue that accepting this assumption is one way to misinterpret transcendental arguments because—even though it seems compelling at first blush—it must be false. The resultant twist is that transcendental arguments cannot be deductive, which, in turn, means that understanding that Kant's transcendental arguments are not deductive in nature is itself no small detail for understanding the version of Kant's 'not-deductive' solution to skepticism developed here.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Philosophy, 202
Marine benthic (epilithic) diatom communities along the coast of South Africa: A contribution to their diversity, spatio-temporal variations, and ecology
Get PDFDiatoms remain one of the most diverse and ecologically important microorganisms within microphytobenthos. The highly variable South African coastline, comprised of heterogeneous rocky intertidal habitats provides the ideal study area to investigate epilithic microphytobenthos and their associated influential drivers. In South Africa, in-depth taxonomic research on marine littoral diatoms exists, however, quantitative research and knowledge on their abundance, diversity, community composition and distribution remain limited. Thus, the main aim of this research was to explore the spatial and temporal variability of marine benthic (epilithic) diatoms, in relation to the variable physico-chemical conditions in the nearshore intertidal environments along the coastline of South Africa. To achieve this, field-based observational (natural substrata) and experimental (artificial substrata) studies were conducted on selected locations around the coastline, with a large focus on south coast localities. For the Spatial studies, large (i.e., encompassing all three biogeographical regions) and small-scale (i.e., coastal island in the warm temperate region) surveys of epilithic diatom assemblages from natural rocky substrata were conducted. Large-scale investigation results revealed highly variable diatom assemblages, diversity and distribution, with compositional differences observed between the coastal sections (around the coastline). A total of 85 diatom taxa from 31 genera were observed at 15 sites, and the number of taxa varied un-systematically along coastline. Genera with noticeable contribution included Nitzschia, Cocconeis and Achnanthes. On the coastal Bird Island (small-scale), similar variability was observed, but with a much higher diatom diversity and number of rarely observed species (e.g. Actinoptychus senarius (Ehrenberg) Ehrenberg, Cocconeis capensis (Cholnoky) Witkowski, Fragilariopsis kerguelensis (O’Meara) Hustedt, Striatella unipunctata (Lyngbye) Agardh. Seventy-two (72) species from 35 genera were recorded with a varied abundance and diversity around the island. The study also revealed a high contribution of typical benthic diatom species to the surf zone environment around the island. To study temporal variations, medium-term compositional differences on natural substrata were assessed monthly over an annual cycle at a single site. A paucity of diatom material was evident during this study and observations indicated a trend of presence and absence of diatom taxa from the study site. Nineteen (19) diatom genera were identified and those observed, albeit as one or two individual valves, included taxa from several genera including Biddulphia, Diploneis, Campyloneis, Trachyneis and Triceratium. Noteworthy was a seasonal increase in the number of diatom valves encountered, with the highest diatom abundance observed during spring (September) and the genera Cocconeis, Grammatophora and Navicula appearing regularly. To complement the sparse data from the long-term temporal study, a short-term experimental study on artificial substrata (Plexiglass) revealed rapid temporal variations of benthic diatom assemblages. The composition differed spatio-temporally during the experimental period, with fluctuating species occurrences and abundances between the two study sites. The experimental study also revealed the highest number of diatom species observed during this research (134 species belonging to 44 genera). While Cocconeis (13 species) and Nitzschia (9 species) were the dominant genera, 48% of the diatomcomposition was composed of rarely observed taxa that included Cocconeis testudo Giffen, Donkinia sp., Paralia sulcata (Ehrenberg) Cleve. Regarding environmental drivers, the findings indicated the importance of temperature and nutrients in driving diatom spatial abundance and composition along the coastline, as well as the island. However, the potential influence of the interplay between measured variables and unexplored coastal oceanographic processes (e.g., wave action) was noted. Temporally, from the annual study, the nature of the rocky substrate (rock type) rather than environmental conditions was postulated to have been the influential factor that resulted in the low diatom abundance data, however this requires further in-depth investigations on the influence of rock microtopography on microphytobenthos in this region. Contrastingly, the experimental study results indicated environmental variables having varying influences on the diatom diversity indices, however, study site and sampling occasion were revealed as the most important predictors of the observed variability. Further, site-specific biofilm processes, including biological interaction (e.g. grazing), were shown to alter biofilm succession, thus influencing the observed diatom assemblages. Overall, this research provided new and relevant knowledge on the variability of benthic (epilithic) diatom composition, biodiversity and distribution along the coastline, further contributing to our understanding of marine benthic diatoms ecology, their ecological role in the context of intertidal food web and their potential as bioindicators of change in the coastal ecosystems in Southern Africa.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202
