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A practical theological exploration of pastoral hiring process within the Canadian Evangelical Church
No full textThe purpose of this study is to understand and reflect theologically upon the pastoral hiring process and the scriptural, cultural and contextual influences that impact this practice. This study is a needed reflection at this time in Canadian church history because of the increasingly pluralistic, secularized and consumer-minded society that the church find itself immersed in. More than ever, it is critical that the church and its leadership engage in a critical reflection of praxis. Rather than being called to accommodate the culture, the church is tasked with interpreting and engaging the culture with practices that are often counter-cultural - but that faithfully reflect scriptural values and principles of the gospel. Leadership, and particularly pastoral leadership, is a critical element to navigate these times and to lead the church forward. As pastoral vacancies arise, the ability of the church to identify and select these pastoral leaders is a vital practice within the church.
This study focuses on the evangelical landscape in Canada, with a representative sample of four churches from one of the larger evangelical denominations. It utilized a qualitative, multiple case study approach using Osmer’s ‘descriptive-empirical tasks’ to explore the pastoral hiring processes. The primary data collection method was semi-structured interviews. Additional relevant materials were obtained from participant churches and the denominational leadership (job descriptions, candidate profile template and bylaws) in an effort to further triangulate the data representative of a church’s hiring process. Data was then analyzed utilizing a thematic approach and Atlas.Ti qualitative software to identify the main themes to be addressed.
From this study, the contribution to practical theology is a rigorous, descriptive understanding and reflection of the church pastoral hiring practice within the Canadian evangelical church in light of current assumptions, cultural influences and the challenge of the evangelical church to critically discern and respond in its continuing process of faithful theological formation and spiritual development. It offers some reflections and a possible reorientation to the evangelical church for the pastoral hiring process and practices of the church, while engaging both the current culture and the church’s declared priority of the authority of scripture.D. Phil. (Practical Theology)Practical Theolog
Electrical conduction and resistive switching in polymer and biodegradable nanocomposites
No full textModern memory devices such as static random-access memory (SRAM),
dynamic random-access (DRAM), and Flash memories demonstrated inevitable
limitations, i.e., large cell size (50 − 120 F2) of SRAM, accompanied
by current leakage; high operating voltages of 3 V and up to 6 V
for DRAM and NOR Flash, respectively; DRAM capacity should sustain
enough charges (there is a limit to how small the DRAM capacitor can be)
and Flash need a novel array structure. Additionally, these current memory
devices contribute significantly to the world’s earth pollution. These memories
still use heavy metals such as Pb, which are harmful to humans. There
is a demand for a next-generation random-access memory (RAMs) having
fast read and write operations as the SRAM, high density and cost-benefit
as the DRAM, and nonvolatility as the Flash. Furthermore, new memory
device must be compatible with on-chip computing. Resistive switching
memories (ReRAMs) are an emerging memory technology with prospects
of combined benefit found in all current memories. Furthermore, ReRAMs
can be fabricated using any material, including organic polymers and biological
materials. This gives ReRAM environmentally friendly properties
and compatibility with futuristic electronics, where special mechanical properties
such as transparency and flexibility are important. In this study, we
conducted intense research on electrical conduction and resistive switching
in biodegradable polymers such as chitosan and polyvinylpyrrolidone, and in
the process, we discovered, for the first time, resistive switching in raw cow
milk. First resistive switching and conduction mechanisms in spin-coated devices
consisting ofcadmium telluride/cadmium selenide (CdTe/CdSe) coreshell
quantum dots embedded in a chitosan active layer sandwiched between
(1) aluminium (Al) and silver (Ag) and (2) indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) and Ag electrodes were studied. Here, both devices exhibited bipolar memory
behavior at low (+0.70 V ) voltage, enabling both devices to be operated
at low powers. The devices displayed different switching mechanisms,
i.e., conductive bridge mechanism in the Al-based device and space-chargelimited
driven conduction filament attributed in the ITO device. Additionally,
the Al-based device showed long retention (> 103 s) and a reasonable
large (> 103) ON/OFF ratio. We also observed a sweeping cycle-induced reversal
of the voltage polarity of the VSET and VRESET in the Al-based device,
which is a new observation. Using the same composite but changing the
film deposition method, i.e., now using the drop-casting method. All devices
consisting of 0.96 wt%, 0.48 wt%, 0.32 wt% and 0.24 wt% CdTe/CdSe
QDs to chitosan showed ‘O-type’ memory behavior with OFF-state current
conduction mechanism attributed to the hopping mechanism. However, the
ON-state current in each device followed a unique mechanism, such that
Ohmic behavior was observed for the device with 0.96 wt%, while linear
then hopping, space-charge limited, and lastly, hopping conduction mechanisms
were attributed to devices with 0.48 wt%, 0.32 wt% and 0.24 wt%,
respectively. Proving that memory behavior and conduction in these devices
can be exploited by controlling the amount of CdTe/CdSe.
