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Adsorption of chromium from electroplating wastewater using activated carbon developed from water hyacinth
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Industrial wastewater polluted with high concentrations of Cr is commonly discharged into water resources without proper treatment. This gives rise to the deterioration of water quality and imposes adverse effects on public health. Therefore, this study is aimed at removing Cr from electroplating wastewater using activated carbon produced from water hyacinth under a full factorial experimental design with three factors and three levels (pH,2,5 and 8, adsorbent dose 0.5,1and1.5 in 100 mL and contact time 30, 60 and120 min). A phosphoric acid solution of 37% was used to activate the carbon, which was then subjected to thermal decomposition for 15 min at 500 °C. The activated carbon was characterized by the presence of a high surface area (203.83 m2/g) of BET, cracking of adsorbent beads of SEM morphology, amorphous nature of XRD, and many functional groups of FTIR such as hydroxyl (3283 cm−1), alkane (2920 cm−1), nitrile (2114 cm−1) and aromatics (1613 cm−1). The minimum Cr adsorption performance of 15.6% was obtained whereas maximum removal of 90.4% was recorded at the experimental condition of pH 2, adsorbent dose of 1.5 g/100 mL, and contact time of 120 min at a fixed value of initial Cr concentration of 100 mg/L. Similarly, the maximum Cr removal from real electroplating wastewater was 81.2% at this optimum point. Langmuir's model best described the experimental value at R2 0.96 which implies the adsorption is chemically bonded, homogeneous, and monolayer. Pseudo-second-order model best fits with the experimental data with R2 value of 0.99. The adsorbent was regenerated for seven cycles and the removal efficiency decreased from 93.25% to 21.35%. Finally, this technology is promising to be scaled up to an industrial level
Climate change, adaptation and livelihood changes in the Lake Tana Basin: implications for food security and poverty
Get PDFThe main objective of the thesis is to examine the effect of climate change and adaptation on livelihood pattern and the concomitant implications for poverty and food security.
The thesis uses a mixed-method research approach to address the study objectives. In this regard, the thesis applied various types of data collection techniques including household survey, focus group discussion, key informant interview, in-depth interview and participatory scenario development workshops.
The thesis reveals that there is a decline in rainfall and a rise in temperature in the Lake Tana Basin. In line with this, a time series analysis of the relationship between climate change variables and crop production showed that changes have occurred in the variables that have led to a reduction in crop production. In order to respond to this negative effects, community members have used various modern and traditional adaptation techniques.
Climate change and adaptation strategies have both brought about changes in livelihood pattern in the Lake Tana Basin. Accordingly, the study has assessed the effect of changes in livelihood pattern on food security and poverty. The result shows that the observed changes in livelihood pattern (caused by climate change and adaptation) have affected different components of poverty and food security.
And with regard to the components of livelihood assets, the thesis shows that almost all of them are under climate threat but with different levels of vulnerability.
Another finding is that the current adaptation strategies are not pro-poor. The result of a ranking exercise using local criteria shows that while afforestation, tree planning, shifting cultivation and modern irrigation ranked relatively at the top as pro-poor strategies, improved seeds and improved animal hybrids ranked lowest.D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)Development Studie
Visual analysis of popular disaster culture : an insight into the urban Anthropocene
No full textThe approach of this research was conducted via an Anthropogenic Anthropological voice focusing on the life, death, life cycles of nature and culture within the Urban Anthropocene and the impact this have on non-human kin. This was done through visual analysis and ethnographic practice-based research methods via engagement with wilderness areas in my immediate environment. I further investigate ecological utopian and dystopian lenses of nature and culture pertaining to life, death and life cycles within Popular Disaster Culture exploring the Urban Anthropocene. Investigating Popular Disaster Culture assisted me to determine a view of the image that the public might conceive in terms of the Urban Anthropocene and how this can hamper a Natureculture approach towards nature as proposed through the practices of various selected artists working with urban areas in an anthropogenic perspective of storytelling. These elements in return led my practice and practical choices within my artwork which was created for non-human kin within a gallery space. My artwork became a representation of ecological storytelling of Natureculture through complex layering of nature and culture depicting life, death and life cycles of selected organic and building materials as well as established ecosystems and life critters. While further providing these non-human kin with entertainment of video projections of themselves in the past, present and possibly a future within the Urban Anthropocene serving as comment to the mechanical approach of displaying natural materials in museums in conjunction to a more accurate depiction of function ecosystems.M.A. (Visual Art)Art and Musi
