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An Instrument to Assess Neonatal Chest Image Quality
No full textPublished ArticleDepending on their condition, most neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit
require multiple diagnostic imaging examinations. Therefore, radiographers
who perform these diagnostic imaging examinations should use optimal
imaging techniques, to limit radiation dose and to ensure optimal image
quality. The study wished to determine if radiographers were producing
consistent optimal chest images and limiting radiation doses for neonates in a
neonatal intensive care unit. A descriptive quantitative study was done by
utilising a checklist compiled from literature to evaluate 450 neonatal chest
images. Evaluation of the images indicates that radiographers seem unable to
adhere to radiation control regulations. The authors propose including the
checklist as part of a radiation safety improvement process, as it proved to be
an assessment tool for identifying areas in image quality that require
improvement
Designing A Framework For The Advancement Of Lecturer Capacity In Developing Graduate Attributes At A Technical And VOCATIONAL Education And Training College
Get PDFDissertationThe Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in South Africa fulfils a crucial role in skilling and preparing youth and school leavers for the world of work and the industry. Both TVET colleges and the industry are therefore critical in developing the competencies they both deem necessary for graduates. These competencies, also framed as Graduate Attributes, are perceived to be the most important indicator of the success of TVET colleges and the subsequent quality of education on offer at these institutions of higher learning. Graduate Attributes are the qualities, skills and understandings a university or college community agrees its students should develop during their time at the institution- these competencies should prepare students for unknown industrial challenges and enable them to cope with whatever demand of the labour market. With the latter said in mind, the aim of this study was directed at designing a framework for the advancement of lecturer capacity in developing the Graduate Attributes needed for the TVET sector of South Africa, more specifically for a TVET college in the Free State province. This mixed methods study was compounded in the theories of Constructivism, Human Capital and Employability theory. The population of the study was the lecturers, students and management, attached to the identified college. Quantitative data emanating from 2000 questionnaires, ascertained students’ perceptions of Graduate Attributes. Qualitative data emerging from the ten focus group interviews held with students and lecturers, respectively and a semi- structured personal interview conducted with an executive staff member, attempted to determine the level of support rendered to lecturers in producing ‘well-attributed’ students and also investigated the manner in which Graduate Attributes are possibly embedded into the curriculum. The findings of this study revealed that there’s an urgent need to improve lecturers’ qualifications and competencies to deal with current and future challenges of the curriculum and the demands of the industry. Equally important to this study, is the need for staff training and capacity in the development of Graduates Attributes, as well as in curriculum matters. It also emerged that curriculum re-evaluation could potentially contribute in fostering improved employability and productivity of TVET college graduates. The study recommends that TVET colleges, such as Goldfields TVET college, needs to prioritise lecturer development, ranging from continuous professional training to qualification improvement. It is also recommended that the industry needs to be given space in the TVET sector as to assist with the conceptualisation and development of Graduates Attributes for the world of work
The African Renaissance Call As a Strategy For Socio-Cultural and Economic Transformation: A Critical Analysis of Cultural and Ideological Issues
Get PDFArticleThe main task of this article is to interrogate the meaning and content of the concept of culture as a phenomenological and ideological concept in human history, and to demonstrate how it is linked to the development or non-development of the marginalized communities within the African continent. Equally important, the article identifies the processes of alienation and the marginalization of African cultural heritage by the ideological designs and practices of colonialism and the apartheid ideology. It highlights the importance of the African Renaissance call as a socio-cultural, political and economic strategy for transformation in post-1994 South Africa, and a movement to motivate Africa into moving forward and realising its true potential in the context of globalization and its marginalizing tendencies
The Umbilical Connection Between Language and Culture and its Implications for the Socio-Cultural Development of a Community: Time to Reverse the De-Centering of African Languages
Get PDFArticleEssentially, in the human kingdom language is regarded not only as a medium
