The use of electronic resources at university library has become exponential in the last decade which can be credited to Information and Communication Technological innovations. University libraries have on their part made use of these technologies by going digital with their support services rendered to users. These technological developments have also exercised their influence in the process of teaching and learning at universities of which the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) is one. Literature (Griffey, 2010) suggests that current library users do not like going to the physical library, but rather prefer the library to come to them. This notion has prompted libraries to provide services and products for e-Learners. For this reason, the research was aimed at examining if UNIZULU is able to effectively support the needs of her e-Learners through her embedded library support services. To realise the aim of the study, the researcher used a qualitative research approach within an interpretivist paradigm. Data for the study was collected through interviews from three universities within the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The reason for including data collected from other libraries was to benchmark the embedded support services at UNIZULU against those of other universities within KZN. Thirteen participants were interviewed - four academics from UNIZULU and three librarians from each of the participating universities. The findings of the study revealed that the UNIZULU library has the essential embedded support services which are able to engage with e-Learning. However the level of effectiveness was determined by several factors. The primary reason for inefficiency, as revealed by the findings, was the absence of the UNIZULU librarians in planning for and supporting the Learning Management System (LMS) of the institution. The absence of the librarians affected communication between the academics and the librarians and therefore also the smooth access to e-Resources prescribed for e-Learners by the academics. For benchmarking purposes, it was realised that the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) had all the essential embedded e-Learning support services which made the library and the librarians visible via the LMS. There were products that were found at UKZN that were not available at UNIZULU library. At the time of the study, it was established that librarians at the Durban Institute of Technology (DUT) were in the process of becoming part of the LMS planning team. DUT also has a similar number of resources as were found at UKZN but it does appear that UKZN is the most efficient in rendering e-Learning support services. The researcher recommended that the study be expanded at UNIZULU to include the views of e-Learners along with a wider range of academics and librarians. This should surface a wider variety of inputs to guide improvement in the quality of the service delivery as well as in the collection of products available through the LMS infrastructure. / Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Information Science / MIT / Unrestricted

The Regional Maritime University (RMU) Ghana, pays between $5,000 and $8,000 in annual subscription for e-resources with the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH) to support postgraduate studies and lecturers. However, statistics from the library and library research rooms indicate very low use of the e-resources by postgraduate students and lecturers. This study is therefore set to address the problem of low patronage of the e-resources. The study aimed at finding what library e-resources and services could be provided by the RMU library to enable postgraduate studies. The main research tool that was used to collect data was a questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. The total population for this study was 25 postgraduate students and five lecturers. Thirty (30) copies of the questionnaire were distributed to postgraduate students and their lecturers at the department of ports and shipping administration with a response rate of 66.66%. Undergraduate students were excluded from this study. The study revealed that the RMU library has enough e-resources to support both academic and research work and this is known to the majority (75%) of the respondents who use them occasionally. The main reasons for the occasional use of the e-resources were lack of user-education, user-training and lack of off-campus access to fully put the resources to maximum use. Apart from the study suggesting an extensive user education and awareness creation initiative, it also recommends the rolling out of new user services to enhance usage of the e-resources. / Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Information Science / MIT / Unrestricted

The Consortium of Uganda University Libraries' (CUUL) primary objective is to provide a forum for addressing issues that face Ugandan university libraries. Other objectives are: to standardise operations and promote the adoption of new library-related developments. One of these developments is establishing institutional repositories (IRs). Institutions of higher learning worldwide embrace IRs as a way of disseminating institutional scholarly output at a globally. Ugandan institutions are not exceptional. However, despite the level of interest and the rate of adoption by university libraries in Uganda, only one institution and one research organisation in the Central Region of Uganda have managed to implement their IRs to meet Open Directory of Open Access Repositories' (OpenDOAR) standards. The aim of this study was to investigate the role that CUUL could play in helping member institutions establish successful IRs that meet OpenDOAR standards. The objectives of the study included finding out what defines a successful IR project internationally, the state of IR implementation in the Central Region of Uganda and what CUUL could do to implement successful repositories in the member institutions in the Central Region of Uganda. The study was qualitative, carried out in the central region of Uganda as a case study targeting CUUL member institutions. Respondents were purposively sampled, results were thematically analysed using spreadsheets and results presented in tables in chapter four. Conclusions and recommendations were made according to the findings. It was revealed that most of the CUUL member institutions had embarked on the process of IR implementation developing them in-house without the necessary skilled technical personnel. Consequently, they had many challenges both technical and operational. Conclusively, many institutions had not successfully implemented IRs. CUUL could assist in the implementation of successful IRs by either offering Software as a Service (SaaS) or by assessing individual institutions and help each at their point of need. For any approach chosen, members were willing to actively work with CUUL to have better and successful IR services. / Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Information Science / MIT / Unrestricted

