An evaluation of non-relational database management systems as suitable storage for user generated text-based content in a distributed environment

Non-relational database management systems address some of the limitations relational database management systems have when storing large volumes of unstructured, user generated text-based data in distributed environments. They follow different approaches through the data model they use, their ability to scale data storage over distributed servers and the programming interface they provide. An experimental approach was followed to measure the capabilities these alternative database management systems present in their approach to address the limitations of relational databases in terms of their capability to store unstructured text-based data, data warehousing capabilities, ability to scale data storage across distributed servers and the level of programming abstraction they provide. The results of the research highlighted the limitations of relational database management systems. The different database management systems do address certain limitations, but not all. Document-oriented databases provide the best results and successfully address the need to store large volumes of user generated text-based data in a distributed environmentSchool of ComputingM. Sc. (Computer Science

Bad faith: the psychological life of a satanist who committed murder

Traditional methods of psychological and forensic research fail to adequately provide an account of the psychological meaning that perpetrators of crime derive when appropriating their actions to Satanic involvement. In February 2001, a young man appeared in a South African High Court and testified that he had committed murder as a result of his involvement in Satanism. The aim of this study is to gain a phenomenological understanding of how this man appropriates the act of murder to involvement in Satanism. A review of literature elucidates Satanism as a context for meaning, provide a framework for defining murder as a criminal act, and situate this study in the broader field of phenomenological-existential, psychological research. An emergent design case-study approach was applied to data gathered from a single subject, by means of a three-interview series. An empirical phenomenological methodology was used during the interpretive phase to arrive at both a descriptive account of the subject's phenomenological experience and how the eidetic structure of the experience of Satanism as a context tor meaning emerged. A discussion of the subject's appropriation of murder with Satanism illustrates how the subject imposed a dichotomy of good and bad on his life-world in an attempt to derive meaning from his experience of inadequacy. Involvement with Satanism is meaningful, in that it affords its followers an increased sense of power, a safe environment to explore individuality, shared responsibility associated with exercising free choice, social situatedness and an affirmation of being through an increased awareness of finitude. The research subject experienced committing murder as an act of loyalty to the perceived gains he had been afforded as result of his involvement with Satanism

Cognitive complexity’s influence on information needs in change

1. Problem and Objective Communication and provision of information are often sited as essential aspects in change management. Addressing individual needs is a challenge when a change initiative affects various people. A considerable challenge is also to address individual needs on a micro level, while manage change on a macro level. The integrative theory that endeavours to address organisational levels of work, while also focusing on individuals, is referred to as requisite organisational theory. Elliot Jaques’ theory is known by various names, like: the Requisite Organisation (RO), Stratified Systems Theory (SST) or the levels of work (LoW). The human aspect in RO theory, that matches a person to the ability to function in complexity and work, is based on the innate mental ability to organise information. This ability is also referred to as cognitive complexity. There is consequently a theory that explains micro and macro dynamics, while considering people’s natural ability to deal with information. This posed the opportunity to investigate the theory’s practical application in organisational change. The objective of this research is consequently to determine cognitive complexity’s influence on information needs in change. 2. Theoretical Investigation The theoretical investigation ranges from detail in the cognitive complexity section of the literature study to a broad scope in the information and change sections. Writings on change abounds, ranging between practice and theory. The literature study focuses on understanding concepts of cognitive complexity, but it is easier comprehensible when understood in terms of a unified theory in the human resources discipline. 3. Qualitative Research Investigation This study utilised the theoretical and validated research background which is currently practically applied in organisations by assessment methods like Career Path Appreciation (CPA) and the Initial Recruitment Interview Schedule (IRIS). The investigation was of an explorative, qualitative nature. Focus groups with similar cognitive complexity profiles were selected. Profiles were obtained from a database in which individuals were assessed by CPA or IRIS. It was possible to conduct eight focus group sessions in three geographical regions. Data was generated by transcription of the focus group sessions as well as the written responses from the participants. Concepts were identified from the sessions. Concepts were clustered, until four primary groups emerged from the main clusters. 4. Conclusion Information needs, encompasses much more than information flow. There is a hierarchy of information needs, that changes according to the application areas of people capable of increasing cognitive capability. A general framework of people’s needs for information during change was constructed during this research. Four building blocks form the basis of people’s information needs. The building blocs are: information flow, people considerations, change implementation, and context. People have much in common concerning information needs, irrespective of cognitive complexity. Cognitive complexity has an influence on people’s needs for information during change. There are variations in importance of information needs to individuals in the model, according to levels of cognitive complexity. The different strata of cognitive complexity, correspond to theory that describes different levels of work. This is in accordance to principles of a requisite organisation. It is evident that the shift in areas of importance in the needs for information, is related to the intended use of the information.Dissertation (MCom (Human Resources Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Human Resource Managementunrestricte

