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In Vitro Characterization of In Situ Alloyed Ti6Al4V(ELI)-3 at.% Cu Obtained by Laser Powder Bed Fusion
No full textArticleBiofunctionalization of Ti6Al4V alloy with metallic agents like Ag or Cu is a promising approach to add antibacterial
properties and thus to reduce the risk of implant failure. This research investigates the in-situ alloying of
Ti6Al4V(ELI) with 3 at.% Cu powders using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF). The morphology and geometrical
characteristics of the single tracks and layers were studied. Laser powers of 170W and 340 W, and scanning
speeds ranging from 0.4 to 1.4 m/s and 0.8–2.8 m/s were implemented. Single track results showed balling effect
and humping at high scanning speeds, 1.4 m/s and 1.6 m/s, for each laser powder respectively. Conversely,
keyhole formation occurred at lower scanning speeds of 0.4–0.6 m/s for 170W laser power, and below and
0.8 m/s for 340W laser power. For both laser powers, single layers resulted in smoother surfaces at lower
scanning speeds. These results were used for the development of optimal process parameters for 3D cubes with
99.9 % density. Optimal process parameters were found for 170W and 340W laser powders at 0.7−0.9 and
1.0–1.2 m/s scanning speeds, respectively.
In-situ alloying by L-PBF was challenging and a homogeneous distribution of Cu within the alloy was hard to
achieve. The increase in laser power from 170 to 340W resulted in small increase in homogenization.
Microstructural analyses after stress-relieving treatment showed the presence of α’ and β phases, as well as CuTi2
intermetallic precipitates. The finer microstructure together with CuTi2 intermetallic precipitates resulted in an
increase in hardness. This study demonstrates the potential for printing in-situ alloyed Ti6Al4V(ELI)- 3 at.% Cu
for biomedical applications. However, further studies are required to determine the effectiveness of antibacterial
properties
Some Health Effects of Exposure to Static Magnetic Fields and Radiofrequency Energy among MRI Staff Working with 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla Scanners In South Africa
Get PDFResearch ArticleOccupational exposure to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-related electromagnetic fields is associated with the development of adverse and transient health effects. The aim of this study was to assess the health effects associated with exposure to Static Magnetic Fields (SMFs) and radiofrequency (RF) energy amongst MRI staff in 1.5 and 3.0 T MRI units. Data were collected through questionnaires completed by 42 MRI staff members working in Hospital A (57.89%) and Hospital B (42.11%) in the Mangaung metropolitan region. Of the participating staff, four did not indicate the facilities in which they worked. Twenty-four of the participants were female and eighteen were male, and their mean age was 37 years (range of 20 to 61). The questionnaire was categorized in terms of the participants’ biographical, work, and health-related information. Radiographers (35.71%), student radiographers (11.9%), nurses (9.52%), medical physicists (4.76%), maintenance engineers (4.76%), radiologists (9.52%), and cleaners (23.81%) working in both hospitals participated in the study. The data was analysed to determine the percentages and frequencies for the categorical data. Of the 42 participants, 30.95% reported hypertension, 11.9% reported hypotension, 2.38% reported cataracts, 16.67% reported depression, and 16.67% reported increased heart rates as a priori-unrelated health effects. Regarding priori-related health effects, 26.19% of the participants reported a metallic taste, 40.48% reported vertigo, 21.43% reported nausea, 7.14% reported hypothermia, 2.38% reported hyperthermia, 19.05% reported concentration difficulties, 21.43% reported blurred vision, and 19.05% reported vitamin deficiencies. Vertigo was reported to be the most common SMF exposure-related effect. Of the 61.9% of MRI staff who wore PPE, 30.77% were found to wear MRI-related PPE when working in the MRI units. The results reported in this study were found to be consistent with the exposure-related effects of MRI units investigated in many other studies. The results also suggest future studies that could determine the association between exposure and the development of depression and cataracts in a larger study population of MRI workers
The Impact of the Mandela-Castro Medical Collaboration Programme on Health Care Service Delivery in the Frances Baard District Hospitals in the Northern Cape Province
No full textResearch ArticleAccess to health care is a basic constitutional right in South Africa. The extreme
shortage of doctors in sub-Saharan Africa is well documented, with
26 doctors per 100 000 people against a global average of 141 doctors per
100 000 people. The situation is no different in South Africa. The rural health
care facilities have been facing a critical shortage of medical doctors where
approximately 43% of the people in the rural areas often face greater health
challenges such as having access to a mere 12% of the medical workforce
in South Africa. In an attempt to address the shortage of doctors the late
Presidents of South Africa and Cuba, Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro,
signed a bilateral agreement in 1996. One of the key terms of the agreement
was to address the critical shortage of medical doctors in South Africa.
