Examining the relationship between abstract thinking ability and academic performance in object oriented programming : a psychometric and theoretical analysis of student capacity

Published ArticleAbstract reasoning involves flexible thinking as well as solving problems creatively and logically. Evidence suggest that especially first year students that undertake Information Technology studies at institutions of higher education, find it challenging to successfully comprehend concepts regarding object oriented programming (OOP). This study is based on the hypothetical premise that student performance regarding OOP can be linked to the abstract thinking ability of the particular student because of the highly abstract nature of OOP concepts. A comparison between psychometric test results gauging abstract thinking abilities of students and student performance in OOP are also presented and argued

Making Software Humane: The Effects of Affective and Anthropomorphism on the Adoption of an M-Health Application

Conference ProceedingsWith the proliferation of mobile devices, provision of M-health care services has become feasible even in the remotest villages of Africa. Research however shows that many M-health initiatives have not been adopted and used effectively especially in rural communities. Some of the factors contributing to this range from a lack of knowledge with regard the use of technology, literacy challenges, possible fear of technology, to a lack of information regarding these interventions. In this paper, we demonstrate that an initiative designed to recognize usability as its core function plays a critical role in the use and adoption of M-health interventions in rural communities. Two versions of an M-health intervention were developed and two interface design principles that may have an impact on users’ emotions applied, namely affective design and anthropomorphism. Using the Sethakeng rural community in the Northern Cape (South Africa) as the case study, we were able to determine the extent to which both anthropomorphism and affective design influence the adoption of an M-Health application. Further, the research revealed that because of its ability to include human-like qualities to non-living objects, anthropomorphism is a more effective method for designing M-Health applications targeting rural communities

A rare complication of radiofrequency treatment for cellulite of the lower leg

Radiofrequency (RF) is increasingly used as an aesthetic treatment for a variety of purposes ranging from the treatment of acne scarring, cellulite correction and skin and soft tissue rejuvenation. The majority of patients experience no complications, and the treatment is therefore also frequently administered by non-medically trained staff. We present a patient, who developed severe 3rd degree burn after RF treatment requiring reconstructive surgery with a split thickness skin graft

Implementing 'universal' access to antiretroviral treatment in South Africa:a scoping review on research priorities

‘Universal’ access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) has become the global standard for treating people living with HIV and achieving epidemic control; yet, findings from numerous ‘test and treat’ trials and implementation studies in sub-Saharan Africa suggest that bringing ‘universal' access to ART to scale is more complex than anticipated. Using South Africa as a case example, we describe the research priorities and foci in the literature on expanded ART access. To do so, we adapted Arksey and O’Malley’s six-stage scoping review framework to describe the peer-reviewed literature and opinion pieces on expanding access to ART in South Africa between 2000 and 2017. Data collection included systematic searches of two databases and hand-searching of a sub-sample of reference lists. We used an adapted socio-ecological thematic framework to categorize data according to where it located the challenges and opportunities of expanded ART eligibility: individual/client, health worker–client relationship, clinic/community context, health systems infrastructure and/or policy context. We included 194 research articles and 23 opinion pieces, of 1512 identified, addressing expanded ART access in South Africa. The peer-reviewed literature focused on the individual and health systems infrastructure; opinion pieces focused on changing roles of individuals, communities and health services implementers. We contextualized our findings through a consultative process with a group of researchers, HIV clinicians and programme managers to consider critical knowledge gaps. Unlike the published literature, the consultative process offered particular insights into the importance of researching and intervening in the relational aspects of HIV service delivery as South Africa’s HIV programme expands. An overwhelming focus on individual and health systems infrastructure factors in the published literature on expanded ART access in South Africa may skew understanding of HIV programme shortfalls away from the relational aspects of HIV services delivery and delay progress with finding ways to leverage non-medical modalities for achieving HIV epidemic control

Water and CSP - linking CSP water demand models and national hydrology data to sustainably manage CSP development and water resources in arid regions

