Against the background of the Report on the restructuring of the electricity distribution industry in South Africa, indicating that some of the, to be formed, Regional Electricity Distributors may find it difficult to be viable, it was suggested that the promotion of entrepreneurship within the distributors will enhance performance. Stemming from this general suggestion, the following questions for the purpose of this thesis evolved: --Can corporate electricity utilities be seen as “normal” corporate business or should it be seen as ‘monopolistic organizations’? --Will corporate entrepreneurs jeopardize or enhance the availability and affordability of the organizational products, in this instance electricity supply? --What will the implications be on the success of the utility/corporation? --How should management promote entrepreneurship? In the review of the related literature it was found that very little information is available on electricity utilities. However, the literature on corporate entrepreneurship was used to inform the study, as the electricity utility can be seen as one type of corporate enterprise. The literature converged on several constructs namely: --The organizational culture and strategy --Organizational structure --Organizational reward systems --Risk taking The literature is clear on the finding that when management promoted and supported corporate entrepreneurship in these constructs, the prospect of organizational success improved dramatically. A test instrument was designed and used to evaluate the present South African Electricity Distribution Industry, consisting of 283 Municipal Distributors and Eskom, the national distributor. From the results gained in this study it was found that the present industry differs widely in the following aspects namely: --Distributor Size --Performance both on service levels and finances --Entrepreneurial orientation --Growth --Management It became clear that the South African Electricity Utility environment could, in general, not be seen as being entrepreneurial in nature. This led to the conclusion that the South African Electricity utility should, in the light of international research findings on corporate entrepreneurship, develop an entrepreneurial culture as a major component of their development strategy. / Thesis (PhD (Entrepreneurship))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Business Management / unrestricted

This thesis presents work done on the development of a multi-agent system architecture that facilitates coordination and a novel social networks based approach to coordination. The field of multi-agent system research is undergoing tremendous expansion and it would be impossible to address all the issues related to the field. Instead, this thesis focuses on the coordination aspect of multi-agent systems. The architecture presented here is named the INtelligent Distributed Agent Based Architecture, INDABA. INDABA, as a hybrid agent architecture, combines the sub-symbolic knowledge representation layered architecture with a symbolic layer that allows for deliberative reasoning and learning. INDABA also introduces a layer that facilitates coordination in a society of agents, namely the interaction layer. The new approach to coordination was inspired by social networks, as observed in higher mammalian societies. Two social relationships were explored, namely kinship and trust. Coordination is achieved through team selection. Using characteristics of social networks, such as learning and the ability to deal with uncertainties, the best team is selected for task execution. The experiments conducted for the purpose of this thesis were done on three levels. Firstly, an abstract simulated environment was created where a society of a large number of agents could be observed. Secondly, experiments were done in a more realistic simulated robot environment. The last set of experiments was done in a real-world environment, with the implementation of INDABA in embodied mobile agents (robots). The experiments have confirmed the applicability of INDABA as an agent architecture, as well as the validity of the social networks coordination approach. / Thesis (PhD (Computer Science))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Computer Science / unrestricted

In terms of the current South African Constitution (Act 108 of 1996) South Africa has eleven official languages (RSA, 1996:4). The past political South African history and the constitutional status of these languages could cause language problems comparable to those at the Tower of Babel. Adding to the problem is the fact that in South Africa, language is an emotional and a political issue. South African citizens believe that English should be the only medium of communication in South Africa because English is a universally indispensable language. This, however, is not an idea that finds general approval. There is a great need to explore the language requirements and difficulties experienced in South African multilingual and multicultural hospitals, especially in the case of people speaking indigenous South African languages, namely Sesotho, Sesotho Sa Leboa, Setswana, Ndebele Swati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Xhosa and Zulu. The aim of this study is thus to study the translation and interpreting shortcomings and needs that exist and make recommendations for intervention and improvement. In the framework of the principle of multilingualism, multiculturalism and the promotion of the use of all eleven South African official languages is supported in this thesis. The main focus of this thesis