Fruiting and seed production of producer and poor-producer baobab trees and on different land use types in Northern Venda, South Africa

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Environmental Sciences by Coursework and Research Report. Johannesburg 24 March 2016In southern Africa, the baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is an economically important trees because it contributes significantly to the livelihoods of local people, particularly in northern Limpopo in South Africa (the southern-most edge of the baobab distribution). All parts of the baobab are useful and considered important for subsistence and commercial uses. Understanding factors that affect fruit and seed production is important to better characterize the long-term success of tree populations. Some adult baobab trees have high fruit production (50 −299 fruits per tree, per year) and are subsequently called ‘producers’ or ‘female’ trees, while there are other trees that produce fewer fruits (< 5 fruits per tree, per year) that are called ‘poor-producers’ or ‘male’ trees. For this study, baobab fruit dimensions (mass, length, volume and ratio) were, measured and compared between artificially- and naturally-pollinated producer and poor-producer trees. Fruit dimensions were also correlated to the number of seeds per fruit. Using 2D geometric morphometric analysis, baobab fruit shapes were analyzed and compared to determine if fruit shape differs between fruits formed on producer and poor-producer baobab trees. I found no significant difference in fruit shape between producer and poor-producer baobab trees. Although, artificially-pollinated trees produced bigger and more uniform shaped fruits and contained more seeds in comparison to the smaller unevenly shaped fruits produced by naturally-pollinated trees. Furthermore, I compared fruit and seed production between naturally-pollinated producer/poor-producer and between artificially-pollinated producer/poor-producer trees that occur on different land use types (i.e. nature reserves, rocky outcrops, plains, fields (land use for agricultural purposes) and villages) in Northern Venda, South Africa. There was a significant difference in fruit and seed production between naturally and artificially-pollinated producer and poor producer trees that occur on different land use types. On average, producer trees yielded more seeds than poor-producer trees. The highest fruit and seed production was recorded in fields and villages. Seed mass variation also differed significantly between producer and poor-producer trees and between the different land use types. A very weak negative relationship between baobab seed number and mass was found in both producer and poor-producer baobab trees. Baobab seed viability was estimated using a 0.1% tetrazolium solution, 100% viability was found in all tested seeds from both producer and poor-producer baobab trees. Result of this study may aid with the identification of land use types where baobabs have the lowest seed production and therefore require additional conservation effort to ensure that fruits are harvested sustainably. The estimation of seed production may improve the ability to estimate the total seed oil that is available in each land use type.M T 201

Empirical correlation of mineral commodity prices with exchange-traded mining stock prices.

Mineral commodity prices comprise one of the key criteria in the selection of mining stocks. We contend that of the three principal elements of mineral commodity prices, spot price, forward price and long-term price, one has a greater impact on the share valuation processes used by investors. This research paper examines the extent to which each of these elements influences the valuation process. The intention is to provide investors in mining stocks with a greater understanding of how fluctuations of commodity prices over time affect the prices of the mining stocks they hold, or intend to sell or buy. Three mineral commodities, gold, silver, and copper, were used as case studies, since market data on these commodities is readily available in the public domain. Nine market indices covering all three mineral commodities were selected. These are based on clearly defined criteria with the intention of eliminating ambiguity and to test for correlation with the three sets of mineral commodity prices. Nine mining companies, which were not the primary drivers of the relevant indices employed in the study, were used to validate the results obtained from the indices in order to avoid duplication of the same correlation during cross-checking. Each commodity price was adjusted for operating costs. For each market index, an average operating cost was calculated from the companies comprising its basket, while each company's annual operating costs were used for the stocks of the individual companies examined. The data was collected for the period January 2004 to October 2010. This period was further split up into three sub-periods to account for the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) period that started in mid-2008. We conclude that mining stock prices are correlated with mineral commodity prices, but with spot and forward prices exhibiting stronger correlations than long-term price. This finding should be useful for evaluation purposes. Where cash flow methodologies such as discounted cash flow or earnings per share are used to value ordinary shares and commodity prices are required to estimate future cash flows, the findings suggest that spot prices should be used as opposed to long-term prices. The work reported in this paper is part of a current MSc research study at the University of the Witwatersrand.MvdH201