Next, we investigated the effect of molybdenum(IV) sulfide (MoS2) on
both conduction and memory behavior in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) by
fabricating various ReRAM devices using (1) plain MoS2 (device A), (2)
plain PVP (device B), (3) PVP and MoS2 bilayer (device C), and (4) PVP
+MoS2 nanocomposites with 10 wt% (device D), 20 wt% (device E), 30 wt%
(device F) and 40 wt% (device G) MoS2 fabricated with Al and Ag as
bottom and top electrodes, respectively. We did not observe switching in
devices A and B. Device C showed a combination of bipolar and threshold
switching at 0.40 V . Device G portrayed bipolar switching at 0.56 V . In
Device C, space charge-limited conduction while Ohmic behavior followed by trapping of charge before switching was noticed in device G. Both devices
C and G showed reasonably (≥ 102) ON/OFF ratio. In the nanocomposite
devices, we observed that an increase in MoS2 content increased electrical
conductivity in the Ohmic region, leading to threshold switching at 30 wt%
(device F) and ultimately bipolar switching at 40 wt% (device G). These
studies showed that both switching and conduction mechanisms are sensitive
to the type and composition of the active layer in the devices studied.
Next, we investigated resistive switching in chitosan/PVP composite as
the active layers sandwiched between Al and Ag electrodes. ReRAMs with
active layers consisting of 1 : 3, 1 : 1, and 3 : 1 chitosan to PVP ratios were
studied. Asymmetric threshold switching with only the negative voltage bias
was obtained for the device with a chitosan to PVP ratio of 1 : 3. The 1 : 1
chitosan to PVP ratio device showed optimal memory behavior with bipolar
switching with low (0.28 V ) switching voltage in the first cycle, followed by
asymmetric threshold switching during the second cycle and back to bipolar
switching. We did not observe memory behavior in the 3 : 1 chitosan to
PVP-based device. Electrochemical conduction metalization was attributed
to the switching mechanism in the device with a 1 : 1 ratio of chitosan
to PVP. Our results reveal the applicability of chitosan and PVP blend in
memory device fabrication and that both the memory and switching can be
exploited by varying the ratio of chitosan to PVP in the composite.
Lastly, we fabricated the first resistive switching memory devices that
use raw organic cow milk as active layers. Our devices comprised fat-free,
medium cream, and full cream raw cow milk active layers sandwiched between
ITO and Ag. All devices showed low switching voltages, with the
medium fat milk-based device showing the lowest VSET = +0.45 V and
VRESET = −0.25 V . Additionally, the medium fat-based device showed
an ‘S-type’ memory mode attributed to the space-charge-limited conduction mechanism. Alternatively, fat-free and fill-cream-based devices both
showed ‘O-type’ memory behavior attributed to hopping conduction. EDS
analysis of all active layers revealed a relatively higher weight percentage
of metallic ions in the medium fat milk film than in fat-free and full-cream
milk films, which explains the different behaviors. These devices combine
biodegradability and low power characteristics that are important for green
computing.Ph.D. (Physics)Physic
Guidelines for improvement of childhood immunisation program in pastoralist communities of Somali Region, Ethiopia
No full textIncludes summaries in Xhosa and ZuluBackground: The current Ethiopian health service delivery system is structured into
three-tier systems. This includes primary, secondary, and tertiary-level healthcare tier
systems. The administrative structure of the immunisation program in Ethiopia is
based on the administrative structure of the country from the federal and down to the
district and primary health care unite level.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop guidelines to optimize childhood
immunisation programs in the pastoralist community of Somali Region, Ethiopia.
Methods: The researcher employed an explanatory sequential mixed method
technique combining quantitative and qualitative research designs. Three hundred
(300) respondents and 64 health facilities were chosen from the quantitative designs
at Shebele zones in Somali region using multi-stage cluster sampling and simple
lottery methods respectively, while 12 participants in the qualitative designs were
selected through purposive sampling methods. For quantitative and qualitative
approaches, data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS) 25.0 version and Atlas ti 8, respectively.
Results
Quantitative results: Overall, 285(94.9%) of the 300 respondents had ever heard of
immunisation. Less than half, 139(46.3%) the average value of knowledge indicators
was below that of the respondents. Among children who had ever been vaccinated for
regular vaccination, 184(79%) of parents/caregivers had child vaccination cards. The
overall proportion of children, who received valid full vaccination was 81(27%), partially
vaccinated 39(13%) and not vaccinated 180(60%). The findings revealed long
distances to the place of immunisation 56(19%), bad rumours 89(30%), and long
waiting time 55(18.3%) as some of the major barriers to not vaccinating children. From
the observed 64 health facilities, 46%, 67%, and 64% have at least one trained health
staff, available to reach every district or community (RED/C) and Micro-plan to provide
specific vaccines respectively. Almost half 30(47%) of healthcare facilities have an
equal number of Auto-Disable (AD) and re-constitution syringes, and more than three
quarter 51(80%) of refrigerator temperatures were monitored twice daily.
Qualitative results: Four themes emerged from the data including challenges with
immunisation system, low immunisation coverage, low knowledge of
parents/caregivers on vaccination, and low community involvement on vaccination
service.