This article reflects the findings of a study that was conducted to assess
whether the Mandela-Castro Medical Collaboration Programme
(MCMCP) has assisted in promoting health care service delivery in the
small district hospitals in the Frances Baard District Municipality (FBDM)
area in the Northern Cape Province. The period reviewed was from 2017
to 2019 because the doctors produced through the MCMCP had already
been delivering health care services in hospitals of the FBDM. The research
approach applied was deductive in nature and used quantitative data to generate propositions. The article provides insight into the impact
of MCMCP on health care service delivery in the FBDM district hospitals,
Northern Cape Province
Local is lekker! The Search for an Appropriate Food Identity for the Free State Province, South Africa
Get PDFArticleThe objective of this paper was to establish a food identity for one of South Africa’s least visited provinces, the
Free State Province. Twenty-nine qualitative responses were obtained via structured interviews from tourism
government and tourism association employees, local restaurateurs, local food and drink producers, local residents
and a local historian. Key findings indicate that the Free State’s food identity can be described as hearty, comfort
food cooked from ingredients typically found in the Free State, using recipes and preparation techniques passed
on from generation to generation in Basotho and Afrikaner families. Meat and beer emerged as fundamental local
items to be focussed on and promoted. Implications of the study include local tourism stakeholders gaining
knowledge of which food items to promote as Free State food. The study shows that food tourism can assist in
growing the tourism sector in the Free State, the development of a food tourism route and lead to the creation of
a new tourism brand focussing on typical Free State food. Key literature contributions of this study include closing
a literature gap by further studying food tourism in South Africa and establishing a determination process of
authentic food identities for any destination
Swelling Stress and Suction Correlation of Compacted, Heaving Soils
Get PDFArticleThe behaviour of unsaturated soils is mainly influenced by suction. When unsaturated soils display swelling properties, it becomes fundamental to investigate the impact of soil suction on the swelling stress. A survey was done across Free State province in South Africa and samples were obtained from Bloemfontein, Winburg, and Welkom. Geotechnical studies were performed on particle size definition, free swell ratio, free swell index, Atterberg limits, X-ray diffraction, proctor compaction test, soil suction measurement, and constant volume swelling tests to determine the physical and hydro-mechanical properties of the soil samples. According to the findings, at the optimum water content, the swelling stress values are in the range of 177 kPa to 326 kPa which is more than the bearing limit (~ 40 kPa) applied for most lightweight footing. Smectite is identified as the predominant clay mineral in the study areas and has a key influence on the swelling properties. A solid relation is observed between the swelling stress and the soil suctions, with a correlation coefficient value greater than 80 %
Influence Of Building And Indoor Environmental Parameters On Designing Energy-Efficient Buildings
Get PDFArticlePurpose – Arguments for the design of sustainable university buildings have emerged in South Africa.
Energy being a major determinant of the sustainability of buildings, the purpose of this study was to examine
the influence of various building and indoor environmental parameters on the energy performance of
university buildings in South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative survey research method, administered within the context
of university buildings in South Africa, was used. Data about 16 buildings from three universities were
collected. Relevant, inferential statistical analyses were conducted to examine the relative influence of the
building parameters on the energy consumed in the buildings. Also, regression models within building
parameters were developed independently and in a combination that could be used to estimate energy
consumption in the university buildings.