is, therefore, the identification of translation and interpreting difficulties and the suggestion of the remedies and solutions for these language related problems. Language planning is mainly concerned with solutions to language related problems, therefore this study should be regarded as a language planning activity. In terms of this thesis, the principles of language panning are described, types of language planning, steps of language planning mainly step one, data accumulation, the responsibility of the language planner and the language planning already done in South Africa. In order for one to make suggestions it is necessary to first identify the translation and interpreting problems in the South African health fraternity. The Minister of the DAC, the honorable Dr Ben Ngubane, launched the South African Language Policy and Plan on 18 – 19 March 2003. However, there is still an urgent need for a Language in Health Policy (LiHeP) which will specifically cater for the South African health needs. A language analysis will expose that there is a break in communication between the hospital personnel and their clients in multilingual – multicultural hospitals. This is a problem with wide-reaching and potentially dangerous consequences. The hospital personnel and their clients often do not understand each others’ languages and there are, as yet, no formal or even informal measures to combat this. Instead, the use of hospital staff and other individuals who have an inkling of the target language are used as interpreters. The hospital staff and other individuals acting as hospital interpreters create yet more problems as these people are not trained to be professional health interpreters. Some of these people are not even first language speakers of the target language. The result is that most of the time there is misinterpretation of the messages, for example the term ‘stool’ referring to faeces, is often interpreted as ‘chair’ which confuses the patients. This type of error, could result in a serious breakdown of communication which may be fatal. Doctors that come to South Africa from countries like Cuba also encounter communication problems due to lack of knowledge of the major South African languages. There is also sometimes resistance from the non-qualified interpreters to perform interpretation tasks as there is no financial reward for doing this. The resistance causes negative attitudes resulting to not executing the interpreting task properly. In chapter four the difficulties and problems revealed by the empirical studies conducted in a multilingual - multicultural hospitals will be discussed. The views of the hospital staff are reflected in the answers to the questionnaires which they were requested to complete. These views are discussed at length together with the identified problems. Translation and interpreting are closely related practices, however the distinction between them is explored. These concepts both form the main focus of this thesis at different levels. Interpreting seems to dominate because most of the communication is verbal. Nevertheless, translation does feature when pamphlets and medicines are given to clients for personal use within and outside the hospital premises. The criteria that translators and interpreters have to meet as well as literary overview concerning problems in health with regard to translation and interpreting are addressed. Emanating from the data accumulated, suggestions are made in the final chapter as to how these language problems can be solved. A feasible suggestion to solve the problems in the field of interpreting is to have well trained health interpreters. Different aspects surrounding the issue of the training of the interpreters is dealt with and recommendations are made in the final chapter. / Dissertation (MA (Afrikaans))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Afrikaans / unrestricted

No abstract available / Dissertation (M (Applied Language Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Afrikaans / unrestricted

Numerous bioactive compounds are secreted from large dense core granules in tick salivary glands during feeding. Investigations into the signalling pathways regulating secretion indicated that they are similar for Argasidae (fast feeding ticks) and Ixodidae (slow-feeding ticks). In both cases, dopamine is the external signal that activates adenylyl cyclase, subsequently cyclic AMP levels are increased and Protein Kinase A (PKA) is activated, resulting in the phosphorylation of proteins. Secretion was also found to be highly calcium dependant. Firstly, it requires extracellular calcium (via a L-type voltage-gated calcium channel located on the plasma membrane) and secondly, intracellular calcium which is released presumably in response to IP3. In contrast to numerous exocrine cells, membrane depolarisation and elevation of the cAMP levels are not sufficient for inducing exocytosis from O. savignyi salivary glands. Pathways such as the activation of Phospholipase C, inositol-phosphate kinases, Na+K+-ATPases, as well as the disassembly of the actin barrier, have been shown to be essential. Finally, our research also indicated a need for the ATPase NSF, an intact microtubule network and an active cytosolic Phospholipase A2 for exocytosis. A model has been suggested, but a great deal of research is needed to elucidate all the mechanisms of regulated exocytosis. All secretory eukaryotic cells to date require SNARE proteins for fusion of granules with the plasma membrane, leading to the release of granular content. By means of Western blotting we identified the tick homologues of the