Conclusion The qualitative findings were used to create a concrete understanding of
the study topic. The investigator developed immunisation guidelines to improve
childhood immunisation programs in pastoralist communities and guided healthcare
professionals and immunisation implementing partners in improving immunisation
coverage and reducing the number of unimmunised children.Imeko-bume/Imvelaphi : Inkqubo yangoku/ yanamhlanje yokunikezelwa kwenkonzo
yezempilo yase-Ethiopia inamanqanaba amathathu esakhiwo, oko kukuthi
ukhathalelo lwezempilo olusisiseko, ukhathalelo olukwinqanaba lesibini kunye
nelesithathu. Ubume bolawulo benkqubo yokugonywa e-Ethiopia busekwe kubume
bolawulo belizwe ukusuka kumdibaniso/kubufederali ukuya kutsho kwinqanaba
leyunithi yokhathalelo lwempilo esisiseko.
Injongo: Injongo yolu phononongo yayikukuphuhlisa izikhokelo zokuphucula iinkqubo
zokugonywa kwabantwana kuluntu lwasezifama/lwasemaphandleni kuMmandla
waseSomalia, e-Ethiopia.
Iimethodi/ iindlela zokuqhuba uphononongo:Umphandi usebenzise ubuchule
bendlela yolandelelwano echazayo nexubileyo edibanisa uyilo lobungakanani kunye
noyilo olusemgangathweni lophando. Abaphenduli abangama-300 kunye namaziko
ezibonelelo zezempilo ezingama-64 zakhethwa kuyilo lobungakanani ngokwenani
kwiindawo yommandla owenzelwe injongo ethile (zones) eShebele kwiNgingqi
yaseSomalia kusetyenziswa ingqokelela yeesampulu zamaqela ezinezigaba ezininzi
kunye neendlela ezilula kukhethwa ngokwamanani abawanikiweyo
ngokungakhethiyo. Abathathi-nxaxheba aba-12 kuyilo olusemgangathweni
bakhethwa ngeendlela zesampulu ngokunenjongo. Kwiindlela zobungakanani kunye
nezisemgangathweni, idatha yahlalutywa kusetyenziswa uhlobo lwe 25.0 lwe-SPSS
kunye ne-ATLAS.ti 8, ngokulandelanayo.
Iziphumo
Iziphumo zobungakanani: Kukonke, ama-285 (94.9%) kwabangama-300 abathe
baphendula baye beva ngogonyo. Ngaphantsi kwesiqingatha, i-139 (46.3%), umyinge
wezalathisi zolwazi kwinani elimelweyo lalingaphantsi kwelo labaphenduli.
Kubantwana abakhe bagonywa ngokugonywa rhoqo, i-184 (79%)
yabazali/abanonopheli babenamakhadi okugonya abantwana. Inani lilonke
labantwana abafumene ugonyo olupheleleyo ngama-81 (27%), abangama-39 (13%)
baye bagonywa ngokuyinxenye(ngokungaphelelanga) kwaye abangama-180 (60%)
abazange bagonywa .Iziphumo zityhila imigama emide ukuya kwindawo yogonyo (56;
19%), amarhe amabi (89; 30%) kunye nexesha elide lokulinda (55; 18.3%)
njengeminye yemiqobo ephambili ekungagonyweni kwabantwana. Ukusuka
kuqwalaselo lwamaziko ezempilo angama-64, ii-46%, 67% kunye nama-64%
ubuncinane abe nalo ilungu elinye lomsebenzi wezempilo oqeqeshiweyo,
ebefumaneka ukuze afikelele kuzo zonke izithili okanye uluntu kwaye
ebenesicwangciso esincinane sokubonelela ngezitofu ezithile ngokwahluka kwazo.
Phantse isiqingatha (i-30; i-47%) samaziko ezibonelelo zezempilo zinenani
elilinganayo zeesirinji I-auto-disable (AD) iisirinji ezingasebenzi ngokunokwazo emva
kokusetyenziswa kanye. ii-Auto-Disable (AD) kunye neesirinji ezinokubuyiselwa
kwisimo sazo sangaphambili/ ezinokuvuselelwa (reconstitution), kwaye ngaphezu
kweekota ezintathu (51; 80%) zamaqondo obushushu ezikhencezisi zazihlolwa kabini
ngemini.
Iziphumo zohlobo olusemgangathweni: Imixholo emine yavela kwidatha: imingeni
kwinkqubo yokugonya, ubuncinane beendawo ezifikekekwayo yokugonya, ulwazi
olusileleyo /oluphantsi lwabazali / abanonophelo ngokugonya, kunye
nokubandakanyeka okuphantsi koluntu kwinkonzo yokugonya.
Isiphelo: Iziphumo ezisemgangathweni zisetyenziselwe ukuphuhlisa ukuqonda
okubambekayo kwesihloko sophando. Umphandi wenze izikhokelo zokugonya ukuze
kuphuculwe iinkqubo zokugonywa kwabantwana kwiindawo zasefama/
zasemaphandleni kunye nokukhokela iingcali zezempilo kunye namaqabane
aphumeza ugonyo ekuphuculeni ukufikelela kwiindawo ezininzi zokugonya kunye
nokunciphisa inani labantwana abangagonywanga.Isizinda: Uhlelo lwamanje lokulethwa kwezinsiza zezempilo lwase-Ethiopia
lunezinhlaka ezintathu, okungukuthi ukunakekelwa kwezempilo okuyisisekelo,
okwesibili kanye nokwemfundo ephakeme. Isakhiwo sokuphatha sohlelo lokugoma e Ethiopia sisekelwe esakhiweni sokuphatha sezwe kusukela kuhulumeni
wesifundazwe kuya ezingeni lesifunda kanye neyunithi yokunakekelwa kwezempilo
okuyisisekelo.