of communication, but also as a carrier of culture. As a carrier of culture
language is of paramount significance in that it controls the way a people,
individually and collectively, perceive themselves in relation to other selves in
the world, and initiate and sustain their creativity. Unfortunately, for European
cultural hegemony language also became a mechanism for launching strategies
of domination and alienation of the African personality. The psycho-social
effect of the type of displacement that followed this action, as it is described in
this article, especially by Biko (1978), Ngara (1985), Ngugi wa Thiongo (1986)
and Pityana (1995), is such that the processes of subjugation and domination
did not only have to do with the colonised having to inherit alien syntax or
lexicology, but also the ways in which they ultimately perceive self and the
world, and how to relate with Europeans in their assumed superior status. In
this relation, the main aim of this article is to briefly reflect on the history of the
use of language as a mechanism that was used to assert European cultural
domination in the space of power relations and the disorientation and
marginalization of African indigenous languages and cultural heritage, and
ultimately the sabotaged the socio-economic development of the geo-south The article advocates for the reversal of the de-centering of African languages in ear
of the Fourth Industrial Revolution
A Review of Water Heating Technologies: An Application To The South African Context
Get PDFPublished Articleup to 40% of their total energy be allotted to the heating of water. The implementation of energy efficient
or renewable energy source technologies, for the main purpose of heating water, may assist in reducing
the magnitude of the energy crisis that South Africans are facing daily. This will, in turn, reduce energy
consumption and costs, so that the energy price hikes do not affect the consumers as severely as it would
otherwise.
The purpose of this paper is to provide a survey of the most frequently used domestic water
heating technologies. The paper aims to critically analyse and summarize recent advancements made
in renewable and non-renewable water heating technologies, particularly in the South African case.
These technologies include the electric storage tank water heater, solar water heaters (passive and active
circulation), heat pump water heater, geothermal water heating, photovoltaic-thermal water heater, gasfired
tankless water heater, biomass water heater and oil-fired water heater.
Substantial research works and other academic studies focusing on efficiency improvement, optimal
design and control, were consulted and categorized in terms of contributions, focus and respective
technologies. The key findings of the review conducted on the various water heating technologies are
discussed and organized, based on the advantages, drawbacks, approximate initial investment, average
life expectancy and payback period.
The results of this survey identify gaps in existing research. The aim is to propose a new perspective
on the importance of energy efficient hybrid water heating systems and the cost savings they might offer
Development Of A Rhino Anti-Poaching Model For Game Farms and Nature Reserves in the Free State Province of South Africa
Get PDFThesisDuring the last ten years, the rhino populations of South Africa have suffered under an intense poaching onslaught. This onslaught has moved to the Free State Province of South Africa and there is a justified concern that its rhino populations are at risk. To protect the rhinos in the Province a need exists to manage the risk of poaching through a practical rhino anti-poaching model, which can assist to protect them effectively. This Rhino Anti-Poaching Model can determine and predict a poaching risk, can identify weaknesses, can assist to address problem areas, and will enable efficient monitoring.
It is imperative to know which rhino species occurred in the Free State Province in historical times, to ensure that the correct rhino species is protected against the risk of poaching and that they be kept in a suitable habitat. Nine farms in the Free Sate have rhino as a prefix in their names, which may be an indication that rhino did occur in the Province. Various historical photos and literature give a retrospective view, and show that there was insufficient browsing vegetation for black rhinos to survive. The occurrence of open grassland however suggests that white rhinos did occur in those specific areas during the time of the first pioneers. During this study period a count of rhinos was done, and currently there are 669 white rhinos and 11 black rhinos in the Province, thus a total of 680 rhinos in the Free State Province.
The South African Constitution mandated the State to enforce measures that will ensure adequate environmental protection for the benefit of future generations. The South African government promulgated a myriad of new environmental legislation. Several international agreements were also introduced as enforcement tools to regulate rhinos. The enforcement measures are noble, but out of balance, with many inspectors, but too few law enforcement officials. It also over-regulates and ensnare officials in minor issues.
