The general aim for this research was to explore and describe the risk and protective variables in the bio–psychosocial field of adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and to describe how these variables impact multi–dimensionally on such adolescents. From the literature search it seemed as if interventions regarding CF focus mainly on the medical condition. No literature could be found on the experiences of adolescents with CF. It is clear that there is a dearth of research on adolescents with CF in general but also specifically on the bio–psychosocial impact of this illness on adolescents in this challenging time of maturing. The research design was a case study and focused on exploration and description of risk and protective factors in the bio–psychosocial fields of adolescents with CF. Semi–structured interviews were used as a data collecting method. Questions were open–ended, but focused on the experience of adolescents having CF. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis based on the following steps, which entailed among others transcribing data, reading, re–reading, translation, coding, identifying and describing themes. Facing a chronic illness and the intensive medical treatment required is a harsh reality that influences the entire field of adolescents with CF. This research results expanded knowledge of CF in adolescents within a Gestalt field perspective. Themes identified outline risk and protective factors related to faith, daily routines and especially the effect of medical procedures on time management, emotions, health and body–related aspects, frequent hospitalisation, social support and future concerns. If the risk and protective variables in the field of adolescents with CF is better understood from their own perspective, it is assumed that trans–disciplinary interventions with a multi–dimensional focus will be targeted more accurately in intervention strategies for this vulnerable group. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The number of students that apply for studies at South African universities has increased dramatically over the past years, but the resources of the universities have stayed the same. It is therefore imperative that academic performance can be predicted on a short- and long-term basis. The Developing Expertise model might be able to predict academic performance on a short- and long-term basis. This study focussed primarily on academic performance on short-term basis by focussing on three of the model’s elements. The three elements that were investigated were: metacognition, intrinsic motivation and critical thinking. One of the contributions of this study is the refinement of some of the elements of the expertise model. The study helped to determine the validity of the instrument in a South African context. The measurement instrument can also be used as a selection meganism on short-term basis. In order to measure each of the elements of the expertise model, a measuring tool consisting of five questionnaires was compiled. A convenience sample of first year psychology students provided 326 students for the study. A second sample, compiled from the original sample, consisting of 209 first year students was used for the multiple regression analyses. These students are registered for psychology for the first time in 2005. The students were placed in three groups according to the student’s means of registering for the CBT centre. The first group was those students who completed the instrument on computers. The second group consisted of those students who completed a paper and pencil version of the measurement. The third group consisted of the Mamelodi students. These students completed a paper and pencil version of the measurement and brought it back a week later. The statistical analysis included factor analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Based on the literature research and the results of the statistical analysis, the expertise model was expanded to include metamemory as the functional unit for metacognition. Motivation can be divided in three subcomponents, namely: self-efficacy, intrinsic value and test anxiety. The motivational component, knowledge of cognition and external control can be used as predictors of academic performance on a short-term basis. The findings of this study can only be used as a selection meganism of academic performance on a short-term basis and therefore the results must be used with caution. / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