Inhloso: Inhloso yalolu cwaningo kwakuwukwenza imihlahlandlela yokuthuthukisa
izinhlelo zokugoma izingane emphakathini wabafuyi besiFunda saseSomali, e Ethiopia.
Izindlela: Umcwaningi usebenzise indlela yamasu exubile yokuqoqa imininingwane
ehlanganisa echazayo kanye neyezinombolo. Kwakhethwa abaphenduli abangu-300
kanye nezikhungo zezempilo ezingama-64 ezinhlelweni zokuthola indlela abantu
abacanga futhi abazizwa ngayo ezindaweni zaseShebele esiFundeni saseSomali
kusetshenziswa amasampula ezigaba eziningi nezindlela ezilula zokwabela ilungu
ngalinye inombolo; abahlanganyeli abayi-12 ekunikezeni imininingwane ejulile
ngokuziphatha kwabantu bakhethwa ngezindlela zesampula ezihlosiwe. Mayelana
nezindlela zocwaningo ezichazayo neyezinombolo, imininingwane yahlaziywa
kusetshenziswa inguqulo ye-SPSS 25.0 kanye ne-ATLAS.ti 8, ngokulandelana.
Imiphumela
Imiphumela yezinombolo: Sekukonke, abangama-285 (94.9%) kwabangama-300
abaphendula babezwile ngokugonywa. Ngaphansi kwengxenye, 139 (46.3%), inani
elimaphakathi lezinkomba zolwazi belingaphansi kwalaba abaphendulile. Phakathi
kwezingane ezake zagonyelwa ukugonywa njalo, abazali/abanakekeli abayi-184
(79%) babenamakhadi okugoma izingane. Isamba sesisonke sezingane ezithole
ukugonywa okugcwele okusebenzayo kwaba ngama-81 (27%), ama-39 (13%)
agonywe ingxenye kanti eziyi-180 (60%) azigonyiwe. Okutholakele kuveza amabanga
amade lapho okugonywa khona (56; 19%), amahlebezi amabi (89; 30%) kanye
nesikhathi eside sokulinda (55; 18.3%) njengezinye zezithiyo ezinkulu zokungagomi
izingane. Ezikhungweni zezempilo eziqashiwe ezingama-64, ama-46%, 67% kanye
nama-64% okungenani anelungu elilodwa labasebenzi bezempilo abaqeqeshiwe,
ezitholakalayo ukuze zifinyelele kuzo zonke izifunda noma umphakathi futhi zibe
nohlelo oluncane lokuhlinzeka ngemithi yokugoma ethile, ngokulandelana. Cishe
ingxenye (30; 47%) yezikhungo zokunakekelwa kwempilo inenani elilinganayo
lemijovo yokugoma enesici sokuvimbela ukusetshenziswa kabusha nemijovo
yokuvuselela kabusha, futhi ngaphezu kwezingxenye ezintathu (51; 80%) zamazinga
okushisa esiqandisi aqashwe kabili nsuku zonke.
Imiphumela echazayo: Izindikimba ezine zavela emininingwaneni: izinselele ngohlelo
lokugoma, ukutholakala okuphansi kokugoma, ulwazi oluncane lwabazali/abanakekeli
mayelana nokugoma, nokubamba iqhaza okuncane komphakathi ensizakalweni
yokugoma.
Isiphetho: Okutholwe ngocwaningo oluchazayo kusetshenziswe ukuthuthukisa
ukuqonda okuphathekayo kwesihloko socwaningo. Umseshi wenze imihlahlandlela
yokugoma ukuze kuthuthukiswe izinhlelo zokugoma kwezingane emiphakathini
yabafuyi kanye nokuqondisa ochwepheshe bezempilo kanye nabalingani
abasebenzisa ukugoma ukuze kuthuthukiswe ukutholakala kokugoma nokunciphisa
inani lezingane ezingagonyiwe.D. Phil. (Public Health)Health Studie
A machine learning based credit card fraud detection using the GA algorithm for feature selection
No full textThe recent advances of e-commerce and e-payment systems have sparked an increase in financial fraud cases such as credit card fraud. It is therefore crucial to implement mechanisms that can detect the credit card fraud. Features of credit card frauds play important role when machine learning is used for credit card fraud detection, and they must be chosen properly. This paper proposes a machine learning (ML) based credit card fraud detection engine using the genetic algorithm (GA) for feature selection. After the optimized features are chosen, the proposed detection engine uses the following ML classifiers: Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Logistic Regression (LR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Naive Bayes (NB). To validate the performance, the proposed credit card fraud detection engine is evaluated using a dataset generated from European cardholders. The result demonstrated that our proposed approach outperforms existing systems.Electrical & Mining Engineerin
A framework to enhance ethical practice within the nursing profession in South Africa
No full textNursing ethics is the basis of nursing practices, and is aimed at improving the well-being of patients and their families, society, and the nursing profession. However, nursing ethics education and practice have always been under scrutiny globally, due to prevailing unethical practices perpetrated by some nurses. In South Africa, some of the investigations into these practices have resulted in disciplinary hearings by the South African Nursing Council (SANC). It is against this background that the aim of the study is to describe the status of nursing ethics and consequently develop a framework for enhancing ethics education and practice within the nursing profession in South Africa. Higher education institutions and the public health care services sector in Free State Province provided the study's context and reference point.
