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Establishing a GC-MS/MS method to quantify redox markers in NDUFS4 knockout mice
No full textMaster of Science in Biochemistry , North-West University, Vanderbijlpark CampusThrough normal metabolic reactions, electron carriers such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced and flavin adenine dinucleotide reduced (NADH and FADH2) are formed through various metabolic pathways which drive the mitochondrial electron transport chain in the mitochondrial
matrix towards adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. NADH and FADH2 donates electrons to complex I and II of the electron transport chain (ETC) respectively, regenerating oxidized NAD+ and FAD+ levels which would ultimately be reduced again. Leigh syndrome (LS) is a phenotype
characterized by mutations of the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit S4 (NDUFS4) gene, causing complex I deficiency and with that, disturbance of the NAD+/NADH redox pair. Targeting reduced and oxidized constituents (redox metabolites) could reveal whether a patient has a redox (NAD+/NADH) imbalance and if possible treatment options could restore the balance. As such, diagnosing patients with redox imbalance requires accurate and reproducible quantification of redox metabolites. Due to the reactive nature of NAD(P)H and NAD(P), reliable quantification of
these species remains difficult, which prompts researchers to rather quantification redox metabolites such as pyruvate and lactate to investigate redox state. Also, to confirm hypothesis generating studies such as untargeted metabolomics investigating redox status, a method that is able to quantify metabolites linked to redox metabolism more accurately is required to confirm the hypothesis of previous untargeted studies. As such, a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method was developed to accurately quantify 24 redox metabolites, aiding treatment studies focusing on restoring redox balance. The newly developed method was applied to NDUFS4 KO and WT mouse liver, brain, and heart tissue to reveal changes in redox metabolites as a result of NAD/NADH redox imbalance. Multiple perturbations in redox markers were revealed throughout the liver brain and heart tissue, with some of the perturbations only occurring in certain tissue types. The heart exhibited the most perturbations in redox metabolites and redox ratios, followed by the liver and then the brain. As a whole, it seemed that the liver released accumulated redox metabolites into the circulation, while the heart and brain import the accumulated intermediates of metabolism to restore redox balance to ensure that energy homeostasis is maintained.Master
Christianisation of traditional Luba religious practices within some Pentecostal churches in Katanga: A critical analysis based on dogmatic perspectives
No full textMagister of Theology in Dogmatics, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusThis study falls within the field of dogmatic theology. It examines the impact of the Christianisation of some practices of the traditional Luba religion in Pentecostalism in Katanga, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Christianisation in this study refers to the conversion of practices, spaces and places previously used in traditional Luba religion to Pentecostalism in Katanga. The study undertakes an in-depth analysis of some traditional Luba religious practices that are Christianised in Pentecostalism practised in Katanga, in order to determine whether they have beneficial or harmful effects on the Christian faith. The Christianisation of traditional practices in Pentecostalism has several ethical implications, including the loss of the legacy of the Book of Acts in the area of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and the risk of a return to the idolatrous and occult spirits from which members had been delivered. The central theoretical argument, however, is that it is possible to Christianise some practices of traditional Luba religion in a Congolese Pentecostal environment if the biblical principles of contextualisation are respected. From this perspective, the study emphasises that religion and culture are two distinct but inseparable aspects of human existence. It is therefore necessary to conceptualise mutual affirmations that do not undermine the founding principles. To achieve this goal, the study used a variety of methods, including a literature review and the critical contextualisation model. The former was used to provide an overview of Luba traditional religion and its basic characteristics, and to identify the dominant practices in Congolese Pentecostalism. Critical contextualisation was used to determine whether these practices were a benefit or a detriment to the apostolic heritage. The efforts have resulted in relevant biblical principles that can help pastors and prophets ensure that the practices of traditional Luba religion are Christianised without compromising the core tenets of the Christian faith
Using the Theory of Learning Organisations to Understand the Role of Principals in School Health Promotion: A Case Study
