Research data management practices and services in South African academic libraries

Research data is being produced at a rapid rate in a wide variety of digital forms in academic and research institutions, however, this data is most prone to loss due to mismanagement. Proper management and preservation of this research data is essential for productivity, securing grant funding, enabling collaboration, increases data sharing, ensuring accessibility and the future use of data. Although academic libraries have recognised a need for effective management of research data, however, the management of their fast-growing number of research data poses major challenge to academic librarianship. The purpose of this study was to investigate the research data management practices and services within academic libraries in South Africa, in order to suggest solutions for effective research data management. Review of literature revealed that academic libraries are experiencing difficulties in managing their research data because of the absence of established policies and standards, inadequate standardised storage infrastructure, time constraint to organise data, limited funding, inadequate resources, lack of skills and training in managing research data and lack of incentives for researchers to share their data. All these challenges have created the dire need for best practices and solutions in ensuring proper management and long-term preservation of research data of enduring value in the academic libraries. Effective research data management strategies are thus needed to protect the enormous financial and time investments that have been made by mitigating data loss and avoiding the need for duplication of efforts to recreate lost data. The study suggests the need for implementation of research data management policies and strategies, provision of adequate resources, sufficient funding, collaborative approach and capacitating research data managers and administrators

Institutional responses to the illegal narcotic trade in West Africa

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (International Relations), 2017The trafficking of illegal narcotics on the African continent and into West Africa has resulted in human insecurity and state insecurity in the region. Furthermore, it has helped facilitate shadow economies such as the illegal trade in fire arms and human trafficking within the region deteriorating law and order, judicial enforcement, and political institutions in these countries. The West African region serves as a transit point in the distribution of narcotics to Europe from Latin America and has increasingly become a destination in drug trafficking. Various national, regional, and international strategies have been undertaken in combating this perceived scourge. The African Union, European Union, United Nations, and West African states themselves have all provided frameworks in combating drug trafficking in Africa. Despite these various strategies drug trafficking still thrives in West Africa. This thesis will assess one of these strategies that being the West African Coast Initiative (WACI). This thesis attempts to outline the various reasons for the growing importance of West Africa in the regional and international drug trade whilst assessing the impact WACI has had in dealing with the drug trade in West Africa. The reason the paper seeks to assess the effectiveness of the West African Coast Initiative is to highlight the obstacles and challenges the strategy has faced over the last eight years of its existence, to make recommendations in this regard, and to identify specific shortcomings in African institutional efforts in engaging with threats that exist outside the stateXL201

Kgarebe (virgin) and carnal knowledge: Reading Genesis 19:30–38 from the margins

In this article, issues of carnal knowledge, gender (read: daughters) and agency as evident in selected texts from the Judeo-Christian tradition and the African context in South Africa are interrogated. Do the ideologies embedded in religious texts endorse unequal power relations between male and female human beings (batho)? Of particular interest for the present investigation is the issue of carnal knowledge as it is understood in African (Northern Sotho) contexts and the Hebrew Bible (cf. Gn 19) context. Informed by the insights from both the African and the ancient Israelite contexts, the key questions that this essay seeks to engage are: when the notion of carnal knowledge is engaged with, in the context of daughters in both African and biblical contexts, which insights may emerge? Can such insights contribute to the affirmation of daughters as persons with agency? Contribution: Dealing with a scarcely researched upon topic within the circles of South African Old Testament scholarship, that is, the OT text (Genesis) (sex)uality and the agency of younger women (read: daughters), through the knowledge produced herein, the HTS will be enabled to make a needed impact in patriarchal African and global contexts

Development of cryopreservation strategies for improved reproductive competence in South Africa pig genotypes

