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Integration of Phonotactic Features for Language Identification on Code-Switched Speech
Full text linkAbstract: In this paper, phoneme sequences are used as language information to perform code-switched language identification (LID). With the one-pass recognition system, the spoken sounds are converted into phonetically arranged sequences of sounds. The acoustic models are robust enough to handle multiple languages when emulating multiple hidden Markov models (HMMs). To determine the phoneme similarity among our target languages, we reported two methods of phoneme mapping. Statistical phoneme-based bigram language models (LM) are integrated into speech decoding to eliminate possible phone mismatches. The supervised support vector machine (SVM) is used to learn to recognize the phonetic information of mixed-language speech based on recognized phone sequences. As the back-end decision is taken by an SVM, the likelihood scores of segments with monolingual phone occurrence are used to classify language identity. The speech corpus was tested on Sepedi and English languages that are often mixed. Our system is evaluated by measuring both the ASR performance and the LID performance separately. The systems have obtained a promising ASR accuracy with data-driven phone merging approach modelled using 16 Gaussian mixtures per state. In code-switched speech and monolingual speech segments respectively, the proposed systems achieved an acceptable ASR and LID accuracy
Exploring my fluid Afrikaner identity through fugitive printmaking processes : a practice-led approach
Full text linkAbstract: My research study and practice focuses on how I understand my white Afrikaner male identity as being fluid. I argue that my personal understanding of my inherited Afrikaner identity and components of it, such as my male identity, white identity within a South African context, as well as my self-expressive and modified identity are all unfixed and evolving. My research process enables me, through my own lived experience, context and practice as research, to explore and contribute to the emerging discourse about young Afrikaans identities and the accompanying feelings of displacement and guilt. I use an application of Practice-led research (PLR) methodology for this study to explore my fluid sense of self and identity through my unconventional and ethereal printmaking practices. Practice as research allows me to interrogate aspects of my perceived and multiple identities through my art practice which provides new insights to my research question and study. My research question asks: How do I explore my white, Afrikaner, male identity within a Post-apartheid South Africa? Moreover, how do I perceive, understand, and express my identity in a fluid and fugitive manner which remains unfixed from my inherited history, culture, and heritage? This investigation explores some of the post-colonial theories of identity as fluid, as well as writings on Afrikaner identity and heritage and the accompanying links to theories of whiteness, shame, guilt and masculinity that are all pertinent to grounding my research question. I make comparisons in my approach to the work produced by selected South African artists and academics including Leora Farber who makes use of a PLR model in her own exploration of her identity; Diane Victor, whose artwork is influential to my own in her use of ethereal mediums such as smoke and ash; and Conrad Botes who explores his lived experience, particularly his white Afrikaans masculine identity through transgressive and satirical Christian imagery. The pervasive argument of this study, which extends to my art practice, is that identity is fluid, and I allow myself to move away from my inherited Afrikaner identity and the tension and internal conflict it causes my personal understanding of self. I explore my own sense of displacement and consider ways to claim back aspects of my Afrikaner identity in ways that are affirming rather than shaming. I explore the notion of fluidity though my artwork and poetry that support my personal quest to better understand who I am and who I can be. My personal hope is for this study and personal journey to expand the dialogue among...M.Tech. (Fine Art
Youth organisations’ experiences of integrating technology to improve outcomes for youth in South Africa
Full text linkAbstract: South Africa has an significant youth unemployment problem with many young people who cannot make a successful transition from school into employment or further education and training. A mismatch between the supply and demand of skills, institutionalised inequality, spatial challenges and a whole host of complex issues contribute towards a persistent and growing youth unemployment issue. This is a crucial issue for government, civil society and business, and many organisations and institutions are working to address this challenge. Given the rapidly evolving world of technology and extent of the problem, one would expect that information and communication technologies would play a crucial role in supporting the work of these stakeholders to provide interventions at scale. This research sought to explore how non-governmental youth organisations have been able to integrate technology into their operations and programmes to improve the outcomes for youth in South Africa. A qualitative research approach was undertaken for the investigation, drawing responses from a purposive convenience sample to collect data through semi-structured interviews for inductive thematic analysis. The research was carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant that the lockdown conditions required that interviews be conducted virtually. These conditions also meant that results were influenced by increased awareness of the role of technology in our day to day lives as everyone adapted to social distancing and remote work. These considerations were factored into the evaluation. The outcomes of the study indicated that access and adoption barriers have led to a digital divide at an organisational level. The data further suggested that while there is a willingness to incorporate ICT into their operations, organisations face resource and capacity limitations that restrict their use of technology to support youth interventions. The research provides a foundation for better understanding youth organisations' challenges in leveraging technology to support their youth interventions. In addition, the results provide a basis for considering opportunities where NGOs, funders, and policymakers could reduce the digital divide that is constraining service delivery for youth.M.A. (Social Policy and Development
Enhanced meta-heuristic algorithm with application to automatic generation control system
