An analysis of the structure and maturity of the Doha property market

This research is primarily focussed on the dynamics that determine the maturity of property markets. It considers the evolving institutional environment in which markets function and highlights the characteristics of property markets in both developed and developing countries in order to analyse the characteristics required to determine their maturity. The primary research targets the city of Doha located in Qatar. This is compared to other property markets around the world, using the available literature and the knowledge of Doha's expatriate property professionals. The purpose of this research is to contribute to the research and knowledge of property markets by assessing the players, institutions and characteristics of the property market in Doha to assess whether it is driven by the same maturity forces as those that drive typical markets elsewhere. The research concludes that property market outcomes could be improved in Doha by improving and developing the property market maturity factors. Considering all the factors. The property market in Doha was identified as fairly immature in comparison to international best practice. It has improved significantly recently and is on a path to compete with the more mature markets in future. Recommendations proposed in the research findings focused particularly around the strengthening of property market institutions to allow for further improvements to market maturity and cautioned against verbatim copying of successful market practices from elsewhere

Development and Remodeling of the Vertebrate Blood-Gas Barrier

During vertebrate development, the lung inaugurates as an endodermal bud from the primitive foregut. Dichotomous subdivision of the bud results in arborizing airways that form the prospective gas exchanging chambers, where a thin blood-gas barrier (BGB) is established. In the mammalian lung, this proceeds through conversion of type II cells to type I cells, thinning, and elongation of the cells as well as extrusion of the lamellar bodies. Subsequent diminution of interstitial tissue and apposition of capillaries to the alveolar epithelium establish a thin BGB. In the noncompliant avian lung, attenuation proceeds through cell-cutting processes that result in remarkable thinning of the epithelial layer. A host of morphoregulatory molecules, including transcription factors such as Nkx2.1, GATA, HNF-3, and WNT5a; signaling molecules including FGF, BMP-4, Shh, and TFG-βand extracellular proteins and their receptors have been implicated. During normal physiological function, the BGB may be remodeled in response to alterations in transmural pressures in both blood capillaries and airspaces. Such changes are mitigated through rapid expression of the relevant genes for extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors. While an appreciable amount of information regarding molecular control has been documented in the mammalian lung, very little is available on the avian lung

Intussusceptive angiogenesis and its role in vascular morphogenesis, patterning, and remodeling

New blood vessels arise initially as blood islands in the process known as vasculogenesis or as new capillary segments produced through angiogenesis. Angiogenesis itself encompasses two broad processes, namely sprouting (SA) and intussusceptive (IA) angiogenesis. Primordial capillary plexuses expand through both SA and IA, but subsequent growth and remodeling are achieved through IA. The latter process proceeds through transluminal tissue pillar formation and subsequent vascular splitting, and the direction taken by the pillars delineates IA into overt phases, namely: intussusceptive microvascular growth, intussusceptive arborization, and intussusceptive branching remodeling. Intussusceptive microvascular growth circumscribes the process of initiation of pillar formation and their subsequent expansion with the result that the capillary surface area is greatly enhanced. In contrast, intussusceptive arborization entails formation of serried pillars that remodel the disorganized vascular meshwork into the typical tree-like arrangement. Optimization of local vascular branching geometry occurs through intussusceptive branching remodeling so that the vasculature is remodeled to meet the local demand. In addition, IA is important in creation of the local organ-specific angioarchitecture. While hemodynamic forces have proven direct effects on IA, with increase in blood flow resulting in initiation of pillars, the preponderant mechanisms are unclear. Molecular control of IA has so far not been unequivocally elucidated but interplay among several factors is probably involved. Future investigations are strongly encouraged to focus on interactions among angiogenic growth factors, angiopoetins, and related receptor

Investigating FET college lecturers' experiences of the inclusion of students with learning disabilities in a mainstream classroom.

Master of Education in Educational Psychology. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood 2015.This is a qualitative study that involved 7 FET College lecturers and investigated their experiences of including the learning disabled in a mainstream classroom. Both in-depth qualitative interviews and observations were used to investigate their experiences. The findings indicate that the lecturers have both positive and negative experiences of including students with learning disabilities in the mainstream classroom. Despite any formal training on inclusive education as highlighted in Education White Paper 6 (EWP6), the FET College lecturers are striving to include the learning disabled in the mainstream classroom. However, they also encounter a myriad of challenges when including the learning disabled in the mainstream classrooms. The findings indicate that the FET College is currently not equipped with adequate resources and programmes that cater for the needs of students with learning disabilities. Moreover, FET College lecturers that were interviewed indicated that they had no qualifications that specifically equip them to teach students with learning disabilities. They all felt a need for training and staff development in the area of teaching and supporting students with learning disabilities. Recommendations into improving the provisioning of support to the lecturers teaching students with learning disabilities and the students concerned are made

