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Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) regimes and institutional responses: a case study of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria
Full text linkThis thesis examines the intricate process of transmitting United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1373 to Nigeria and operationalising global counter-terrorist financing policies through legal frameworks and a matrix of security and other state institutions in the domestic environment. The investigation focuses on the complex dynamics of the transmission process, from international to national, and inter-institutional diffusion involving internal institutions in Nigeria as a developing state. By critically engaging Michael Boyle's contributions to our understanding of how local contexts and situational specificities impact the effective transmission and diffusion of international counter-terrorism policies, the study considers how Nigeria's local conditions impact efforts to limit Boko Haram's access to funding through international regulatory instruments on counter-terrorist financing. The study both confirms and augments Boyle's analysis by drawing on qualitative field data involving nineteen policy specialists attached to governance and security elites in Nigeria and three multilateral institutions: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). Although the study demonstrates the applicability of Boyle's theory to Nigeria's conflict landscape, it rejects the idea that associates the failures of international counter-terrorism policies in third-world countries solely with the peculiarities of the domestic environment. The study sought to carve out space for other variables beyond Boyle's local conditions. They are those linked to development dynamics –corruption and underdevelopment, and global geo-political calculus - international assistance, international regulation, and the politics of the global war on terror. The study argues that to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding regarding counter-terrorism outcomes in a non-Western context, an overarching framework of formative influences in both the domestic environment and at the global governance level gives more profound insights into the issues impacting the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures in a non-Western environment like Nigeria
Design, synthesis and analysis of Isoreticular, 2-Periodic, Co(II)/(Mn(II) mixed- and Zn(II) single-ligand metal-organic frameworks for sorption of energy- and environmentally-relevant molecules
Full text linkThe study of porous materials, particularly Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), has garnered significant attention due to their tunable structures and potential for diverse applications. MOFs, constructed from metal ions or clusters and organic ligands, offer structural versatility where the choice of ligand influences pore size, geometry, flexibility, and adsorption properties. Mixed-ligand MOFs, incorporating two or more distinct ligands, enhance structural complexity and enable tuning of pore features in multiple dimensions, making them highly suitable for gas sorption applications. This study reports the design, synthesis, and characterisation of novel 2-periodic, isoreticular Co(II)/Mn(II) mixed-ligand and Zn(II) single-ligand MOFs. The mixed-ligand systems, synthesised using isophthalic acid (H2ia) and 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane-N,N'-dioxide (bppdo), yielded isoreticular frameworks with formulae [Co3(ia)3(bppdo)(MeOH)]n·n(DMF) (1) and [Mn3(ia)3(bppdo)(MeOH)]n·n(DMF) (2). The single-ligand systems, constructed using 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)bis(benzoic acid) (H2hfipbb), produced two pairs of MOFs: doubly interpenetrated frameworks [Zn(hfipbb)(MeOH)]n·n(MeOH)0.5 (3) and [Zn(hfipbb)(EtOH)]n·n(EtOH)0.5 (4) and non-interpenetrated frameworks [Zn2(hfipbb)2(DMF)2]n·n(DMF)4 (5) and [Zn4(hfipbb)4(DMA)4]n·n(DMA)8·n(H2O) (6). The ligands' unique rigidity and functionality yielded MOFs with varying porosity and structural flexibilities. Desolvated studies of the mixed-ligand MOFs revealed drastic void space reductions (to 3.7 and 5.7% for 1′ and 2′, respectively, at 298 K) compared to the as-synthesised structures (potential void spaces of 21.6 and 22.3% for 1 and 2, respectively, at 298 K). Despite inaccessible void spaces at 195 K, significant CO2 sorption at this temperature indicated structural transformations enabling adsorption. Water vapour sorption at 298 K induced similar transformations, as confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, showcasing the dynamic adaptability of these frameworks. For the single-ligand MOFs, void space ranged from 12 to 25% of the unit cell volume, with notable differences between interpenetrated and non-interpenetrated structures. Comparison with Cu-based counterparts from the literature highlighted that the Zn-based MOFs exhibited superior N2 and H2 adsorption due to higher crystallinity and stability upon desolvation. However, Cu-based MOFs displayed stronger CO2 adsorption interactions, with two-step adsorption isotherms and higher Qst values (up to 31.8 kJ mol-1), reflecting greater framework flexibility. Water vapor sorption studies emphasised the stronger interaction of Cu-based MOFs with unsaturated Cu(II) metal sites. These findings underscore the potential of Zn-based MOFs for gas storage and the dynamic structural responses of the mixed-ligand frameworks