CITATION: Duvenhage, D. Frank et al. 2020. Water and CSP - linking CSP water demand models and national hydrology data to sustainably manage CSP development and water resources in arid regions. Sustainability, 12(8): 3373, doi:10.3390/su12083373.The original publication is available at: https://www.mdpi.comENGLISH ABSTRACT: A systematic approach to evaluate Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant fleet deployment and sustainable water resource use in arid regions is presented. An overview is given of previous work carried out. Once CSP development scenarios, suitable areas for development, and the water demand from CSP operations were evaluated, appropriate spatiotemporal CSP performance models were developed. The resulting consumptive patterns and the impact of variable resource availability on CSP plant operation are analysed. This evaluation considered the whole of South Africa, with focus on the areas identified as suitable for CSP, in order to study the impact on local water resources. It was found that the hydrological limitations imposed by variable water resources on CSP development are severe. The national annual theoretical net generation potential of wet-cooled Parabolic Trough decreased from 11,277 to 120 TWh, and that of wet-cooled Central Receiver decreased from 12,003 to 170 TWh. Dry cooled versions also experience severe limitations, but to a lesser extent—the national annual theoretical net generation potential of Parabolic Trough decreased from 11,038 to 512 TWh, and that of Central Receiver decreased from 11,824 to 566 TWh. Accordingly, policy guidelines are suggested for sustainable CSP development and water resource management within the context of current South African water use regulation.Publisher's versio

PAPER-64 Constraints On Reionization II: The Temperature Of The z=8.4 Intergalactic Medium

We present constraints on both the kinetic temperature of the intergalactic medium (IGM) at z=8.4, and on models for heating the IGM at high-redshift with X-ray emission from the first collapsed objects. These constraints are derived using a semi-analytic method to explore the new measurements of the 21 cm power spectrum from the Donald C. Backer Precision Array for Probing the Epoch of Reionization (PAPER), which were presented in a companion paper, Ali et al. (2015). Twenty-one cm power spectra with amplitudes of hundreds of mK^2 can be generically produced if the kinetic temperature of the IGM is significantly below the temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB); as such, the new results from PAPER place lower limits on the IGM temperature at z=8.4. Allowing for the unknown ionization state of the IGM, our measurements find the IGM temperature to be above ~5 K for neutral fractions between 10% and 85%, above ~7 K for neutral fractions between 15% and 80%, or above ~10 K for neutral fractions between 30% and 70%. We also calculate the heating of the IGM that would be provided by the observed high redshift galaxy population, and find that for most models, these galaxies are sufficient to bring the IGM temperature above our lower limits. However, there are significant ranges of parameter space that could produce a signal ruled out by the PAPER measurements; models with a steep drop-off in the star formation rate density at high redshifts or with relatively low values for the X-ray to star formation rate efficiency of high redshift galaxies are generally disfavored. The PAPER measurements are consistent with (but do not constrain) a hydrogen spin temperature above the CMB temperature, a situation which we find to be generally predicted if galaxies fainter than the current detection limits of optical/NIR surveys are included in calculations of X-ray heating.Comment: companion paper to Ali et al. (2015), ApJ 809, 61; matches version accepted to ApJ; 11 pages, 7 figure

Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA)

The Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA) is a staged experiment to measure 21 cm emission from the primordial intergalactic medium (IGM) throughout cosmic reionization ($z=6-12$), and to explore earlier epochs of our Cosmic Dawn ($z\sim30$). During these epochs, early stars and black holes heated and ionized the IGM, introducing fluctuations in 21 cm emission. HERA is designed to characterize the evolution of the 21 cm power spectrum to constrain the timing and morphology of reionization, the properties of the first galaxies, the evolution of large-scale structure, and the early sources of heating. The full HERA instrument will be a 350-element interferometer in South Africa consisting of 14-m parabolic dishes observing from 50 to 250 MHz. Currently, 19 dishes have been deployed on site and the next 18 are under construction. HERA has been designated as an SKA Precursor instrument. In this paper, we summarize HERA's scientific context and provide forecasts for its key science results. After reviewing the current state of the art in foreground mitigation, we use the delay-spectrum technique to motivate high-level performance requirements for the HERA instrument. Next, we present the HERA instrument design, along with the subsystem specifications that ensure that HERA meets its performance requirements. Finally, we summarize the schedule and status of the project. We conclude by suggesting that, given the realities of foreground contamination, current-generation 21 cm instruments are approaching their sensitivity limits. HERA is designed to bring both the sensitivity and the precision to deliver its primary science on the basis of proven foreground filtering techniques, while developing new subtraction techniques to unlock new capabilities. The result will be a major step toward realizing the widely recognized scientific potential of 21 cm cosmology.Comment: 26 pages, 24 figures, 2 table