Nie-gewelddadige aksie (NGA) en die ontwikkeling van swart plaaslike regering : 'n histories-kritiese ontleding, 1982 tot 1994

Text in AfrikaansSuid-Afrika het as gevolg van apartheid vir etlike dekades oor 'n gedeeltelik legitieme plaaslike regeringstelsel beskik. Die probleem is dat die land se apartheidsregering afsonderlike stelsels vir blankes en swartes in aparte woongebiede in stand gehou het, welke beleid vir meeste Suid-Afrikaners onaanvaarbaar was. Swart plaaslike owerhede wat swart plaaslike regering moes bedryf, was nog polities nog ekonomies lewensvatbaar. Die rede hiervoor is dat hul enersyds deur die gemeenskap verwerp is en andersyds nie voldoende inkomstebronne gehad het om plaaslike owerheidsdienste finansieel onafhanklik te lewer nie. Stedelike swart gemeenskappe was aan 'n, vir hulle, onaanvaarbare apartheidsgestruktureerde swart plaaslike regeringstelsel onderworpe. Swart plaaslike owerhede was voorts as gevolg van hul ekonomiese nie-lewensvatbaarheid, gekniehalter in die lewering van plaaslike owerheidsdienste asook die daarstelling en instandhouding van kapitale ontwikkelingsprojekte. Stedelike swartes was dus blootgestel aan gebrekkige dienslewering in aparte, onderontwikkelde "slaapdorpe" waar hulle noodgedwonge moes woon. 'n Vraag waarna gevolglik gekyk word, fokus op die kenmerke van 'n ideeeltipiese model van plaaslike regering wat die gedeeltelik legitieme stelsel behoort te vervang. As gevolg van die onaanvaarbaarheid van die swart plaaslike regeringstelsel was swart plaaslike owerhede sedert die vroee tagtigerjare die teikens van aksioniste teen hierdie apartheidsproduk. Aksioniste het nie-gewelddadige aksie (NGA), geskoei op die Gandhiaanse filosofie en metodiek van Satyagraha, aangewend ten einde swart plaaslike owerhede te vernietig. NGA (wat dikwels ook tot gewelddadigheid gelei het), het tot gevolg gehad dat die owerheid later noodgedwonge 'n nuwe plaaslike regeringstelsel vir die totale Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing, met alle deelvennote moes beding. Onderhandelings het vervolgens meegebring dat 'n oorgangsproses na legitieme (demokratiese) plaaslike regering vir alle Suid-Afrikaners ingevolge die Oorgangswet op Plaaslike Regering, 1993 (Wet No. 209 van 1993) geaktiveer is. In hierdie proefskrif is gevolglik vasgestel: (1) welke invloed die politieke bedeling (apartheidsbedeling) op die ontwikkeling van stedelike swart gemeenskappe en die bedryf van swart plaaslike regering gehad het; (2) wat die aard en effek van NGA op die ontwikkeling van swart plaaslike regering was; en (3) hoe geldig die onderhandelde plaaslike regeringstelsel is, vergeleke met die ideeel-tipiese model wat geidentifiseer is.As a result of apartheid South Africa possessed a partially legitimate local government system for several decades. The problem is that the country's apartheid government maintained separate systems for whites and blacks in separate residential areas, a policy that was unacceptable to the majority of South Africans. Black local authorities who had to maintain black local government were neither politically nor economically viable because they were rejected by the community and lacked sufficient sources of revenue to render financially independent local government services. Urban black communities were subject to what, for them, was an unacceptable apartheid-structured black local government system. Black local authorities were also prevented by their economic nonviability from delivering local government services effectively and from instituting and maintaining capital development projects. Urban blacks were therefore subjected to poor service delivery in separate, underdeveloped "dormitory towns" where they were forced to live. An issue to be considered in this regard concerns the characteristics of an ideal-typical model of local government that should replace this partially legitimate system. As a result of the unacceptability of the black local government system local authorities became the targets of activists who waged a campaign against this product of apartheid since the early eighties. Activists used non-violent action (NV A), based on the Gandhian principle of Satyagraha, to destroy black local authorities. As a result of NVA (which often led to violence) the central government was eventually forced to negotiate a new local government system for the whole of South African society with all stakeholders. Negotiations led to a process of transition to legitimate (democratic) local government for all South Africans as promulgated in the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act No. 209 of I 993). Consequently the following has been established in this thesis: (1) the influence of the political dispensation (apartheid dispensation) on the development of urban black communities and the maintenance of black local government; (2) the nature and the effect of NV A on the development of black local government; and (3) how valid the negotiated local government system is, compared to the identified ideal-typical model.Development StudiesD. Litt. et Phil. (Ontwikkelingsadministrasie

