Mycotoxins in food - recent advances in research in South Africa

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Informal community-based early childhood development as a focus for urban public theology in South Africa

This article highlights important dimensions of public theology and shows how the identified dimensions are relevant to the specific situation of informal early childhood development (ECD) facilities in a South African urban setting. The article considers the contributions and challenges of informal community-based ECD on the basis of research conducted in the Rustenburg/Phokeng area of the North West province of South Africa. It critically discusses the sociocultural discourses and legislation regulating ECD centres, by focusing on the constraints put on informal ECD service providers. It concludes by considering ways in which urban public theology should act to serve, strengthen and advocate this vitally important, yet informal, sector.This article forms part of the special collection on ‘Doing urban public theology in South Africa: Visions, approaches, themes and practices towards a new agenda’ in HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies Volume 70, Issue 3, 2014.http://www.hts.org.zatm201

Informal community-based early childhood development as a focus for urban public theology in South Africa

This article highlights important dimensions of public theology and shows how the identified dimensions are relevant to the specific situation of informal early childhood development (ECD) facilities in a South African urban setting. The article considers the contributions and challenges of informal community-based ECD on the basis of research conducted in the Rustenburg/Phokeng area of the North West province of South Africa. It critically discusses the sociocultural discourses and legislation regulating ECD centres, by focusing on the constraints put on informal ECD service providers. It concludes by considering ways in which urban public theology should act to serve, strengthen and advocate this vitally important, yet informal, sector.This article forms part of the special collection on ‘Doing urban public theology in South Africa: Visions, approaches, themes and practices towards a new agenda’ in HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies Volume 70, Issue 3, 2014.http://www.hts.org.zatm201

’n Navorsingstrategie vir missionale transformasie

Research strategy for missional transformation. In this study, an innovative research process was developed to support a missional ecclesiology. The research strategy was designed as a practice-oriented research process in service of faith communities as ‘problem owners’ of the research. The goal is to inform and serve the process of missional transformation. The approach taken was defined as a process of discernment to participate in the missio Dei, appreciating the work of the Holy Spirit and the reciprocal relation between confession and praxis. Scripture and tradition are constitutive elements of the language house that forms the congregational life and imagination. The innovate process comprises three cycles moving through four quadrants in the deployment of a missional strategy, the four quadrants being: guidance, research, design and training. This was developed along 12 movements: (1) articulate the pain, (2) clarify the question, (3) develop the prototype, (4) testing, (5) practice capacities, (6) observe patterns, (7) build a model, (8) implementation, (9) accepting into the culture, (10) describe breakthroughs, (11) support the learning community, and (12) institutional alignment. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The research includes the following disciplines: Missiology, Missionary Ecclesiology and Practical Theology. It has wide-ranging implications, as it presents an innovative and comprehensive research process that can significantly influence research on missional transformation

Corrigendum: ’n Navorsingstrategie vir missionale transformasie

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Discipline in Education

This book addresses a perennial challenge to the success of the South African education system, namely, discipline. This volume steers the interrogation of discipline in a new direction, reflecting on ways in which recent research can benefit South African schools. This includes the need for alternative discipline that will enhance education. The scholarly contribution lies in its in-depth exploration of the relevance of research findings to South African schools and to the twenty-first-century socio-political environment. For the first time, scholarly interrogation of the issue of learner discipline in South African schools draws on indigenous knowledge systems. Its post-colonial and decolonial perspectives offer an ethical and moral compass for behaviour that could contribute to the well-being of South African society (and other societies similarly afflicted by anti-social behaviour). The book offers a range of perspectives on the debates on discipline and associated issues, and should stimulate future discussions on discipline and indiscipline at a time when South Africa and many other societies engage with the effects of social and political transformation. This scholarly book is aimed at academics and researchers. The contributors include philosophers, moralists, corporativists, education law specialists, curriculum specialists, specialists in education and culture, advocates of ubuntu, and people using meta-syntheses of approaches and practices and religious practices such as a Christian ethical/moral approach to parental and school discipline. They draw on their insights into postcolonialism, the impact of indigenous knowledge, theories of agency, dysfunctionality and school underperformance. The book offers an intriguing depiction of opposing views on discipline

Discipline in Education

This book addresses a perennial challenge to the success of the South African education system, namely, discipline. This volume steers the interrogation of discipline in a new direction, reflecting on ways in which recent research can benefit South African schools. This includes the need for alternative discipline that will enhance education. The scholarly contribution lies in its in-depth exploration of the relevance of research findings to South African schools and to the twenty-first-century socio-political environment. For the first time, scholarly interrogation of the issue of learner discipline in South African schools draws on indigenous knowledge systems. Its post-colonial and decolonial perspectives offer an ethical and moral compass for behaviour that could contribute to the well-being of South African society (and other societies similarly afflicted by anti-social behaviour). The book offers a range of perspectives on the debates on discipline and associated issues, and should stimulate future discussions on discipline and indiscipline at a time when South Africa and many other societies engage with the effects of social and political transformation. This scholarly book is aimed at academics and researchers. The contributors include philosophers, moralists, corporativists, education law specialists, curriculum specialists, specialists in education and culture, advocates of ubuntu, and people using meta-syntheses of approaches and practices and religious practices such as a Christian ethical/moral approach to parental and school discipline. They draw on their insights into postcolonialism, the impact of indigenous knowledge, theories of agency, dysfunctionality and school underperformance. The book offers an intriguing depiction of opposing views on discipline

Suction recirculation mitigation in a double-suction centrifugal pump

MEng (Mechanical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusSuction recirculation in centrifugal pumps operating at o˙-design conditions is an eventual reality for all centrifugal pumps. Various types of modifications to both the pump impeller and/or volute have been implemented in the past, with variable success. The successful implementation of the modifications is often counteracted by either an increase of Net Positive Suction Head Required (NP SHR), a narrowing of the band of recirculation-free operation and/or the need for intrusive casing modifications. This study aims to determine if a suitable suction recirculation mitigation method, that restricts the suction recirculation phenomenon while not exhibiting a noticeable increase in NP SHR, is possible by means of the implementation of a profiled bulkhead-ring. Suction recirculation can be described as the separation of the flow field and the presence of a separation cell in the suction half of the impeller between-vane cavity with a back-flow of fluid from impeller to suction volute. Two scenarios were investigated: the unmodified pump, and the modified pump geometry includ-ing the modified bulkhead-ring - simulated across the entire operating range. The flow charac-teristics of both cases were investigated after adequately verifying the numerical simulations and validating these results with analytical and certified experimental methods. The results of the study indicated that the modified bulkhead ring concept was partially e˙ective by successfully restricting the bulk back-flow of fluid from impeller to suction volute, however the separation point and recirculation cells remained largely una˙ected. In this particular instance, both the measured and simulated NP SHR showed a noticeable increase after the implementation of the modification. Although the results of this particular study do suggest that the installation of the particular rotating modification used in the current setup is not generally more practical when compared to more conventional methods, further development is needed in order to determine a more optimal ring geometry that would produce more favourable results.Master