The role of leadership in shaping organisational culture in a school in Namibia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of leadership in shaping the culture of a rural combined school in Oshikoto Region, northern Namibia. This school had previously performed poorly in terms of Grade 10 examination statistics for many years. However, after the appointment of a new Principal, the academic performance of the school has improved tremendously over for the past five years. Having been a teacher, Head of Department, Deputy Principal, Principal, and later an Inspector of Education, I had long held the view that the academic performance of the school depended entirely on the type of leadership the school had. Equally, I have always been aware of the negative impact of the past segregation and the discriminatory education provided by the colonial masters in South Africa and South West Africa/Namibia. The poor education provided to South Africans and the then South West Africa /Namibia posed a serious challenge to the leadership and management of schools as the majority of Principals, if not all, were poorly and inadequately trained to provide the necessary skills needed for one to be a successful Principal. Given this background, I tried to use a case study to explore the role of leadership in shaping the culture of the organisation. Research suggests that there is a strong relationship between organisational culture and school effectiveness. This study was guided by Schein’s three levels of organisational culture namely artifacts, espoused values and basic assumptions (Schein, 1992, p. 17). From these arise the following research questions: What do artifacts (symbols, structures, procedures and policies) reveal about the school culture? What are the espoused values shaping the school culture? What basic assumptions underpin the leadership of the school culture? How does leadership contribute to the creation and maintenance of a positive organisational culture at a school? The data was collected by using three different data collection methods namely, observation, document analysis and interviewing different people who hold leadership positions in the school. These were the Principal, a Head of Department, School Board chairperson, a teacher in the school management team (SMT) and a class monitor. With regard to data analysis, I first immersed myself in the data and I developed themes that formed the basis of my discussion with my research questions in mind. The analysis revealed that leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping the culture at the case study school. However, it emerged that despite the existence of a strong culture at the case study school, as with all other organisations, there are some challenges that limit the school to realise its goal of 100 % A-B symbols in all subjects

A study of the relationship between mineral commodity prices and exchange traded mining stock prices

Investors consider commodity prices to be one of the major criteria critical in the selection of stocks of mining companies. This is done as part of the net present value (NPV) valuation of mining companies. It is believed that one of the three sets of mineral commodities prices, which are: spot price, forward price and long term price, has a greater impact on the share valuation processes used by investors. This research study investigated the extent to which each set of commodity prices influences the valuation process in order to provide investors of mining stocks with a greater understanding of how fluctuations of commodity prices over time affect prices of the mining stocks they hold, intend to sell or buy. A literature review conducted identified different valuation methods employed in valuing share prices. The literature study also revealed price cycles experienced in the commodity sector. Emerging from the literature review was the prominent role of commodity prices in valuing stocks of mining companies. Three mineral commodities namely, gold, silver and copper were used as case studies because stock market data on these commodities is readily available in the public domain. Nine market indices covering all three mineral commodities were selected based on defined criteria that ruled out any ambiguity and tested for correlation with the three sets of mineral commodity prices. An equal number of stocks of individual mining companies, which were not the primary drivers of the indices, were used to validate the results obtained from the indices in order to avoid duplication of the same correlation during cross – checking. Each mineral commodity price was adjusted for operating costs. For market indices, an average operating cost for each index was calculated from the companies in its basket, while for stocks of individual companies, the company’s annual operating costs were used. The data was collected for the period January 2004 to October 2010. This period was further split up into three sub – periods to account for the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) period that started in mid – 2008. This research study concluded that mining stock prices are correlated with mineral commodity prices, but with spot and forward prices exhibiting stronger correlations than long – term price. This finding is useful to mineral stock evaluators and any evaluator of a mineral asset in that where cash flow approach methods are to be used and the commodity price is required to estimate future cash flows, spot price forecasts of that mineral commodity should be used and not the long – term price

Exploring how Grade 11 Biology teachers mediate learning of osmosis when using easily accessible resources in the Oshikoto Region, Namibia

