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Thesis (MSC)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is shouldering the highest burden of HIV-infection. Inter-individual differences in response to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and the limited availability of second and third-line ART regimens call for optimising first-line ART in South African populations. Measuring antiretroviral drug levels in patients may be of clinical value as an intermediate indicator of treatment response and may moreover serve to assess the genetic variation underlying differential drug exposure. This study aimed to determine the effect of SNPs in the CYP2B6 gene and efavirenz (EFV) levels measured in hair on ART outcomes in females of two South African populations. Female Xhosa (XH) (n = 81) and Mixed Ancestry (MA) (n = 53) patients receiving the first-line regimen component EFV for at least three months donated saliva for genomic DNA extraction and 20 strands of hair for determination of EFV concentrations by high performance liquid chromatography. Regulatory and exonic regions in the CYP2B6 gene, which codes for the major metabolising enzyme of EFV, were subjected to bi-directional sequence analysis in 15 XH and 15 MA individuals to assess common genetic variation in these populations. Out of 45 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified, 17 SNPs of known or predicted functional importance in EFV metabolism, including four novel SNPs, were genotyped in the entire patient cohort by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. All SNPs were tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and maximum likelihood haplotypes and assessed for an association with EFV levels measured in hair, likelihood of developing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and virological response to EFV-based treatment. After correcting for age and ethnicity, homozygous carriers of c.516G>T (CYP2B6*6) had significantly increased EFV levels (p = 0.0021; mean: 12.0 ng/mg; IQR: 3.95 – 6.99 ng/mg; n = 12), as did heterozygotes of c.983T>C (CYP2B6*18) (p = 0.0005; mean: 7.315 ng/mg; IQR: 6.59 – 15.10 ng/mg; n = 10). No CYP2B6*18 homozygotes were detected. No association between EFV levels and virological response was evident (p = 0.8467), but CYP2B6*6 predicted increased odds of virological failure (VL > 80 copies/ml) after correcting for adherence, race, age, weight, time on treatment, baseline CD4, smoking, alcohol and WHO disease stage (p = 0.0328). Carriers of the CYP2B6*1 allele had increased odds (OR = 5) of favourable treatment outcome (VL < 80 copies/ml). In accordance with other studies, this study provides evidence that genetically predisposed poor metabolisers of EFV may be at increased risk of virological failure, possibly following non-adherence. Concurrently, these patients may be more vulnerable to adverse drug reactions and are more frequent in the XH (13%) than MA (4%). These results should be verified in larger patient cohorts, but contribute to a better understanding of the effect of genetic factors on EFV exposure and ART outcome in two South African populations. The outcomes of this study may thus provide recommendations for prospective studies and impact future clinical decisions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika dra die grootste las van MIV-infeksies. Inter-individuele verskille in reaksie op anti-retrovirale terapie (ART) en die beperkte beskikbaarheid van tweede- en derde-linie ART-reekse regverdig die optimisering van eerste-linie ART in Suid-Afrikaanse bevolkings. Meting van antiretrovirale middel-vlakke in pasiënte, as ‘n intermediêre aanduiding van reaksie op behandeling, kan van kliniese belang wees en kan ook die waarde van die bepaling van genetiese variasie, onderliggend aan differensiële blootstelling aan middels, bepaal. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die effek van enkel-nukleotied polimorfismes (SNPs) in die CYP2B6-geen en efavirenz (EFV)-vlakke in hare op ART-uitkoms te bepaal in vroue van twee Suid-Afrikaanse bevolkingsgroepe. Vroulike Xhosa (XH) (n = 81) en Gemengde Herkoms (GH) (n = 53) pasiënte wat EFV as deel van eerste-linie ART vir ten minste drie maande ontvang het, het speekselmonsters vir genomiese DNA-ekstraksie en 20 hare vir die bepaling van EFV-konsentrasies deur hoë werkverrigting vloeistofchromatografie (“HPLC”) geskenk. Regulatoriese en eksoniese areas in die CYP2B6-geen, wat vir die vernaamste metaboliserende ensiem van EFV kodeer, is deur middel van tweerigting-volgordebepalings-analise in 15 XH en 15 GH individue ondersoek om gemeenskaplike genetiese variasie in hierdie bevolkings te bepaal. Uit ‘n totaal van 45 SNPs wat geïdentifiseer is, is 17 SNPs wat bekende of voorspelde belangrike rolle in EFV-metabolisme speel, insluitend vier nuwe SNPs, ondersoek. Hierdie SNPs is in die volledige pasiënt-kohort gegenotipeer deur polimerase-ketting reaksie gebaseerde restriksie fragment lengte-polimorfisme (PKR-RFLP) analise. Alle SNPs is getoets vir Hardy-Weinberg-ewewig (HWE) en maksimum waarskynlikheidshaplotipes en is geassesseer vir assosiasie met EFV-vlakke gemeet in hare, die waarskynlikheid