Immune Dysregulation Is Associated with Neurodevelopment and Neurocognitive Performance in HIV Pediatric Populations—A Scoping Review

HIV-1 is known for its complex interaction with the dysregulated immune system and is responsible for the development of neurocognitive deficits and neurodevelopmental delays in pediatric HIV populations. Considering that HIV-1-induced immune dysregulation and its association with neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive impairments in pediatric populations are not well understood, we conducted a scoping review on this topic. The study aimed to systematically review the association of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immune markers with neurocognitive deficits and neurodevelopmental delays in pediatric HIV populations. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched using a search protocol designed specifically for this study. Studies were selected based on a set eligibility criterion. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were assessed by two independent reviewers. Data from the selected studies were extracted and analyzed by two independent reviewers. Seven studies were considered eligible for use in this context, which included four cross-sectional and three longitudinal studies. An average of 130 (±70.61) children living with HIV, 138 (±65.37) children exposed to HIV but uninfected and 90 (±86.66) HIV-negative participants were included across the seven studies. Results indicate that blood and CSF immune markers are associated with neurocognitive development/performance in pediatric HIV populations. Only seven studies met the inclusion criteria, therefore, these limited the number of significant conclusions which could have been made by using such an approach. All considered, the evidence suggests that immune dysregulation, as in the case of adult HIV populations, also has a significant association with neurocognitive performance in pediatric HIV populations

Germination and ultrastructural studies of seeds produced by a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree: implications for its domestication and seed storage

Seed ageing during storage is one of the main causes of reduction in seed quality and this results in loss of vigour and failure to thrive. Finding appropriate storage conditions to ameliorate deterioration due to ageing is, therefore, essential. Ultrastructural changes in cellular organelles during storage and seed germination rates are valuable indices of damage that occurs during seed ageing. There is increasing interest in Moringa oleifera Lam. because of its multiple uses as an agroforestry crop. Seeds of this species lose their viability within 6–12 months of harvest but no scientific information is available on the longevity of seed stored in the fruit (capsules). Inmost undeveloped countries, seeds are still stored inside the fruit by traditional methods in special handmade structures. In this experiment we tried to simulate these traditional storage conditions. Capsules of Moringa were stored at ambient room temperature for 12, 24 and 36 months. The ultrastructure, solute leakage and viability of seed were investigated. The ultrastructure of 1-year-old seed showed no sign of deterioration. It was evident, however, that some cells of the 3-year-old seed had deteriorated. The remnants of the outer and inner two integuments that remain tightly attached to the cotyledons probably play a role in seed dormancy. No significant difference was found between germination percentage of fresh and 1-year-old seed. The germination percentage decreased significantly from 2 years of storage onward. The decrease in seed viability during storage was associated with a loss in membrane integrity which was evidenced by an increase in electrolyte leakage. Our findings indicate that the longevity of M. oleifera seeds can be maintained if they are stored within their capsules.National Research Foundation, South Africahttp://aobpla.oxfordjournals.orghb201

The effect of industry nuances on the relationship between corporate governance and financial performance : evidence from South African listed companies

BACKGROUND : Premised on agency, resource dependence and stewardship theories, the study investigates empirically the existence of industry nuances in the relationship between corporate governance and financial performance of companies listed in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. AIMS : The main objective of the study is to understand the relationship between internal corporate governance and company performance from the perspective of three distinct economic periods, as well as industry nuances, cognisant of endogeneity issues. SETTING : South Africa, as an emerging African market, offers an interesting research context in which the corporate governance and financial performance nexus can be examined empirically. METHOD : A sample of 90 companies from the five largest South African industries, covering a 13-year period from 2002 to 2014 (1170 firm-year observations) was examined with three estimation approaches. RESULTS : Two key trends emerged from this study. First, the relationship between corporate governance and company performance differed from industry to industry. Second, the association between corporate governance and company performance also changes during steady and non-steady periods, which is an indication that the nexus is driven by the state of the global economy and the type of the industry. CONCLUSION : Evidence from the study suggests that companies should be allowed to optimise rather than maximise their corporate governance options. This finding questioned the approach of the recently published King IV Code of Good Corporate Governance, which requires Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed companies to ‘apply and explain’ as opposed to ‘apply or explain’ as pronounced by King III Code of Good Corporate Governance.J.T. conducted this study in pursuit of his doctoral degree. L.M.B., H.W. and E.dT. were his supervisors. (http://hdl.handle.net/2263/62685)http://www.sajems.orgam2018Financial Managemen

Effect of storage conditions on Moringa oleifera Lam. seed oil : biodiesel feedstock quality