Exploring the use easily accessible resources to carry out the hands-on practical activities to science learning has become one of the significant aspects in the educational research, particularly in science education. It could be deduced from the literature that hands-on practical activities are useful, enjoyable and foster conceptual understanding. The National Curriculum for Basic Education advocates empowering teachers to be knowledgeable on use of hands-on practical activities to produce learners who are scientifically equipped. Yet, the performance of the learners in Science and Mathematics continues to be worrisome and has not been improving over years as reported in TIMSS reports. For instance, the Namibian Examiners’ Reports have repeatedly reported that Biology is one of the subjects that are poorly performed. Essentially, the section on osmosis has been identified as one of the scientific concepts that is problematic to learners. In my view, in order for learners to understand osmosis and its associated concepts, there is a need to strengthen the use of hands-on practical activities. It is recognized that this is something that is lacking in most rural Namibian schools especially where laboratory resources are scarce. It is against this background that the goal of this study was to explore how Grade 11 Biology teachers mediate learning of osmosis when using easily accessible resources. This study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. Within the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative case study approach was employed to obtain in-depth understanding on how Biology teachers mediate learning. This study was conducted in two conveniently selected secondary schools in the Oshikoto region, which I could easily access. It focused on four Grade 11 Biology teachers. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews, workshop discussions, lesson observation and stimulated interviews. Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural theory was used as a lens to analyse my data. The findings from semi-structured interviews revealed that teachers demonstrated positive attitudes towards teaching of osmosis using easily accessible resources. However, challenges regarding inadequate materials that hinder the teaching and learning process were registered. Another finding of this study was that teachers used a variety of mediation tools such as prior and local knowledge, language and easily accessible resources to enhance learning. The study thus recommends that, if teachers are exposed to numerous professional development platforms that include the use of easily accessible resources might improve their pedagogical approaches

The role of leadership in shaping organisational culture in a school in Namibia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of leadership in shaping the culture of a rural combined school in Oshikoto Region, northern Namibia. This school had previously performed poorly in terms of Grade 10 examination statistics for many years. However, after the appointment of a new Principal, the academic performance of the school has improved tremendously over for the past five years. Having been a teacher, Head of Department, Deputy Principal, Principal, and later an Inspector of Education, I had long held the view that the academic performance of the school depended entirely on the type of leadership the school had. Equally, I have always been aware of the negative impact of the past segregation and the discriminatory education provided by the colonial masters in South Africa and South West Africa/Namibia. The poor education provided to South Africans and the then South West Africa /Namibia posed a serious challenge to the leadership and management of schools as the majority of Principals, if not all, were poorly and inadequately trained to provide the necessary skills needed for one to be a successful Principal. Given this background, I tried to use a case study to explore the role of leadership in shaping the culture of the organisation. Research suggests that there is a strong relationship between organisational culture and school effectiveness. This study was guided by Schein’s three levels of organisational culture namely artifacts, espoused values and basic assumptions (Schein, 1992, p. 17). From these arise the following research questions: What do artifacts (symbols, structures, procedures and policies) reveal about the school culture? What are the espoused values shaping the school culture? What basic assumptions underpin the leadership of the school culture? How does leadership contribute to the creation and maintenance of a positive organisational culture at a school? The data was collected by using three different data collection methods namely, observation, document analysis and interviewing different people who hold leadership positions in the school. These were the Principal, a Head of Department, School Board chairperson, a teacher in the school management team (SMT) and a class monitor. With regard to data analysis, I first immersed myself in the data and I developed themes that formed the basis of my discussion with my research questions in mind. The analysis revealed that leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping the culture at the case study school. However, it emerged that despite the existence of a strong culture at the case study school, as with all other organisations, there are some challenges that limit the school to realise its goal of 100 % A-B symbols in all subjects

Questões de Imigração e Globalização: A Participação e a Representação Política das Minorias em Portugal: A Comunidade Angolana (2000/2020)