Thesis (M. Tech. Agriculture) -- Central University of Technology, Free state, 2012Frozen-thawed boar sperm has the potential to impact the future of the swine industry. The objectives of the study were to characterise semen of Kolbroek and Large White boars, find a suitable holding temperature and extender, determine the effect of breed and pregnancy rate following artificial insemination by frozen-thawed boar semen. A total of eight boars and 33 sows were used in this study. The 120 ejaculates were collected from each individual Kolbroek and Large White boars with the gloved-hand technique. Macroscopic and microscopic sperm characteristics were recorded. The bodyweight of Kolbroek (154.7 kg) was significantly lower compared to Large White (189.9 kg) boar. However, no significant differences were observed in Kolbroek and Large White boar semen volume (140 and 170 ml), sperm concentration (0.727 and 0.761 x 109 sperm/ml), and total sperm motility (95 and 91%). A positive correlation existed between bodyweight and semen volume of Kolbroek (r= 0.22) and Large White (r= 0.26). Conversely, the bodyweight of Large White was positively correlated to sperm concentration of Large White (r= 0.37) but negatively correlated to Kolbroek (r= -0.66). Storage time and temperature did not affect Large White boar sperm motility rate. However, Kolbroek sperm total motility rate (61.0%) was affected at 25°C after 24 hours. The highest total sperm motility rate was observed for semen diluted with Tris-based extender (74.1%) in Kolbroek boars at 48 hours of storage. Large White boar semen diluted with BTS (62.9%), Kobidil+ (69.3%) and Tris (65.1%) showed significantly higher sperm motility rate at 48 hours of storage, compared to Citrate (27.6%) extender. Cryopreservation significantly reduced sperm motility rate for Kolbroek (30.2%) and Large White (24.0%) boars. However, a high pregnancy rate was recorded in both sows of inseminated with raw diluted (100% vs. 81.3%) and frozen-thawed (50% vs. 50%) semen of Kolbroek and Large White boars. In conclusion, the bodyweight of Kolbroek and Large White boar was positively correlated with ejaculated semen volume. Kolbroek and Large White boar sperm stored at 18°C for 24 hours maintained the acceptable sperm motility rate. Kolbroek boar semen diluted with Tris-based extender maintained high sperm motility rate. Cryopreservation significantly reduced sperm motility rate regardless of breed; however, pregnancy rate from frozen-thawed semen was high for Kolbroek (50%) and Large White (50%) even though the frozen-thawed fertility was low

Reflection on supervising Information Science and Technology postgraduate students at South African Universities: best practices for transformational learning

Supervising postgraduate students especially online supervision can be a daunting task that brings several unique challenges. This article reflects on my supervision experiences, the challenges faced by research supervisors in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the strategies to improve the research supervision practices. The article draws upon my own experiences at both residential and distance learning universities and for the past four years as a research supervisor. My supervision reflection begins with my time at the University of South Africa (UNISA), where I cut my teeth as a Senior Lecturer, and have learned several valuable experiences and practices related to teaching undergraduate students, supervising postgraduate students (honours, masters and PhDs), writing research articles and be involved in community engagement or research projects. I have learned that students need to be prepared for postgraduate level and research supervision thus need to be treated with as much significance as teaching at undergraduate levels. I have also learned that the success of postgraduate education largely relies on effective supervision, however, the effective supervision is a two-way process involving both supervisor and student’s commitment. more about humanizing pedagogy. In addition, I have learned that supervisors need to develop and maintain good and harmonious relationship with their student, for the successful completion of postgraduate study or research project. As supervisors we thus need to apply humanizing pedagogy in the supervision relationship. I hope that my reflective experiences and suggested strategies will assist in providing effective supervision and the highest standards of scholarship in Higher Education Institutions, globally and South Africa in particular

Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 2, no. 4

A publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. This issue focuses on: 1. The Martyrdom of Bernard Mizeki. 2. Bernard Mizeki. 3. Manche Masemola and Albert Luthuli: Iconic Figures of South African Christianity. 4. Manche Masemola. 5. Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli. 6. Multi-Talented Peacebuilder: Ambassador Dr. Bethuel A. Kiplagat. 7. Recent Print and Digital Resources Related to Christianity in Afric

Bacterial and Fungal composition of Sorghum bicolor: a metagenomics and transcriptomics analysis using next-generation sequencing