The aim of this thesis is to understand RNA-RNA interactions steering cellular functions, as in the case of this thesis the structure of mRNA(Sirt1) in complex with microRNA-34a (miR-34a). MiR-34a regulates the cancer protein p53 via Sirt1 modulation. This work will be the basis for future drug design and the understanding of misguided regulation in cancer. The miR-34a binds to the mRNA(Sirt1) 3’ untranslated region (3’-UTR) and will either inhibit the translation of the protein Sirtuin 1 by capturing its mRNA or by degrading it. p53, a key activator of miR-34a, prevents cancer development by inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis) on cells with DNA damage. In contrast, the protein Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) has been shown to help cells with DNA damage to survive by down regulating the activity of protein p53 and will therefore increase the risk of cancer development. Studying the interaction between the mRNA(Sirt1) and miR-34a can present valuable information on the structure of the complex as well as the mode miR-34a uses to inhibit translation of mRNA(Sirt1) leading to down regulation of protein Sirtuin 1 and therefore prevent cancer development. For the elucidation of this question different biochemical and biophysical methods were applied, such as in vitro transcription, gel electrophoresis, RNA purification with gel, crush & soak and Cicular Dichroism (CD) melting studies. For this thesis work, the target sequence in mRNA(Sirt1) was optimized and purified so melting studies could be carried out. For future structural characterization using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies with the miR-34a also produced in the lab. The mRNA(Sirt1) target sequence was produced and purified with the final yield of 0.02%. The results show that the sequence is highly ATP dependent and suggest the ratio between the nucleotides ATP/CTP to be 1:2. Low yield of purified mRNA(Sirt1) was received and still contained some impurities, which imply that another method than crush & soak should be used when purifying. The results, indicate that High-Preformance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) might be a better solution for the pufication process. The melting profiles done on mRNA(Sirt1) show that the secondary structures decrease with an increase in temperature. Accroding to the results, the mRNA(Sirt1) sequence is folded in room temperature, though not very stable. The wavelength which provided the best resolution was at 268 nm and the melting point of mRNA(Sirt1) was determined to 44 °C. This thesis also contains an educational part, where an educational material was provided and testing was conducted for the subject Chemistry 2 for students age 18 and the material was evaluated with qualitative methods together with pedagogical methods. The study showed that the student can develope the different abilities stated in the curriculum with the material created. The results also showed that the students preferably choose cultural arguments when dicussing socio scientific question, rather than economical, democratic or utility arguments. / Syftet med studien är att förstå RNA-RNAinteraktioner som styr cellulära funktioner, i detta fall mRNA(Sirt1) i komplex med microRNA-34a (miR-34a). MiR-34a reglerar cancerproteinet p53 via modulation av Sirt1. Detta arbete kommer lägga grund för framtida läkemedelsdesign vid reglering av cancer. MiR-34a binder till den 3’ otranslerade regionen i mRNA(Sirt1) och hämmar antingen translationen av protein Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) genom att fånga dess mRNA eller genom att försämra det. p53 förhindrar utvecklingen av cancer genom att framkalla programmerad cell död (apoptosis) av celler med skadat DNA. Det har visats att proteinet Sirtuin 1 hjälper celler med skadat DNA att överleva, genom att sänka aktiviteten av p53. På så vis ökar risken för utveckling av cancer. Genom att studera interaktionen mellan mRNA(Sirt1) och miR-34a kan värdefull information kring komplexets struktur fås. Samt hur miR-34a hämmar translationen av mRNA(Sirt1), vilket leder till minskad aktivitet av protein Sirt1. För att klarlägga denna fråga har olika biokemiska och biofysiska metoder använts, såsom in vitro transkription, gelelektrofores, RNA rening med gel och Circular Dichroism (CD). För detta arbete har målsekvensen i mRNA(Sirt1) optimerats och renats så CD smältstudier med kunde genomföras. Resultatet visar att mRNA(Sirt1) sekvensen renats med ett utbyte på 0.02 %. Sekvensen är beroende av ATP och förhållandet mellan ATP/CTP nukleotider bör vara 1:2. Resutatet visar på ett lågt utbyte som visar på att High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) kan vara en bättre metod än Crush & soak för reningen av mRNA(Sirt1). Ur de smältprofiler som gjorts visade det sig att de sekundära strukturerna av mRNA(Sirt1) minskade med ökande temperatur. I enlighet med resultaten visar det att mRNA(Sirt1) är veckat i rumstemperatur men är inte stabil. Den bästa upplösningen erhölls vid 268 nm och mRNA(Sirt1) har en smältpunkt runt 44 °C. Detta arbete innehåller även ett utbildningskapitel, där ett utbildningsmaterial har skapats och testats på 18-åriga kemi 2 studenter i åldern 18 år. Materialet har utvärderats med hjälp av kvalitativa metoder tillsammans med pedagogiska metoder. Studien visade att de flesta förmågorna för kemi 2 kan utvecklas med hjälp av denna typ samhällsfrågor i det naturvetenskapliga klassrummet (SNI-fall) förutom förmågan att planera och genomföra experiment. Det argument som eleverna helst väljer att använda då de diskuterar det skapade SNI-fallet är Kulturargument och det minst använda är Demikratiargument.