A convergence mixed-methods approach was used, in terms of which relevant literature and pertinent documents were reviewed, a survey was undertaken for exploring the ethics knowledge of the Com-serves; while unstructured interviews were also conducted with ethics educators and Com-serves. Inferences from these diverse data sources portrayed the status of nursing ethics and gave insight into the trajectories that may be pursued to enhance ethics in nursing and, therefore, ethical patient care.
The study results revealed that nursing ethics is constrained by factors such as misinterpretation of broad SANC directives, resulting in discordant nursing ethics and professional practice, as well as limited ethics content in education. The results further reveal poor ethical reflection amongst healthcare professionals. For instance, while the Com-serves reported unethical practices and attitudes by senior nurses and medical practitioners, they lacked the courage to report similar unethical behaviour towards
iii
patients. It was further revealed that there exists a narrow understanding of ethical and legal frameworks among the Com-serves. As pronounced in the conceptualisation of nursing ethics, the use of personal values was also prevalent.
Therefore, the study recommends an ethical framework that considers internal and external guidance of morality as the basis for preparations in nursing ethics education to enhance the nurses’ encounter with their clients. Such a framework should recognise nursing ethics from the philosophical view of ethics as a binding responsibility focusing primarily on a patient as the vulnerable and suffering ‘other’. The framework should also integrate the application of ethical and legal frameworks in nursing activities for achieving human dignity as a normative standard described by the patient.D. Phil. (Nursing Science (Health Studies))Health Studie
Expression, purification and characterization of Protein A for antibody (IgG) detection in rapid diagnostic tests
No full textProtein A which is a Staphylococcus aureus cell wall component specifically binds to the Fc region of immunoglobulin G₁ from various species such as humans, rabbits and guinea pigs. The protein serves as one of the bacterium’s virulence factors to evade the host immune system and initiate infection. The outermost part of protein A contains five binding domains that strongly interact with the Fc region of IgG₁, hence protein A has been the most widely used ligand for affinity purification of IgG antibodies. Taking advantage of the high interaction between protein A and IgG, the development of a recombinant protein A for IgG detection in rapid tests seems logical. Expression of protein A has been previously investigated, however, little progress has been made with protein A being found to generate inclusion bodies in prokaryotic systems (Escherichia coli) lowering its solubility. The successful expression and purification of insoluble proteins from inclusion bodies have been difficult tasks to conduct. Therefore, this study aimed to express and purify a soluble protein A from inclusion bodies through Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC) and asses its binding capabilities to IgG antibody by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) for its application in Lateral Flow Devices.
In this study, recombinant protein A was expressed in T7 Express Competent E. coli (High Efficiency) bacterial cells and purified though IMAC. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays were conducted to analyze the binding capabilities of the purified recombinant protein A to IgG antibodies. The secondary structural determination of protein A was predicted by an online bioinformatics tool (Self-Optimized Prediction Method Alignment (SOPMA)) and further determined with Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. ExPASy ProtParam tool was used to predict the number of chromophores in the protein and the tertiary structure of the protein was evaluated by far-UV (Ultra Violet) fluorescence. The binding energetics of IgG antibody to protein A were determined by ITC. The purified recombinant protein A was further tested in the lateral flow assays to detect its binding abilities to gold nanoparticles and also if it can bind to HIV antibodies applied. One milligram of purified recombinant protein A was obtained from 600 mL of bacterial culture. The purified protein A showed a stronger binding affinity to Rabbit anti-Mouse IgG than Goat anti-Rabbit IgG antibody and as expected protein A showed a very low binding affinity to IgM antibody. The secondary structure prediction with SOPMA resulted in the prediction of 48.62% alpha helix, 40.75% random coil and 17% beta-sheet. The CD spectrum obtained for the recombinant protein A showed a negative peak at 200 nm, characteristic of a predominantly random coil protein. Through ExPASy ProtParam online tool, the protein was predicted to be composed of 0% tryptophan, 1.2% tyrosine and 3.1% phenylalanine. The binding energetics of Rabbit anti-Mouse IgG to the purified protein A through ITC proved to be enthalpically driven, with ΔH value of -100kJ/mol, indicating an exothermic reaction. The protein showed good binding abilities to gold nanoparticles as it was able to bind/molecular recognize the HIV antibody applied. The ability of the recombinant protein A to be able to recognize and form a conjugated pair with the gold nanoparticles and also its ability to capture the HIV antigens and the HIV antibodies in the lateral flow assay further confirmed the functionality of the protein.M.Sc. (Life Science)Life and Consumer Science
Positioning resilience science more centrally in affirming LGBTIQA+ persons and communities