Dissertação para obtenção de grau de Mestre em Ciência PolíticaA presente dissertação de Mestrado em Ciência Política aborda a Participação e Representação Política das Minorias em Portugal, mais especificamente, da Comunidade Angolana (2000/2020). Com este estudo, pretendemos saber e explicar de que forma a comunidade angolana participa e está representada politicamente em Portugal. A opção por uma metodologia combinada ou mista, ou seja, qualitativa e também quantitativa na presente investigação, se explica pelo facto de nos termos socorrido tanto da pesquisa sobre estudos de natureza documental e descritiva, como também, de alguns dados estatísticos, cujo acesso foi possível graças à contribuição de alguns ministérios/instituições que estão referenciadas na nossa secção sobre a nota metodológica. O enfoque do nosso estudo recaiu, ademais, sobre o método dedutivo, uma vez que tivemos que estudar e analisar várias realidades antes de definirmos a nossa pesquisa particular e explicarmos os resultados dela obtidos. A investigação respalda-se, ainda, em uma epistemologia positivista-racionalista. Partindo do princípio de que toda a pesquisa científica tem de ter como base um quadro teórico de análise, elegemos para a nossa, em função da natureza do objecto de estudo, a perspectiva institucionalista normativa no âmbito da Ciência Política. A escolha da mesma se justifica pelo facto de estarmos perante um tema em que o desenvolvimento das instituições é um factor.This Master's thesis in Political Science addresses the Participation and Political Representation of Minorities in Portugal, more specifically, of the Angolan Community (2000/2020). With this study, we intend to know and explain how the Angolan community participates and is represented politically in Portugal. The choice of a combined or mixed methodology, that is, qualitative and also quantitative in the present research, is explained by the fact that in the results of both the research on studies of documentary and descriptive nature, as well as some statistical data, whose access was possible thanks to the contribution of some ministries /institutions that are referenced in our section on the methodological note. The focus of our study was also on the deductive method, since we had to study and analyze various realities before defining our particular research and explaining the results obtained. The investigation is also based on a positivist-rationalist epistemology. Assuming that all scientific research must be based onatheoreticalframework of analysis, we elect for ours, depending on the nature of the object of study, the normative institutionalist perspective in the field of Political Science. The choice of the same is justified by the fact that we are faced with an issue in which the development of the institutions is an important factor that helps to justify and explain the decision-making by political actors, in the most specific case, of the migration policies adopted by the Portuguese State, which are included in this research as the second general objective. Normative institutionalism is also explained by the importance it attaches to the various institutions of the State and the way they interact and cooperate with each other, in order to fulfill the purposes for which they were created and to meet the needs of those concerned (see Annexes V, VI, VII and VIII). Having analysed these documents, it is inferred that the various bodies that have the function of disseminating and monitoring the implementation of migration policies do so in an articulated way, both in terms of the evolution and framing of the content of the plans and political measures themselves, as well as in terms of time sequence. As for the results of our research as such and based on the survey we conducted virtually on a small group of Angolan students, we found that the political participation of Angolans in Portugal is still small. We have also seen that although this participation is defined through various forms and activities, there is some ignorance on the part of the Angolan community itself in relation to the means and actions available in the context of migration policies, namely the rights and obligations that fall on them as foreign citizens to reside in Portugal.N/

Spinal cord compression: an unusual presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the 5th&nbsp;most common cancer in men and the 2nd&nbsp;common cause of death from cancer worldwide. The tumour commonly metastasizes to the lungs, regional lymph nodes and bone. Spinal cord compression secondary to metastatic disease as a first presentation is uncommon. We describe a patient who presented with paraplegia as a first presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma. 46 year old Namibian man presented with progressive leg weakness that was associated with a dull back ache and inability to pass urine and stool. He had no history of trauma nor did he have chronic cough, night sweats or fevers .He has been treated several times for alcohol dependence. On examination he was wasted, power 0/5 in both lower limbs and a sensory level at T12. He also had a non-tender hepatomegaly with Alpha-fetoprotein of 2000. The Chest X-ray and Chest CT showed nodular opacities indicating metastatic disease and the X-ray and CT of the thoracic spine showed osteolytic lesion with destruction of the pedicle of L1. Liver and spinal biopsy confirmed the hepatocellular carcinoma. The extra hepatic manifestations of HCC are diverse and Spinal cord metastasis is of pertinent clinical importance and should thus be greatly considered

Factors promoting exclusive breastfeeding at a public health facility in Windhoek Namibia: A descriptive comparative study

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) refers to the practice of giving an infant breast milk only up to the age of six months, except for oral rehydration solutions or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines. Globally and in Namibia, EBF rates remain well below the 70% World Health Organisation (WHO) target. This study aimed to investigate factors that promote EBF amongst mothers at a public health facility in Windhoek, Namibia. A quantitative comparative descriptive design was used. Women aged 18 and above with infants aged 0 to 6 months attending a public health facility (n = 270) in Windhoek, Namibia, were selected using non-probability consecutive sampling. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic, economic, knowledge, psychosocial, biophysical and sociocultural factors. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Namibian Sign Language to English and Oshiwambo

A group of six deaf black Namibians worked with Gallaudet University linguists, Ruth Morgan and Scott Liddell, to make this dictionary.https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/oerbooks_namibiansign/1000/thumbnail.jp