A brief discussion on the latest technological innovations gives insight to the purpose of its development and effectiveness in combating rhino poaching. There are currently no technical or strategic solutions to save rhinos from poaching, therefore a combination of techniques is needed. Although self-manufactured unconventional devices seem to be more efficient to deceive poachers, a combination with the latest technological equipment and conventional strategies might be the best solution to counter rhino poaching.
Free State rhino farmers own 90% of the Province’s rhinos. However, these rhino farmers lack the appropriate security measures required to adequately protect their rhinos. A questionnaire was developed and data were collected, providing statistics on the current stance of security measures on rhino sites in the Province. It showed that 80% of rhino poaching occurs in rhino camps bordering public roads, 69% of the rhino sites located within 20km from the nearest town reported poaching, and 77% of large rhino camps are prone to poaching incidents. 57% of the respondents experienced rhino poaching on their sites. Through the questionnaire, it was gathered that rhino farmers in the Province are not vested in the concept of using trained rhino security.
A Production Loss Formula was constructed that calculates the production loss of a poached rhino. This formula reflects the reality experienced by the breeder. It indicated that the Province lost almost R300 million due to the poaching of 60 rhinos and that a poached breeding bull scores a higher production loss than all other gender groups. The Production Loss Formula also indicated that the State had a larger mean amount of loss compared to the rhino farmers, despite the lower bull per cow ratio owned by the State.
As part of the Rhino Anti-Poaching Model, a spreadsheet Formula was developed to calculate the total poaching risk percentage of each rhino site in the Province. Subsequently, an average rhino-poaching risk of almost 65% was obtained. After a rectification of the risks, the average poaching risk was reduced to nine percent and 10 sites scored below 50% (versus the current four). The statistical analysis indicates that the most important predictors for number of rhinos poached in the Free State Province were the Rhino Camp and Rhino Population categories
Developing An Integrated Model For Mobile Learning Usability Evaluation – Case Of eBooks
Get PDFDissertationMobile computing, as prognosticated in the ubiquitous computing vision, is increasingly becoming
a predominant aspect of contemporary computing in organisations and society. The penetration of
mobile phones in sub-Sahara Africa has occurred with amazing rapidity: for many young people,
they now represent a very significant element of their daily lives. Africa has a booming global cell
phone penetration, at 67.5%, the fastest growing mobile market in the world. Adoption of these
emerging technologies for socio-economic development may contribute to the betterment of
people’s lives. Mobile learning has the potential to transform higher education through the adoption
of mobile devices which support ubiquitous learning.
The purpose of this current study is to develop an Integrated Framework Model (IFM) for mobile
learning usability (MLU) evaluation of e-books through the integration of the Technology
Acceptance Model and Task Technology Fit theory. The Technology Acceptance Model is widely
used in studies relating to technology acceptance. The Task-Technology Fit theory has been used
in Information Systems together with usability as a measure of performance. Two additional
constructs, namely, Social Influence and Perceived Enjoyment were adopted from the Unified
Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model and from Motivational Models. Integrating
the Technology Acceptance Model and Task-Technology Fit theory provides a model that includes
the individual characteristics (Technology Acceptance Model) and the technology and task
characteristics (Task Technology Fit).