SNAREs syntaxin, SNAP25 and VAMP, as well as the small GTPase Rab3a, all enriched within the membrane fraction. We also identified the SDS-resistant 20S complex, which forms during the docking of granules and is composed of the three SNARE proteins. Confocal microscopy of the SNARE proteins indicates SNAP25 and VAMP localize to the granule membranes, while syntaxin localises strictly to the plasma membrane. In order to isolate the tick SNARE homologues we exploited protein-protein interactions by means of the yeast two-hybrid system. Screening of an O. savignyi cDNA salivary gland library using rat brain <font face="symbol">a</font>-SNAP as bait, we identified a transcript encoding a tick syntaxin homologue. It encoded a 126 residue protein which shares 14% identity and 40% similarity with human syntaxin 1. Furthermore, we were able to successfully model the identified protein onto the known crystal structure of human syntaxin 1 and indicate that it shares structural homology with helices 1, 2, 3 and the connecting two loop regions. Following screening of the library with a truncated syntaxin bait construct, two novel domains were identified in all the interacting clones. To date their identity remains unknown. Functional complementation in the syntaxin knockout yeast strain H603 with an O. savignyi cDNA library resulted in the identification of four novel transcripts, which suppressed the temperature sensitive phenotype. Two of these share homology with the N- and C-terminals of syntaxins respectively and were successfully modelled onto the human syntaxin 1 crystal structure. Finally, by exploiting the extensive SNARE binding properties of recombinant rat brain <font face="symbol">a</font>-SNAP, we were able to isolate the O. savignyi SNAREs, i.e. syntaxin, SNAP25 and VAMP, using pull-down assays. These purified proteins will soon be subjected to amino acid sequencing, and their sequences used to confirm the identified transcripts as true syntaxins. By enhancing our understanding of the molecular basis underlying tick feeding, as well as the proteins involved in the processes, we hope to identify possible targets for the rational design of a viable tick vaccine. / Thesis (PhD (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Biochemistry / unrestricted

A comparative study of translation equivalents for health/medical terminology in Xitsonga was conducted. The research involved studying a selection of terms from a glossary (the DSAC Multilingual Glossary of Medical/Health Terminology) compiled by language experts. Purposive sampling was used, resulting in the identification of 33 problematic source language (English) terms. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted during which health experts were asked to provide Xitsonga equivalents for the selected English terms from the glossary. The translation equivalents provided in the DSAC Multilingual Glossary of Medical/Health Terminology and those given by the health experts were then subjected to evaluation, followed by comparative analysis by the researcher. The analysis indicates that the DSAC Multilingual Glossary of Medical/Health Terminology applied a variety of term formation strategies in accordance with the term formation principles available to Xitsonga. The most frequently used strategy, in 40% of the cases, was translation by making use of a more general word, whilst paraphrasing was the second most frequently applied term formation strategy (32,5%). A number of source language (English) terms was found to be provided with inappropriate/incorrect target language equivalents. The health experts, on the other hand, mainly used paraphrase as a translation strategy, i.e. in 62,5% of the cases. The use of a more general word was the second most frequently applied term formation strategy (in 28,1% of cases). Although not similar to the DSAC Multilingual Glossary of Medical/Health Terminology translation equivalents, health experts also managed to apply a variety of different term formation strategies available to Xitsonga. Unlike the DSAC Multilingual Glossary of Medical/Health Terminology list in which a number of English terms (13 out of the total of 33 selected source language terms) were not provided with Xitsonga translation equivalents, the health experts provided Xitsonga equivalents for all the terms, except for one term (keratectomy). The reason why the health/medical experts used paraphrasing extensively may be that a single term equivalent did not exist or was not known, due to inadequate availability of standardised terms. However, the health experts also clearly felt the need for providing users with an explanation that could be used for communicative purposes, e.g. between medical staff and patients. Moreover, when developing terms (outside of the context of a particular translation task) it is highly probable that term developers would rather opt for maximising transparency and comprehensibility, than putting in an effort to coin a term that can be used as a so-called ‘directly insertable translation equivalent’. The implications of the research findings are discussed, with one main finding of the study suggesting a need for a collaborative effort in terminology development. / Dissertation (MA (Applied Linguistics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / African Languages / unrestricted

