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Exploring the Link Between Pleasant Tourist Experiences and Linguistic Competence: A Case Study of the Gariep Dam, Free State
Get PDFPublished ArticleThe success of any tourism business depends on the skill to communicate effectively with customers.
Competence in English is no longer satisfactory in itself to find a job in the tourism industry. The aim of
the study is to address the gap in research by investigating the interaction of language and tourist
experiences by examining the association between pleasant tourist experiences and foreign language
knowledge. For this purpose, the study used both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The
efforts of tourism businesses and their preparedness to solve language barriers in the tourism industry
were examined through semi-structured interviews with 15 tourism businesses inclusive of owners and
managers. In addition to the qualitative data collected, quantitative data was obtained through 400
questionnaires from both domestic and international tourists at the Gariep Dam. The results suggest
that despite the increase in foreign visitors, most tourism businesses are reluctant to appoint staff based
on foreign language skills. The study concludes that a great number of tourists regard their English
proficiency as poor which makes it difficult for them to communicate their required products and services
clearly. This leads to misunderstandings and dissatisfaction tourists will leave a destination being
frustrated. Although very few tourists indicated they have experienced language barriers and have
complained about it to the manager, no perceptible solutions were put forward to resolve language
barriers. In conclusion, the study urges tourism businesses to pay attention to the language issues and
asserts that language barriers could be solved if larger tourism establishments have clear written
language policies in place. Lastly, foreign language skills should also be considered as an employment
criterion for employees in the tourism industry. Even though all staff have the right to communicate in
the language they prefer for the purposes of job security, they need to learn new languages in order to
perform their jobs optimally
Impact Assessment of Funding on Technology Acquisition by Small Businesses: A Case Study of Hair Salons in a South African Municipality
Get PDFResearch PaperPurpose – This study aims to examine the influence of funding on the technology acquisition by small
businesses in a metropolitan municipality, Mangaung, which governs Bloemfontein and surrounding towns
in the Free State province of South Africa.
Methodology/design/approach – A case study using survey research strategy of 110 small businesses in
a South African municipality informed the research design for this study. The structured questionnaires were
quantitatively analysed yielding both descriptive and regression results to address the research objectives.
Findings – The findings suggest that the prime sources of public funding for hair salon businesses are the
National Youth Development Agency and the Small Enterprise Development Agency. The results also
demonstrate that public funding has a negative and significant impact on technology acquisition, perhaps
suggesting the complexity of debt financing and the exorbitant interest rates charged on principals borrowed
by foreign nationals.
Originality/value – The study recommends the judicious acquisition of inexpensive technologies (e.g.
social media platforms) and cautionary utilisation of complex technologies and personal savings before
resorting to external borrowing
Design-Based Research for the Development of a Flexible Learning Environment
Get PDFPublished ArticleBackground: Students enrolled for the Bachelor of Radiography degree at the Central
University of Technology Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa, spent many weeks off
campus at hospitals during workplace learning. A design-based research approach was
applied to analyse an educational problem, namely that students apparently fail to apply the
theory of radiation safety regulations to protect themselves and patients.
Aims: The purpose of the study was to develop authentic activities and assessment for
radiation safety requirements, to provide flexible learning in a blended environment to
students off campus.
Setting: The second-year radiography students of 2016 and 2017 responded off campus to the
QuestionPro survey.
Method: Authentic learning and assessment opportunities were contextualised and compiled
to align with learning outcomes of the safety regulations as confirmed during a Delphi process.
Flexible learning opportunities were delivered via electronic mail (email) and WhatsApp.
Assessment responses from the students were received via mobile phones with a Web-based
software tool, QuestionPro.
Results: Of the 117 students, 92.3% responded to the QuestionPro survey. From the incorrect
responses, learning areas that needed revision were identified, as well as the areas in the X-ray
departments of the hospitals showing non-compliance with the requirements for radiation safety.
Conclusion: The three outcomes of this design-based research included the formulation of
design principles, a designed product in the form of a Website and professional development
of the researcher. The design-based research principles that were tested involved the use of
knowledge in real life and measuring if students were effective performers with acquired
knowledge
Cytotoxicity and Cell Cycle Analysis of Asparagus Laricinus Burch. and Senecio Asperulus DC. on Breast and Prostate Cancer Cell Lines
Get PDFPublished ArticleAims: Medicinal plants play an important role in our African communities for treatment and prevention of various
diseases including cancer. This study was aimed on evaluating the cytotoxicity activities of Asparagus laricinus
Burch. and Senecio asperulus DC.