Web scale discovery services (WSDS) are becoming widely adopted by academic libraries for a number of reasons. These include, namely: to improve the experience of students when searching for information; to offer a single easy-to-use interface to the library comparable to that of Google; to increase the visibility of the library resources; and to boost the use of quality resources to advance learning and promote student success. In 2012, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) implemented Summon, a discovery service from Serial Solutions, to support the strategic objectives of the library in pursuing seamless environments for access and delivery of library resources. Apart from the Summon usage statistics, vendor usage statistics for library databases, and library website statistics, there are no other measures in place to determine the extent of Summon use at DUT. The literature is abundant with models and approaches to evaluate electronic information systems (EIS). This includes research on evaluating specific aspects of WSDS, for example, selection and implementation, collection use, usability and library instruction. The eVALUEd toolkit is purposely developed for evaluation of EIS, and is used as a framework for the evaluation of Summon. Using the themes and outcomes presented in the toolkit, and supported by contemporary methodologies, this study provides a holistic approach to evaluating Summon use among students, academics, and Subject Librarians at DUT. A case study method was used to investigate, gather, describe and analyse data relevant to the research. The researcher used various survey methods to collect data from the participants, including the use of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The sample was drawn from first year students, academics responsible for coordination of library training, and Subject Librarians from the Faculty of Health Sciences. The findings provide comparative data on the information-seeking behavior of students, the general use of library resources, the impact of information literacy training on the use of Summon, the use of Summon for assignments and projects, and the factors that determine the use or non-use of Summon among the participants in the different courses. The study proposes new ways in which Summon can be used, as well as a model to improve the use of Summon at DUT. / Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Information Science / MIT / Unrestricted

In this study the nature and consequences of the sexual victimisation of female students at the University of Venda with specific reference to sexual harassment and rape were explored. To serve as a theoretical background for the study, an integrated model of sexual harassment and rape was formulated. In this model various victim related risk factors, offender related risk factors, institutional related risk factors as well as societal related risk factors, were highlighted as possible factors that may contribute to sexual harassment and rape of female students on campus. Ten research participants who met the requirements of the study were selected by means of purposive theoretical sampling. Requests for research participation were made through the use of posters as well as the facilitation of a workshop on the campus of the University of Venda. Two victims of sexual harassment and eight female students, who were subjected to rape on campus, participated in the study. In order to obtain in-depth information on the nature of the research participants’ experiences, face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted. Based upon the analysis and interpretation of the data it became evident that most sexual harassment and rape incidents occur on campus between individuals who know each other. Further analysis of the data indicate that victim related risk factors (such as age, level of study, residential status, victim-offender relationship, victim participation and position in class, denial and non-reporting, the acceptance of stereotypes regarding rape and sexual harassment as well as the use of alcohol), offender related risk factors (such as male peer support and the use of alcohol), institutional related risk factors (such as participation in campus activities, the level of surveillance and absence of deterrence) as well as societal related risk factors (such as the legitimisation of sexual victimisation and the role of significant others) interact with each other and contribute to sexual harassment and rape on the campus of the University of Venda. The findings also show that victims of sexual harassment and rape suffer emotional, physical, social as well as financial consequences as a result of the incidents. Based upon the findings, certain conclusions with regard to the aims of the study were reached and recommendations for further research were also made. Emanating from the feedback from the research participants, recommendations regarding prevention aimed at the victim, perpetrator and the institution (the University of Venda) were also made. The need for the empowerment of female students through educational programmes, the necessity to dispel the stereotypes surrounding sexual harassment and rape as well as the need to encourage the management of the University of Venda to take serious note of sexual victimisation on campus and to implement policy to protect women at this institution, were also emphasised. / Dissertation (MA (Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