The topic for my study is: “Towards a relevant ministry amongst the poor. Developing a comprehensive strategy for mission in informal settlement communities with special reference to the Orange Farm Community” . The study aims at developing the best strategy the church can use in ministering effectively in the areas of the poor. The Orange Farm Informal Settlement has been used as reference. The informal settlement communities in South Africa are mushrooming rapidly on a daily basis. There are millions of poor people who are staying in these areas. From the South African perspective, they constitute the largest unclaimed frontier Christian mission has encountered in recent history. They stay in houses made of plywood, corrugated iron, plastics, bricks, etc. The panoramic view of the informal settlement is unbearable and overwhelming. Most of the people are unemployed, illiterate, HIV-AIDS affected and infected, drug abusers, prostitutes, homeless, widows and orphans. The data given in this study shows that they are a diverse group and that their needs are deepening. This thesis attempts to develop comprehensive missionary strategies in addressing the problems of the poor in the informal settlement communities. The church cannot, and should not relinquish its evangelistic mission in these areas, as it is obliged to minister in word and deed. It is called to preach the good news to the poor. Christ’s compassion for the poor was holistic, He was concerned with the poor and the marginalized, their sick bodies, empty stomachs, and perishing souls. Both his words and his works were expressions of his compassion for the poor people. The church of Jesus Christ is called to bear witness in the present context of the poor. The kingdom of Jesus Christ is to be advanced in the informal settlement communities through a series of actions that are identifiably Christian in content and style and that bring overall health and healing to poor people in need The church needs to develop authentic urban mission strategies to reach specific ethnic communities and multiply churches in the informal settlement communities. We need to remember that informal settlement communities are not single homogeneous units, but conglomerates of different groups and they require a specially designed missionary strategy. The departure point for this thesis is biblical. Chapters Two outlines a number of biblical passages from the Old and New Testament and provides us with examples of outstanding urban ministries, which gives us important insight into God’s will for serving the poor. Chapter Three illustrates that throughout history, churches have had a deep concern for the poor and the oppressed. Chapter Four explains that evangelism is part of the mission of the Church. Chapter Five interprets the results and analyses the data of the empirical research that was done in Orange Farm. Chapter Six proposes models for ministering for the poor in the informal settlement communities. I conclude my study in Chapter Seven by referring to the research question that I introduced at the beginning of my study and further by looking at areas that need further research. / Thesis (PhD (Science of Religion and Missiology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Science of Religion and Missiology / unrestricted

This thesis reports on a formal cross–sectional study undertaken over three years (starting in 2002). Since that the South African entrepreneurial scenario had only recently embraced the theories of entrepreneurship and its promotion, it sought to delineate the critical elements that one would link to developing a mid–sized venture, to venture growth (VG) and to leadership provided by the founder. Research within the Information Technology (IT) sector was driven by personal experience and by studies on strategic management, leadership, risk management, opportunity recognition, resource-leveraging and optimisation strategies. The researcher also sought empirical support in management and business strategy studies, in entrepreneurial organisational learning theories, “EOLT” (what this study terms “knowledge creation” and “knowledge – sharing”), and in scientific evidence that supports thinking on venture - creation, promotion or growth. The primary purpose of this study was to (a) ascertain the depth of leadership involved in venture growth (VG) and (b) investigate whether or not founding-entrepreneurs used their leadership abilities, management strategies and skills in VG. A primary and final respondent population (N = 186) of IT company General Managers/Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) was tested. Respondents also had to be active shareholders, founders and leaders, and operationally (i.e. managerially) involved, as well. Statistical considerations were applied to (i) sample-“validity and reliability” (VR), and (ii) sample-manipulation and prescription. Adoption of a two-pronged approach led to the refinement of assumptions, and to the formulation of initial entrepreneurial leadership and venture growth propositions and hypotheses. To accommodate the given research purposes, a pilot–test was initiated amongst a sample of 20 CEOs from five different industries. An analysis of the results of this test and the additional interviews conducted resulted in (a) the refinement of the initial propositions and (b) a topology and foundations for the final testing instrument. Discussions with a subset of the test respondents resulted in the final propositions. Guided by empirical research parameters, four fundamental hypotheses were derived and tested (within the context of the variables in the final testing instrument). Construct evolution resulted in these factors: Entrepreneurial Thinking/Risk perception (F1); Entrepreneurial Persistence (F2); and Unique Performance (F3). Extensive factor analysis testing was applied. The following hypothesis