Findings – Findings suggested that building and indoor environmental parameters of humidity, indoor
temperature, volume, illumination, and window width ratio (WWR), in that order, influenced energy
consumption significantly, and also, had direct empirical relationships.
Practical implications – Optimising the building and indoor environmental parameters in design will
enhance energy-efficiency in university buildings in South Africa.
Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature in terms of understanding the order of influence
of building parameters on energy consumption in university buildings in the temperate climatic zone of South
Africa. It also established empirical models between building and indoor environmental parameters and energy
consumption, both independently and in combination, that could assist in designing energy-efficient and
sustainable university buildings
Assessment Of Factors And Maintenance Strategies Related To Recurring Potholes In Bloemfontein Roads
Get PDFDissertationRoads play a major role in the everyday lives of people by connecting them to their respective destinations, carrying goods being transported to different locations, and creating spatial integration. The physical and structural conditions of the road infrastructure are crucial in ensuring an efficient flow of traffic, creating spatial integration and enhancing vital socio-economic activities. However, poor road pavement conditions, particularly potholes are a major barrier against efficient traffic movement, which also impact socio-economic activities. It was observed that the occurrence of potholes is a serious challenge on the roads of South African cities. Therefore, using the roads of Bloemfontein city, in this study, the causes of the formation of potholes, the repair strategies and engineering methods adopted to repair potholes and maintain the roads were investigated. In other words, the study determined the reasons for the occurrence of potholes on the road surfaces and explored sustainable, engineering solutions to repair the potholes that recur on the roads of a South African city. A positivist ontological approach was followed to develop an empirical study of selected roads within the Mangaung Municipality, and within Bloemfontein City in particular. Based on this approach, both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Several important roads were selected randomly from the Bloemfontein City road network as a case study. Data was collected through ,field observations and a questionnaire survey, direct interface interviews with various stakeholders, including the Government Municipality (Mangaung) and Department of Police, Roads and Transportation. Data from secondary sources were also collected from authentic sources. Various causes of potholes in the city were found to be, amongst others, the drainage system, heavy traffic loads, poor road designs, poor construction and lack of, or poor, maintenance of the existing roads. The findings of the study, according to surveys, revealed that 25% of potholes and road deterioration was associated with traffic volume and heavy loads, while 15% of the deterioration was associated with poor drainage. A linear regression model revealed a strong correlation between the formation of potholes, traffic volume, road layer thickness, and wheel load. Critical findings were made in terms of the correlation coefficient between the variables of traffic volume, traffic loads and road capacity and the formation of potholes. It was found that roads which had exceeded their design life-span had the most problems in terms of deterioration and prevalent recurrence of potholes, even after maintenance. This indicated that government should invest more funds in the rehabilitation of road structures, particularly those which have exceeded their design life-span. This study can contribute to developing ways to analyse pothole-related problems on roads and to find solutions in other cities of South Africa
The Impact Of Emotional Intelligence Of Leaders On Staff Morale At The Technical And Vocational Education And Training Sector (TVET) In The Free State Province
Get PDFDissertationA plethora of documentary evidence continues to posit that effective leaders guide and facilitate work to accomplish tasks and objectives, while at the same time maintaining cooperative relationships and teamwork. The contention of this study is that an effective leader is not someone who merely uses a mix of task and relations behaviour, but rather someone who selects specific forms of behaviour that simultaneously reflect a concern for both task and people. Thus, the emotional state of any leader becomes a key focal point. A leader who is able to intelligently take charge of their emotions is able to get the best out of their subordinates and consequently, improve morale and organisational performance.