The Water Resources Management Act 24 of 2004 will change the water regime in Namibia dramatically. Section 4 of the Water Resources Management Act provides for this change by excluding private ownership of water from the new water law dispensation. This study focused on section 4 of the Water Resources Management Act and the implication that this section will have on property rights in the Namibia. The dissertation firstly outlines the historical development of ownership of water in Namibia. It is indicated that private ownership of water was an established principle under Roman-Dutch law. A further examination of Roman-Dutch law reveals that surface water could be divided into private and public water. Public water belonged to the whole nation, while ownership of private rivers was vested in the land owner. Under South West Africa’s water legislation, the Irrigation and Water Conservation Act 8 of 1912 and the Water Act 54 of 1956 maintained the distinction between public and private water. However, the Water Act of 1956 expanded the definitions of both public and private water, and acknowledged that the land owner where the water found its source or flowed over, could exercise the exclusive use rights of such water. The Water Resources Management Act has been approved and published in the Government Gazette. However, it has not yet come into force as a date for commencement of the Act, as prescribed by section 138(1)(b), has not yet been determined by the Minister. Once the Act is in force, the Water Act will be repealed as a whole. Section 4 of the Water Resources Management Act will abolish the private ownership of water in Namibia. This is clearly in violation of article 16 of the Namibian Constitution of 1990, which provides for private ownership of water when read with article 100. Therefore, the research concludes that the Water Resources Management Act will dramatically affect property rights in Namibia. Under the Water Resources Management Act there will be no private ownership of water, and the affected person will have no recourse under the Act to claim compensation. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Water Resources Management Act 24 of 2004 will change the water regime in Namibia dramatically. Section 4 of the Water Resources Management Act provides for this change by excluding private ownership of water from the new water law dispensation. This study focused on section 4 of the Water Resources Management Act and the implication that this section will have on property rights in the Namibia. The dissertation firstly outlines the historical development of ownership of water in Namibia. It is indicated that private ownership of water was an established principle under Roman-Dutch law. A further examination of Roman-Dutch law reveals that surface water could be divided into private and public water. Public water belonged to the whole nation, while ownership of private rivers was vested in the land owner. Under South West Africa’s water legislation, the Irrigation and Water Conservation Act 8 of 1912 and the Water Act 54 of 1956 maintained the distinction between public and private water. However, the Water Act of 1956 expanded the definitions of both public and private water, and acknowledged that the land owner where the water found its source or flowed over, could exercise the exclusive use rights of such water. The Water Resources Management Act has been approved and published in the Government Gazette. However, it has not yet come into force as a date for commencement of the Act, as prescribed by section 138(1)(b), has not yet been determined by the Minister. Once the Act is in force, the Water Act will be repealed as a whole. Section 4 of the Water Resources Management Act will abolish the private ownership of water in Namibia. This is clearly in violation of article 16 of the Namibian Constitution of 1990, which provides for private ownership of water when read with article 100. Therefore, the research concludes that the Water Resources Management Act will dramatically affect property rights in Namibia. Under the Water Resources Management Act there will be no private ownership of water, and the affected person will have no recourse under the Act to claim compensation. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

South Africa and the rest of the world currently face an exacerbating threat of environmental degradation, which can be partly ascribed to the fact that some parts of society still place economic growth as a priority over environmental conservation. This study shows that such an approach is only profitable over the short term and actually causes more harm than good. On the other hand, the world is still recovering from the major 2008 global financial crisis. To tip the scale back into balance, it is crucial that economic -, social -, and environmental development be sustainable; from now and into the future. This study recognises that, to achieve sustainable development at all three levels, a transition to a green economy is needed. In essence a green economy requires investment in the environment for the benefit of both society and the economy. This study then goes on to show that ecotourism can be used as a manner to invest in the environment, whilst at the same time uplifting society and improving the economy. Subsequently it is identified as a key driver of a green economy. However, a daunting reality is that ecotourism developments and - activities also threaten the environment. This study therefore argues that ecotourism has to be regulated effectively; otherwise it will not live up to its purpose and may, as a result, curtail South Africa’s efforts of a transition to a green economy, instead of positively contributing to it. This study asks the question: Does South Africa’s environmental legislation provide for the effective regulation of ecotourism? This question is answered by considering whether various relevant pieces of national environmental legislation measure up to certain criteria that is inherent to the effective regulation of ecotourism. Finally this study serves to show that; from an environmental law perspective, and to the extent that this study investigated the ecotourism environment, ecotourism as a phenomenon is regulated effectively in South Africa. However, it appears that there still remains tremendous scope for improvement. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