Full text linkArticle, Faculty of Education (Educational Leadership (Edu-Lead) )--Northwest University, Potchefstroom CampusThe role of principals is increasingly recognised as important in school health promotion. There is a significant body of literature regarding school health promotion and its benefits for learners and the school community, but little is known about the role of principals. Using Senge’s theory of learning organisations as a framework, this study qualitatively sought to understand the roles of principals in promoting healthy school environments. The study used a combination of semi structured individual interviews and focus groups to gather data from six school management team members; seven teachers; and three school governing body members from a high school in Fezile Dabi District of the Free State. Individual interview data was obtained and focus group discussions were conducted to confirm the findings. The data gathered was analysed using a combination of inductive classification and theory analysis. The study’s main findings demonstrate that principals should (i) provide leadership in health promotion activities within their schools and in collaborations and partnerships with the external community and (ii) have personal mastery, vision, knowledge and thinking skills to be able to play their role effectively. Furthermore, it was found that all five principles of the theory of learning organisation can be used to understand the role of principals in school health promotion. Based on these findings it is recommended that a learning culture be created in schools. The findings of this research suggest implications regarding both the practice of providing leadership in school health promotion and practices in the preparation of principals and teachers for the task of School Health Promotion
A comparative statutory analysis of the regulation of money laundering in Zimbabwe
Full text linkDoctor of Laws with Mercantile Law, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusMoney laundering is the process whereby criminals mask the actual origins of their criminally acquired proceeds and profits, in order to integrate the illegal proceeds within legitimate financial markets and financial institutions. Money laundering usually occurs after the commission of a primary criminal offence which in turn has the effect of generating a financial benefit, for example, drug trafficking. The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (MLPC Act) as amended, is the primary legislation that outlaws money laundering in Zimbabwe. In this regard, the MLPC Act establishes several statutory means to counter and curb money laundering activities in Zimbabwe. For example, the implementation of customer due diligence procedures as a means to assess the money laundering risk which is posed by customers on financial institutions. Several regulatory and enforcement authorities of Zimbabwe such as the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Criminal Investigations Department of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) as well as other regulated entities play a significant role in combatting money laundering in Zimbabwe. This research is informed by the weaknesses and inconsistencies in the enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) laws in Zimbabwe. It investigates whether the current anti-money laundering laws are sufficiently robust and consistently enforced to effectively curb money laundering practices therein. Owing to several challenges, including rampant systemic corruption in Zimbabwe, the lack of political will to implement AML measures, a lack of adequate resources to implement AML measures, a largely informal financial sector and the lack of adequate enforcement measures, the researcher found that the AML regulatory framework of Zimbabwe is not sufficiently robust and adequate enough to curb and combat money laundering in Zimbabwe. As a developing economy that is affected by the lack of adequate resources and relevant infrastructure to effectively implement AML measures, Zimbabwe is faced with money laundering challenges that have affected the integrity of its financial markets. The systemic corruption and looting of state resources also pose a significant challenge to Zimbabwe’s AML regime. In light thereof, this thesis also aims to establish solutions and measures that can be implemented to impede and detect money laundering in Zimbabwe and therefore enhance the AML provisions which are provided under the MLPC Act. In light thereof, this thesis also aims to establish solutions and measures that can be implemented to impede and detect money laundering in Zimbabwe and enhance the AML provisions which are provided under the MLPC Act. This research is a comparative study of Zimbabwe’s AML laws with those of South Africa, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, respectively. These jurisdictions present plausible lessons for Zimbabwe to enhance its AML framework. Some lessons include the establishment of special courts to prosecute money laundering cases in Zimbabwe, the establishment of more stringent penalties for AML offences, enhancing AML enforcement measures, AML education and awareness and encouraging regulatory cooperation between Zimbabwe’s financial intelligence unit and other financial intelligence units internationally. The researcher hopes that the findings made in this thesis will be used by policy makers to enhance AML laws and enforcement measures to combat and curb money laundering in Zimbabwe
A comparative analysis on the requirements to impose anti-dumping duties on goods imported into the European Union and South Africa