No full textHistorically, in psychology, there was a tendency towards focusing on the individual and intrapsychic pathologisation of LGBTIQA+ persons. Despite a recent shift to affirmative, systemic, interpersonal, and contextual stances, too much emphasis in South African LGBTIQA+ scholarly work remains on adversity. Adversity derived from historical tensions may have accelerated adaptive problem-solving capabilities and solution-focused behaviours in some LGBTIQA+ populations. Certain solutions have generated creative resilience responses inexorably situated in race, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender, history, political oppression, and social class. Resilience science that has similarly evolved from the individual trait conceptualisation may have an important complementary contribution to make in affirming LGBTIQA+ persons and communities and enhancing the understanding of their resilience. Exploring resilience for wellbeing and survival addresses the infinite streams of human experiences of vulnerability and sustainable adaptive solutions. The multisystemic resilience perspective in this article endeavours to summarise current thinking in resilience science and position its applicability to future South African LGBTIQA+ scholarly work, building on existing systematic and critical reviews relating to the resilience of LGBTIQA+ persons. The aim of this position piece, suggesting the expansion of a ‘resilience’ frame, is to offer an important intervention in the overarching ways in which South African scholars and psychology professionals theorise and conduct research; to inform therapeutic and other psychological services to LGBTIQA+ persons and provide an important counterweight to the more general focus in South African LGBTIQA+ scholarship and psychological practice on adversity.College of Human Science
Development of guidelines in utilising birth companions of women in Limpopo Province, South Africa
No full textThe purpose of the study was to investigate the utilisation of birth companions by
women in the public sector labour wards of Limpopo Province, South Africa, to
develop guidelines for implementation of birth companionship. A mixed method
research approach of inquiry was used to determine if the postnatal women have
knowledge on birth companionship, how midwives perceive the utilisation of birth
companions and what are the factors that inhibit the utilisation of birth
companions. A questionnaire was used to collect information from postnatal
women (n=304) while a semi-structured interview was utilised to obtain data from
the midwives (n-15). The target population was postnatal women between 18-45
years and midwives who worked in the labour ward. Quantitative data were
analysed using SPSS Version 26 by generating frequencies, descriptions,
inferential statistics and a chi-square. The quantitative response rate was 100%.
The following constructs were examined: the socio-demographic characteristics of
postnatal women, reproductive health information during ANC, physical factors
during labour, postnatal, psycho-social and the motivating factors and challenges
of having a birth companion. The study revealed that most postnatal women (245
out of 304) (80.59%; f=245) did not have knowledge on birth companions. The
postnatal women (260 out of 304) (85.53%; f=260) and midwives perceived birth
companionship as good. The study also highlighted that that there were factors
that inhibit the utilisation of birth companions in public health facilities on women
and the midwives which may hamper the successful offering of respectful maternity care services to the women during labour. The research findings were
used to develop guidelines that will help the health care professionals to initiate
birth companionship in health care facilities to improve birth outcomes on both
mothers and neonates.Ph. D. (Nursing Science)Health Studie
A framework to enhance environmental sustainability of plastic manufacturers in South Africa
No full textAbstracts in English, Afrikaans and ZuluAn integrated view on generative sustainability has taken on acutely important dimensions globally, given the omniscience of degrading environmental forces. This age of the Anthropocene, in the time scale of earth’s evolution, has seen the exponential introduction, use, and wastage of those materials in demand for human lifestyles, all on an unprecedented scale. Within this evolution, the novelty of plastics, and their manufacturing took on normative proportions, more specifically, with their often-uncritical persistence in developing countries, such as South Africa. The negative impact of plastic on the environment has resulted in a ‘war’ on the plastic industry and plastic manufacturers, relevant to this research. Yet plastic manufacturers have defended their management of plastics through claims of upcycling, generating employment and upholding international best practice standards. Probing the authenticity of this ‘war’ prompted this current research, which explores the strategies and operations of plastic manufacturers and their stakeholders. The research theorised how an under-studied confluence of industrial ecology, systems-thinking and stakeholders’ involvement might provide a more judicious account of plastics, and their manufacture, within the global impetus for environmental sustainability. An initial framework was developed by critically evaluating the literature to understand plastic manufacturers and their stakeholders and situate their position in the sustainability debates. The framework was refined using empirical qualitative research, providing rich data interpreted using the tabled novel confluence of industrial ecology, stakeholders, and systems theories. The participants informing the contribution were purposively selected from a developing country’s population of plastic manufacturers and plastic industry stakeholders.