Full text linkPh.D.Abstract: As the world's population grows and energy demand increases, it is necessary to expand the scale of the electrical system, which is more complicated. The dependability of power system operations is a key factor in meeting consumers’ demands. Consequently, adopting automatic generation control (AGC) scheme to meet the demand becomes inevitable. The AGC's main objective is to keep the system's frequency and tie-line power at a stable level. However, due to the continuous extensive changes in the structure and functioning of power systems, the AGC system’s objectives have become increasingly difficult to achieve. The incorporation of new technology such as power electronic devices, as well as the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources (RES), have added to the complexities and challenges of designing an effective AGC system. This is due to the dynamic and intermittent nature of RES. As a result, more sophisticated control techniques need to be investigated. Meta-heuristic algorithms (MAs) as a branch of soft computing (SC) have become prominent in solving numerous engineering problems. This is because MAs have important features and specific competencies. Their capacities in addressing and providing near-optimal solutions to problems without providing extensive details of the problem concepts have given them advantages over many other techniques. Therefore, in these lines of thought, this thesis consists of different control approaches for providing effective control schemes for the power systems. • The first part of this thesis investigates SC techniques and the application of MAs in power system controller design. • The second part of this thesis focuses on the development of a control technique for the AGC of a multi-area interconnected power system with the incorporation of RES. • In the third part of this thesis, a control approach was developed for the AVR system using an improved hybridized MA-based technique. • Lastly, an effective control approach was developed for regulating the combined load frequency control and automatic voltage regulation (LFC-AVR) system. Overall, this thesis presents controlling approaches for enhancing the load frequency, voltage profile and generally improving the power system’s reliability
Evaluation of adherence to standard occupational health and safety guidelines in medical laboratories in Harare, Zimbabwe
Full text linkM.A. (Public Health)Abstract: Background: Occupational health and safety is an integral part of medical laboratory practice. Adherence to standard occupational health and safety practices is important in preventing laboratory accidents, laboratory-acquired infections and toxic chemical exposures. Adherence to standard occupational health and safety standards is critical to laboratory accreditation with local and international bodies. Objectives: The main objective of the study was to evaluate the adherence to standard occupational health and safety guidelines in medical laboratories. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Harare metropolitan province of Zimbabwe. A sample size of 27 laboratories was considered. The data was collected using a questionnaire and laboratories which were considered in this study were sampled using stratified random sampling. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Assessment of compliance to different aspects of occupational health and safety was done using Fischer’s exact Chi-squared test and logistic regression. Results: There was a significant association between laboratory ownership of ISO:35001 to the number of years of operation of the laboratory (p=0.018), to the standard organization of laboratory premises and workflow (p=0.027), to laboratory cleaning and waste management standards ((p=0.002), to good laboratory practices and provision of personal protective equipment ((p=0.011). Compliance with occupational health and safety standards in the laboratory was about 97% significantly lower among level 2 bio-safety containment laboratories compared to level 3 bio-safety containment laboratories (crude odds ratio (COR): 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00-0.76, p=0.033). The overall assessment showed that a quarter (25.9%) of the 27 laboratories had high compliance to standard occupational health and safety standards. Overall compliance to occupational health and safety standards was about 10 times significantly higher among laboratories that owned ISO: 35001 (COR: 9.51, 95% CI: 1.39-65.05, p=0.022). Conclusion: Enforcement of standard occupational health and safety standards needs to improve to protect people working in the laboratories. National level interventions including medical laboratory-specific legislation on occupational health and safety can greatly improve adherence to standard occupational health and safety standards
Knowledge of midwives on delayed cord clamping in maternity obstetric units in Gauteng
Full text linkAbstract: Background: Delayed umbilical cord clamping is highly recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a practice that needs to be adopted by midwives. The recommended time for delayed umbilical cord clamping is 1 minute after birth or once the cord has stopped pulsating. Practising delayed umbilical cord clamping does not interfere with the essential immediate care of the newborn. The WHO’s recommendations are based on delayed umbilical cord clamping’s benefits for newborns living in low-resourced settings with limited or no access to iron-enriched foods. There is intensive evidence that delayed umbilical cord clamping is beneficial for both the mother and baby. Research purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine midwives’ knowledge of delayed umbilical cord clamping in MOUs in Gauteng. Based on the study’s findings, recommendations were made for midwives working in MOUs regarding delayed umbilical cord clamping. Methodology: The research design for the study was quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive and contextual in nature. A purposive sampling method was applied to the study population of 150 respondents. After approaching 325 midwives, 150 midwives were willing to participate. Once written consent had been obtained from the prospective respondents, they received a self-report questionnaire for the researcher to obtain data. The validity and reliability of the research instrument were checked and validated. Ethical clearance was obtained from the university, the department of health, and maternity obstetric units. Ethical principles were also adhered to throughout the study. Data analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to organise the data and attach meaning to the study’s findings. Validity and reliability were adhered to throughout the data analysis process. Results: Of the 150 midwives who participated in the study, 68 (45.3%) answered correctly when asked about delayed umbilical cord clamping. However, the results...M.Cur. (Nursing Sciences