A critical exploration of the meanings and connotations of graduate attributes in a South African TVET college: a case study of a TVET college in the Western Cape
Full text linkThe study aimed to critically examine the meanings and connotations of graduate Attributes within the South African TVET system, with a particular focus on a TVET College in the Western Cape. The study sought to explore the nuanced perspectives of graduate Attributes as perceived by educational institutions and graduates (NATED HR), as well as their relevance and impact within the industry. It examined how vocational education and training defined, perceived, and valued these attributes. It challenges the traditional view of industry requirements, suggesting that graduate attributes in vocational education should be context specific. The research focuses on three questions: What are the various meanings and conceptualisations of graduate Attributes within the context of the NATED HRM programme at a TVET College in the Western Cape? What are the specific graduate Attributes emphasised in the HRM programme a TVET College in the Western Cape, and how are they integrated into the curriculum? What are the perceptions of HRM graduates and teachers regarding the contextual factors affecting the understanding of graduate Attributes? A qualitative case study design was adopted, involving 21 participants (10 lecturers and 11 graduates) selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi- structures interviews until saturation was reached. The study found that key graduate attributes, such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability amongst others, were emphasised in the HRM program. These attributes were integrated through practical exercises, assessments, and group activities, though their implementation varied across courses. Teaching methodologies like experiential learning and collaborative activities were found to be crucial in developing these attributes. Both graduates and lecturers agreed that attributes such as job readiness and adaptability are essential for workplace success. However, challenges such as time constraints in the curriculum were noted. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of graduate attributes in improving workforce preparedness. While the HRM programme at a TVET College in the Western Cape effectively integrates these attributes, further improvements in curriculum consistency and structured support are needed to enhance employability outcomes
“During the pandemic, the sense of Ubuntu was fantastic”: a participatory research study commemorating community mobilisation
Full text linkThe COVID-19 pandemic will forever be etched into the world's collective memory as a defining event of our generation as the ramifications will be felt and experienced long into the future. To understand the effects and learn from the experiences of a community organization in a pandemic, the research question for this study was ‘What are the experiences and perceived effects of a community organisation engaging in a commemorative arts-based process for social innovation during a pandemic?'. The research methodology of this study was qualitative participatory research and it was conducted in Cape Town, South Africa, with members of the Woodstock Community Action Network. Data were collected virtually from seven participants through an online meeting (n=1), one-to-one interviews (n=7), online workshops (n=5), and a focus group (n=1) from April 2021-October 2021. Although there is significant literature on collective memory, commemoration, and community mobilisation, there is limited literature on these aspects in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, South African Community Action Networks (CANs), as well as arts-based methods for commemoration and remote participatory research. The findings that emerged were presented under the following themes: 1) Addressing mental health and wellbeing challenges, 2) Empowerment within place, 3) Commemoration of the COVID-19 pandemic, 4) Heightened awareness of social inequity, and 5) Agency development through collaborative video. The significance of this research study was that it provided a means to understand what motivated community mobilisation to occur through focusing on documenting the experiences of Woodstock CAN members. In addition, the study demonstrated how the CAN as a social innovation, was already engaged in its own form of commemoration practice. Lastly, the video became a way to commemorate more tangibly and as a result, acted as social innovation tool in practicing agency and collaboration
Evaluating the outcomes of cancer patients receiving palliative care in Botswana