The research has new assertions. It was found that a regionalised, territorial cooperation system should be implemented for stakeholders. Additionally, industrial ecology replaces the deliberative production and consumption systems within the regional levels, with a cyclical system such as those found in a natural ecosystem. Furthermore, there is a need to extend beyond the competitive stakeholder positions towards communal and complex inter-dependencies that essentially and powerfully constitute stakeholders within a circular socio-economic collaboration. This assertion has been particularly demonstrated through the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the real awakening that the world is highly interconnected and dependent on social collaboration between stakeholders. The perception of a linear-based manufacturing ethos was challenged with the insights of an under-appreciated regional circular ecology that requires strategic and operational drivers to work within feedback systems appropriate to a living ecosystem. Additional research could explore and extend the complex environmental sustainability issues by expanding the scope and scale of innovative strategies and operations used by plastic manufacturers and their stakeholders.’n Geïntegreerde beskouing van generatiewe volhoubaarheid het wêreldwyd uiters belangrike dimensies aangeneem, gegewe die alwetendheid van degraderende omgewingskragte. Hierdie tydperk van die Antroposeen, in die tydskaal van die aarde se evolusie, is gekenmerk deur die eksponensiële bekendstelling, gebruik, en vermorsing van daardie materiale wat in aanvraag is vir die handhawing van mense se lewenstyle – alles op ’n ongekende skaal. In hierdie evolusie het die nuwigheid en die vervaardiging van plastiekstowwe normatiewe afmetings aangeneem – meer spesifiek, met hul (dikwels onkritiese) volharding in ontwikkelende lande soos Suid-Afrika. Die negatiewe impak van plastiek op die omgewing het gelei tot ’n “oorlog” teen die plastiekbedryf en vervaardigers van plastiek, wat op hierdie navorsing betrekking het. Die vervaardigers het egter hul bestuur van plastiek verdedig met hul aansprake op kreatiewe herwinning, werkskepping, en handhawing van internasionale bestepraktykstandaarde. Ondersoeke na die outensiteit van hierdie “oorlog” het aanleiding gegee tot hierdie navorsing oor die strategieë en werksaamhede van plastiekvervaardigers en hul belanghebbers. Hierdie navorsing teoretiseer hoe ’n onderbestudeerde sameloop van nywerheidsekologie, sistemiese denke en belanghebbers se betrokkenheid ’n meer oordeelkundige weergawe van plastiek – en die vervaardiging daarvan – binne die globale impetus vir omgewingsvolhoubaarheid kan gee. ’n Aanvanklike raamwerk is ontwikkel deur ’n kritiese evaluering van die literatuur om plastiekvervaardigers en hul belanghebbers te verstaan en hul posisie in die debatte oor volhoubaarheid vas te stel. Die raamwerk is verfyn deur die gebruik van empiriese kwalitatiewe navorsing, wat ryk data voorsien het wat geïnterpreteer is met behulp van die getabuleerde nuwe sameloop van nywerheidsekologie, belanghebbers, en stelselteorieë. Die deelnemers wat die bydrae lewer, is doelbewus gekies uit ’n ontwikkelende land se populasie van plastiekvervaardigers en belanghebbers in die plastiekbedryf.
Nuwe bewerings is in die navorsing gemaak. Daar is gevind dat ’n geregionaliseerde, territoriale samewerkingstelsel vir belanghebbers geïmplementeer moet word. Afgesien daarvan vervang nywerheidsekologie die beraadslagende produksie- en verbruikstelsels op die streeksvlakke, met ’n sikliese stelsel soos dié wat in ’n natuurlike ekostelsel voorkom. Daar is ook ’n behoefte om verder uit te brei as die mededingende belanghebberposisies, met die oog op gemeenskaplike en komplekse onderafhanklikhede wat wesenlike en kragtige belanghebbers binne ’n sirkelvormige sosio-ekonomiese samewerking uitmaak. Hierdie bewering is veral gedemonstreer deur die impak van die COVID-19-pandemie en die ware bewuswording dat die wêreld in ’n groot mate onderling verbind en afhanklik van sosiale samewerking tussen belanghebbers is. Die persepsie van ’n lineêrgebaseerde vervaardigingsetos is in twyfel getrek deur die insigte van ’n ondergeappresieerde sirkelvormige streeksekologie wat vereis dat strategiese en operasionele aandrywers in terugvoerstelsels moet werk wat geskik is vir ’n lewende ekostelsel. Verdere navorsing kan lig werp op die komplekse kwessies van omgewingsvolhoubaarheid, deur uitbreiding van die omvang en skaal van innoverende strategieë en werksaamhede wat deur plastiekvervaardigers en hul belanghebbers gebruik word.Umbono odidiyelwe wokusimama kokukhiqiza uthathe izilinganiso ezibaluleke kakhulu emhlabeni jikelele, uma kubhekwa ukwazi konke kokucekela phansi amandla emvelo. Le nkathi yeminyaka yamanje yokuma komhlaba, esikalini sesikhathi sokuguquka komhlaba, ibone ukwethulwa okukhulu, ukusetshenziswa, kanye nokumoshwa kwalezo zinto ezidingekayo ezindleleni zokuphila kwabantu, konke ngezinga elingakaze