for F2 was also tested: -- H0: The greater the specific and general competencies of a founding entrepreneur, with regard to organisational skill, business knowledge and general past experience, the stronger the business output (i.e. success). -- The alternate hypothesis/Ha: The weaker the specific and general competencies of a founding entrepreneur, with regard to organisational skill, business knowledge and general past experience, the weaker the business output (i.e. success). For F2, a high percentage of variance resulted, the mean = 4.2, the standard deviation = 0.4, and, with the existence of strong statistical significance represented, Ha was rejected. Responses to associated variables were highly polarised. These were interpreted to be indicative of differences in the manner in which founding entrepreneurs perceived vision-establishment as an enabling tool for VG and strategy. A strong prediction for N = 162 also resulted, which here indicated that a strong relationship existed between F2 and F3. In relation to F1, F2 and F3, the prediction also seemed to indicate that motivation and specific competencies also have paths to VG (with significant coefficients; where t >2; and p < .05). Direct-effect domains, such as the specific skills associated with negotiating and contracting (IT deals), indicated the strongest relation to VG. Given the relevant age of most of the founding entrepreneurs in the population (36–45 years), this was not an unexpected result. Although some relationships were found to exist for the other relationships of factors to the tested overall hypothesis, these tended to yield somewhat weaker than expected significances. In relation to the above hypothesis, the study found that technical skill and industry experience exhibited reasonably significant relationships to and with VG. It was also found that in South Africa a very small number of authors have attempted to integrate their thinking concerning founding entrepreneurs into EOLT and VG strategies. No longitudinal studies on the relationship between these elements could be found, and even less research was also found were the topics were tackled in combination–form. The study also concludes that there is room for more research that integrates, links and shows the relationship between VG, founding entrepreneurs and leadership. / Thesis (PhD (Entrepreneurship))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Business Management / unrestricted

Fiction is used as a metaphor to do research. As part of this metaphor people is used to do research with and not about. The stories told are listened to and brought into conversation with written resources, case studies and expert voices. A wide horison is suggested by the using of different scientific disciplines. The stories used is diverse in nature to complement the discription of healing in all its facets. When one listens to the discourses carefully one will realise that healing is one word of fashion in our times and has been in the past. The discourses about healing differ range from a medical, to a theological and even alternative perspective. These discourses tend to fragment the human into smaller parts, which is elevated into a ivory tower to absolute truth. This research is done within a postmodern era which invites researchers to question absolute truths and search for unique outcomes. The emerging of alternative methods invites current discourses to conversation. Alternative discourses invite ivory tower discourses to think in terms of holism. An unique outcome of this dialoque is the new and fresh understanding of healing as a word which includes the person as a whole and not a fragmented object. Healing invites metaphors like brokenness, a unique perspective on life, personal deepening and the search for alternatives as part of the meaning given in a specific situation. Healing invites sick people to conversate with the Scripture first and seek current and alternative discourses thereafter. / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Intertextuality, a handy label that signals interconnectedness between texts, has a long history of interconnectedness with texts. As an inherent feature of all literature, it could not have escaped biblical criticism. Its own historical-critical method, in particular, has been deeply intertextual in that it accounts for the cumulative textual processes behind the Hebrew Bible. It is, however, only in its theoretical expression of the late 1960s with a flat denial of historicism that biblical criticism has found intertextuality unpalatable. This mini-dissertation is a brief cross-disciplinary gesture, aiming to frame the intertextual dilemma within the context of biblical criticism past and present, using its own literary critical and semiotic resources. As a random intertext, the biblical account of the Passover in two ‘parallel’ passages here complements the broad canvas of the intertextual theory, biblical studies of European and American vintage, history, philosophy, and postmodernism in outlining the paradigm transition from text- to reader-oriented biblical criticism. From such an enterprise, intertextuality emerges as a mere critical, if useful, framework whose claims to ahistoricity (objectivity) and novelty are dubious and subject to the very methodological questioning it seeks to clarify. As an intertextual theory and practice in one, the following mini-dissertation is as much an example of its terminological precursor as an illustration of it. / Dissertation (MA (Ancient Languages))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Ancient Languages / unrestricted