The key focus of this study was to explore the impact of TVET College leaders’ emotional intelligence (EI) on staff morale (i.e. teaching and non-teaching staff) amidst numerous transformational challenges this sector had to undergo in the post-democratic dispensation in South Africa. The study followed a positivist paradigm, that is, a quantitative research approach. The adopted methodology allowed the researcher to utilise obtained data to explore and examine the relationship between variables and provide responses to the research questions and objectives. A descriptive and correlation research design was adopted, which focused on describing the variables and examining the relationship between the variables. A sample of N = 188 from the TVET sector in the Free State was obtained.
A semi-structured questionnaire was used in this study to randomly collect data from the teaching and non-teaching staff members of four (4) TVET colleges in the Free State Province, for the purpose of determining the impact of a leader/manager’s emotional intelligence (EI) of college leaders on staff morale. A response rate of 47% was achieved. Cronbach Alpha was used to test the reliability and validity of the measuring instrument, while Pearson correlations coefficient was used to determine the relationship between variables. The findings from the multiple regression analysis showed that there are significantly positive relationships between a leader’s EI and individual factors, such as job satisfaction; inclination towards teamwork; perceived organisational commitment; fostering task-oriented behaviours among subordinates; and staff morale (i.e. teaching and non-teaching staff) of the TVET college sector in the FS Province.
The research further investigated the relationship between demographic variables and the six constructs of this study. The results of this relationship revealed that position or occupation significantly affects all six constructs under study followed by qualification which affects five, with race significantly impacting on affecting (cf. Table 7). Despite this study’s contribution to the body of knowledge, specifically within the discourse around this topical issue namely, a leader’s EI on staff morale, the study further impresses upon management of the TVET sector, especially HR policy makers to draw lessons from the findings of this study to inform and develop attributes required for anyone aspiring to be a leader for the purpose of enhancing staff morale, productivity, efficiency and fostering healthy working relationship in the workplace
The Impact Of Selected Personal And Social Capital Variables On Entrepreneurial Success: A Case Of Women-Owned/Managed Engineering And Construction SMMEs In The Free State Province
Get PDFThesisThe engineering and construction professions are widely celebrated as critical in generating significant breakthroughs in health care; enabling the production of clean energy, advancing world class transportation, reducing global emissions; increasing equitable access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) to marginalised populations; providing clean drinking water; mitigating natural and man-made disasters, protecting the natural environment and managing natural resources. Despite the widely celebrated importance of engineering and construction worldwide, including in South Africa, the level of ownership and management of engineering and construction businesses, especially among South African women, remains low; and women entrepreneurs remain invisible nationally and globally in these highly technical businesses.
Despite the widely held claims that social capital, cultural capital and emotional capital are individually integral to the success of entrepreneurship and the acknowledged role of personal demographic variables (race, age and education) in explaining entrepreneurial competences, what remained unclear is the combined effects of these capital forms and demographic variables on entrepreneurial competences and success of historically-margined groups such female entrepreneurs. This research gap persists because no concerted efforts have been made in entrepreneurial research to connect diverse forms of capital, individual demographics, entrepreneurial competence and success with specific emphasis on under-presented, historically marginalised groups as the focus of study. More so, the focus of engineering and construction research has tended to target male entrepreneurs, thereby obscuring the contribution of successful women in these male-dominated professions.
The current study drew on several multi-level theories (namely Human Capital Theory, Social Capital Theory and General Systems Theory), a quantitative approach and descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional survey design to explore the effects of demographic variables and capital (social capital, cultural capital and emotional capital) variables on the entrepreneurial competences of female owner or managers operating engineering and construction SMMEs in the Free State Province. The survey, which drew on sampling frames drawn from the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) was administered on 400 entrepreneurs and 340 entrepreneurs respectively who responded to the survey, generating a response rate of 85%.
