Masters of Science / In South Africa and neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola, and Namibia, most river systems are non-perennial due to semi-arid or arid climatic characteristics. In such river systems, the interaction between groundwater and surface water is of significance in terms of developing appropriate methods for determining ecological water requirements among others. However, the interaction is not well understood in terms of the influence on the volume and quality of water on the gaining and losing water bodies. In past research, the importance of non-perennial rivers (NPRS) was neglected because these river systems were considered as systems of low ecological importance and economic value. However, an improved understanding of these systems illustrated that they provide habitat for diverse and unique flora and fauna. Therefore, the main research question that was posed for the study was what is the influence of river-aquifer interactions in non-perennial river systems in the semi-arid environment? The central argument was that unless we assess the interaction between surface water and groundwater in NPRS, we cannot improve on understanding of the role of groundwater on the NPRS. The aim of the study was therefore, to assess surface water-groundwater (river-aquifer) interactions in non-perennial river systems to provide an insight regarding how these water resources interact in semi-arid environments. To achieve the aim, three specific objectives were formulated, namely, to establish the groundwater contribution to the river system, to investigate the role of the river in recharging the underlying aquifer, and to develop a regional hydrogeological conceptual model of recharge mechanisms. To achieve the objectives of the study, samples were collected from boreholes, a dug well, springs, surface water and cumulative rainfall collectors during the summer and winter seasons. The samples were analysed for hydrochemistry and stable isotopic signatures (δ2H and δ18O). The intention was to identify where and when do river-aquifer interactions occur in the study area. Secondary data from records review and field data from hydrometric methods, ERT geophysical surveys and tracer techniques were also used to address the third objective.

M.Comm. / The vision, values and critical success factors incorporated in the balanced scorecard (BSC) have to support the organisational strategic goals. The Learning and Growth Perspective, the foundation of the BSC, assesses organisational capital, information capital and the skills and capabilities of the Research and Innovation Support Advancement (RISA), a division of the National Research Foundation (NRF). This allows the organisation to gain insight into and understanding of what is effective and which learning and growth systems need changing. The RISA’s balanced scorecard (BSC) does not demonstrate how the Learning and Growth Perspective addresses the organisational strategic objectives. In this study, the researcher wished to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) of the Learning and Growth Perspective of RISA so as to achieve its strategic objectives. A cross-sectional, survey-based research approach was adopted. The questions formulated examined the CSFs in five critical areas of the Learning and Growth Perspective namely, information technology, leadership, organisational culture, human resources management and talent management. Two critical success areas, namely talent management and HRM were identified as having an impact on the Learning and Growth Perspective of RISA. In addressing these areas, the organisation will be able to align its organisational capital, information capital and human capital with its overall strategy.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The changing South African policy context since 1994 (new science and innovation policies), and institutional changes at the National Research Foundation (NRF) have had an effect on different funding instruments and related modes of knowledge production. In this study we compare the modes of knowledge production utilized by researchers funded by the NRF and those funded by industry. We also compare the level of scientific productivity of these groups. This study makes two major contributions: first, we provided a reconstruction of the history of research funding in South Africa from 1918 (through the Research Grant Board – RGB), to date (through the NRF established in 1999 as a result of the merger of the Foundation for Research Development (FRD) and the Centre for Science Development (CSD). The second major contribution of this study concerns the relationship between funding sources and modes of knowledge production and dissemination. We found evidence that there is an increase in third stream funding for university research in South Africa. The study shows that respondents who received funding from both the Focus Areas and THRIP, concurrently, produced more average annual research outputs than those who received funding from either the Focus Areas or THRIP only. When we compared respondents who only received the Focus Areas or THRIP grant, we found that those who received the Focus Areas grant published more outputs annually than THRIP-funded researchers, despite the fact that those who received the THRIP grant had larger grant amounts, on average, than their Focus Areas-funded counterparts. We also found that industry/THRIP funding is utilised on problem-solving type of research, i.e. applied research, while public/NRF funding is utilised on basic/fundamental/curiosity-driven research. Overall, the findings show that there is no clear cut conclusion about the influence of funding on the mode of knowledge production. We could not prove that the two factors, that is, funding and mode of knowledge production, are related in a linear fashion. This is a much more complicated situation that requires more investigation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die veranderende Suid-Afrikaanse beleidskonteks sedert 1994 (nuwe wetenskap- en innovasiebeleid), sowel as institusionele veranderinge aan die Nasionale Navorsingstigting (NNS), het 'n uitwerking gehad