The quality and accreditation of online public administration programs
Get PDFCovid-19 accelerated the development of online learning around the world. As a result, many universities transitioned to fully online or hybrid learning in which face-to-face and online teaching are combined. Many universities indicated that they will continue with online or hybrid learning in a post-pandemic world indicating that online programs will remain a constant feature of the education landscape. This is also applicable to public administration programs at present, a total of 216 Master of Public Administration (MPA) degrees are available for online study at the StudyPortal (2022), offered by a variety of different universities. However, with the exception of the USA, national and international accreditation bodies often only assess the quality of traditional face-to-face programmes and neglect the accreditation of hybrid and online programs. This also applies to public administration programmes resulting in a large number of online programs not being assessed in terms of quality and standard. Accreditation plays an important role in ensuring quality and standards are adhered to. In terms of public administration programmes accreditation ensures that graduates have the knowledge and skills to contribute to a public service that is responsive, effective and efficient. This article argues that in a post-pandemic work it is important to assess the quality and standard of online educational programs in all disciplines but specifically in The Quality and Accreditation of Online Public Administration Programs L van Jaarsveldt Department of Public Administration and Management University of South Africa M S de Vries* School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy University of Johannesburg Radboud University Nijmegen H Kroukamp Department of Public Administration and Management University of the Free StateAdministratio Publica | Vol 31 No 1 March 2023 43 INTRODUCTION The development and implementation of quality public services require senior public servants to be well-educated and trained. Consequently, the need for quality public administration programmes of a high standard. However, this raises the question of who and what determines the quality and standards of such programmes. Peer assessments, national and international accreditation are seen as powerful instruments to determine the quality of higher education programmes (cf. Harvey 2004). As stated by the New England Commission of Higher Education (2018), becoming accredited is a status granted to an educational institution or a programme, indicating that quality standards have been met or exceeded. The origin of accreditation dates back to the late 1800s, while the first professional accreditation bodies were created in 1905 (Matthews 2018:33). These professional accreditation groups were formed to prevent the uneven delivery of professional education programmes (Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications 1995). Such accreditation concentrated on classic academic programmes; for example, medicine; with other disciplines, for instance, public administration that received its first accreditation from NASPAA (the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration) only in 1980 (NASPAA 2023). However, since accreditation started it has predominantly been face-to-face programmes that formed the focus of assessment, excluding hybrid and online programs. It was only in 1996 that the first online accredited and fully web-based university was developed (Online Schools 2022). Since then, many models, standards, and requirements were developed for the accreditation of online education programs. The exponential growth of online education during the Covid-19 pandemic amplified the need for accreditation to determine the quality and standard of these offerings. This drastic increase in online programs is supported by Rungta (2022), who states that in 2017, the BlackBoard platform was used by 30% of all higher education institutions for online education. By 2020, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, in approximately 90% of all countries, a digital online learning process was adopted, with many higher education institutions indicating they would stay (at least partly) online after the pandemic. This view is also supported by Toquero (2020), who mentions that universities around the world that closed public administration to ensure the provision of quality public services. This article recommends that specific criteria be added to the existing accreditation standards already being used for public administration programmes to assess not only face-to-face programmes but also online offerings.Public Administration and Managemen
Factors affecting the online buying behaviour of females: the case of South African online retailing industry
Get PDFThis study addressed a research gap in the South African clothing retail industry, where limited research has focused on the factors influencing online consumer buying behaviour. Despite the rapid growth of e-commerce and the increasing significance of online shopping, understanding these factors remains essential for the industry's growth and success. The purpose of this research was to identify the key factors affecting the online buying behaviour of female consumers in South Africa's online clothing retail sector. Employing a quantitative research approach, a convenience sampling method was utilised to gather data via online questionnaires from female online clothing shoppers in Pretoria and Johannesburg, resulting in a usable sample of 121 respondents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyse the data.