Drawing on the survey data and a pre-coded instrument for which numerical values were given to different response possibilities, data were coded in preparation for analysis and testing. After coding, the data were subsequently entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for detailed analysis. A combination of descriptive statistics (e.g. percentage analysis, frequencies, means and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (T-tests, ANOVA, correlation analysis and regression analysis) were employed to test the proposed relationships between the constructs of the study. Descriptive statistics demonstrated that the female entrepreneurs who owned and managed engineering and construction businesses were predominantly black South African, married and above 40 years of age. The predominance of 40 years and above group seem to suggest that capital and knowledge intensive industries like engineering and construction generally require mature adults who have accumulated industry knowledge and financial capital to successfully run their individual business independently. The results also revealed a strong, positive and statistically significant relationship between different demographic characteristics (marital status, age, ethnicity, academic qualification, and nature of business) and entrepreneurial competence. Only the emotional capital variable was significantly and positively correlated with the entrepreneurial competence variable. While all three capital forms significantly predicted entrepreneurial competence, emotional capital had the strongest effect. Furthermore, the results also revealed that there was a positive and a significant relationship between environment dynamism and entrepreneurial success. The mediation results analysis revealed that entrepreneurial competence positively and significantly mediates the relationship between capital forms and entrepreneurial success. Moreover, entrepreneurial competence positively and significantly mediates the relationship between demographic factors and entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, entrepreneurial competence positively and significantly mediates the relationship between environmental dynamism and entrepreneurial success. The main theoretical contribution is that the study challenged the Gender-based Theory of Entrepreneurship and expanded the Human Capital Theory by contending that the material conditions of women as far as entrepreneurship is concerned are not just conspicuously external (e.g. financial, technical and market penetration support) as claimed by some gender-based theorists, but also involve internal capabilities such as women’s energy, personal resolve, conscientiousness, industriousness and emotional investment as demonstrated by the findings of the study. The second contribution is that the study demonstrated that the success of entrepreneurship transcends the integration of internal and external perspectives to incorporate a complex amalgam of multiple factors located at the personal, interpersonal, and system factors – interacting in dynamic, iterative and often recursive ways.
The study recommends the targeting of females in preferential policies, the institution of more gender mainstreaming programmes to remove the male domination stigma, value and masculine sexual orientation and working conditions of the industry. Traditionally, the industry working environment has been characterised by tough competition, constant relocation and long working conditions thereby necessitating the need for part time career opportunities, task sharing and career breaks for maternity for female owner/managers. Secondly, the study recommends the development of policies that foster a conducive entrepreneurial climate where business opportunities are identified, resources are marshalled, and businesses are developed in support of successful entrepreneurship.
Overall, the study provides some valuable insights into the critical determinants of entrepreneurial competence, which could be instrumental to the success and survival of emerging female owned/managed SMMEs in engineering and construction industry, an industrial domain where female entrepreneurs have not been seriously considered
Using Agricultural Plant Growth Regulators As A Mitigating Strategy For Hail-Damaged Rose Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.)