Sorghum crop has become attractive to breeders due to its drought tolerance, and many uses including a human food source, animal feed, industrial fibre and bioenergy crop. Sorghum, like any other plant, is a host to a variety of microbes that can have neutral, negative or positive effects on the plant. While the majority of microorganisms are beneficial, pathogens colonize plant tissues and overwhelm its defence mechanisms. This colonization is a direct threat to the sorghum productivity. The development of microbiome-based approaches for sustainable crop productivity and yield is hindered by a lack of understanding of the main biotic factors affecting the crop microbiome. Metabarcoding has proven to be a valuable tool which has been widely used for characterizing the microbial diversity and composition of different environments and has been utilized in many research endeavours. This study analyses the relationship between the microbiota and their response to natural pathogen infection in sorghum disease groups (R, MR, S and HS) and identifies the most dominant pathogen in the highly susceptible disease group. The study also, assesses the spore viability through the use of the automated cell counter and confirms Fusarium graminearum (dominant pathogen linked to the HS disease group) through sequencing of the marker genes, to subsequently characterize pathways likely to be involved in pathogen infection resistance. To achieve the objectives, a combination of 16S rRNA (V3/V4 regions) and ITS (ITS1/ITS4) of the internal transcribed spacer regions were amplified and sequenced using NGS technologies to study the microbiota in response to natural infection. Additionally, comparative transcriptional analysis of sorghum RILs in response to Fusarium graminearum infection was conducted through RNA-Seq. Upon natural infection, the foliar symptoms assessment of the RILs was conducted and four disease groups; resistant (R), moderately resistant (MR), susceptible (S) and highly susceptible (HS) were designated. The results of the present metabarcoding study indicate that resistant sorghum leaves (R group) supported a large diversity of fungal and bacterial microbes. The genera Methylorubrum, Enterobacter and Sphingomonas with reported plant growth promoting traits were more abundant and highly enriched in the R and MR group, with members of the latter genus significantly enriched in the R group. The resistant fungal group had a majority of OTUs showing similarity to well-known plant growth-promoting fungal genus including Papiliotrema (Tremellaceae family), which are known biocontrol agents. The yeast Hannaella was also highly linked with the resistant plants. Some Hannaella species are known to produce indole acetic acid (IAA) for promoting plant growth. Metabarcoding was also used to assess the major potential disease-causing taxa associated with the highly diseased group. It identified fungal pathogenic species, that have not previously been identified as pathogens of sorghum such as Ascochyta paspali and Ustilago kamerunensis (which are known pathogenic fungi of grass species) and were associated with the susceptible disease groups (S and HS). These analyses revealed the potential sorghum fungal pathogen Epicoccum sorghinum, and was highly linked with the S disease group. It further expanded the identification of a reportedly economically importance species causing sorghum related diseases Fusarium graminearum (anamorph Gibberella zeae). This species has also been identified in this study to be highly associated with the RILs showing major disease symptoms. Fusarium graminearum a significant pathogen in winter cereals and maize has been associated with stalk rot of sorghum and sorghum grain mould. The presence of Fusarium graminearum in sorghum can be a toxicological risk, since this species has the potential to produce mycotoxins. It was further shown that natural pathogen infection results in distinct foliar microbial communities in sorghum RILs. The co-occurrence taxa represented by Tremellomycetes and Dothiomycetes fungal classes and Bacillaceae and Sphingomonadaceae bacterial family had more central roles in the network. The modules which are located centrally on the network have been expected to play important ‘topological roles’ in interconnecting pairs of other fungal and bacterial taxa in the symbiont–symbiont co-occurrence network. These taxa having a central role, are considered to be keystone microbes, and have been suggested to be drivers of microbiome structure and functioning. The results of bacterial and fungal community composition, community co-occurrences further suggested the importance of keystone taxa which may disproportionately shape the structure of foliar microbiomes. The foliar disease symptom assessments revealed that sorghum RIL 131 was highly diseased and RIL 103 did not show any visible disease symptoms and were subsequently used for transcriptomic analysis. Gene expression patterns were studied between