om ongunstige reaksies tot die middel te ontwikkel en virologiese reaksie op EFV-gebaseerde behandeling. Nadat vir ouderdom en herkoms gekorrigeer is, het homosigotiese draers van c.516G>T (CYP2B6*6) beduidend verhoogde EFV-vlakke (p = 0.0021; gemiddeld: 12.0 ng/mg; IQR: 3.95 – 6.99; n=12) getoon, so ook heterosigote vir c.983T>C (CYP2B6*18) (p = 0.0005; gemiddeld: 7.315 ng/mg; IQR: 6.59 – 15.10 ng/mg; n = 10). Geen CYP2B6*18 homosigote is gevind nie. Daarbenewens is geen duidelike assosiasie tussen EFV-vlakke en virologiese reaksie gevind nie (p = 0.8467), maar CYP2B6*6 het verhoogde waarskynlikheid op virologiese mislukking (VL > 80 kopieë/ml) getoon nadat daar vir mddel-getrouheid, ras, ouderdom, gewig, tydsduur van behandeling, basis-CD4, rook, alkohol en Wêreld Gesondheids Organisasie siekte-fase gekorrigeer is (p = 0.0328). Draers van die CYP2B6*1-alleel het verhoogde waarskynlikheid (OR = 5) op gunstige behandelingsuitkomste getoon (VL < 80 kopieë/ml). In ooreenstemming met ander studies verskaf hierdie studie bewyse dat pasiënte wat geneties geneig is tot stadige metabolisme van EFV ‘n hoër risiko kan hê vir virologiese mislukking, wat moontlik ‘n gevolg is van middel-ontrouheid. Hierdie pasiënte kan ook meer geneig wees tot vatbaarheid vir ongunstige middel-reaksie en kom meer voor in die XH (13%) as in die MA (4%). Hierdie resultate moet in groter pasiënt-kohorte gestaaf word, maar dra by tot ‘n beter begrip van die effek van genetiese faktore op blootstelling aan EFV en ART-uitkoms in twee Suid-Afrikaanse bevolkings. Die uitkomste van hierdie studie kan dus as aanbevelings gebruik word vir voornemende studies en ook toekomstige kliniese besluite beïnvloed. / The Medical Research Fund (MRC) for funding this project. The University Centre for Studies in Namibia (TUCSIN) and Deutscher Akademischer Austausch-Dienst (DAAD) for financial support

Unemployment is the most popular indicator of the country’s economy. As popular as it is, it remains difficult to define and to measure. This is the reason why different economists have different views of where South Africa really is as far as the unemployment rate is concerned. Female unemployment in South Africa is relatively high and much attention should be given on that issue. Some females are uneducated; others lack the skills while others are discouraged due to lack of vacant positions within their area. The consequences of unemployment are devastating and remain one of the most significant challenges for South Africa (Naude & Serumaga-Zake, 2001:261). These consequences range from decreased standards of living to degradation of society as a whole through crime, and community unrest (Barker, 1995:113). This study aims to investigate the factors that have an influence on the employment status of females in Bophelong Township, to determine if variables such as age, marital status, education level and income have any causal effect on the employment status of females. The results of this study will then help policy makers to create and design strategies that will help achieve the objective of unemployment reduction. / MCom (Economics) North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

The minibus taxi industry serves approximately 68% of the South Africans using public transport. It is credited with supporting black South African communities by providing a more accessible alternative to the public transportation. It has also been a primary activity for black entrepreneurship since the early 1970s up to the present. It also provides a strong example of enterprise serving as a platform for creating employment and for fighting poverty. However, its growth and prosperity is hindered by a number of challenges, some of which emanated from the past apartheid laws that restricted black economic policies. Some are related to the industry, such as continuing problems of persistent violence, at times resulting in death and safety concerns. In an effort to address these challenges, the National Department of Transport published a Taxi Recapitalisation Strategy (TRS). The TRS is not only about the replacement of old vehicles with new and safe vehicles, but presents the government with an opportunity to transform, empower and regulate the industry. The key pillars of the TRS are the scrapping of old taxi vehicles, the introduction of new and safe vehicles, effective regulations, empowerment of the taxi industry and law enforcement. This study measures the impact of the TRS on poverty levels and expenditure patterns of the taxi-mode commuters of the Vaal, situated south of Gauteng. It focuses mainly on the few townships identified; where the taxis are the most frequently used mode of transport. It has been shown that regulation of the taxi industry through the implementation of the TRS would lead to a rise in taxi fares and other consequences for the owners and users (passengers). Subsequently, this would result in increased levels of poverty and a change in expenditure patterns of most of the Vaal households. Although the levels of poverty have decreased in the townships of the Vaal as compared to 2003, the severity of poverty still remains in some households. Using