Full text linkBotswana is an upper middle-income country in Sub-Saharan Africa that is experiencing a growing incidence of cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases and is at the early stages of implementing Palliative Care (PC). PC has been shown to enhance the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their families, consequently improving their health outcomes. This research will emphasise the importance of PC in the Botswana health care system and aims to determine the outcomes of patients under palliative care at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH). Methods: We prospectively enrolled 53 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of metastatic and/or progressive cancer who were referred to the PC team for the first time from March 2023 to November 2023. The primary end-point was a change in symptoms and QoL from baseline to four (4) weeks as per the APCA African POS questionnaire and the ECOG PS tool. Participants were assessed initially at entry to PC services and again after 4 weeks while under PC. Results: A total of 53 participants were included in the initial assessment while 42 were included in both the initial and subsequent assessments, indicating an attrition rate of 21%. The top 5 cancers were: breast (20.8%), cervical(15.1%), prostate(9.4%), anorectal(9.4%) and oesophageal(9.4%). Symptoms occurring in at least 50% of the participants were: pain (94.3%), weakness (75.5%), nausea (58.5%), loss of appetite (64.1%), constipation (50.9%), dry mouth (69.8%), drowsiness (56.6%), poor mobility (54.7%) and worry (90.6%). The results showed that the difference was statistically significant between the two -time points for pain (z=2.707, p = 0.0068), shortness of breath (z=2.261, p=0.0238), nausea (z=3.275, p=0.0011), loss of appetite (z=2.480, p=0.0131), constipation (z=2.832, p=0.0046), drowsiness( z=3.091, p=0.0020), ability to share feelings with family and friends(z=0.701, p=0.0069) and advice to plan for the future(z=2.586, p=0.0097).Vomiting(z=0.982, p=0.326), dry mouth(z=1.466, p=0.1426) , poor mobility(z=1.922, p=1.922), feelings of worry( z= 1.127, p=0.2596), feeling that life is worthwhile(z=1.330, p=0.1835) and feeling at peace(z=1.651, p=0.0987) did not show a statistically significant difference between the before and after measurements, however, in all these domains, the difference was such that the average score was less at the subsequent assessment. Total mean scores (composite scores) for the physical and psychological symptoms were analysed between the two time periods and the difference was statistically significant (z=3.828, p=0.0001). The difference between the before and after measurements for functional status was not statistically significant (z=-0.611, p=0.542). Conclusion: Patients with advanced cancer have a high symptom burden which affects their QoL. A PC approach appears to be effective in improving symptoms and QoL of patients with advanced cancer
Developing a collaboration network framework to facilitate geospatial data access and exchange in the context of National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI)
Full text linkNational Geospatial Data Infrastructures (NGDIs) provide holistic frameworks with several technological components that address and overcome geospatial access and exchange issues. The components of any NGDI area include geospatial data, people, access networks, policies, and standards that aim to facilitate geospatial data management. Even though geospatial datasets are becoming more available in most African countries, access and exchange is still challenging. In Nigeria, most Geospatial Information (GI) stakeholders (producers, providers, and users) acquire and produce the same types of geospatial datasets, which are fragmented within the different databases across the nation, thus making them redundant. The challenges to coordinating geospatial data access and exchange using collaboration networks have not been investigated thoroughly. Access to geospatial datasets remains a critical developmental enabler in Africa, which is the overarching goal of any NGDI. It is, therefore, pertinent to investigate how civil society can easily and quickly access and exchange geospatial data in the context of NGDI for sustainable development. This research aims to develop a collaboration network framework to enable access and exchange of geospatial data between GI stakeholders to support the development and implementation. National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI). A mixed-method research approach is adopted for this research. It combines qualitative and quantitative analysis methods using survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to develop a generic collaborative network framework for geospatial access and exchange. The study further reveals that governance, policy, technology, culture, and economics can influence the administration of NGDI through collaboration networks in the country. The developed framework incorporates the five identified components of a collaboration network for geospatial spatial data access, sharing, and exchange as an administrative tool to overcome the challenges faced for further development and the implementation of NGDI in the country. An SDI-Readiness index status was computed for Nigeria to be 0.84 (84%). In a broad sense, the SDI-readiness index has improved compared to 0.58 (58%) computed in 2017, and any country with an index greater than 0.8 can be called a spatially enabled society. This study considered governance, policy, technology culture, economics, and communication as a significant aspect of understanding collaboration networks. The problem