The study addressed two primary questions: Firstly, it examined the perceptions of female consumers toward online clothing shopping. The results revealed that female online shoppers in Gauteng generally held positive perceptions of online shopping, with varying degrees of consensus across various aspects of online buying behaviour. Age-related differences were also identified in these perceptions. Secondly, the study investigated the factors driving female online shoppers to purchase clothing online. It was found that online consumer attitude, trust, perceived risk, perceived benefits, and age significantly influenced online buying behaviour. Trust and perceived benefits positively affected online shopping behaviour, while perceived risk had a negative influence. Age, particularly being below 40, was associated with a greater inclination for online shopping. It was recommended that retailers should focus on building trust with their customers, emphasising the benefits of online shopping, and tailoring strategies to different age groups. These findings provide a foundation for enhancing the online clothing retail industry in South Africa, ultimately benefiting both businesses and consumers in this dynamic digital landscape.D.B.L.Graduate School of Business Leadershi
Factors impacting small-scale farmer's access to high-value livestock markets in the Greater Giyani local municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa
No full textThe study examined the factors impacting small-scale farmers' access to high-value livestock markets. The study's objectives were to (1) determine the socio-economic characteristics of small-scale farmers that impact on access to high-value livestock markets; (2) to explore different channels of communication used by small-scale farmers in accessing high-value livestock markets; (3) explore different marketing strategies used by small-scale farmers on access to high-value markets and (4) identify challenges faced by small-scale farmers. The study adopted a quantitative research approach and employed clustered proportional random sampling. Two hundred and fifteen (215) Greater Giyani Local Municipality livestock small-scale farmers were randomly selected. Primary data were used to address the objective of the study. Data were analysed using descriptive, inferential and Likert-scale analysis techniques. A statistical package for the social science programme (SPSS) was used. The study revealed that the majority of small-scale livestock farmers in the study area were male (62.8%) and old and that they used various communication strategies. Furthermore, the following were identified as major challenges for small-scale livestock farmers in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality: weather conditions, a lack of government support, chemicals and pesticides. One of the recommendations is that farmers should buy medication for their livestock. Besides, small-scale livestock farmers should be encouraged to grow artificial pastures to reduce pressure on the natural veld and make fodder available throughout the year. Also, the government should provide aid with distribution policies that will guarantee that all small-scale livestock farmers can benefit.Agriculture and Animal Healt
Exploring stakeholders' challenges in handling appointments of promotional posts in Amajuba District Schools, KwaZulu-Natal
No full textThis study was aimed at exploring stakeholders’ challenges in handling
appointments of promotional posts in Amajuba District schools, KwaZulu-Natal. The
study’s main objective was to explore the views as well as find shortcomings in the
procedures and appointments of HODs, deputy principals and principals. I adopted
the interpretive approach to explore this phenomenon. I gathered my data by using
quantitative and qualitative research approach. The data was collected using
questionnaires. Firstly, this data was then used to find common themes that were
later used in structured and semi structured interviews so as to give me, as the
researcher, more clarity in respect to these common themes. The main findings
reflected that it was difficult to pin point the exact problem as it all depended on the
experience of the specific SGB, as some SGBs have experience with the whole
appointment process of promotional posts, and others have never had any
experience with this process. Furthermore, it also depended on the principals’openness, readiness and willingness to help guide the SGB in the whole process of
conducting interviews. There is a certain amount of bias that always play a role in the
appointment process. As the researcher, I feel that the DoE needs to play a
prominent and leading role when it comes to the appointment of deputy principals
and principals of schools, as these positions directly impact the schools’ functionality.
SGBs on the other hand mistrust the DoE; instead, they articulated that they were in
need of rigorous training to empower them to make the right appointments during
interviews. If this is the case there must be a willingness for SGBs to take a slight
back seat when it comes to the appointment of especially deputy principals and
principals.M. Ed. (Education Management)Educational Leadership and Managemen
A search for new resonances in multiple final states with a high transverse momentum Z boson in s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector
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A generic search for resonances is performed with events containing a Z boson with transverse momentum greater than 100 GeV, decaying into e+e− or μ+μ−. The analysed data collected with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1. Two invariant mass distributions are examined for a localised excess relative to the expected Standard Model background in six independent event categories (and their inclusive sum) to increase the sensitivity. No significant excess is observed. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level are derived for two cases: a model-independent interpretation of Gaussian-shaped resonances with the mass width between 3% and 10% of the resonance mass, and a specific heavy vector triplet model with the decay mode W′ → ZW → ℓℓqq
The influence of Islam on the course of the Protestant Reformation
No full textFrom their beginnings, Christian–Muslim relationships have been characterised by
conquests and crusades, two words that cast a long shadow. However, several positive
aspects deserve our attention. I intend to unfold those elements that possibly channelled
the Protestant Reformation and offer a fresh look at them.