Check for updates Assessing the Impact of DNS Configuration
No full textDomain name system (DNS) is an essential enabler for connecting us-ers and services on the Internet. DNS translates human readable do-main names into IP addresses and precedes client connection to a server via a domain name. DNS service is therefore expected to con-sume network bandwidth even though it offers no direct benefit to the user. Having observed the large component of DNS traffic on the com-munity network local loop in our previous study, we migrated the DNS service from a server on the LAN to the gateway router and reconfig-ured the cache time-to-live. Results from the analysis of network traffic captured from the gateway router interface show a 26% decrease in the downlink bandwidth utilization and 46% decline in the uplink bandwidth utilization. The DNS component of the local loop traffic reduces from 45.28% to 4.11%. On the other hand, the Web component of the local loop traffic increases from 49.42% to 95.49%. Data collected from a mirroring port on the LAN switch indicate a decrease in the DNS portion of the internal traffic from 0.38% to 0.18%. Although the DNS reconfigu-ration helps alleviate network bandwidth constraints and reduces DNS component of the traffic, the Web portion increases. The implementa-tion of effective, efficient and sustainable Web traffic management is therefore required
Ithumbu labantu abadala
No full textThe bead collar necklace, steeped in tradition and cultural significance, showcases a mesmerising blend of colors and patterns that captivate the eye and soul alike. Crafted in the classic design of bands featuring turquoise, navy, pink, and white, each bead meticulously placed to create a harmonious tapestry of hues. The subtle elegance of black pearls and white beads adorning the edges adds a touch of refinement to this timeless piece. Notably, the inclusion of pink signifies a passage into maturity, denoting the wearer's status within the older age group. Embraced by both adult males and females, this necklace transcends gender boundaries, serving as a unifying symbol of shared heritage and identity. As it graces the necks of its wearers, it becomes a tangible expression of cultural pride and unity, weaving together threads of tradition and belonging that resonate across generations.Purchased from Mrs Joan BrosterForms part of: Walter Sisulu University Beadwork Collectio
A council of women
Get PDFThis thesis comprises extracts of life writing written in short prose forms. The work reads like a novella and I have been inspired by Margaret Patton Chapman’s approach to the novella, where she condenses “the telling of a long story time wise”, so that a story occurring over two years can be told over two pages. The thesis explores relationships between mother, daughter, grandmother and granddaughter, each with different life experiences and each teaching the next generation about how to navigate life as politically, socially and economically disadvantaged women. I have also drawn inspiration from authors such as NoViolet Bulawayo who explores the hypocrisies of the church and the government in We Need New Names. In Kate Bernheimer’s “Fairy Tale is Form, Form is Fairy Tale” she writes about fairy tales adopting “intuitive logic” or telling in the form of “this happens and then this happens” while the explanation behind the events is not spelt out but rather exists between the lines. My thesis adopts this style of writing by allowing the reader to understand what is being said without over-simplifying. To this end, I have used the concept of place modelled on Es’kia Mphahlele’s In Corner B, where characters are inscribed in relation to the spaces they inhabit.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 202
Exploring the psychological and emotional understanding of Amagqirha within the Eastern Cape province, South Africa