In popular belief urban decay in central Johannesburg drove business northwards into the suburbs and particularly into Sandton Business District, mainly during the late 1980s and 1990s. Evidence collected suggests that active decentralization began much earlier and for a host of reasons. In this respect, the emergence of Sandton Business District fits the pattern associated with poly-nucleate cities globally. Charles Colby’s notion of centrifugal and centripetal forces has been found useful in explaining the changing status of Sandton Business District vis-à-vis downtown Johannesburg, despite the fact that suburbanization was hardly a feature of cities in Colby’s time. It has been found that the emergence of Sandton Business District is explicable in terms of existing academic thinking and literature. The main frameworks employed in the analysis include the shifting dynamics suggested by Colby’s centrifugal and centripetal forces. The importance of an amenity locational orientation, especially with regard to higher-income and mobile communities like those in Sandton; and both the organic and more recently policy-driven push towards the recognition of agglomerative economies in the metropolitan economy, are stressed. The Sandton Business District’s competitive edge was established in the 1970s, with Sandton City providing a high-profile focal point along with then forward-thinking town planning. During the 1980s Sandton Business District emerged as the premier decentralized office address in Johannesburg. The so-called ‘crime and grime’ phenomenon in central Johannesburg only reared up during the 1990s, which is when the major exodus of business commenced and was accelerated by political changes, municipal capacity constraints, and a dearth of applied planning policy. The demand for space in Sandton Business District was exacerbated in the early 1990s when major corporates left the Johannesburg CBD and relocated to Sandton propelled by the escalating centrifugal forces. The reputation of Sandton Business District as the country’s prime financial district was crowned with the relocation of the JSE Securities Exchange to Sandton in 2000. When institutional frameworks and the policy environment for the uni-city of Johannesburg were tightened up in the 2000s, the relationship between Sandton Business District and downtown Johannesburg became clearer. At the same time Sandton Business District was facing severe infrastructural capacity constraints coincidental with a recession in the commercial property market. As the new century progressed, Sandton Business District started to take on the shape of an edge city, something that Garreau (1991) has described as a city on the periphery of an existing, established urban area. The possibility that Sandton Business District has the form of an edge city has also been explored. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MA / Unrestricted

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.cubense (Foc) is a fungal pathogen that is highly successful in its ability to cause Fusarium wilt of banana. Apart from its specificity to the banana plant (Musa spp.), genotypic variants of the pathogen have proven to evolve sufficiently to target specific banana cultivars under different environmental conditions. This variability in the fungus has been illustrated in numerous studies in the past, and involved phenotypic markers such vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) and genotypic markers such as DNA amplified fingerprints (DAFs), random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPs) and sequencing. This thesis has made an attempt to investigate the underlying reasons for diversity and diversification of a worldwide population of Foc, with emphasis on a South African population The application and development of molecular biological tools for phylogenetic and host-specificity studies which included techniques such as vegetative compatibility studies, analysis of sequence data of a nuclear and mitochondrial gene region, searching for mating type genes, transformation of Foc and the development and testing of microsatellite markers. Many studies on Foc have been useful in demonstrating the diverse nature of the banana pathogen. Few of these, however, have made any attempts to investigate the nature of its diversification. In an examination of the reproductive potential of a worldwide population of Foc, it has been proven that the fungus is clonal with an apparent absence of sexual recombination. It may be that Foc has become such a genetically isolated population and such an evolutionary advance pathogen that no sexual stage will ever be found. Mutations therefore, are expected to be the primary mechanism responsible for genetic variation in Foc. Sequence data of nuclear and mitochondrial gene regions with different evolutionary rates proved that Foc consists of several clonal lineages tat maybe genetically distinct. These clonal lineages group into separate groups. The first of these groupings included the South African population while the second included isolates from the Australian region. It is suggested that clonal lineages could be linked with distinct pathotypes of the fungus. All isolates of Foc, however, maintain one common link, their ability to cause disease on the banana host. The relationship between Foc and the banana plant has been studies extensively many years ago on the Cros Michel cultivar. The successful transformation of Foc with the green fluorescent protein, however, now makes it possible to better understand the interactions between different fungal pathotypes and host genotypes. It will also substantially assist in understanding the process of fungal infection and host defence responses. Details of the interactions, especially between Cavendish varieties and the pathogen, needs to be investigated further in future. A study of the population structure of Foc, using VCGs and microsatellite markers, provided valuable insights into the diversity of the South African population in relation to a worldwide collection of the fungus. Both markers showed that the South African population of Foc was remarkably homogeneous, strongly reminiscent of an introduced population. This was in clear contrast to the large genetic diversity apparent in populations from Southeast Asia, the reported centre of origin of the pathogen. VCGs are believed to represent clonal lineages within a species. They are useful but not ideal markers for defining diversity in a pathogen like Foc that has no defined genetic basis for race assignment. While VCGs are believed to represent clonal lineages within a species, the assumption that isolates in the same VCG are genetically very similar can be misleading. The development of microsatellite markers for Foc has provided an opportunity to study evolutionary relationships among populations and subpopulations of the Fusarium wilt pathogen. Differentiation between subpopulations was found to be high due to restricted gene flow and random drift. The high gene diversity revealed within the native Foc population is a clear indication that management of Fusarium wilt should involve the development of resistance cultivars. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / Unrestricted