Incidence of Tuberculosis amongst HIV positive individuals initiating antiretroviral treatment at higher CD4 counts in the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial in South Africa.

INTRODUCTION: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) guidelines recommend lifelong ART for all HIV positive individuals. This study evaluated TB incidence on ART in a cohort of HIV positive individuals starting ART regardless of CD4 count in a programmatic setting at three clinics included in the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial in South Africa. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of HIV-positive individuals aged ≥18 years starting ART, between January 2014 and November 2015, was conducted. Follow up was continued until 30 May 2016 or censored on the date of i) incident TB ii) loss to follow up from HIV care or death or iii) elective transfer out; whichever occurred first. RESULTS: The study included 2423 individuals. Median baseline CD4 count was 328 cells/µL (IQR 195-468), TB incidence rate was 4.41/100 PY (95% CI 3.62-5.39). The adjusted hazard ratio of incident TB was 0.27 (95% CI 0.12 - 0.62) when comparing individuals with baseline CD4 > 500cells/µL and ≤ 500cells/µL. Amongst individuals with baseline CD4 count > 500cells/µL there were no incident TB cases in the first three months of follow up. Adjusted hazard of incident TB was also higher amongst men (aHR 2.16; 95% CI: 1.41 - 3.30). CONCLUSION: TB incidence after ART initiation was significantly lower amongst individuals starting ART at CD4 counts above 500cells/µL. Scale up of ART, regardless of CD4 count, has the potential to significantly reduce TB incidence amongst HIV-positive individuals. However, this needs to be combined with strengthening of other TB prevention strategies that target both HIV positive and HIV negative individuals

Disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus status to children in South Africa : a comprehensive analysis

CITATION: Van Elsland, S. L., et. al. 2019. Disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus status to children in South Africa : a comprehensive analysis. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine, (20(1):a884, doi:10.4102/sajhivmed.v20i1.884.The original publication is available at http://www.sajhivmed.org.za/Background: The extent of disclosure of HIV status to children and adolescents and the context facilitating their disclosure process have received little attention. Objectives: To assess disclosure and provide a comprehensive analysis of characteristics associated with disclosure to children (3–14 years) receiving antiretroviral treatment in a South African semi-urban clinic. Methods: This cross-sectional study used structured interview administered questionnaires which were supplemented with medical record data. Predictors included child, caregiver, clinical and socio-economic characteristics, viral suppression, immune response, adherence, health-related quality of life and family functioning. Results: We included 190 children of whom 45 (23.7%) received disclosure about their HIV status, of whom 28 (14.7%) were partially disclosed and 17 (8.9%) were fully disclosed. Older age of the child and higher education of the caregiver were strongly associated with disclosure. Female caregivers, detectable viral load, syrup formulation, protease inhibitor (PI) regimens with stavudine and didanosine, and self-reported non-adherence were strongly associated with non-disclosure. Conclusion: When children do well on treatment, caregivers feel less stringent need to disclose. Well-functioning families, higher educated caregivers and better socio-economic status enabled and promoted disclosure. Non-disclosure can indicate a sub-optimal social structure which could negatively affect adherence and viral suppression. There is an urgent need to address disclosure thoughtfully and proactively in the long-term disease management. For the disclosure process to be beneficial, an enabling supportive context is important, which will provide a great opportunity for future interventions.https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/884Publisher's versio