The basis for my construction is the politico-religious ground the Roman emperor
Constantine already prepared. He is the one who launched the era of politicallycontrolled
Christianity. Two and a half centuries later, Justinian went the reverse way
by setting up the religiously-controlled governance of his empire. At least from the
point of view of a Scripture-oriented Protestant, the fusion ended in centuries of theological
and social deviations.
Incidentally, right after the reign of Justinian, Islam emerged and overshadowed
European chronicles for the next one thousand years. No wonder the new religion was
assimilated with an apocalyptic calamity. Its presence brought massive financial and
human disasters to medieval Europe. Territorial and geopolitical losses were also
substantial: the whole of Asia Minor, North Africa, and a large section of the Balkan
Peninsula. Its looming presence at the gates of Vienna became almost overwhelming,
marking the apex of its expansion.
But could the bitter aftertaste of the Islamic presence have been over-accentuated
and some constructive elements ignored? Two considerations could provide an
answer. First, the existence of two distinct Christian views on the Scripture from Constantine’s
time. Presenting them will possibly help us trace the origins and the raison
d’être of the Protestant Reformation as an intra-Christian crisis amid the intra-
European race for hegemony. At the same time, the Ottomans emerged and made a
distinction between Christians identified in the Qur’ān as “concealers” and those
named “different believers”.
A significant part of my work consists of a review of such mentions and a study
of how Muslims generally behaved toward those two groups. The question is whether
their interference was motivated by religious conviction and political calculus, or if it
was simply the result of random factors.
Another aspect to be addressed is the critical examination of written sources
designed to demonise Islam or, on the contrary, to idealise it. It addresses challenging areas such as the outcome of the Muslim conquests for Christianity through forced
conversions and the expression of religious intolerance on one hand and the protection
of certain Christian minorities on the other. I need to add Islam’s vital role in the
preservation of Bible manuscripts and the participation of its commonly called “Golden
Age” to the enlightenment, which flowered into the development of the Reformation.
This beneficial repercussion has been widely underestimated, leaving people
with a distorted image. It is why History deserves to be reassessed in a way that places
the current rise of Islam in the West in a new light. In turn, that would be beneficial to
the ongoing efforts in the area of interfaith dialogue.Ph. D. (Church History)Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiolog
Development of a school-based education and Awareness Programme to support adolescents with suicidal ideation
No full textYearly, approximately 800,000 individuals across the globe succumb to suicide. Suicide ranks as the fourth leading cause of death among older adolescents, particularly those aged 15 to 19 years. Approximately 60% of adolescents who experience suicidal ideation ultimately end up attempting suicide, with over 86.1% doing so within the first year after they begin to contemplate suicide. These findings underscore the urgent need for effective prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the incidence of suicidal behaviour among adolescents. It is crucial that teachers and peers remain vigilant in identifying and addressing risk factors for suicidal ideation and that evidence-based interventions are readily available to those in need. This phenomenological research study aimed to explore the experiences of adolescents with suicidal ideation and identify various risk factors such as depression, mental health, bullying, substance abuse, family history of suicidal behaviour, social-environmental factors, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that may have contributed to suicidal thoughts and behaviour in adolescents. Furthermore, the researcher aimed to determine the markers that teachers and peers can use to detect suicidal intentions in adolescents. Utilising the data gathered from the interviews the primary purpose of this study was to develop a school-based education and awareness programme for supporting and educating adolescents experiencing suicidal ideation. This study was conducted at a high school in Tshwane, South Africa, with a target population of 14–18-year-olds with past suicidal ideation. The participants were chosen by purposive sampling, as well as their voluntary agreement to participate in the study The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. A qualitative research method was used to gather and investigate data on the participants' encounters with suicidal thoughts and behaviours. The data gathered in this research underwent analysis and interpretation using Hycner's explicitation process. This strategy enabled the identification of six overarching themes and eleven subthemes.
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The findings indicated slight differences when contrasted with existing academic literature, emphasising that alcohol and drug misuse are prominent risk factors for the emergence of suicidal ideation in adolescents. This research study found that interpersonal conflict in family and social interactions impacts the probability of suicidal ideation in adolescents, emphasising its importance as a key risk factor.D. Phil. (Psychology)Psycholog