investigated in this research is to understand how these five components of a collaboration network can potentially contribute to the goals of development and implementation of NGDI, which requires formalizing a collaboration network between GI stakeholders for geospatial data access and exchange. This research proposed a collaboration network initiative as best practice for NGDI in Nigeria to facilitate geospatial access and exchange. NGDI development and implementation proposed here, through collaboration network, draws heavily on, one, SDI cookbook of the elements and status of SDI, and two the Implementation Guide of IGIF. Furthermore, this research integrated knowledge from geoinformation technology, business, and public administration to help develop the framework. The research has helped close a knowledge gap in that GI organizations to build collaboration networks for geospatial data access and exchange among Public Geospatial Information (GI) stakeholders. Further avenues of research address the need for monitoring the performance of collaboration networks, as it affects geospatial data sharing and exchange, the impact of Internet-of-Things (IoT) on NGDI, the influence of the private sector's on the development and implementation of NGDI, the integration of real-time sensor-based systems to NGDI and exploring the possibility of expanding collaboration network framework into developing a regional NGDI initiative
The politics of prison nursing and HIV/AIDS at Pollsmoor maximum security prison 1990-2008
Full text linkThe purpose of this thesis is to examine histories of prison nursing and the management of HIV/AIDS at Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison. South Africa is a country with a high HIV prevalence, with rates of infection being especially notable among prisoners. Extant studies of HIV/AIDS in prisons in South Africa have largely focused on inmates' experiences of receiving healthcare services in prisons. Focusing on the years 1990 to 2008, the thesis offers a social history of prison nursing over time with a focus on nurses' workplace experiences in dealing with HIV/AIDS in their patients. By investigating prison nurses' everyday realities, the thesis finds that they experience challenges because of experiencing a fraught dual-system dynamic as employees of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) who also collaborate with those based at the Department of Health (DOH). The former also tends to prioritize security over inmates' access to quality healthcare. The thesis draws upon a range of sources, including 20 oral history interviews (16 with prison nurses, two with clinical practitioners, and two with non-clinical health practitioners from the NGO TB/HIV Care); prison laws and policies, and DCS annual reports. It reaches several conclusions, such as outlining how factors such as gangs, prison violence (including sexual assault), transactional sex, substance abuse, and overcrowding affect prisoners' vulnerability to infection and their uptake of HIV prevention services provided by the nurses. Concluding in 2008, this thesis captures the significant role played by NGOs and health activists who advocated for inmates' access to effective HIV prevention and treatment services. It describes how legal activism catalyzed the provision of antiretrovirals (ARVs); this, alongside the work of NGOs such as HIV/TB Care, dramatically improved nurses' ability to provide HIV prevention and treatment services
Seasonal variability of phytoplankton photophysiology in the Southern Ocean: an analysis of uncertainties and the impact of assumptions
No full textUnderstanding and accurately quantifying primary production in the Southern Ocean is increasingly important due to its central role in global carbon cycling and climate regulation. However, this region remains undersampled, and its sensitivity to environmental change is not yet fully understood. One approach for estimating phytoplankton productivity is through active single-turnover chlorophyll-a fluorescence (ST-ChlF) techniques, such as Fast Repetition Rate fluorometry (FRRf), which infer photosynthetic capacity by measuring the transport of electrons during photosynthesis. While promising, this technique requires the derivation of several photophysiological parameters, and uncertainties in how these are calculated can affect the accuracy and comparability of results. Additionally, environmental forcing plays a direct role in shaping phytoplankton productivity, but disentangling the drivers of variability in phytoplankton photophysiology remains challenging due to the complex and dynamic nature of the Southern Ocean environment. This two-part thesis addresses both methodological and ecological uncertainties using a multi-seasonal dataset collected in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. The first part evaluates the impacts of key model assumptions and corrections steps used to derive photophysiological parameters from FRRf measurements. Results highlight the importance of using a fitted connectivity coefficient (ρ) when applying the Kolber-Prasil-Falkowski biophysical model to estimate primary photophysiological parameters from fluorescence transients. Furthermore, the dark-regulated σPSII and the light independent model were shown to be the best performing