Get PDFIndigenous knowledge systems influence mental health understanding and treatments. Amongst the Xhosa’s (amaXhosa), a person may receive a ‘calling’ from the ancestors, usually associated with symptoms that would be characterized as a mental illness. However, the symptoms experienced during the calling, usually dissipate once training has been received. One of the categories within traditional healers are amagqirha, also known as diviners. These are individuals who receive the ‘calling’. Thereafter, they undergo extensive training and become blessed with clairvoyant “powers” to divine and act as mediators between the living and the dead. This study aimed to explore the psychological and emotional understanding of amagqirha of the Xhosa culture, within the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In doing so, the study centralizes the experiences of individuals within cultural spaces, allowing for commentary on the psychological and emotional understanding of the amagqirha. Furthermore, this study focused on the work that amagqirha do in communities and how this ultimately affects them. This study sought to understand the experiences and perceptions of the individuals who are affected by this ‘calling’. The researcher employed a qualitative method with an exploratory-descriptive research design. Ten participants were recruited by utilizing a purposive snowball sampling strategy. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview due to the sensitivity of the demographic of the study. Ethics were adhered to. Additionally, trustworthiness was guided by Lincoln and Guba’s (1985) four constructs: credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability. Thematic analysis was used as a means of data analysis, as presented by Braun and Clarke (2006). The themes identified were: The collateral damage/profuse repercussions cast upon by the ancestors due to inaction (either by them or those that case before them), the severity of the emotional and psychological effects is equally prevalent prior and during their journey of vi ubugqirha, methods that may assist in alleviating the emotional and psychological symptoms, understanding of mental health, awareness of their own mental health status, and help-seeking (psychological services). The main findings suggested that there is a general understanding of the term ‘mental health’ amongst amagqirha. Additionally, the findings revealed that amagqirha experienced emotional and psychological symptoms/effects, prior to and during the journey of ubugqirha - these were due to the lack of understanding and fear. Furthermore, the findings suggesting that amagqirha embarked on various help-seeking measures, i.e., seeking psychological services or leaning into seeking guidance from their ancestors. However, they were met with barriers as well, i.e., finding a mental health practitioner with awareness on African spirituality, and dealing with the stigma that comes with help-seeking.Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Health Science, 202
Experiences of mothers who are on tuberculosis treatment While caring for their children in Nelson Mandela Bay health district
Get PDFWomen and mothers have an important role to play as caregivers of their children. However, mothers are often faced with challenges with fulfilling this important role. Many women value the caring role as a mother over other areas of their lives, and for ill women, such as those with tuberculosis (TB) and those on TB treatment, it can be difficult to relinquish maternal responsibility. Indeed, many mothers in South Africa and other low- and middle-income countries develop TB during pregnancy and postpartum because their immune systems are compromised. For a mother who is chronically ill, carrying out a mother’s caregiving role presents a range of challenges. However, few studies have addressed this problem or explored the experiences of such mothers. The purpose of the study was to understand the experiences of mothers who are on TB treatment while caring for their children in order to establish their support needs and thereby develop recommendations to assist CHWs, nurses and nurse managers at primary healthcare (PHC) clinics to provide optimum care to such women. The Socio-Ecological model was used as the theoretical lens to explore the phenomenon under investigation. A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research design was identified as most suited to respond to the research question. Purposive sampling was used to select both the participants and the clinics in the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District (NMBHD) for the purpose of this study. The population was mothers on TB treatment caring for their children (aged five years or younger) who were attending either one of the two of the largest PHC clinics in Sub-district C in the NMBH. Altogether ten mothers on TB treatment caring for their children took part in individual semi-structured interviews conducted telephonically. Ethical clearance was obtained from Nelson Mandela University and permission was obtained from the Department of Health (DoH), district office, operational managers at the respective clinics, and the participants involved in the study. Trustworthiness was enhanced by ensuring credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ethical principles were upheld throughout the course of this study namely respect for persons, beneficence and justice. All interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the data was analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis to identify the themes. Three themes came out of the data, namely: Theme 1: Mothers expressed having to navigate a range of physical and psychosocial challenges while caring for their v children; Theme 2: Mothers struggled to perform motherly roles while on TB treatment; Theme 3: Mothers described their relationships with their family, community members and clinic health practitioners. The experiences of the participants were described using direct quotations