Sources of Interactive Qualitative Analysis Affinity Pair Relationship Explanations During COVID-19

This study investigates the implementation of the methodology, Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA) to understand how non-major accounting students learn Accounting 101 in a threshold concepts-inspired tutorial programme. Even though IQA is a predominantly qualitative method, it incorporates quantitative data with qualitative data systematically. These data collection and data analysis procedures are a means of aiding participants in a focus group to describe their experiences with a phenomenon, to name these experiences and to then describe the relationships between these named experiences. The objective of the IQA methodology is to create a picture, a Systems Influence Diagram (SID), representative of the mind map of the focus group participants, with regard to the phenomenon outlined in the issue statements. A summary of theoretical codes used to capture the relationships between affinities named, an Inter Relationship Diagram (IRD), is used to draw the SID. This study describes how the IQA methodology was implemented using an online platform, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to collect data regarding the explanations of each affinity pair relationship identified. Keywords: Non-major accounting students, Interactive Qualitative Analysis, Affinity Pair Relationships, Explanations, Systems Influence Diagram, Threshold Concepts Tutorial Programme

The effect of internal quality assurance reviews on departmental academic programmes at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

Published ThesisThe Quality Assurance System in the higher education sector in South Africa was designed and initiated in 1995. Over the past 20 years South African higher education institutions (HEIs) have been challenged by a diversity of new criteria, and in order to facilitate contemporary change, an analytical review of this antiquated system is warranted to overhaul the currently entrenched review system. In this review of the South African quality assurance system a brief historical context and an overview of QA systems in selected countries in the last twenty years are presented. Contemporary issues relevant to resistance, and regulatory and new paradigms in quality assurance, are discussed. Accordingly, this study offers a theoretical foundation on the issue of quality assurance in the global context, and adopts a historical thematic perspective with reference to developments in Quality Assurance Systems globally. The overarching research question which guided the study was: What are the effects of internal quality assurance reviews on the outcomes of selected academic programmes at the University of KwaZulu-Natal? The following programmes were purposefully sampled to participate in the research: the Accounting Programme in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance; the Education Unit of the School of Management Sciences; the School of Mathematical Sciences; and the School of Pharmacy. Data collection was done in a twofold manner, namely by administering a specifically designed mixed method questionnaire to heads of departments and the head of one education unit, and by extracting data from the Higher Education Management Institution System (HEMIS) of the UKZN. The results indicate that the Accounting Programme, Management Studies Education unit and the Pharmacy programme have produced positive academic indicators of success in enrolments, graduation and pass rates after the review process. Only the Mathematics programme produced a negative student success trend after the review process. Based on the findings of the study, a conceptual quality assurance framework is proposed which incorporates emerging criteria influencing quality assurance

Common laboratory investigations in obstetrics and gynaecology

No Abstract

Satellite remote sensing of particulate matter and air quality assessment in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2016.Particulate Matter (PM) is a health risk, even at low ambient concentrations in the atmosphere. The analysis of ambient PM is important in air quality management in South Africa in order to suggest recommendations for pollution abatement. However the cost to monitor or to model surface concentrations are high. Satellite remote sensing retrievals of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) are cost effective and have been used in conjunction with surface measurements of PM concentrations for regional air quality studies. The aim of the study was to determine the extent to which AOD could be used as a proxy for air quality analysis of PM pollution in the Western Cape, South Africa. Surface concentrations of particles with diameter 10 μm or less (PM10) measured at Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) stations in George and Malmesbury in 2011 were evaluated using temporal air quality analysis. The AOD were retrieved from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor onboard the Terra and Aqua satellites. Temporal trends of the AOD over Malmesbury and George AQM stations were determined and the extent of the AOD-PM10 relationship quantified through statistical correlation. Additionally meteorological parameters, including wind speed, temperature, rainfall and relative humidity measured at the AQM stations, were included in the study and their impact on AOD-PM10 trends was analysed. The annual AOD-PM10 correlations over Malmesbury in 2011 ranged between 0.24 and 0.36, while the correlations over George ranged between 0.24 and 0.34. A temporal mismatch was observed between seasonal PM10 concentrations and AOD at both sites. The AOD-PM10 relationship over Malmesbury and George were weak, suggesting that the AOD cannot easily be used as a proxy within the air quality analysis of PM10 concentrations measured at Malmesbury and George AQM stations. Specific meteorological conditions were found to be important confounding factors when observing AOD and PM10 trends. In spite of a few weaknesses in current satellite data products identified in this analysis, this study showed that improvements can be made to the use of satellite aerosol remote sensing as a proxy for ground level PM10 mass concentration by addressing the meteorological confounders of the AOD-PM10 relationship

An investigation into the serological and molecular diagnosis of Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus (JSRV)

Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.The Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus (JSRV), an exogenous type B/D-retrovirus with about 10-15 endogenous counterparts in all normal sheep genomes, causes Jaagsiekte (JS) or ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA), a contagious lung cancer of sheep. This sheep lung cancer has been identified as the best natural out-bred model that can be used to study human epithelial tumours. The close similarity between the pathology of the sheep disease and Human Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma are highly suggestive that the human disease could have a similar aetiology and mechanism to the sheep disease. However, in the case of sheep at the time of the study there was a need for an assay that could be used to screen for infected sheep. The isolation, cloning and subsequent sequencing of the first full-length exogenous and endogenous forms of JSRV contributed greatly towards JSRV research. Until recently the diagnosis of OPA was based mostly on clinical presentation with confirmation by micro and macro examination of the affected lungs by expert pathologists. In the absence of a specific humoral response no serology-based tests were available to diagnose the disease early in live animals. Control and management of the disease was primarily by regular flock inspections and prompt culling of the suspected cases. The objective of this research project was therefore to assess and investigate the serological and molecular diagnosis of JSRV. In an attempt to develop a serology based assay three proteins were identified as candidate diagnostic antigens, the group specific antigen JSRV p26, the transmembrane and the orf-X proteins. Genes coding for all three proteins were isolated, cloned and expressed. The JSRV p26 was sufficiently purified and its potential as a diagnostic antigen was evaluated in both a Western blot and ELISA. Our studies confirmed that there were no circulating antibodies to the JSRV capsid protein. Evidence suggested that the immune response was localised to the lungs. Lung lavage samples were therefore collected from infected and normal sheep and analysed for the presence of JSRV p26 antibodies using an in-house JSp26 peroxidase conjugate in an antigen capture assay. This assay lacked sensitivity but the results indicated that there was a specific localised immune response to JSRV in the lungs of OPA affected sheep. This was confirmed with an in-house antigen capture assay that we developed. JS antigen was detected in the lung and nasal fluid of affected sheep, but not in equivalent samples from normal sheep. Three molecular assays were investigated for their sensitivity and specificity, the LTR-gag PCR, U3/LTR hemi-nested PCR and the PCR that covered the V1/V2 region. The U3/LTR hemi-nested assay was 2 logs more sensitive than the LTR-gag PCR. However, it detected the endogenous JSRV5.9A1 loci at higher concentrations. This was overcome by designing a more specific primer P3M for the first step of the U3/LTR hemi-nested PCR and the use of the AmpliTaq Gold DNA polymerase. This assay proved to be both sensitive and specific enough to screen for the infectious exogenous JSRV in peripheral blood samples from individual sheep. It is now possible to use this assay to selectively eradicate the disease from a flock through a selective culling programme. Furthermore, the assay could be made quantitative by the inclusion of concentration standards

Young South African adults in the Johannesburg area and their experiences of coping with childhood trauma

Abstract: This study explored the experiences of young South African adults’ coping with childhood trauma in the Johannesburg area. The purpose of the study was to investigate: their experiences and descriptions of childhood trauma; the coping mechanisms that they utilised to overcome the adverse effects of childhood trauma; and the support systems that were imperative in helping them to develop resilience and ultimately overcome their childhood trauma. A generic qualitative approach within the social constructivist paradigm was used for this study. There were five participants who were interviewed using a semistructured interview. The interviews were then transcribed and analysed using QDA Miner. A thematic analysis was used to generate categories of information. The focus areas that were identified after the thematic analysis were the experiences and effects of trauma, coping mechanisms, support systems, resilience and hopes with regard to this research. The findings confirmed what the research says about adverse effects as all participants struggled with adverse effects due to the childhood trauma. These adverse effects included depression and anxiety. The participants all started off by using maladaptive coping mechanisms to cope with their childhood trauma. However, they have since adopted more positive, healthy coping mechanisms. Teachers, therapists, family and significant others have all proven to be important support systems that helped participants to build resilience and overcome their childhood trauma.M.Ed. (Educational Psychology

Pituitary function tests in black patients with pseudocyesis

Pituitary function was evaluated in a group of 10 patients with pseudocyesis. One patient was postmenopausal; the remainder demonstrated normal basal prolactin, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and also normal pituitary-adrenal, pituitary-thyroid axes. Oestradiol deficiency was present in 6 patients, while 2 patients demonstrated elevated serum progesterone values, suggestive of a luteal phase. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone administration resulted in exaggerated stimulation of LH and FSH in 4 and 2 patients, respectively. Impaired growth hormone (GH) secretion was present in 6 patients after insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and L-dopa administration. GH impairment is probably a consequence of the oestrogen deficiency that commonly occurs in this condition. It thus appears that there are aberrations in specific pituitary hormone responses after provocation in pseudocyesis

Nutritional and functional quality of South African dry-based soya protein foods

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this documentDissertation (MSc Agric (Food Science and Technology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Food Scienceunrestricte

Drug resistance and viral tropism in HIV-1 subtype C-infected patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: implications for future treatment options

Article approval pendingDrug resistance poses a significant challenge for the successful application of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) globally. Furthermore, emergence of HIV-1 isolates that preferentially use CXCR4 as a coreceptor for cell entry, either as a consequence of natural viral evolution or HAART use, may compromise the efficacy of CCR5 antagonists as alternative antiviral therapy