op verskillende befondsingsinstrumente en verwante vorme van kennisproduksie. In die lig hiervan vergelyk die huidige studie die vorme van kennisproduksie van navorsers wat deur die NNS befonds word met dié van navorsers wat deur die bedryf befonds word. Die twee groepe se onderskeie vlakke van wetenskaplike produktiwiteit word ook vergelyk. Die studie lewer twee belangrike bydraes. In die eerste plek bied dit 'n rekonstruksie van die geskiedenis van die finansiering van navorsing in Suid-Afrika, vanaf 1918 (deur die Navorsingstoekenningsraad), tot en met vandag (deur die NNS wat in 1999 tot stand gekom het met die samesmelting van die destydse Stigting vir Navorsingsontwikkeling – SNO – en die Sentrum vir Wetenskapsontwikkeling – SWO). Die tweede belangrike bydrae van hierdie studie is die ondersoek na die verband tussen befondsingsbronne en verskillende vorme van kennisproduksie en -disseminasie. Die resultate van die ondersoek dui op 'n toename in derdegeldstroom-befondsing wat universiteitsnavorsing in Suid-Afrika betref. Die studie toon verder dat respondente wat befondsing van beide die fokusarea- en THRIP-programme ontvang, se gemiddelde jaarlikse navorsingsuitsette beduidend hoër is as dié van respondente wat slegs binne een van die twee programme befonds word. ʼn Vergelyking van die navorsingsuitsette van respondente wat slegs fokusarea-befondsing ontvang en respondente wat slegs THRIP-befondsing ontvang, toon dat diegene met fokusarea-befondsing se jaarlikse publikasieuitsette gemiddeld hoër is, ondanks die feit dat die THRIP-toekennings groter bedrae behels. Daar is ook gevind dat befondsing deur die bedryf/THRIP gebruik word vir navorsing wat gerig is op probleemoplossing, d.w.s. toegepaste navorsing, terwyl publieke of NNS-befondsing aangewend word vir basiese/ fundamentele/nuuskierigheid-gedrewe navorsing. Die algehele beskouing is dat geen duidelike gevolgtrekking gemaak kan word met betrekking tot die invloed van befondsing op die vorme van kennisproduksie nie. Daar kan nie onomwonde gestel word dat die twee kernfaktore van ondersoek, naamlik befondsing en vorme van kennisproduksie, reglynig met mekaar verband hou nie. Die situasie is meer kompleks en vereis verdere navorsing.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (C+B) is a research centre that provides bursaries for post-graduate students to study in the field of "Invasion Biology". One of the goals of the centre is to ensure that 50% of the funded students are from previously disadvantaged groups. However, since its inception in 2004 it has consistently been unable to meet this goal. The researcher, who has insight in the centre's marketing activities and has knowledge of marketing, is of the opinion that the reason for this failure is due to the lack of knowledge of the target market and the lack of a targeted marketing strategy. As background this report investigates the theory related to marketing and whether this is applicable to a centre such as the C-I-B. The conclusion that the marketing theory is relevant to the C-I-B, lead to a market research project that informed the development of a marketing strategy suggestion which the researcher believes will address the stated problem. The report concludes with recommendations to other stakeholders who should address the deeper lying problems which surface at secondary school level. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Sentrum van Uitnemendheid vir Indringer Biologie (S-I-S) is 'n sentrum wat beurse voorsien vir nagraadse studente wat studeer in die veld van "Indringer Biologie". Een van die sentrum se doelwitte is om te verseker dat 50% van sy studente deur voorheen benadeelde groepe verteenwoordig word. Sedert sy ontstaan in 2004 kon die sentrum nog nooit hierdie doel bereik nie. Die navorser, wat insae het in die bemarkingsaktiwiteite van die sentrum en kennis dra van bemarkingsbeginsels, is van mening dat hierdie probleem die gevolg is van gebrekkige kennis van die teikenmark en 'n gebrek aan 'n gefokusde bemarkingsstrategie. As agtergrond ondersoek hierdie verslag die teorie ten opsigte van bemarking en of hierdie teorie relevant is vir 'n sentrum soos die S-I-B. Die gevolgtrekking was dat die teorie wel relevant is vir die S-I-B en het gelei tot 'n marknavorsingsprojek wat bygedra het tot die ontwikkeling van 'n bemarkingsstrategie voorstel, wat die navorser glo die probleem sal aanspreek. Die verslag sluit af met voorstelle aan die ander belanghebbendes wat verantwoordelikheid behoort te neem vir die dieperliggende probleme wat op sekondere vlak geidentifiseer is.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Electrochemiluminescence (EeL) is applied for industrial applications that have considerable potential, such as clinical diagnostic, analytical chemistry, and light-emitting devices, due to selectivity, sensitivity for detection and quantification of molecules through generation of fluorescence light when electric current is applied on the materials. In EeL the electrochemical reaction allows for precise control over the time and position of the light emitting reaction. The control over time allows one to synchronise the luminescence and the biochemical reaction under study and control over position not only improves sensitivity of the instrument by increasing the signal to noise ratio, but also allows multiple analytical reactions in the same sample to be analyzed using an electrode array. The EeL generation fluorescent materials are based on inorganic semiconductor materials for light-emitting devices. Further progress in this EeL field mainly depends on discovery of new advanced materials, interfacial films and nanoparticle coatings, advances in microfluidics leading to total increase in EeL properties. There has been extensive use of polymers for enhancement of EeL properties. Electrochemiluminescent conjugated polymers constitute a new class of fluorescent polymers that emit light when excited by the flow of an electric current. These new generation fluorescent materials may now challenge the domination by inorganic semiconductor materials for the commercial market of light-emitting devices such as lightemitting diodes and polymer laser devices (PLDs).