the identified RIL that did not show visible symptoms (resistant RIL no 103) and the RIL that showed major disease symptoms (susceptible RIL no 131). Fusarium graminearum the dominant potential pathogen found in this study to be associated with the highly susceptible plants was used to inoculate RILs at seedling stage in a greenhouse and samples were collected in triplicates at 24 hours post infection (hpi), 48 hpi, 7 days post infection (dpi) and 14 dpi. Prior to that, ITS and UBC genes confirmed the identity of Fusarium graminearum, and the automated haemocytometer confirmed the cell/spore viability. Using RNA-Seq analysis it was shown that the resistant RIL had defence related pathways from early response (24- 48 hpi) to late response (7-14 dpi). And the more the infection progressed, the more the defence related genes were up-regulated in terms of fragments per kilobase of exon model per million reads mapped (FPKM) and False Discovery Rate (FDR ≤ 0.05) values. Transcriptome time series expression profiling was used to characterize the plant response to Fusarium graminearum with the Dirichlet Process Gaussian Process mixture model software (DPGP) in susceptible and resistant RILs. The susceptible RIL (number 131) transcriptional response upon Fusarium graminearum infection presented differences of the closely related clustered expression profiles across all timepoints in both RILs. Group 2 exclusively clustered the genes encoding the sesquiterpene metabolism pathway, which is one of the major physiological change occurring in response to fungal infection and has been previously reported to produce the mycotoxins associated with Fusarium head blight (FHB) of cereals. This pathway presented an increase from the initial infection phase to the late infection phase in group 4, the genes encoding starch sucrose, metabolism and cyanoamino acid pathways presented a pattern that had a sharp decline from 48 hpi -14 dpi (at a later stage of infection). This could suggest that, as the time progresses in the susceptible RIL the pathways which are important in plant defence declines at a late infection stage. Group 3 presented a pattern increase of the 5-lipoxygenase (LOX 5) gene expressed from 48 hpi-14 dpi timepoints. The loss and silencing of LOX5 function have in the past described to be linked with enhanced disease resistance. In this study the LOX5 was expressed and this could suggest that LOX5 might have a function as a susceptibility factor in disease caused by Fusarium graminearum in sorghum RILs. CBL-interacting protein kinase 6 (CIPK6) gene was also associated with this group. This gene has been associated with negative regulation of immune response to Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis as plants overexpressing CIPK6 were more susceptible to Pseudomonas syringae. Transcriptional response of a resistant RIL (number 103) to infection with Fusarium graminearum presented an increase in genes encoding metabolic and biosynthesis of metabolites pathways in group 1 and group 4 at early infection phase and a sharp decline in the late infection phase. An increase in the genes encoding pathways in earlier infection state could suggest the establishment of a beneficial energy balance for defence. Additionally, genes encoding phenylpropanoid (PAL), galactose and glycolysis pathway were amongst the genes increased at early stages of infection in group 1. Sugar can play a significant role in resistance to fungal pathogens through phenylpropanoid metabolism stimulation, and previous studies showed that the phenylpropanoid pathway could play a role in resistance of wheat to Fusarium graminearum and deoxynivalenol. Overall, this study represents a first step in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in resistance to Fusarium graminearum. This analysis has also identified the reported beneficial microbes and defence related genes and pathways. Together, the current findings suggest that different ‘resident’ consortia found in naturally infected and uninfected sorghum plants may be viable biocontrol and plant-growth promoting targets. Cultivation studies may shed light on the nature of the putative symbiotic relationships between bacteria and fungi. These results have consequences for crop breeding, and the analysis of microbial diversity and community composition can be useful biomarkers for assessing disease status in plants. The transcriptome and metabarcoding data generated will help guide further research to develop novel strategies for management of disease in sorghum RILs through the integrative approach considering both beneficial microbes and defence related genes. This provides the baseline information and will positively impact in the development of Fusarium graminearum resistant genotypes in future through the integration/incorporation of beneficial microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and resistant genes in breeding strategies.Life and Consumer SciencesD. Phil. (Life Sciences