from the interviews followed by a literature control used to verify the participants’ experiences. Thereafter, the findings were used to develop recommendations to optimise the care and support of mothers on TB treatment who are caring for their children. Four recommendations were developed: Recommendation 1: Prepare and support mothers with TB to care for themselves and their children; Recommendation 2: Assist CHWs and nurses to care and support mothers with TB and their children; Recommendation 3: Prepare and support family members to support mothers with TB and their children and Recommendation 4: Educate community members regarding the needs of mothers with TB. There is limited existing research on mothers who are on TB treatment while caring for their children. This research study helped to fill this gap, particularly in an urban Eastern Cape context. The findings illustrated mothers’ physical and psychosocial challenges, as well their role-related challenges and finally the challenges related to the various spousal, family, community and clinic relationships that influence their experience of caring for their child while on TB treatment.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Science, 202
Gender and the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring female vendors’ coping strategies in Lichtenburg during the lockdown
Get PDFThe 2019 outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, and its subsequent spread around the world caused uncertainty in the economy and other aspects of life. Most governments around the world took drastic measures to stop the spread of the virus and save lives. The most common of these measures were restrictions on people’s movement and trade. As a result, the world of work in South Africa changed dramatically, with over a million workers losing their jobs. That said, South Africa acutely felt the negative income effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those working in the informal economy, the five-week lockdown between March and May 2020 was a period of unprecedented insecurity and hunger, without work, income, or benefits. In light of the above, the study aimed to explore how female street vendors in Lichtenburg survived the impact of the COVID-19 national lockdown restrictions on trading activities between March 2020 and May 2020. The study sought to contribute to the understanding of the gendered impacts of the pandemic, particularly in relation to women in the informal economy, by examining the strategies and coping mechanisms adopted by them. Drawing on the sustainable livelihoods framework, this study examined the experiences of female street traders in Lichtenburg who were subjected to COVID-19 trade restrictions, assessed their coping strategies, and examined their support systems. The study was exploratory in nature, followed a qualitative approach, and adopted a case study design. Depending on the needs of the study, a purposive and convenience sampling techniques were chosen to address the research problem and questions. In order to explore women’s experiences on a specific topic, qualitative, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with a sample of six female street vendors in Lichtenburg. The collected data were analysed using the thematic analysis technique. In this regard, the findings show that the perception upheld that the informal economy is an employment shock absorber during economic crises has been proven otherwise by the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of profits led to a reduction in trading activities, which in turn increased the hardships of women street vendors. These vulnerability and hardships were made worse by the absence of government support structures since they were unable to navigate the procedures and had no one to turn to in times of need. As a result of the lack of formal channels of support and appropriate policy interventions, street vendors were particularly vulnerable to the financial consequences of the pandemic, resulting in an unpleasant reality of unsustainable livelihoods in the face of COVID-19.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 202
Racism against Black soccer players in the English Premier League
Get PDFThis study analyses racism against black players in the English Premier League. To that end, this thesis studies online articles published between 2018 and 2021 by two British tabloids, namely, The Daily Mail and The Sun, to make sense of the various ways in which black soccer players experience racism. This thesis uses the theoretical concept of “racial xenophobia” to analyse and understand expressions of antipathy towards black players playing in the Premier League. A key finding in the thesis suggests that fans and players racially abuse black players in the stadiums by liking them to animals and treating them as sub-human. Another finding in the study is that fans use the bad performances of black players as an excuse to racially abuse them via social media platforms. Social media in the 21st century has now accelerated the rate at which racism is perpetrated as fans now have more access to players through their accounts. The study also found that tabloids do not only report about racist abuse but are also guilty of portraying black players in racially stereotypical ways. This research concludes that racism against black players remains a constant feature of football in the English Premier League from the time black players started to feature in the sport in the 1970s.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 202