when deriving the secondary photophysiological parameters of electron transport rates. The application of blank and spectral corrections was also essential, particularly in winter when phytoplankton biomass is low. These corrections had a substantial influence on derived photophysiological parameters. The second part of this thesis investigates how seasonal changes in light availability impact phytoplankton photophysiology and pigment allocation. Under low light conditions during autumn and winter, phytoplankton had lower maximal electron transport rate (ETRmax) and showed increased energetic investment in photosynthetic pigments to maximise photosynthetic capacity. In contrast, higher light availability in spring and summer were associated with enhanced photosynthetic capacity driven by increased σPSII and ETRmax. Spring was identified as a transitional season due to the considerable variability in Ek due to the rapid increase in available light between winter and spring. The high ETRmax in summer resulted from an increase in αETR which was in turn driven by higher σPSII as a photoacclimation response to iron limitation in this season. This two-part thesis demonstrates the best approaches for processing single-turnover chlorophyll fluorescence data to minimise errors. In addition, it highlights how the application of active ST-ChlF techniques can be used to interrogate seasonal and regional variability in phytoplankton photophysiology, and how these differences are reflected in diverse phytoplankton photoacclimation mechanisms, which are in turn driven by changes in the availability of light. This contributes to improving estimates of primary production and understanding its variability in the Southern Ocean
K-complexity and the Jordan-Wigner transformation
Full text linkKrylov complexity is a measure of operator growth that demonstrates universal properties and bounds a large class of complexities. One such measure from this bounded class is operator size. The relationship between operator size and operator growth has been conjectured to be non-trivial due to the existence of duality transformations such as the Jordan-Wigner (JW) transformation which map small operators to large, non-local operators. We investigate this claim directly in the case of the JW transformation which maps the XY Heisenberg chain to the Kitaev chain. We numerically calculate the complexity of dual operators, and analyse the early and late time behaviour and symmetries. We find that for Open Boundary Conditions (OBC) the early time behaviour of the K-Complexity correlates with operator size, but that large operators can have very low K-Complexity if dual to a small operator. We find that for Periodic Boundary Conditions (PBC) larger operators produce larger early time growth, but do not correlate to larger late-time complexity regardless of the size of the dual operator. The difference between the OBC and PBC results arise from an often overlooked break in translational symmetry across the PBC Jordan-Wigner transformation. We also find that state complexity is not sensitive to the break in translational symmetry
Multi-objective optimisation of the generalized bin packing problem
Full text linkThis project aimed to investigate multi-objective optimisation of the generalized bin packing problem, which involves the allocation of compulsory and non-compulsory items into a set of bins. The items have characteristics such as weight, width, height, and due date, while the bins have characteristics such as capacity and cost. The main objective of this problem is to minimize cost which usually corresponds to minimizing the number of bins used. However, in many real-world applications there may be multiple objectives that are trying to be met, and these may be competing such as item due dates and load balancing objectives. Classical methods for solving such problems involve combining the objectives into a single objective or converting some of the objectives into constraints with associated goals. Both approaches require one to have prior knowledge of the decision-makers' preferences in terms of a trade-off between the different objectives which are often difficult to obtain. In this work, a multi-objective evolutionary model is proposed to tackle the generalized bin packing problem. The proposed approach optimises the problem across multiple objectives, allowing decision-makers to make a trade-off between solutions presented as a Pareto front. Two objective combinations were considered: cost and item lateness, and cost and load imbalance. The developed model was tested on one- and two-dimensional problem instances, demonstrating its ability to minimize objectives and provide a set of conflicting solutions in certain cases. The results also highlighted potential limitations of the algorithm, such as premature convergence and a lack of solution diversity. Potential reasons for these limitations and recommendations for future research to improve the current algorithm are discussed. This work contributes to the limited literature on multi-objective optimisation of the generalized bin packing problem, providing a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for the problem, while also highlighting some of the problems encountered when performing multi-objective optimisation