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) was offered a unique opportunity to become involved in the prestigious global Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) project in 1995. This study is an academical and technical document describing and elucidating aspects regarding the eventual establishment of the BSRN measurement facility at De Aar that embodies South Africa’s involvement. The dissertation opens with an introductory chapter offering background information and an explanation of circumstances leading to South Africa’s involvement in this project, including reasons exactly why De Aar was chosen to be the South African BSRN site. This is followed by details on a scientific measurement plan including necessary information on radiation processes in the atmosphere, measurement techniques and associated instrumentation. The next chapter is devoted to the design of a radiometric measurement system answering to the scientific plan, with more details on instrumentation, peripherals, calibration and data management strategies. Three years of real measured data since station establishment, is used as a basis to apply and evaluate the various quality assurance techniques of the central BSRN data-archive. Special reference is made in a separate chapter to the two partial solar eclipses that traversed Southern Africa in 2001 and 2002, in the form of case studies. This dissertation is illustrated by several photos, and rounded off by details of the station-to-archive file format as laid down by the international BSRN data-archive, a useful table reflecting sunrise, sunset, solar transit, day length and Top Of Atmosphere (TOA) radiation, an explanation on climate zone classification, as well as a useful technical guide on setting up a pyrgeometer. Apart from the academic content this document also intends to serve as a guideline for station operation and future development of whatever form, for both the station scientist and the station manager. Such developments can include the establishment of other BSRN stations, or in general the enhancement of the quality of solar radiation measurements over the entire Southern Africa Developing Community (SADC) region. The author wishes to state that in presenting this document in English, he does not wish to promote English as scientific language at the expense of Afrikaans. The choice of language was taken purely on the basis of broader international involvement and a wider local usefulness of this document. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