South Africa and the rest of the world currently face an exacerbating threat of environmental degradation, which can be partly ascribed to the fact that some parts of society still place economic growth as a priority over environmental conservation. This study shows that such an approach is only profitable over the short term and actually causes more harm than good. On the other hand, the world is still recovering from the major 2008 global financial crisis. To tip the scale back into balance, it is crucial that economic -, social -, and environmental development be sustainable; from now and into the future. This study recognises that, to achieve sustainable development at all three levels, a transition to a green economy is needed. In essence a green economy requires investment in the environment for the benefit of both society and the economy. This study then goes on to show that ecotourism can be used as a manner to invest in the environment, whilst at the same time uplifting society and improving the economy. Subsequently it is identified as a key driver of a green economy. However, a daunting reality is that ecotourism developments and - activities also threaten the environment. This study therefore argues that ecotourism has to be regulated effectively; otherwise it will not live up to its purpose and may, as a result, curtail South Africa’s efforts of a transition to a green economy, instead of positively contributing to it. This study asks the question: Does South Africa’s environmental legislation provide for the effective regulation of ecotourism? This question is answered by considering whether various relevant pieces of national environmental legislation measure up to certain criteria that is inherent to the effective regulation of ecotourism. Finally this study serves to show that; from an environmental law perspective, and to the extent that this study investigated the ecotourism environment, ecotourism as a phenomenon is regulated effectively in South Africa. However, it appears that there still remains tremendous scope for improvement. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Die wêreld soos dit vandag bestaan, is gebaseer op die Internasionaalregtelike konsep van soewereiniteit. State het die bevoegdheid om hulle eie sake te reël, maar die ontwikkeling van die Internet as ’n netwerk wat globaal verspreid is, het hierdie beginsel verontagsaam. Dit wou voorkom asof die Internet die einde van soewereiniteit en staatskap sou beteken. ’n Geskiedkundige oorsig toon dat reguleerders aanvanklik onseker was oor hoe hierdie nuwe medium hanteer moes word. Dit het geblyk dat nuwe tegnologieë wat fragmentasie van die Internet bewerkstellig, gebruik kon word om staatsgebonde regsreëls af te dwing. Verskeie state van die wêreld het uiteenlopende metodologieë gevolg om die Internet op staatsvlak te probeer reguleer, en dit het tot die lukraak-wyse waarop die Internet tans gereguleer word, aanleiding gegee. Hierdie studie bespreek verskeie aspekte van regsbeheer in die konteks van die Internet, en bepaal daardeur hoe die Internet tans gereguleer word. Toepaslike wetgewing van verskeie state word regdeur die studie bespreek. Vier prominente state, wat verskeie belangrike ingrepe ten aansien van Internetregulering gemaak het, word verder uitgelig. Dit is die Verenigde State van Amerika, die Volksrepubliek van Sjina, die Europese Unie as verteenwoordiger van Europese state, en Suid-Afrika. Aspekte wat op Internasionaalregtelike vlak aangespreek moet word, soos internasionale organisasies en internasionale regsteorieë ten aansien van die regulering van die Internet, word ook onder die loep geneem. Die bevindings wat uit die studie volg, word gebruik om verskeie aanbevelings te maak, en die aanbevelings word uiteindelik in ’n nuwe model saamgevoegom’n sinvoller wyse van regulering van die Internet voor te stel. Aangesien die huidige studie in die konteks van die Internasionale reg onderneem word, word die studie afgesluit met ’n bespreking van kubersoewereiniteit, wat ’n uiteensetting is van hoe soewereiniteit ten aansien van die Internet toegepas behoort te word. Die gevolgtrekking is insiggewend — die ontwikkeling van die Internet het nie die einde van soewereiniteit beteken nie, maar het dit juis bevestig. / The world is currently structured in different states, and this is premised on the International law concept of sovereignty. States have the capacity to structure their own affairs, but the development of the Internet as a globally distributed network has violated this principle. It would seem that the development of the Internet would mean the end of sovereignty and statehood. A historical overview shows that regulators were initially unsure of how this new medium should be dealt with. It appeared that new technologies that could fragment the Internet, could be used to enforce state bound law. Several states of the world have used different methodologies trying to regulate the Internet at state level, and this led to the random way in which the Internet is currently regulated. This study examines various aspects of legal regulation in the context of the Internet, and determines how the Internet is currently regulated. Appropriate legislation of several states are discussed throughout the study. Four prominent states, which made several important interventions regarding the regulation of the Internet, are highlighted further. It is the United States, the People’s Republic of China, the European Union as the representative of European countries, and South Africa. Aspects that need to be addressed on International law level, such as international organizations and international legal theories regarding the regulation of the Internet, are also discussed. The findings that follow from this study are used to make several recommendations, which in turn are used to construct a new model for a more meaningful way in which the Internet could be regulated. Since the present study is undertaken in the context of the International law, the study is concluded with a discussion of cyber sovereignty, which is a discussion of how sovereignty should be applied with regards to the Internet. The conclusion is enlightening—the development of the Internet does not indicate the end of sovereignty, but rather confirms it. / Criminal and Procedural Law / LLD