Main methods: In vitro cytotoxicity screening was carried out using fluorescent cellular stains on human prostate
cancer (PC3), human breast cancer (MCF-7) and the non-cancerous African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell lines.
The cells were imaged with the ImageXpress Micro XLS Widefield fluorescent Microscope, and the acquired
images were analysed using the MetaXpress software and the Multi-Wavelength cell scoring application module.
Melphalan was used as a positive control in all experiments.
Key findings: Asparagus laricinus methanol and Senecio asperulus DC. dichloromethane extracts exhibited cytotoxicity
activity against breast cancer cells with IC50 values of 97.6 μg/mL and 69.15 μg/mL, respectively. Cell cycle
analysis suggested that Asparagus laricinus methanol extract induced cell death selectively through apoptosis
observed from Annexin V-FITC and PI stain. Cell cycle analysis also showed that Senecio asperulus DC.
dichloromethane extracts induced breast cancer cells death through cell arrest at the synthesis phase and G2
phase. Senecio asperulus DC. dichloromethane extracts further showed cytotoxicity activity against prostate cancer
cells with IC50 values of 69.25 μg/mL due to cell arrest at the G2 and early mitotic (G2/M) phase.
Significance: We, therefore, propose that the methanol extract of Asparagus laricinus is a suitable aspirant for future
breast cancer chemotherapeutic drug, due to its selective cytotoxicity on cancer cells and not on non-cancerous cells
Genetic Diversity Analysis of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Genotypes Making Use of SSR Markers
Get PDFPublished ArticleIn this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and polymorphism among 30 soybean genotypes maintained by the ARC using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Soybean genotypes were characterized using 20 SSR primers. DNA was extracted using the standard cetyl trimethylammonium bromide method and amplified using PCR. Allele size was determined via comparison with a 100 base pair (bp) DNA ladder. Molecular data were analyzed, and a dendrogram and matrix were generated using GGT 2.0 software. A total of 216 alleles with an average of 10.8 alleles per locus were detected. The allele sizes ranged between 2 and 33 bp with an average of 18.7 bp. The polymorphic information content among genotypes varied from 0.85 (Satt001) to 0.75 (Satt43) with an average of 0.716, and heterozygosity ranged from 0.87 to 0.78 with an average of 0.7485. The most diverse genotypes were B 66 S 31, 69S 7, and R5-4-2 M, which indicated the efficiency of the SSR markers for the detection of genetic diversity. The results of the current study revealed the diversity among the soybean genotypes tested, which might aid breeders in the future in the selection of parents for breeding
An Analysis of the Sesotho Folktale Kgubetswana Le Talane Using the Binary Opposition Approach
Get PDFPublished ArticleThis study is based on an analysis of the Sesotho folktale Kgubetswana le Talane. The folktale is analysed using the theory of binary opposition. This theory is also consolidated with Vladimir Propp’s approach to folktales, which is used to analyse the meanings of symbols and character roles in the story. The implications of the differences and similarities of Kgubetswana le Talane with other folktales are discussed. Efforts to interpret the meanings of symbols in the story were also made by analysing the animal characters and examining these animal symbols through the understanding of the Basotho culture. The paradox between the protagonist and the antagonist is essential in the creation of the story and its themes
A Mathematical Model On The Effect Of Non-Adherence To Drugs On Diabetes Control
Get PDFPublished ArticleA compartmental mathematical model for diabetes is
developed. The model describes the dynamics of the spread of Type-
2 diabetes. A theoretical investigation in the non-adherence to drugs
is investigated. A system of differential equations is analysed by
stability analysis, the non-trivial critical point obtained is locally
asymptotically stable under the given conditions. In-host mathematical
model for glucose tolerance test (GTT) is considered, actual
glucose data values are fitted using Matlab least squares curve
fitting technique. Two methods are used to numerically compute the
distributions of steady states of diabetic sub-populations. The Gauss-
Seidel method is more accurate than the Jacobi method. The results
show that more than 50% of clinical diagnosis effort need to be
applied to have more diagnosed population than undiagnosed. Nonadherence
to drugs make the control of diabetes difficult. Other nonclinical
activities such as campaigns against unhealthy lifestyles can
help control diabetes. The GTT model show that if strict diet and
medication is followed diabetes can be controlled
Zero Carbon Emissions in Buildings: A Systems Thinking Modeling Approach
Get PDFPublished ArticleEmpirical evidence suggests that many variables affect energy use and carbon emissions in buildings. The variables
interrelate in a sophisticated manner and constitute a socio-technical problem. While previous observations
about the interrelationships among the factors stem from building physics and numerical simulations,
gaps exist in the articulation of the socio-technical issues. This article argues for a paradigm shift in the modeling
approach through the development of a systems thinking model (STM) for evaluating carbon emissions in buildings.