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This chapter outlines basic gene structure and how gene structure is related to promoter structure in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and their transcription machinery. An in-depth discussion is given on variations types of the promoters among both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and as well as among three prokaryotic organisms namely, E.coli, B.subtilis and Mycobacteria with emphasis on Mituberculosis. The simplest definition that can be given for a promoter is: It is a segment of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) sequence located upstream of the 5' end of the gene where the RNA Polymerase enzyme binds prior to transcription (synthesis of RNA chain representative of one strand of the duplex DNA). However, promoters are more complex than defined above. For example, not all sequences upstream of genes can function as promoters even though they may have features similar to some known promoters (from section 1.2). Promoters are therefore specific sections of DNA sequences that are also recognized by specific proteins and therefore differ from other sections of DNA sequences that are transcribed or translated. The information for directing RNA polymerase to the promoter has to be in section of DNA sequence defining the promoter region. Transcription in prokaryotes is initiated when the enzyme RNA polymerase forms a complex with sigma factors at the promoter site. Before transcription, RNA polymerase must form a tight complex with the sigma/transcription factor(s) (figure 1.1). The 'tight complex' is then converted into an 'open complex' by melting of a short region of DNA within the sequence involved in the complex formation. The final step in transcription initiation involves joining of first two nucleotides in a phosphodiester linkage (nascent RNA) followed by the release of sigma/transcription factors. RNA polymerase then continues with the transcription by making a transition from initiation to elongation of the nascent transcript.

The study investigated whether the South African Research Chairs and the research programmes of the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation Programme (DST/NRF programmes), have made an effective contribution towards the acceleration of transformation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa. The study argues that the implementation of the Higher Education (HE) policies by HEIs and the South African Research Chairs are seriously undermined by legacies of colonialism and apartheid. It is further contended that unless more funds are made available to black students to study full-time, the pillars of democracy of social justice, redress and equality remain meaningless ideological slogans. Guided by the insights provided by literature review on CDA, the study focuses more on the top-down relations of dominance (policy) that fuels continuing racial discrimination in higher education institutions, which the 2008 Final Report of the Ministerial Higher Education Committee isolated for criticism. The study posits that the thematic structural unifier, which links all the pieces of the multiplicity of the competing ideas and voices and threads through the whole study, is the endless probing and unravelling of the cultural and historical factors that continue to undermine the higher education transformation agenda. The findings of this study suggest that the policy implementation of the HE transformation agenda continues to be constrained by mismatch between policy objectives and implementation results. The findings also indicate that although the research-driven performance of South African Research Chairs has progressively improved each year and student support and research outputs increased between the 2008/09 and 2009/10 financial years, the direct impact of the SARChI programme can only be determined when performance is measured against the South African Research Chair Holders‟ baseline performance. The data also suggest that despite access to educational services at HEIs improving, the existence of various forms of discriminatory 15 practices, are still employed, a major challenge attributed to the “great man” leadership styles adopted by many university‟s vice chancellors and councils. This evaluation study utilises a small-scale purposive sample composed of three experts, with unstructured in-depth face-to-face interviews conducted with the experts. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

The study investigated whether the South African Research Chairs and the research programmes of the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation Programme (DST/NRF programmes), have made an effective contribution towards the acceleration of transformation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa. The study argues that the implementation of the Higher Education (HE) policies by HEIs and the South African Research Chairs are seriously undermined by legacies of colonialism and apartheid. It is further contended that unless more funds are made available to black students to study full-time, the pillars of democracy of social justice, redress and equality remain meaningless ideological slogans. Guided by the insights provided by literature review on CDA, the study focuses more on the top-down relations of dominance (policy) that fuels continuing racial discrimination in higher education institutions, which the 2008 Final Report of the Ministerial Higher Education Committee isolated for criticism. The study posits that the thematic structural unifier, which links all the pieces of the multiplicity of the competing ideas and voices and threads through the whole study, is the endless probing and unravelling of the cultural and historical factors that continue to undermine the higher education transformation agenda. The findings of this study suggest that the policy implementation of the HE transformation agenda continues to be constrained by mismatch between policy objectives and implementation results. The findings also indicate that although the research-driven performance of South African Research Chairs has progressively improved each year and student support and research outputs increased between the 2008/09 and 2009/10 financial years, the direct impact of the SARChI programme can only be determined when performance is measured against the South African Research Chair Holders‟ baseline performance. The data also suggest that despite access to educational services at HEIs improving, the existence of various forms of discriminatory 15 practices, are still employed, a major challenge attributed to the “great man” leadership styles adopted by many university‟s vice chancellors and councils. This evaluation study utilises a small-scale purposive sample composed of three experts, with unstructured in-depth face-to-face interviews conducted with the experts. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)