Effect of parity on endometrial glands in gravid rabbits

The uterus undergoes intense remodeling in pregnancy and subsequent involution in the postpartum period. One of the anatomical changes that occur in the gravid endometrium is increased glandular density. Parity has been shown to be protective against certain endometrial pathologies probably as a result of retained changes that take place during pregnancy. The findings of the current study may help provide the anatomical basis for different traits noted as the parity rises. Nine rabbits, California white breed (oryctolagus cuniculus), were obtained from a private farmer. The subjects were grouped as follows; primiparous rabbits in group 1, Para 1 and Para 2-3 in group 2, and Para >4 in group 3. Once successfully mated, they were housed in pens, fed, and given adequate supply of water. On day 18 of pregnancy, the rabbits were sacrificed and uterus harvested en bloc. Five-millimeter specimens were obtained from the uterus and processed for light microscopy. Quantification of endometrial glands and their size was done using the computer program Image J. Endometrial gland density was noted to decrease with a rise in parity such that the percentage proportion in the primigravid rabbit was 45% compared to that of 34% and 37.5% in the biparous and multiparous groups respectively. The endometrial gland duct circumference also increased as the parity increased. The present study reveals that a high parity is characterized by fewer, wider endometrial glands.Key words: Endometrial glands, Parity, Gravidit

A study of the role of induction and mentoring programmes in achieving school effectiveness.

Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.The study investigated the role of induction and mentoring programmes in achieving school effectiveness. The study did not address all the issues related to school effectiveness. It aimed at finding out if the two schools under study had induction and mentoring programmes, and if these programmes were effectively used, and also to ascertain if the programmes of induction and mentoring contributed to the sound relationships within the school community. In order to answer the research questions the study employed a qualitative case study approach. Literature on issues of induction and mentoring locally and internationally was examined to provide a wider context with which to view the present study. Interviews were conducted which involved a sample of seven educators, employed between the years 2002 and 2003. Observation of the staff meetings and three of the newly appointed educators teaching was also conducted. Documents supplied by the Department, such as, Towards Effective School Management Manuals, The Final Draft of Systemic Evaluation 2001 KZN, Handbook for the Code of Professional Ethics 2002 and Guides for School Management Teams, related to induction and mentoring were analysed. The findings of the study suggest that in one school, the educators felt abandoned. In the other, the educators felt at home as regards induction and mentoring. The findings also seem to suggest that the schools studied did not practice formal induction and mentoring. As far as mentoring and having mentors were concerned, educators in one school, have their H.O.Ds as mentors although it was not spelt out to them. Educators in the other school did not have mentors in the school. The study recommends that principals, especially the beginning principals, need to be given guidance in the development of programmes of induction and mentoring. Workshops would also help to develop principals in using documents supplied to schools by the Department, to ensure the effective implementation of procedures and processes to be followed in schools

Educator perceptions of the selection of principals in the Umzinyathi area of the Kwamashu circuit.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009

SDF-1/CXCR4 signalling is involved in blood vessel growth and remodelling by intussusception.

The precise mechanisms of SDF-1 (CXCL12) in angiogenesis are not fully elucidated. Recently, we showed that Notch inhibition induces extensive intussusceptive angiogenesis by recruitment of mononuclear cells and it was associated with increased levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4. In the current study, we demonstrated SDF-1 expression in liver sinusoidal vessels of Notch1 knockout mice with regenerative hyperplasia by means of intussusception, but we did not detect any SDF-1 expression in wild-type mice with normal liver vessel structure. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of SDF-1/CXCR4 signalling by AMD3100 perturbs intussusceptive vascular growth and abolishes mononuclear cell recruitment in the chicken area vasculosa. In contrast, treatment with recombinant SDF-1 protein increased microvascular density by 34% through augmentation of pillar number compared to controls. The number of extravasating mononuclear cells was four times higher after SDF-1 application and two times less after blocking this pathway. Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMDC) were recruited to vessels in response to elevated expression of SDF-1 in endothelial cells. They participated in formation and stabilization of pillars. The current study is the first report to implicate SDF-1/CXCR4 signalling in intussusceptive angiogenesis and further highlights the stabilizing role of BMDC in the formation of pillars during vascular remodelling

Casting Materials and their Application in Research and Teaching

From a biological point of view, casting refers to filling of anatomical and/or pathological spaces with extraneous material that reproduces a three-dimensional replica of the space. Casting may be accompanied by additional procedures such as corrosion, in which the soft tissue is digested out, leaving a clean cast, or the material may be mixed with radiopaque substances to allow x-ray photography or micro computed topography (µCT) scanning. Alternatively, clearing of the surrounding soft tissue increases transparency and allows visualization of the casted cavities. Combination of casting with tissue fixation allows anatomical dissection and didactic surgical procedures on the tissue. Casting materials fall into three categories namely, aqueous substances (India ink, Prussian blue ink), pliable materials (gelatins, latex, and silicone rubber), or hard materials (methyl methacrylates, polyurethanes, polyesters, and epoxy resins). Casting has proved invaluable in both teaching and research and many phenomenal biological processes have been discovered through casting. The choice of a particular material depends inter alia on the targeted use and the intended subsequent investigative procedures, such as dissection, microscopy, or µCT. The casting material needs to be pliable where anatomical and surgical manipulations are intended, and capillary-passable for ultrastructural investigation