A quantitative research design was primarily employed. A pilot study was administered as a guide
for the main study questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the constructs in the IFM. The
pilot study consisted of participants registered for a module, called Computer Security, at the
Central University of Technology. The main study participants were students registered for Oracle
and CCNA short courses. The results of the study reveal that individual characteristics, task
characteristics and technology characteristics positively influence the usability of e-books in higher
education. Usability positively influences adoption, which in turn influences performance among
students in higher education
A Heuristic Usability Evaluation Of Electronic Input Devices With Regard To Recording Class Attendance At Universities: Case Of Central University Of Technology
Get PDFStudent attendance is an important aspect at universities. Attending classes also increases a student’s interaction with a variety of faculty members. This raises the likelihood of finding mentors and role models who can help guide their academic, career and personal development. The digital strategy of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the Central University of Technology, Free State, encourages the replacement of manual processes by technological processes, to capture class attendance. The manner in which class attendance is generally captured, relevant to the research setting, is a manual process using pen and paper. With the advent of new technologies it is possible to replace the aforementioned manual system with a custom hardware and software solution, by using electronic input devices (EID’s). The question remains, how can a usability study on electronic input devices be used to assess and determine the most suitable device for recording class attendance electronically? The site of this research was restricted to the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT). A mixed methodology to explore the phenomenon was used. Sixty-three (63) first- year students, currently enrolled for the Diploma in Information Technology, Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP), were identified as a suitable population, with the correct demographics and sample size, to participate in the study. An open-ended questionnaire was developed to determine student perceptions of EID’s as well as the traditional method of recording student class attendance. Three different input devices were identified, namely: Barcode Scanner, Fingerprint Scanner, and Radio Frequency Identification Scanner (RFID). The devices were connected to custom software to gather the quantitative data over a period of four (4) weeks for each device. All the data captured was stored in a database. Data mining was implemented to extract data from the database. The objective of the study was to determine which electronic input device performs the best. A Performance Metric was developed that comprises the student’s opinions, duration for each individual scan as well as the duration of the total scan time for each device. The data in the Performance Metric was analysed using correlation and standard deviation. Each student was identified using their student number, which is linked to the barcode on the student card. For both the RFID and Fingerprint Scanners, student numbers must be linked to the Fingerprint and the RFID code. At the inception of the study, it was envisaged that the Barcode Scanner would be the most efficient and take the least time. It was also expected that students would be in favour of the Barcode Scanner, mainly because they are more familiar with it than with the other two devices
Student perceptions of audio feedback in a design-based module for distance education
Get PDFPublished ArticleWithin higher education, student perceptions are beneficial in evaluating the nature and quality of
educational interventions. One such intervention involves the use of academic audio feedback on the submitted
assignments of distance learning students. This type of feedback may well enhance the educational experience of the
students, irrelevant of how it is produced. The purpose of this article is to highlight the perceptions of students regarding
audio feedback, which was provided in a design-based module offered at an open distance learning institute in South
Africa. For this research, a case study was used were quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 30 students
enrolled for a module termed, Design Project III, during 2017. A few key advantages that were highlighted include
a good learning experience, better time utilisation, informative and better communication. A key disadvantage relates to
a lack of on-campus WiFi connectivity or availability. However, it is recommended that this intervention (providing
audio feedback to students) be adopted by more academics at open distance learning institutions as they strive to
improve student engagement with the study leader and with the course content
Biopolymer (Chitin) from Various Marine Seashell Wastes: Isolation and Characterization
Get PDFPublished ArticleChitin has been produced from different sea
waste sources including, molluscs (mussel and oyster shell),
crustacean (prawn and crab) and fish scale (pang and silver
scales) using deproteinization and demineralization as chemical
methods. The conditions of chemical extraction process
determine the quality of chitin. The obtained results revealed
that, about 1 and 10% HCl and NaOH were adequate concentrations
for deproteinization and demineralization process
respectively. Chitin from oyster and crab shell waste had the
highest yield of 69.65 and 60.00% while prawn, mussel shell,
pang and silver scales had the lowest yield of 40.89, 35.03,
35.07 and 31.11% respectively. Chitin solubility is controlled
by the quantity of protonated acetyl groups within the polymeric
chain of the chitin backbone, thus on the percentage
of acetylated and non-acetylated d-glucos-acetamide unit.
Good solubility results were obtained in mussel, oyster and
crab shells respectively. The chitin molecular weight characteristics
and activity are controlled by the degree of acetylation
(DA) and the distribution of acetyl group extending in
the polymer chain. DA is determined by acid-base titration
methods and molecular weight determined by Brookfield
viscometry. Both methods are found to be effective