An evaluation of the national minimum wage dispensation

After South Africa became a democratic country, there was a shift in the labour and employment sector. This led to introduction of new labour laws which would be in harmony with the constitutional dream and objectives. As such, the BCEA was introduced to bring about change to the basic conditions of employment. As a result of this, new minimum wages policies and laws were enacted. The wages were to be determined by the following means: first way was by means of bargaining council agreements, the second way by means of statutory council agreements, and the third way by means of sectoral determinations. The sectoral determinations policy was introduced through the BCEA. The BCEA through the ECC promulgated sectoral determinations which was aimed to establish minimum wages and conditions of employment for workers in the sectors deemed to be vulnerable. A minimum wage was firstly adopted in New Zealand and in European countries as early as the 19th century. This policy was then widely adopted after the establishment of the International Labour Organisation. The purpose or aim of a minimum wage is to protect workers against exploitatively low pay and to ensure a just and equitable share of the profits of work, thus creating a minimum living wage for all those that are employed and in need of such protection. Minimum wages are also often used as a policy tool to reduce poverty and inequality, including between men and women, by advocating for equal pay for work of equal value. Convention No. 131 and Recommendation No 135 are the key international conventions that determine minimum wage fixing. Convention No. 131 and Recommendation No. 135 seek to ensure that the minimum wage is set at a certain level that allows workers and their families to meet their needs. Article 4 of Convention No. 131 requires the creation and maintenance of machinery adapted to national conditions and requirements whereby minimum wages for groups of wage earners covered under article 1 can be fixed and adjusted from time to time. However, the situation of minimum wages differs between developed and developing countries. This raises a concern, more particularly, whether developing countries can be able to adopt the minimum wage policy. This research makes investigate the adoption of iv minimum wage policy in developed and developing countries, and how it affected their socio-economic status. On about 2018, South Africa enacted the National Minimum Wage Act. This Act was aimed at establishing a floor of minimum wage for all employees. This Act was intended to promote and protect vulnerable workers who were left out from the previous wage policies. The long-term aim of a minimum wage was to remove the problem of poverty pay, which exists when the earnings from paid work do not result in a living minimum wage and fail to push people out of poverty. When this Act was enacted, the national minimum wage floor was set at R20 per hour. However, in EPWP, Domestic Worker, and Farm workers had lower rates because they were regulated by other laws. Furthermore, there were challenges of non-compliance by employers. The national minimum wage policy as a socio-economic tool has had an impact on several levels of the economy. This policy has contributed to either alleviation or elevation of poverty and unemployment. Therefore, this study looks at the impact the minimum wage has had on these 2 aspects of life. The research provides a specific asymmetric data of the impact of the policy in all sectors throughout the time since this policy was adopted. It further shows how the minimum wage policy intervention has been affected by covid 19 pandemic. This empirical evidence is provided by way of charts and graphs to demonstrate the changes that has occurred. At the end of the treatise a conclusion on how this policy has affected the South African economy is reached. Furthermore, recommendations on how economic risks posed by the minimum wage policy can be reduced.Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, School of Mercantile law, 202

Re-envisioning management training of pastors in the colleges of the International Assemblies of God Church (IAG) of South Africa