The methodology for this research involved using the literature and knowledge elicitation of stakeholders in
the housing sector to build the initial systems thinking model (iSTM), especially where the relationships could not
be established empirically. The final systems thinking model (fSTM) was developed by subjecting the iSTM to
experts’ review based on a focus group approach by way of knowledge elicitation of the experts. The findings
indicate a population of causal variables influencing carbon emissions in dwellings and show the complexity involved
among the variables. The study concludes that the approach used in building the model has the capability
of improving the accuracy and credibility of the developed STM for evaluating carbon emissions for zero carbon
homes
Groundwater Quality Assessment of Shallow Aquifer Hand Dug Wells in Rural Localities of Ilorin Northcentral Nigeria: Implications for Domestic and Irrigation Uses
Get PDFPublished ArticleThis research determined the quality of shallow hand dug wells for domestic and irrigation uses in the rural
localities of Ilorin, Northcentral Nigeria. Twenty (20) water samples were collected from shallow hand dug wells
in the study area during wet and dry seasons. The water samples were assessed for physical and chemical
qualities. Results indicates that pH of water samples is acidic to alkaline which ranges between 6.7 and 7.6 in dry
season and ranges from 6.6 to 7.2 for wet season. The pH values fall within the permissible limits of World
Health Organization (WHO) standards and Nigerian Drinking Water Quality Standards (NDWQS). Quality
standards of chemical parameters analysed in the water samples falls within the permissible limits. MgHCO3 is
considered as the most dominant water type in both seasons. Magnesium occurrence was traced to the disintegration
of rock minerals while dominance of bicarbonates in the water contributed mostly by carbon dioxide
charged recharge water during precipitation. Irrigation parameters tested includes Soluble Sodium Percentage
(SSP), Residual Sodium Bicarbonate (RSBC), Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) and Magnesium Adsorption Ratio
(MAR) which all indicates that the water samples are also suitable for irrigation
Techniques for Calibration and Validation of SWAT Model in Data Scarce Arid and Semi-Arid Catchments in South Africa
Get PDFPublished ArticleStudy region: This study was conducted in Soutloop River Catchment, Northern Cape, South
Africa.
Study focus: Although hydrologic models play a critical role in the management of natural resources
in arid areas, their application is challenged by the scarcity of data for calibration and
validation. Therefore, this study aimed at to configure, calibrate and validate SWAT model in a
data-scarce catchment by using the regionalization with physical similarity approach. This approach
uses dual calibration and validation procedure, i.e., one in the donor catchment (by using
SWAT-CUP (SWAT Calibration and Uncertainty Programs) and the other on the study catchment
(by manual calibration and verification).
New hydrological insights for the region: Based on the sensitivity analysis, sixteen parameters were
calibrated by SWAT-CUP. The result from the uncertainty analysis indicated acceptable values of
both the R-factor (0.8**) and P-factor (0.7**). The model performance evaluation also showed
acceptable ranges of values (e.g., NS was 0.76** and R2 was 0.78**). However, the main calibration
and validation process was conducted outside the target catchment, though it was assumed
that the donor and target catchments have similar hydrological responses. Therefore, the
study suggested further inspection methods to minimize the model uncertainty in the study
catchment. This study enables researchers to exploit the river eco-regional classifications of
South Africa to apply hydrologic models to estimate the components of water balance in arid/
semi-arid catchments