the Household Subsistence Level (HSL) as the household's respective poverty line, 45.4% of the households have an income that is less than 50% of their HSL amount, indicating severe poverty. The headcount index was determined at 0.59 in 2006, indicating that 59% of households live below their poverty lines. The poverty gap index was determined at 0.45, reflecting that households lack on average 45% of income to attain a level equal to their poverty line. The impact of increases in taxi fares would then directly have a negative effect on the average standard of living of the Vaal households. To measure the impact of the TRS on expenditure patterns, affordability levels of the households of the Vaal were considered. The three scenarios used (taxi fares increase by 10%, 15%, and 20%) showed that the average monthly transport costs would rise by 9.9%, 10.3% and 10.6% respectively, following the implementation of the TRS. If user-targeted subsidies could be offered that would result in the taxi fare reduction, it could have an impact on expenditure patterns and poverty levels of the Vaal households. Applying the impact assessment model to households living below their poverty lines in the Vaal, increased government subsidy would supplement the existing incomes of these households. For instance, if a subsidy of 20% on taxi fares is offered, that is to make the taxi fare lower than the current fare, the poverty gap would decrease from 0.45 to 0.31 and the headcount index would be reduced from 0.59 to 0.48. This would reflect that households lacking income to attain a level equal to their poverty line is reduced by 14%.This suggests that the recapitalisation of the taxi fleet which is supported by a taxi fare subsidy is critical to ensure the provision of safe, affordable and efficient minibus taxis. In the case of even higher government subsidies, reduction in the cost of transport through government subsidies may supplement the existing income of households to such an extent that the headcount indexes for the population decreases even more. The study therefore concludes that poverty alleviation and improved standards of living among the Vaal households can only be achieved if appropriate subsidies which may lead to the reduction in the taxi fares can be provided. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

The purpose of this study was to describe technology learning methods that teachers attend and perceive as effective. The goal was to provide district personnel data that may be utilized when planning for more effective technology staff development. This study examined (1) the methods of learning instructional technology that are being utilized by teachers and administrators and (2) why these methods are being utilized in two Texas school districts. Data was collected from educators via an online survey consisting of demographics, technology training methods, level of technology use (CBAM 1 item), stages of adoption and technology level of use (LoTi, 50-item). Educators with different technology levels of use (high, low) differed on their perceptions and utilization of technology training methods. Specifically, educators with different technology levels of use differed in their perceptions of independent online help, and learning through trial and error technology training methods. Results from the study showed that educators tended to use the technology training method that they perceived as most effective. Educators tended to utilize learning by trial and error, peer support, and technology personnel support the most frequently for learning technology integration Educators' in the study had varying technology levels of use based on their educator categories. Administrators tended to score much higher than both elementary and secondary teachers on their technology levels of use. Participants gave a variety of reasons for utilizing certain technology training methods most frequently. The most popular reason was that the method fit into their time schedule followed by the location of the training. The least given reason was that it was the best method for learning the technology skill.

In remote areas without conventional cellular service, satellite communication is often the only viable option. Handheld devices for use with satellite communication networks require a high transmit power to obtain a reliable signal. The need for a high transmit power makes it difficult for the device to meet specific absorption rate (SAR) restrictions. An adaptive beam forming technique for shaping radiation away from the user’s head is proposed. This technique uses a back-to-back patch antenna design with an impedance monitoring based system capable of adaptively controlling the pattern of the antenna. The adaptive antenna system was designed, simulated, fabricated, and measured. The system could detect a head phantom within 3 cm of the antenna. SAR levels were verified to be within safety restrictions at 3 cm through simulation. By turning off the patch facing the user’s head when the phone is transmitting, and the user’s head is within 3 cm, it was shown that SAR levels could be reduced to safe levels. / February 2017