Moringa seed oil is known as Ben oil. Recently research by several authors illustrated the potential use ofBen oil for biodiesel production. Oil quality is directly related to the physiological condition of the seedsfrom which it is extracted. Oil extracted from damaged and deteriorated seed can compromise fuel quality.The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of various storage conditions and—duration on Moringaoleifera seed oil quantity and quality as a potential source of biodiesel. Firstly, oil was extracted from freshseeds and stored in dark bottles at room temperature. Secondly, Seeds were stored following a factorial2 × 4 × 3 experiment with two types of containers (paper and aluminium bags), four temperatures (−19,4, 20 and 30◦C) and three storage periods (6, 12 and 24 months). From the experimental results, it wasobserved that the oil content of moringa seed did not change significantly (p < 0.05) after 12 monthsof storage but decrease significantly in seed stored at 4◦C in paper bags and those at 20◦and 30◦C inaluminium bags at 24 months. The free fatty acid increased significantly (p < 0.05) after 12 months at allstorage conditions and continued to increase above the recommended value (2%) for biodiesel parent oilat 24 months, except for that of seed stored at −19◦C in aluminium bags. The density of moringa seed oilremained unchanged throughout storage. The viscosity of oil extracted from seed stored in paper bags at−19◦C and that of the oil stored in dark bottle at room temperature decreased significantly at 24 months.Based on these results, moringa seed can be stored at any of the applied conditions for six months, butif they are stored beyond this period, the use of low temperature such as −19◦C and 4◦C and sealedcontainers are recommended. It is not advisable to store the extracted oil for more than 6 months.National Research Foundation, South Africahttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/indcrop2017-06-30hb2016Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Phenology and reproductive biology of Acacia karroo Hayne (Leguminosae : Mimosoideae)

The architectural development of Acacia karroo conforms to Troll’s model. Growth of the branches is modular and sympodial with heteroblastic leaves on all long shoots of the tree, including the seedling. Axillary buds tend to proliferate especially on flowering shoots where they form fascicles consisting of up to 10 inflorescences arranged in two parallel serial rows per leaf axil. Most axillary buds are sylleptic and basal buds which give rise to short shoots, each producing two to five cataphylls each season, but no flowers. Inflorescences are only produced on long shoots (modules) of the current season. After flowering the terminal part of the module aborts, trees are usually andromonoecious with capitate inflorescences containing 40 to 100 flowers each, with some male and some hermaphrodite. Some trees produce only male flowers. Anthesis in the same inflorescence, the same tree as well as amongst trees of the same community are synchronised and occur at intermittent intervals, each lasting three or more days at a time. Flowers are protogynous and pollen is produced in polyads, each consisting of 16 pollen grains. Ovaries contain 10 to 14 ovules each. The concave stigma has space for only one polyad which can fertilise all ovules in the ovary after a single pollination event. Fruit set is low with 0 to 10 fruits (pods) per inflorescence.http://www.scirp.org/journal/ajpshb201

The effect of natural long-term packaging methods on antioxidant components and malondialdehyde content and seed viability Moringa oleifera oilseed

There have been increased interest to propagate Moringa oleifera because of its multipurpose uses. However there are still no appropriate guidelines for long-term storage of Moringa seed because diverse results are reported in literature. Although progress has been made to understand the causes of seed deterioration, few studies have been made on natural long-term aging of seed. This study aimed to determine and compare the level of polyphenols, flavonoids, MDA and antioxidant capacity in Moringa seed stored in paper and aluminum bags at − 19°, 4°, 20° and 30 °C for 24 months as well as to investigated the relationship between these secondary compounds and Moringa seed viability. Seeds were evaluated in regular intervals of 6 months. There was minor difference between viability percentage of seed stored below 20 °C. Significant decline in viability was recorded in seed stored for 24 months in aluminum bags at 30 °C as a result of high moisture content (8%) and high temperature at which seed were exposed; While Seed stored at 30 °C in paper bags had low moisture content (5%) and retain a high viability percentage. Storage duration was the main factor affecting the changes on polyphenols and antioxidant activity levels. Although storage duration played a major role on the change in flavonoid and MDA content, the influence of storage temperature and the seed moisture content was also evident on some treatments. The change in investigated secondary compounds in seed did not always reflect on its viability percentage, but two relationships emerge from this study: The lowest moisture content, slow increase in MDA content, the lowest flavonoids content and the highest germination % in seed stored in paper bags at 20 and 30 °C at 24 months; and the highest MDA content, highest increase in flavonoids and lowest viability percentage observed in seed stored in aluminum bags at 30 °C for 24 months. It is recommended that for long-term storage (≥ 12 months) Moringa seed be stored with low moisture content (≤ 5%) at constant temperature below 30 °C.The National Research Foundation (NRF), Competitive Programme for Rated Reseachers, CPRR 14072981925 UID 93499, South Africa.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sajb2019-11-08hj2018Plant Production and Soil Scienc