Full text linkMaster of Laws in International Aspects of Law, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusInternational trade plays a vital role in the functioning of our world today and is important for a country’s economic development. However, without clear rules and regulations, countries may engage in unfair trading practices which can be detrimental to other countries’ economic development. To ensure fair trading practices, the World Trade Organization (hereafter WTO) sets out multilateral trade agreements that regulate international trade. When dumping occurs, WTO members have an obligation to follow the provisions laid down by the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1994), known as the Anti-Dumping Agreement (hereafter the ADA). South Africa (hereafter SA) and the European Union (hereafter EU), who are both WTO members, have an obligation to follow the provisions of the ADA. For a country to impose anti-dumping duties, certain requirements first have to be met in accordance with the ADA as well as that country’s own anti-dumping national legislation. SA and the EU both follow the ADA and their own national legislation regarding the imposition of anti-dumping duties. The EU’s legislation contains four requirements to consider before imposing anti-dumping duties during the anti-dumping investigation where SA’s legislation contains three requirements. The steps SA’s legislation follows during the anti-dumping investigation are mostly aligned with the EU’s legislation. However, a noticeable difference is the inactiveness of the Tariff Board in SA which is supposed to assist during the investigation process. The EU has the Union Trade Defence Instrument Committee to assist with the investigation process where, in SA, the Tariff Board is supposed to fulfil this role. Overall, there are differences and similarities between the EU’s legislation and SA’s legislation when it comes to the requirements to impose anti-dumping duties. This study compares the requirements to impose anti-dumping duties on goods imported into the EU and SA by analysing how SA’s legislation aligns with the EU’s legislation
Streamlining social impact assessment and disaster risk assessment for the 21st century – Perspectives from South Africa
Full text linkJournal Article, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management-- Potchefstroom CampusDespite considerable improvements in social impact assessment practice, the shortfalls and neglected status of social impact assessment persist. Integrated impact assessments have been suggested to address some of these shortcomings. Due to its transdisciplinary nature, disaster risk assessment has been identified as an emerging area that could assist social impact assessment in managing social changes and risks and improving community resilience. Emerging research from South Africa and abroad have shown that social impact assessment–disaster risk assessment integration offers opportunities for streamlining and improved practice across four areas, that is, theoretical discourses, legislative and statutory provisions, practitioner perspectives and combined methodologies. The resulting streamlined social impact assessment and disaster risk assessment will be more suitable for 21st-century challenges, allowing for enriched social impact assessment practice, contributions to social sustainability and strengthening of the social resilience of at-risk communities. From observations of the South African context, we suggest that streamlined social impact assessment and disaster risk assessment will optimally address the challenges of developing sustainably and enhancing the resilience of at-risk societies in the 21st century in South Africa, the global south and also the rest of the world
Capturing temporal pathways of collaborative roles: A multilayered analytical approach using community of inquiry
Full text linkArticle, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (Research &Innovation)--Northwest University, Vanderbijlpark CampusIn collaborative learning, students may follow different trajectories that evolve over time. This study used a multilayered approach to map the temporal dynamics of online problem-based learning (PBL) and the transition of students’ roles across time over a full year duration. Based on data from 135 dental students across four consecutive courses throughout a full academic year, the students’ discourses were coded based on the community of inquiry (CoI). A mixture model was used to identify students’ roles. The roles identified were leaders, social mediators, and peripheral explorer roles, and they were visualized using epis-temic network analysis (ENA). Similar trajectories were identified and visualized using sequence and process mining. The results showed varying activity levels across three tra-jectories. Students in the active-constructive trajectory took on leadership roles, while the students in the social interactive trajectory were mostly social mediators, and the free rider trajectory showed a predominant peripheral explorer role. The students in all trajectories returned to their initial roles, showing features typical of stable collaborative dispositions. Both active trajectories (active constructive and social interactive) had very close levels of achievement, whereas the free riders demonstrated lower grades compared to their peers. This research suggests that understanding role dynamics and their evolving trajectories can help teachers better design future collaborative activities, assign roles, form groups, distribute tasks, and, more importantly, be able to support students
Exploring the challenges and opportunities for the management of shared watercourses: The case of the Orange - Senqu River Commission
Full text linkNorth-West University, Master of Environmental Management with