This study develops a macroeconometric model for the economy of Lesotho with the view of assessing existing and alternative macroeconomic policies. The model is designed to capture the structural characteristics of the economy while also exploiting the developments in economic theory and statistical analytical tools. It consists of seven sectors, namely, the production sector, the employment sector, the aggregate demand sector, the government sector, the balance of payments sector, the monetary sector and the price sector. The model is estimated using time-series data spanning the period from 1980 to 2000 using the Engle-Granger two-step cointegration technique, capturing both the long-run and short-run dynamic properties of the economy. The construction of this model follows the lines of the aggregate supply-aggregate demand framework. The economy is assumed to be demand driven by multiplier effects operating through private consumption and private investment with the prices system ensuring that the economy operates within capacity constraints. It is noteworthy that the level of disaggregation adopted in the model is considered sufficient to explore the necessary policy options and is dictated to a large extent by the availability and quality of data. The tracking performance of the model and its forecasting accuracy is satisfactory as evaluated by means of the MAE, the MAPE, the RMSE and the Theil inequality coefficient. It is evident from the policy options assessed in this study that fiscal policy remains the main and most potent policy instrument available to policy makers. It is also evident that the effectiveness of fiscal policy is not exclusive as monetary policy can still be used to some extent. A salient outcome of the policy simulation experiments is that the stimulation of the economy from the supply side affects key macroeconomic variables such as output and employment in a more sustained and robust way than when the economy is stimulated from the demand side. In addition, the economy of Lesotho is highly vulnerable to external shocks, as they tend to work their way through practically all sectors of the economy. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Economics / PhD / Unrestricted

More than one half of the total area of Mauritius Island (1844 km2) is under intensive cultivation, mostly sugarcane. Since the sugarcane industry is currently facing tremendous economic constraints, sugarcane cultivation may be diversified into other agricultural types such as vegetables, pineapple and forestry. Increasing concern about the sugarcane industry and the consequences of agricultural diversification, necessitated the application of soil loss prediction models within a GIS framework. Modelling of the potential soil loss in the Rivierre Des Anguilles catchment (RDAC) is undertaken to understand the extent to which soil erosion is affected by different land use types or agricultural systems. Although most of the RDAC is covered with sugarcane (62%), a wide range of landforms, micro-climates and soils exist, making the catchment representative of southern catchments in Mauritius. The study integrates GIS techniques with two empirical soil loss models: The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE); and The Soil Loss Estimation Model of Southern Africa (SLEMSA). Both models, as well as the GIS application termed Soil Erosion Assessment using GIS (SEAGIS), are used to investigate average annual soil loss from the catchment under key management practices. Using data on soil erodibility, rain erosivity, topography and land cover, soil loss can be estimated under different management options for cropland (sugarcane, intercropped cane, vegetables, banana and tea) and natural vegetation (scrub and forest). RUSLE is additionally used to predict soil loss for the catchment under potential crop diversification scenarios including, vegetables, pineapple and forest. Using the empirical soil loss models in conjunction with a GIS, it is possible to compile soil erosion prediction maps of the RDAC under current and future conditions. Although soil loss in the catchment varies significantly, models show a similar trend in mean soil loss rates of the cropping systems. Rates are generally highest on steep slopes (>20%) with high rainfall (2400 mm) along the river valley and upper catchment area (above the 400 contour line). Predicted soil loss results, however, indicate a strong inverse relationship with vegetation cover. Very high soil loss values (more than 80 t.ha-1.yr-1) are attained under vegetables, moderate values (13 to 20 t.ha-1.yr-11) under intercropped cane, low (10 t.ha-1.yr-1) or very low (less than 2 t.ha-1.yr-1) under sugarcane, very low (4 t.ha-1.yr-1) to moderate (16 t.ha-1.yr-1) ratings under banana plantations, very low (less than 1 t. -1.yr-1) to high rates (41 t.ha-1.yr-1) under tea plantations, and low rates (less than 10 t.ha-1.yr-1) for natural vegetation. SLEMSA, however, predicts high erosion rates (27 t.ha-1.yr-1to 59 t.ha-1.yr-1) under natural vegetation, since the model is not developed for use in natural conditions. Crop diversification will have a considerable influence on soil erosion. RUSLE predicts a mean soil loss of 42 t.ha-1.yr-1, 20 t.ha-1.yr-1, and 0.2 t.ha-1.yr-1 under vegetables, pineapple, and forest, respectively. When compared to current conditions, the mean soil loss for the catchment will double under pineapple (increase by 100%), and quadruple under vegetables (increase by 300%). Results indicate that no appreciable erosion damage will occur in the RDAC if converted to forested land. Results provide considerable information regarding soil loss under potential land use The study also improves the understanding of factors governing erosion in Mauritius, which is important in the targeting of research and soil conservation efforts. Landowners and the government can use results to promote farming systems that do not degrade land resources. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted