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An assessment of the occurrence and removal options of microplastics in wastewater treatment processes at the City Ekurhuleni and Midvaal in South Africa
No full textoai:https://uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/30388The main aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence and removal of microplastics in wastewater treatment processes in Ekurhuleni and Midvaal in South Africa. The amount of microplastics and chemical composition discharged into the river pose a threat to aquatic systems and human health. The wastewater samples were collected using 24 h autosamplers between 2021 December to 2022 September. The in-situ measurements for pH and temperature were conducted using an advanced digital HACH HQ40d multi-meter. The analysis for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids (SS) was done through colorimetric and gravimetric methods. Analysis for heavy metals was done using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The polarized light microscopy (POM) was used to generate high-resolution images and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) identified polymers and functional groups. The quantification of microplastics was done through image J 1.53 K to determine the microplastics particles (MPs) counts and removal efficiencies. The mass of microplastics was obtained and the loading rate was estimated based on the flow rate. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to establish the relationships between physicochemical water quality, metals and MPs concentrations and loading. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and SS showed a small positive correlation with r-value ranging between 0.1-0.3. Temperature and pH showed a negative correlation with MPs concentration. Toxic metals and non-metallic parameters monitored in the influent and effluent of WWTWs also did not correlate significantly, only chloride, Fe, S and SO42− showed a smaller correlation at r=0.1-0.3. The MPs vary between 0.01-0.02 mm in the influent and 0.01-0.05 mm in the effluent. The microplastics identified across four seasons were dominated by angular fibres (white), fragments (blue, black and red films (translucent) with concentrations ranging between 145-180 MPs/L in summer, 399-401 MP/L in autumn, 119-798 MPs/L in winter and 152-402 MPs/L in spring. The highest concentrations and loading were observed at WWTW B. The FTIR analysis showed presence of polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylamide (PAM), polymethyl methacrylate (PPM), polymethyl methacrylate (ABS), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene carbonate (PPC) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) polymers while the spectra represent functional groups such as saturated aliphatic, alcohol and hydroxyl compounds, carbonyl and alkenes. The scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray (SEM/EDX) analysis resulted in carbon and oxygen ranging between 52-73.46% and 15.9-26% with the composition of MPs additives such as Cr, Ca, Fe, Al, Na, Mg, Zn, Cl, P, S and silicone. Continuous monitoring and regulations of MPs is required to minimize microplastics pollution and adverse impact in the environment.M. Sc. (Environmental Science)Environmental Science
Rethinking and reimagining corporate social responsibility as legislation in South Africa using a qualitative document analytics approach
Get PDFSouth African legislation does not obligate companies to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. Understanding the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on social inclusivity is crucial in ensuring trade-offs between companies and the citizens residing where development takes place. There is a need for a national consensus on a CSR policy framework within a social cohesion and nation building compact. The inclusion of the legislation for ensuring compliance towards fulfilling the purpose of the country’s sustainable development agenda is fully referred to in the discussion. The
unparalleled position requires collective energies with the public to actualize strategies. This chapter underpins the importance of having CSR as a standalone legislation and seeks to contribute to the world of science by leveling the ground with the rhetoric discussion. The document analysis was the backbone for a qualitative research methodology where the related intricacies were revealed. The research will embark on an empirical investigation to publish evidence-based results based on the
document analysis and legislative framework. The gap of a lack of legislation in South Africa has been identified notwithstanding the related legislation, which corroborates the direction the country is taking towards CSR. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on sustainable development on the transformation agenda. However, this study is limited in the sense that it did not embark on a largescale data collection from the implementers and the communities for empirical research which could be measured. This shall be employed in future research for evidence-based information and knowledge sharing.Development Studie
The Effect on Theatre Nurses for Rendering Perioperative Care to Patients Living with HIV in a South African Tertiary Hospital. AIDS research and Treatment
No full textPurpose. Te study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of how theatre nurses are being afected when they render per ioperative care to patients living with HIV in a South African tertiary hospital. Background. Tere is a scarcity of studies that focus
solely on the wellbeing of theatre nurses who render perioperative care to HIV patient due to the ramifcations of the nurses’ fear
of contracting HIV. Patients living with HIV often receive substandard care. Objectives. To establish how theatre nurses are being
impacted when rendering perioperative care to patient living with HIV, the study followed a qualitative approach using an
interpretative phenomenological analysis design. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews from ten theatre
nurses who were purposively selected according to specifc criteria. Tey voluntarily agreed to participate. An interpretive
phenomenological analysis framework was used to analyse the data. Two main themes emerged from the data analysis, namely, the
negative efect on nurses’ wellbeing and the impact that it had on them professionally. Results. Te study revealed that the
perioperative care of patients living with HIV had a negative impact on physical, mental, and social wellbeing of theatre nurses.
Teir compromised wellbeing in turn led to poor patient care, which put nurses at risk of losing their jobs and even potentially
having to face litigation. Te study further indicated that nurses did not receive psychological support from the management
which further afected their health and professional performance. Conclusion. Te study proposes that theatre nurses rendering
perioperative care to people living with HIV should receive proper training and support; staf shortages should also be addressed.
Tere is also an urgent need for appropriate and sufcient protective equipment. Such changes will be essential in order to mitigate
the negative impact that their jobs have on their wellbeing and on them in their professional capacity.Health StudiesUniversity of South Afric
The behavioural ecology of African clawless otters, Aonyx capensis, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Get PDFAfrican clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) are the most widely distributed otter species in Africa, and they occur in a wide variety of habitats. Despite their extensive distribution there is a paucity in knowledge on their ecology and, especially their social behaviour. Latrines play important roles in intraspecific olfactory communication of many mammals. In this research project several aspects related to latrine sites and the role these sites play in the behavioural ecology of African clawless otters were assessed. Latrine site selection, population densities, activity time, and scent-marking behaviours were investigated and compared across two study areas (uMlalazi Nature Reserve and Zini Fish Farm) on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In addition, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of 14 African clawless otter scats were described through gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Most of the latrine sites were located at the ecotone between two vegetation units or at the ecotone between a vegetation unit and a water source and were associated with little vegetation cover but lower wind exposure. It is hypothesised that this may increase their conspicuousness to conspecifics, while areas exposed to less wind likely aid in the retention of scent. Otters were strictly nocturnal around latrine sites and behaviours recorded were dominated by sprainting (“jiggle dances”) and sniffing suggesting latrine sites to be important for intra-specific communication. Many of the identified VOCs are commonly associated with reproduction and sex pheromones in other animals. This, combined with substantial inter-scat variation in VOCs, lend further support to the hypothesis that latrine sites are mainly used for intra-(and not inter) communication purposes. Future research will benefit from individual-level identification of otters when investigating the olfactory landscape of latrine sites and the interpretation of their social function to African clawless otters.M.Sc. (Life Science)Life and Consumer Science
An analysis of the extent of cyberbullying awareness among the stakeholders in the selected public school in Gauteng, South Africa
No full textLack of technological infrastructure and poor adoption of digital literacy in South African schools have been cited as some of the factors that impede the success of cyberbullying awareness implementation and monitoring initiatives in schools. The purpose of this study was to analyse the extent of cyberbullying awareness among the stakeholders in a selected public school in Gauteng, South Africa. To achieve this, a literature review on the latest international and local debates on cyberbullying and communication campaigns and strategies was undertaken. Self-awareness theory was used as the guiding theory for the study because of its ability to assess a person’s reaction to and behaviour after exposure to information.
Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a focus group interview with selected stakeholders (learners, teachers and parents). Through the use of discourse analysis to analyse the interviews, this study found that there was no cyberbullying awareness among the stakeholders within the school system. This lack of awareness was exacerbated by the technological knowledge gap, the non-implementation of a cyberbullying policy and the inability of schools to handle cyberbullying cases.
It is recommended that the Department of Basic Education should conduct ongoing training sessions on the 2012 School Safety Framework, specifically on cyberbullying, and also infuse it into the performance management of school principals. This study will equip the school system to respond to cyberbullying and engage in proactive measures to prevent it. Academically, this study adds to the ongoing discourse on the scourge of gender-based violence in general and cyberbullying in particular as the school system gradually moves into online platformsM.A. (Communication Science)Communication Scienc
A Framework for Implementing a Twin Peak Financial Regulatory Model: Institutional Logics Theoretical Perspective
No full textThis paper examines the institutionalisation of the Financial Services Regulations Act, in South Africa which gave effect to a Twin Peaks Financial Regulation Model. The aim of the paper is to introduce an institutional logics framework that financial services institutions may use to identify enabling and disabling institutional assumptions, principles and values that lead to a successful institutionalisation of a Twin Peaks Financial Regulatory Model in a developmental state. Institutional logics, a strand of institutional theory, is the lens through which this paper examines the institutionalisation of the Twin Peaks regulatory regime in South Africa. South Africa is the only country in the African continent that has implemented the Twin Peaks regulatory Model; and is one of only 38 OECD countries that implemented the Twin Peaks model. The paper critiques the societal
and institutional considerations that shaped the development of the Twin Peaks Model in South Africa.Graduate School of Business Leadershi
Search for flavour-changing neutral current interactions of the top quark and the Higgs boson in events with a pair of τ-leptons in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
No full textAbstract
A search for flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) tqH interactions involving a top quark, another up-type quark (q = u, c), and a Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson decaying into a τ-lepton pair (H → τ+τ−) is presented. The search is based on a dataset of pp collisions at
s
= 13 TeV that corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1 recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Two processes are considered: single top quark FCNC production in association with a Higgs boson (pp → tH), and top quark pair production in which one of top quarks decays into Wb and the other decays into qH through the FCNC interactions. The search selects events with two hadronically decaying τ-lepton candidates (τhad) or at least one τhad with an additional lepton (e, μ), as well as multiple jets. Event kinematics is used to separate signal from the background through a multivariate discriminant. A slight excess of data is observed with a significance of 2.3σ above the expected SM background, and 95% CL upper limits on the t → qH branching ratios are derived. The observed (expected) 95% CL upper limits set on the t → cH and t → uH branching ratios are
9.4
×
10
−
4
4.8
−
1.4
+
2.2
×
10
−
4
and
6.9
×
10
−
4
3.5
−
1.0
+
1.5
×
10
−
4
, respectively. The corresponding combined observed (expected) upper limits on the dimension-6 operator Wilson coefficients in the effective tqH couplings are Ccϕ < 1.35 (0.97) and Cuϕ < 1.16 (0.82)
Exploring strategies of teaching mathematics to learners with emotional barriers at the Foundation Phase : Gert Sibande District
Get PDFAbstracts in English, Afrikaans and ZuluEmotional barriers in Mathematics are the most common challenges that Foundation Phase learners face, and if not managed can extend into adulthood. The study explores the strategies Foundation Phase teachers use to assist learners with emotional barriers in Mathematics. This study employed a qualitative approach and was conducted in two primary schools. In this study, semi-structured and unstructured questions were used in the form of interviews with Foundation Phase teachers together with their Heads of Departments. A literature review and findings revealed that teachers can use different strategies to assist learners with such barriers. Furthermore, the study also revealed issues related to the use of strategies and resources. This study could benefit Foundation Phase teachers in teaching Mathematics based on the proposed strategies and resources outlined after teachers’ challenges were identified, such as continuous assessment, teacher-learner relationships and active learning using resources such as counting objects. The outcome of the study could also be valuable to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), especially the curriculum designers.Emosionele hindernisse in Wiskunde is die algemeenste uitdagings vir Grondslagfaseleerders, en as dit nie bestuur word nie kan dit voortduur tot in volwassenheid. Die studie verken die strategieë wat Grondslagfase-onderwysers gebruik om leerders te help met emosionele hindernisse in Wiskunde. Hierdie studie het ’n kwalitatiewe benadering gebruik en is uitgevoer in twee laerskole. In hierdie studie is daar gebruik gemaak van semi-gestruktureerde en ongestruktureerde vrae in die vorm van onderhoude met
Grondslagfase-onderwysers saam met hulle departementshoofde. ’n Literatuuroorsig en bevindings het getoon dat onderwysers verskillende strategieë kan gebruik om leerders met sulke hindernisse te help. Verder het die studie ook kwessies openbaar wat verband hou met die gebruik van strategieë en hulpbronne. Hierdie studie kan Grondslagfaseonderwysers help om Wiskunde te onderrig gebaseer op die voorgestelde strategieë en hulpbronne wat uitgestippel is nadat onderwysers se uitdagings geïdentifiseer is, soos deurlopende assessering, onderwyser-leerder-verhoudings en aktiewe leer deur gebruik te maak van hulpbronne soos om voorwerpe te tel. Die uitkoms van die studie kan ook waardevol wees vir die Departement van Basiese Onderwys, veral vir kurrikulumontwerpers.Izithiyo ezithinta imizwa kuYizibalo yizona zinselelo ezivame kakhulu abafundi besiGaba esiyiSisekelo ababhekana nazo, futhi uma zingalawulwa zingadlulela nasebudaleni. Ucwaningo luhlola amasu othisha besiGaba esiyiSisekelo abawasebenzisayo ukusiza abafundi abanezithiyo ezithinta imizwa kuyiZibalo. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzise indlela esezingeni futhi lwenziwa ezikoleni ezimbili zamabanga aphansi. Kulolu cwaningo, kusetshenziswe imibuzo ehlelekile ngokungagcwele kanye nengahlelekile ngendlela yezingxoxo nothisha besiGaba esiyiSisekelo kanye neziNhloko zeMinyango. Ukubuyekezwa kwemibhalo nokutholakele kuveze ukuthi othisha bangasebenzisa amasu ahlukene ukusiza abafundi abanezithiyo ezinjalo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ucwaningo luphinde lwaveza nezindaba ezihlobene nokusetshenziswa kwamasu nezinsiza. Lolu cwaningo lungahlomula othisha besiGaba esiyiSisekelo ekufundiseni Izibalo ngokusekelwe kumasu nezinsiza ezihlongozwayo ezivezwe ngemuva kokuhlonzwa kwezinselelo zothisha, njengokuhlola okuqhubekayo, ubudlelwano bukathisha nomfundi nokufunda ngenkuthalo besebenzisa izinsiza ezifana nokubala izinto. Umphumela wocwaningo ungaba wusizo futhi eMnyangweni Wezemfundo Eyisisekelo (DBE), ikakhulukazi abaklami bohlelo lwezifundo.M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)Psychology of Educatio
Collection development in public libraries in Waterberg district, Limpopo province, South Africa
Get PDFText in EnglishCollection development in public libraries is a process of acquiring, managing books
and maintaining the library’s collection such as books, periodicals, audio-visual
materials and digital resources. Collection needs to be regularly updated to meet
multiple information needs of the users. The purpose of this study was to investigate
collection development in Waterberg District, Limpopo province, South Africa. The
study has adopted a qualitative research approach and self-administered
questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The study collected
data from 250 library users from Mogalakwena public libraries. The quantitative
research approach allowed the investigator to distribute the self-administered
questionnaires personally in five public libraries to collect data. A total of 278 library
users were selected through simple random sampling and only 250 respondents
returned the self-administered questionnaires. The findings indicated that the
information sources were accessible to the library users, while the majority (92%) of
the respondents were satisfied with the performance of the librarians. More than a
quarter (80, 32%) of the respondents was satisfied with the information sources.
Additionally, the findings indicated that all (100%) library users requested library
personnel to assist them in accessing the library collection, instead of using the
installed library system. The findings indicated that the majority (72%) of the
respondents had Wi-Fi in the public libraries, most (69.2%) of the respondents had
both internet and computers available in their public libraries. Nearly half (48%) of
the respondents indicated the challenge of no participation in collection development
policy. Fewer than half (42%) of the respondents indicated that their public libraries
contained old information sources that cannot be used to meet their multiple
information needs. The study concluded that recruitment of new library personnel is
needed to help with delivery of the library collection as well as to offer training
workshops on collection development.
The study recommends that the public libraries should be on a hybrid system, adopt
the use of printed and e-sources, and evaluate collection development through
interviews and social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook. Periodical
sources should also be acquired to feed the library users with the current information.M.A. (Information Science)Information Scienc
Rear-earth ions doped mesoporous TiO2 nanostructures and the caffeine booster in MAPbl3 perovskite material
No full textTitanium dioxide (TiO2) nanostructures were synthesized by sol-gel method and co polymers polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and pluronic F127
were used as pore forming agents. The samples were then calcined at 550 °C for 4
hours in a pre-heated muffle furnace. The synthesized TiO2 showed porous
morphology with spherical nanoparticles. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm
studies revealed that the samples were mesoporous in nature. BET further indicated
that the specific surface areas of TiO2@F127, TiO2@PVP and TiO2@PEG were ~
69.82, 37.80 and 57.08 m2
/g, respectively. The pore size was found to be ~13.01,
10.10 and 8.53 nm For TiO2@F127, TiO2@PVP, and TiO2@PEG.
Mesoporous TiO2 (mp-TiO2) was then doped with rare-earth ions (Ho3+, Er3+ and Tm3+)
and incorporated into methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3). Thereafter, photon
absorption and electrical conductivity were evaluated. The photon absorbance
showed a slight redshift in the 400–550 nm range with tiny absorption bands appearing
at ~645–653 nm for TiO2:Ho3+:MAPbI3, ~684–693 nm for TiO2:Er3+:MAPbI3 and ~684–
793 nm for TiO2:Tm3+:MAPbI3. Current – Voltage (I-V) characteristics showed an
improved electrical conductivity and low sheet resistance from TiO2:Er3+:MAPbI3 and
TiO2:Tm3+:MAPbI3 samples, implying that these samples are suitable as active photon
absorption layers in the application of perovskite solar cells.
The thermal stability and crystallinity of MAPbI3 were investigated by introducing
different concentrations of 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine (caffeine) (2%, 4%, 6% and 8%)
into the system. TGA analysis revealed that MAPbI3 was stable at lower temperatures
(0-91 oC) then upon adding caffeine into MAPbI3 the thermal stability was improved in higher temperature range (196-242 oC). XRD analysis showed that the samples
exhibited intense diffraction peaks at ~2θ = 19.66o and 39.81
o
, respectively assigned to
the (112) and (224) planes of tetragonal MAPbI3 structure which indicates that the desired
MAPbI3 film was formed. MAPbI3@Caffeine (8%) and MAPbI3@Caffeine (6%)
exhibited high PL quenching which indicates their high charge carrier extraction
efficacy of which can be attributed to the higher crystallinity and fewer defect states of
the film compared to MAPbI3@Caffeine (2%) and MAPbI3@Caffeine (4%) samples.Ph. D. (Physics)Physic