Establishment of a high-content neurodegenerative disease model screening platform
Get PDFThe identification of viable therapeutic targets and new treatments for central nervous system disorders, especially neurodegenerative diseases, remain major challenges in the field of drug discovery. Over the past few years there has been a steady decline in the turnaround time of current screening processes to yield viable drugs. Therefore, an increasing need exists for better technologies, protocols, and the screening of larger libraries. High-throughput screening provides the best solution to this problem and has become a key part in the drug discovery and development process. Likewise, high-content analysis has gained popularity over the past few years and is suitable for high-throughput screening. The aim of this study was to establish a comprehensive in vitro neuroprotective screening platform incorporating high throughput screening, using Parkinson’s disease as the neurodegenerative disease of interest. To evaluate the success of this platform, the neuroprotective potential of two mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus and Phlebopus sudanicus), two plants (Lippia javanica and Myrothamnus flabellifolia) and two seaweeds (Eucheuma denticulatum and Kappaphycus alvarezii) were investigated. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the selected natural products were evaluated across 21 parameters associated with four hallmarks of neurodegeneration: acquiring senescence, acquiring cell death, neuroinflammation and altered metabolism/cell survival. Based on the effects of these selected natural products on the 21 parameters, their potential mechanisms of action were elucidated. In addition to this, the natural products were scored under each of these therapeutic targets in an attempt to identify the most suitable animal models for future studies. The scoring system indicated that animal models investigating anti-senescence ability would be more suited for extracts of H. erinaceus, P. sudanicus and E. denticulatum whereas studies investigating the prevention of cell death would be more suited for extracts of E. denticulatum, L. javanica and K. alvarezii. Likewise, models based on neuroinflammation would be best suited for extracts of H. erinaceus, E. denticulatum and L. javanica while studies examining altered metabolism/cell survival would be best suited to extracts of H. erinaceus, E. denticulatum, K. alvarezii and M. flabellifolia. Considering the pleiotropic nature of the selected natural products, models that can combine these therapeutic targets could be of great interest. 6-OHDA proved to be capable of inducing favourable effects, in all the parameters investigated, with regard to a neurodegenerative state. However, it is known to have some disadvantages when it comes to pathological features such as the lack of the ability to induce Lewy body formation. Choosing the correct inducer remains a daunting task and no model, whether cell-based or animal-based, exists yet in which all the features of neurodegenerative diseases have been successfully replicated. The limitations of the current models, however, does not mean that they do not produce valuable insights. This is especially true if the mechanism of action for a specific compound or natural product is unknown. Animal models are still indispensable for the validation and interpretation of the results obtained from cell models with particular importance to toxicity. Therefore, this study assessed the best studied extract with the highest overall score for its toxicity using a zebrafish larvae-based model. Assessment of the toxicity of H. erinaceus revealed that both aqueous and ethanolic extracts resulted in death at the highest concentrations. This was supported by the results obtained in the in vitro cytotoxicity screening. In conclusion, this highlighted the importance of using physiologically relevant concentrations and supported the translational value of the current cell-based screening model to animal models and possibly humans. The findings of the present study suggest that a scoring system, which categorizes the different activities of selected natural products into distinct groups, can be a useful tool to improve the translatability of in vitro results to animal models. Furthermore, the current study arguably provides the most comprehensive neuroprotective screening platform in existence. Future research can look at expanding the platform through incorporation of additional parameters based on other hallmarks of neurodegeneration, not covered in this study, including protein folding and aggregation, altered epigenetics and the examination of other neuronal markers such as the involvement of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia. In addition to this, future research can make use of more sophisticated cell models such as differentiated, human induced pluripotent stem cells and three-dimensional cultures.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 202