Get PDFThesisHailstorms cause significant yield and financial losses to the agricultural sector. There are reports that hail can cause severe damage to rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens spp.) plants. There are currently no mechanisms in place to alleviate hail-damaged essential oil plants, such as rose geranium. This study aims to develop a strategy for hail damage, using agricultural plant growth regulators (PGRs) as an alleviating remedies for hail-damaged rose geranium. The first experiment was conducted using combined agricultural PGRs (cytokinin [CK] + gibberellic acid [GA]) during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 growing seasons. Treatments comprised of three simulated hail damage levels: zero% defoliation (intact plants); 50%; and 100% defoliation, as well as two levels of PGRs: CK 0.32 mg/L + GA 150 mg/L (low); CK 0.64 mg/L + GA 300 mg/L (high); and distilled water as a control. The second experiment was run simultaneously, using four experimental treatments of abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA): 75 μM ABA; 150 μM ABA; 10 mM MeJA; 20 mM MeJA; and distilled water as a control. In this experiment, the treatment was applied daily for either seven or 14 days, and the hail damage simulation was 100% defoliation only. Both experiments had a factorial treatment design, laid out in a randomised complete block design with three replications. In all experiments, the herbage yield attributes, essential oil yield parameters, leaf trichomes, and essential oil quality were measured. As hypothesized, 100% simulated hail damage negatively affected the herbage yield in the first experiment, indicating that severely hail-damaged plants require attention to facilitate their recovery. The effect of simulated hail damage, and the subsequent application of CK + GA, did not provide conclusive results on the recovery of the herbage yield attributes (plant parameters), and essential oil yield parameters. However, citronellol content increased by 4.6% when a low concentration of combined agricultural PGRs was applied to plants subjected to 100% simulated hail damage. A principal component analysis (PCA) was then applied to provide an overview of the effects on the plant and essential oil yield and quality parameters. The PCA showed a strong association between plant height, number of branches, the branch to height ratio (B:H ratio) and foliar fresh mass (FFM). The biplot loading explained that plant height, number of branches, B:H ratio and FFM of the plants which sustained only 50% foliage loss could be characterised by all treatments, including distilled water in both seasons. Brevicollate trichome densities declined when the high concentration of combined agricultural PGRs was applied. In the second experiment, 75 μM ABA and 10 mM MeJA affected the biosynthesis of linalool, isomenthone, citronellol, geraniol, and the citronellol to geraniol ratio (C:G ratio). However, the variation in these essential oil compounds were inconsistent between the treatments, and did not improve the overall oil quality. Leaf area decreased by 62% following the application of 20 mM MeJA for 14 days, during the 2016/17 growing season. This significant variation was not observed in the leaf area during the following season; however, variations between growing seasons showed a similar trend. Overall, the application of ABA and MeJA had an adverse effect on the herbage and essential oil yield. The results from the two repeated experiments did not solve the hail damage as espoused. Therefore, an additional experiment was conducted during the 2019 growing season to determine the effects of agricultural PGRs containing GA; brassinosteroids (BRs); and trace CKs on the recovery of three levels (low, medium and high), and a control of simulated hail-damaged rose geranium plants (as before). As expected, the mean number of branches per metre (B:H ratio) and mean FFM declined with increased simulated hail damage. Plants were less bushy (B:H ratio) with smaller leaves (leaf area) at 100% simulated hail damage compared to 50% simulated hail damage. It was also found that 100% defoliated rose geranium plants accumulate most of the phenolic compounds associated with defoliation and wounding, while those with only 50% simulated hail damage accumulate phenolic compounds to a level similar to intact plants. Overall, the highest mean FFM was recorded when the highest concentration of PGRs were applied. In addition, brevicollate trichome densities were higher when the PGR-mixture was applied to both leaf surfaces. Rose geranium plants that suffered 50% simulated hail damage had higher mean essential oil yield compared to plants that suffered 100% simulated hail damage and treated with medium PGR. High-quality essential oil, with a C:G ratio below three, was recorded on all defoliated plants compared to the intact plants. The PCA (71.34%) corroborated the use of low PGRs on rose geranium plants that lost 100% foliage, since the N, P, K, Mg, and Mn were higher at this level. It is therefore recommended to consider applying a low to medium concentration of GA, BRs and traces of CKs to improve, and recover the growth of the herbage and essential oil quality (C:G ratio <3) of rose geranium plants with 100% foliage loss from hail damage. Rose geranium plants are grown for essential oil production; therefore, the aerial herbage material is a crucial component of the crop. It has been shown from this study that hail can causes significant damage to these plants, reducing this valuable material, and directly affecting the essential oil yield and quality. This study contributed to the development of a mitigation strategy for hail-damaged rose geranium plants using agricultural PGRs. The study only focused on the use of existing agricultural PGRs, foliar-applied agricultural PGRs, the in vivo study approaches, and the application frequencies. It may be beneficial to focus on root-applied approach of the PGRs, in vitro studies, and test other sources of biostimulants (containing PGRs) for future studies