Ecological Water Requirements, Potchefstroom CampusThe term “shared watercourses”, also referred to as transboundary watercourses, refers to watercourses that extend across multiple countries. As noted by Petersen-Pelman et al. (2017), approximately 60% of the world’s freshwater resources are situated in these shared watercourses. Consequently, the responsible management of these shared watercourses is imperative to maintain their well-being, ensure benefits for all member states, and prevent conflicts among them. Numerous countries sharing water resources have endeavoured to establish legal frameworks for the governance of these watercourses. The primary instruments for managing shared watercourses on a global scale are the 1997 UN International Watercourses Convention and the Helsinki rules (1966). Within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region, the Protocol for Shared Watercourses in the SADC region serves as a key tool for managing such resources. This protocol has led to the creation of various water commissions, including the Limpopo River Commission (LIMCOM), Zambezi River Commission (ZAMCOM), and Orange Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM). The research explores the challenges and opportunities for the management of shared watercourses within the Orange Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM). The study followed a qualitative research methodology with semi-structured interviews as the instrument for soliciting data. Purposive sampling was implemented to determine the research participants who were the ORASECOM task team members. The challenges for implementing the ORASECOM Agreement range from legal and regulatory challenges, political and diplomatic challenges, technical and infrastructural challenges, environmental and legal challenges, economic and financial challenges, capacity building challenges and monitoring and evaluation challenges. The research went on to explore the opportunities or potential benefits that can be reaped out of successful implementation of the ORASECOM Agreement. The research findings and literature revealed the strategies on how to overcome the challenges for implementation of the ORASECOM Agreement. These strategies include numerous dimensions, beginning with the critical role of financial and economic approaches. Securing international funding, diversifying funding sources, and mobilizing resources emerge as pivotal strategies to ensure the agreement’s financial sustainability. Capacity building and institutional strengthening, both in terms of technical proficiency and community engagement, are underscored as essential components. Recommendations and future research areas were suggested based on the research findings. Recommendations include improving on community participation and involvement, securing financial resources for the implementation of the ORASECOM Agreement as well as learning from successful environmental management reforms practices in other shared watercourses. Moreover diplomacy, well-organized action plans, adaptability, and consistent communication, harmonizing the laws can be used to increase solidarity in shared water resources management. Use of financial tools and investments necessary for infrastructure development making educational and training investments in task team members, increased research, delineation of aquifers, monitoring evaluation of ground water, as well as data sharing among member states regarding ground water information should be considered. These recommendations also form a basis for future research areas.-Water Research Commission (WRC
On new tests of fit for the geometric distribution based on a characterisation
Full text linkMaster of Science in Mathematical Statistics , North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusThe geometric distribution is used in multiple research fields across various disciplines. Therefore, it is important to be able to test the assumption of whether a set of observed data arises from this distribution. The purpose of this dissertation is to review the literature on existing goodness-of-fit tests for the geometric distribution and to develop new goodness-of-fit tests based on a mean residual life characterization of the geometric distribution. The first test is a Kolmogorov-Smirnov type test, and the second and third tests are Cramér-von Mises type tests, with empirical and parametric weight functions, respectively. We compare the performance of these tests with existing goodness-of-fit tests for the geometric distribution in a Monte Carlo simulation study. These tests are compared considering several alternative distributions including mixture distributions to analyze the estimated powers. Lastly, the tests are applied to observed data. Considering the power performance of our tests, it is clear that these tests match or outperform the majority of existing tests considered in this study against the alternatives considered.Master
Optimising startup manufacturer’s supply chain: analysis and inventory system design
Full text linkConference paper, Faculty of Engineering, Vanderbijlpark CampusThe study addresses the challenges a startup manufacturing company encounters amid expansion, primarily due to inconsistent production levels and inadequate inventory management practices. It investigates carefully identified scenarios to enhance supply chain efficiency and evaluates the feasibility through financial analysis. Additionally, a basic raw material inventory management system is designed to ensure an adequate supply of raw materials for continuous production. A ten-step scenario analysis methodology is used to complete the scenario analysis, complemented by the DMADV methodology to design the inventory management system. The scenario analysis yielded that investing in new machinery is the optimal expansion strategy. The inventory management system effectively tracks raw material and finished goods inventory levels with additional useful features. This study provides insights into overcoming challenges in the startup manufacturers’ supply chain and lays a foundation for further refinement of the supply chain