Developing an illustrated business information resource for inland kraal fishers : a community engagement project
Full text linkM.A. (Design)Abstract: Non-traditional texts such as comics and graphic novels are receiving increased attention for their use outside of entertainment for non-fiction purposes, such as presenting business information. Within South Africa, a country that continues to struggle with issues surrounding literacy, the tendency to prioritise verbal and textbased formats is still evident in ‘traditional’ business information resources. This practice may present barriers in accessing business information for those who struggle with reading. Multimodal social semiotics is used as a lens to expand on how comics function as multimodal resources that are accessed through a range of communication modes for multiple forms and levels of literacy. My research used community-based participatory action research as a means of exploring how participants perceived the co-creation and use of an illustrated business information resource. Using both individual and group interviews, data was collecting for the construction of an illustrated resource, based on the real-life experiences of a sample of inland kraal fishers. The resource included the creation and formatting of two comics. The findings of the study indicated that participants’ perceptions regarding the co-creation of the resource were positive and that, in addition to containing business information, there was a need to showcase the participating creators’ history, personal stories and experiences. The resource was generally well received. The process of co-creation highlighted a number of issues that can be considered for similar projects in this future. Lastly, my study raises questions regarding the responsibility of representation for an illustrator working in community engagement projects
An evaluation of selected corporate sustainability reports for mining companies listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange
Full text linkAbstract: Essentially, corporate sustainability reporting (CSR) involves the communication of a company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, as well as other related operational concerns, with its stakeholders. Consequently, CSR can be seen as an important tool in ensuring that corporations are accountable and sustainable when conducting their affairs. CSR is considered particularly important for the mining sector given the socioenvironmental challenges, as well as the health and safety issues associated with it. In this minor dissertation, the aim was to compare the patterns of CSR amongst selected Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE)-listed mining companies in South Africa. Judgmental or purposive sampling was used to select a sample of five mining companies listed on the JSE. The results of the study revealed that the extent of socio-environmental sustainability disclosures amongst the mining companies was generally low as the majority of them either made disclosures to a lesser extent or none at all. Despite this, economic sustainability disclosures were made to a large extent or fully integrated to the financial aspects of the respective organisations. The sampled JSE-listed mining companies were also consistent corporate reporters as each of them produced at least one corporate sustainability report per annum. Moreover, the study determined that the sampled CSRs were Integrated Reports (IRs). Given the results generated, there is a need for improvement regarding the nature of disclosures related to socio-environmental topics in the CSRs as these are the most pertinent issues to the stakeholders of mining companies...M.Sc. (Environmental Management
Biting the bullet : when self-efficacy mediates the stressful effects of COVID-19 beliefs
Full text linkAbstract: The impact that COVID-19 had on individuals globally has been immense. Our study aims to determine if the various COVID-19 related beliefs (information seeking; invulnerability; disruption; health importance and response effectiveness) are predictors of perceived stress and if self-efficacy acts as a mediator in reducing perceived COVID-19 related stress. From a large sample of 23,629, data were assessed using validated multi-item measures for seven COVID-19 related beliefs, self-efficacy and perceived stress. After conducting a series of tests and checks via Confirmatory Factor Analyses, linear modelling and mediation analyses with bootstrapping were applied to test direct and mediation hypotheses. It is found that stress perception is most strongly affected by self-efficacy and perceived disrup-tion. Except for information seeking, which positively affected perceived stress, self-efficacy partially mediates all other COVID-19 related beliefs (perceptions of disruption, health importance and response effectiveness) in conjunction with their direct effects. Only per-ceived invulnerability elicited opposite effects on stress, increasing stress directly but decreasing stress indirectly by increasing self-efficacy. This finding gives reason to believe that individuals may disclose that they are less vulnerable to COVID-19, fostering their self-efficacy, but still accept that stressing factors such as economic and social consequences apply. Overall, reinforcing self-efficacy was carved out as the most important resilience fac-tor against perceiving high levels of stress. On this basis, implications for research and prac-tice are provided
The impacts of COVID-19 on urban tourism destinations : the South African experience
Full text linkAbstract: The impacts of COVID-19 for cities are generating an extensive international scholarship. This study contributes to the literature on the ramifications of urban tourism. The research is an assessment of what might be termed the early stage or ‘first round’ of the impacts of COVID-19. Using the IHS Global Insight local tourism base for South Africa the study analyses COVID-19 impacts during 2020 for the country’s eight metropolitan areas. It reveals the pandemic’s devastating impacts for tourism flows and correspondingly the diminished role of tourism in urban economies. An important finding is that South Africa’s metropolitan areas experienced a greater proportionate decline in tourism than the recorded national rate of decline. The consequence is a reduction during 2020 in the relative share of metropolitan areas in the South African tourism economy. This implies a reversal of established trends towards polarization and increasing city dominance that have been observed over the previous 20 years. The major burden of the collapse of urban tourism has fallen upon the five largest metropolitan areas which have been severely impacted by government regulations to halt the pandemic and resultant changes in consumer preferences for travel
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