This study sought to investigate and redefine the initial training of pastors, including the management training of student pastors at the colleges of the International Assemblies of God Church (IAG) of South Africa. Unlike in the past when pastors could lead churches without proper formal training based on their spirituality as viewed by the IAG and them professing to be called as ministers, today in this church tradition the need for the formal educational formation of pastors is taken for granted. This stance raises questions about the quality of graduates as well as matters of curriculum development, as the world is continually in a state of flux with far- reaching consequences for training institutions. It is generally accepted that churches play an important role in the lives of citizens in a predominantly Christian country like South Africa. On the other hand there is a continuing contestation and debate regarding the role pastors play in their churches in management and administrative issues. This also relates to the preparedness or unpreparedness of graduate pastors for their job. The day to day performance of duties by serving pastors in their organisations is generally viewed as below expectation compared to their counterparts in other occupations. A qualitative research approach was followed to elicit the necessary information to answer the research questions. Participants who were regarded as information rich cases on the training of pastors of the IAG were selected to shed more light on this particular aspect. Two focus group interviews and seven individual interviews were conducted. The interviews included members of the national and provincial executive committees, serving pastors, directors of the training colleges, pastor trainees in their final year of study and a newly graduated student. The current curriculum of initial training programmes was reviewed. Within a transformational management framework and utilising a purposeful intervention strategy, the study posits the Community Needs Responsive Management Training Model (CNRMTM) to enhance the initial training programmes of pastors and to use aspects of this model in the development and presentation of life-long learning programmes arranged for serving pastors. Recommendations and suggestions for future research were made.Educational Leadership and ManagementD. Ed. (Education Management

An evaluation of the national minimum wage dispensation

After South Africa became a democratic country, there was a shift in the labour and employment sector. This led to introduction of new labour laws which would be in harmony with the constitutional dream and objectives. As such, the BCEA was introduced to bring about change to the basic conditions of employment. As a result of this, new minimum wages policies and laws were enacted. The wages were to be determined by the following means: first way was by means of bargaining council agreements, the second way by means of statutory council agreements, and the third way by means of sectoral determinations. The sectoral determinations policy was introduced through the BCEA. The BCEA through the ECC promulgated sectoral determinations which was aimed to establish minimum wages and conditions of employment for workers in the sectors deemed to be vulnerable. A minimum wage was firstly adopted in New Zealand and in European countries as early as the 19th century. This policy was then widely adopted after the establishment of the International Labour Organisation. The purpose or aim of a minimum wage is to protect workers against exploitatively low pay and to ensure a just and equitable share of the profits of work, thus creating a minimum living wage for all those that are employed and in need of such protection. Minimum wages are also often used as a policy tool to reduce poverty and inequality, including between men and women, by advocating for equal pay for work of equal value. Convention No. 131 and Recommendation No 135 are the key international conventions that determine minimum wage fixing. Convention No. 131 and Recommendation No. 135 seek to ensure that the minimum wage is set at a certain level that allows workers and their families to meet their needs. Article 4 of Convention No. 131 requires the creation and maintenance of machinery adapted to national conditions and requirements whereby minimum wages for groups of wage earners covered under article 1 can be fixed and adjusted from time to time. However, the situation of minimum wages differs between developed and developing countries. This raises a concern, more particularly, whether developing countries can be able to adopt the minimum wage policy. This research makes investigate the adoption of iv minimum wage policy in developed and developing countries, and how it affected their socio-economic status. On about 2018, South Africa enacted the National Minimum Wage Act. This Act was aimed at establishing a floor of minimum wage for all employees. This Act was intended to promote and protect vulnerable workers who were left out from the previous wage policies. The long-term aim of a minimum wage was to remove the problem of poverty pay, which exists when the earnings from paid work do not result in a living minimum wage and fail to push people out of poverty. When this Act was enacted, the national minimum wage floor was set at R20 per hour. However, in EPWP, Domestic Worker, and Farm workers had lower rates because they were regulated by other laws. Furthermore, there were challenges of non-compliance by employers. The national minimum wage policy as a socio-economic tool has had an impact on several levels of the economy. This policy has contributed to either alleviation or elevation of poverty and unemployment. Therefore, this study looks at the impact the minimum wage has had on these 2 aspects of life. The research provides a specific asymmetric data of the impact of the policy in all sectors throughout the time since this policy was adopted. It further shows how the minimum wage policy intervention has been affected by covid 19 pandemic. This empirical evidence is provided by way of charts and graphs to demonstrate the changes that has occurred. At the end of the treatise a conclusion on how this policy has affected the South African economy is reached. Furthermore, recommendations on how economic risks posed by the minimum wage policy can be reduced.Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, School of Mercantile law, 202