libonwe ngaphambili. Ngaphakathi kwalokhu kuguquguquka, ubusha bamapulasitiki, kanye nokukhiqizwa kwawo kuthathe izilinganiso ezijwayelekile, ikakhulukazi, ngokuphikelela kwako okungasho lutho emazweni asathuthuka, njengeNingizimu Afrika. Umthelela omubi wepulasitiki emvelweni ubangele 'impi' embonini yepulasitiki kanye nabakhiqizi bepulasitiki, okuhambisana nalolu cwaningo. Nokho abakhiqizi bepulasitiki bakuvikele ukuphatha kwabo amapulastiki ngezimangalo zokukhushulwa kokusetshenziswa kabusha kwamapulastiki, ukukhiqiza ukuqashwa kanye nokuphakamisa izindinganiso zamazwe ngamazwe ezingcono kakhulu zokusebenza. Ukuhlola ubuqiniso bale ‘mpi’ kwabangela lolu cwaningo lwamanje, oluhlola amasu nokusebenza kwabakhiqizi bepulasitiki nababambiqhaza babo. Ucwaningo luveze ukuthi ukuhlangana okungafundiwe kahle kwesifundo sezinhlelo zezimboni, ukucabanga kwezinhlelo kanye nokuzibandakanya kwababambiqhaza kunganikeza i-akhawunti ehlakaniphe kakhudlwana yamapulasitiki, kanye nokwakhiwa kwawo, ngaphakathi komfutho womhlaba wonke wokusimama kwemvelo. Uhlaka lokuqala lwasungulwa ngokuhlolisisa imibhalo ukuze kuqondwe abakhiqizi bepulasitiki kanye nababambiqhaza bawo kanye nokubeka isikhundla sawo ezingxoxweni zokusimama. Lolu hlaka lwacwengwa kusetshenziswa ucwaningo olusebenzisa ubufakazi obungaqinisekiswa ukuze kufinyelelwe emiphumeleni, luhlinzeka ngemininingwane ecebile ehunyushwe kusetshenziswa inhlanganisela yokusha futhi okungafani nokwaziwa ngaphambilini kwethulwe ngokusemthethweni esifundweni sezinhlelo zezimboni, ababambiqhaza, kanye nemibono yezinhlelo. Ababandakanyi abazisa ngalo mnikelo bakhethwe ngenhloso ebantwini bezwe elisathuthuka labakhiqizi bepulasitiki nababambiqhaza embonini yepulasitiki.
Ucwaningo lunokugomela okusha. Kutholakale ukuthi uhlelo lokubambisana lwezindawo, olunezifunda, kufanele lusetshenziswe kulabo ababambiqhaza. Ukwengeza, isifundo sezinhlelo zezimboni sithatha indawo yokukhiqiza kanye nezinhlelo zokusebenzisa ngamabomu ngaphakathi kwamazinga esifunda, ngohlelo lokujikeleza olufana nalolo olutholakala emphakathini wezinto eziphilayo zemvelo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunesidingo sokudlulela ngale kwezikhundla zababambiqhaza eziqhudelanayo kuye ekuncikeni komphakathi nokuyinkimbinkimbi okuhlanganisa ngokuyisisekelo nabanamandla ababambiqhaza ngaphakathi kokubambisana kohlelo lwezimboni olubuyisela esimweni kwezenhlalo-mnotho. Lokhu kugomela kuboniswe ikakhulukazi ngomthelela wobhubhane lwe-COVID-19 kanye nokuvuka kwangempela kokuthi umhlaba uxhumeke kakhulu futhi uncike ekubambisaneni komphakathi phakathi kwababambiqhaza. Umbono wokuziphatha wokukhiqiza obandakanya isimo lapho into ethile ishintsha ngezinga elifanayo nenye waphonselwa inselelo nemibono yesifundo sezinhlelo zezimboni ezibuyisela esimweni zesifunda ezingabongwa kahle ezidinga amasu abashayeli abasebenzayo ukuze basebenze ngaphakathi kwezinhlelo zempendulo ezifanele emphakathini wezinto eziphilayo zemvelo. Ucwaningo olwengeziwe lungahlola futhi lunwebe izinkinga eziyinkimbinkimbi zokusimama kwemvelo ngokwandisa ububanzi nesilinganiso samasu amasha nemisebenzi esetshenziswa abakhiqizi bepulasitiki nababambiqhaza bawo.D. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)College of Accounting Science
Employee voice and innovative work behaviour: empirical evidence from South Africa
Get PDFNumerous empirical studies reveal that innovative work behaviour (IWB) has several antecedents, including leadership style (LS) and climate for innovation (CfI). However, literature reporting on how different types of employee voice (EV) influence IWB is scant. This research aims to empirically determine how different dimensions of EV are linked to IWB, and also to determine the relative importance of EV, compared to other predictors of IWB, namely LS and CfI. In a cross-sectional survey, respondents were asked questions on EV and IWB, as well as on CfI and the leadership styles. Reliability and validity for all measures were calculated, as well as correlation and regression analyses were used to test the bivariate and relative prediction power of the EV as an antecedent of IWB. The demographics of the 620 respondents from 11 organisations resonated well with national workplace statistics. All measures showed acceptable psychometric properties. Supportive voice and, particularly, constructive voice, positively correlated with IWB, while defensive and destructive voice had no effect on IWB. The model in which EV was used to predict IWB was superior to models that included leadership style as well as CfI. This research provides empirical evidence that EV contributes positively to IWB, depending on the type of EV expressed, and that EV, more than other often-mentioned antecedents, predicts IWB, emphasising the relative importance of EV as a predictor of IWB. Managers should monitor the EV expressed in their environment, and promote the expression of supportive voice and, particularly, constructive voice, should they aspire to foster IWB in their workplaces