Thesis (MSc (Botany and Zoology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The family Oxalidaceae has a worldwide distribution, but is most common in tropical and subtropical regions. Oxalis L. is the largest genus of the family comprising ca. 800 of the 900 species. Oxalis species are annual or perennial herbs or rarely subshrubs or trees. The current study assesses on the taxonomic placement of O. furcillata Salter. Currently this species, comprising two varieties, O. furcillata var. furcillata and O. furcillata var. caulescens Salter, is placed in section Foveolatae. Members of this section have endospermous seeds and fleshy leaflets. However, both in terms of leaf morphological and seed characters the two varieties of this species appear to be misplaced within this section. In addition O. furcillata var. caulescens has a unique pollen type, different from both the typical variety and the rest of the section. Both lines of evidence thus suggest that O. furcillata var. caulescens may be misplaced within this section. The present study thus sets out to assess the placement of O. furcillata in general, and the placement of O. furcillata var. caulescens in particular. A multi-disciplinary approach was followed, which included analyses of macro-morphological (including LM and SEM analyses), biogeographical and palynological characters. The variability of quantitative characters was assessed using the STATISTICA 6.0 software package. Leaf dimensions, plant height, bulb length, petiole length and palynology showed sufficient differences between the two taxa to confirm the separate identity of these two varieties as separate species. O. furcillata var. caulescens was thus raised to specific status as O. caulescens (Salter) Bissiengou. The results suggest two different options in terms of the taxonomic placement of the species O. furcillata and O. caulescens. They can either remain in section Foveolatae, best placed near O. senecta and O. densa or may moved to the highly variable section Latifoliolatae. But retaining them within the section Foveolatae appeared to be the better alternative. The correct position will be established both through further morphological analyses and correlation to the trnL-F and ITS sequence-based phylogeny of the southern African members of Oxalis.

The aim of the thesis is based on the existing approaches to the assessment of the difficulty of the task of teaching with a focus on ICT and computer science to design a methodology for determining the difficulty of the task and verify it on the model examples for elementary schools. The methodology will be to respond to the theoretical background, which are based, in particular, of the parameters, forms, functions, and the specifics of teaching jobs. Other theoretical basis for the analysis of the teaching jobs are from the known taxonomies, Focus group research method and statistical data processing. The empirical part qualitative research including the multi-round testing pupils Elementary school and the analysis of the data obtained.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The advent of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has bought hope and reprieve in a previously hopeless situation where there was no available drug to combat the virus with the result that AIDS deaths from chronic, untreated HIV infection became the major cause of morbidity and mortality especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the disease burden is highest. Since March 19, 1987, when the FDA approved Zidovudine for the treatment of AIDS, there has been great improvement in the prognosis and quality of life of HIV infected persons especially in sub- Saharan countries like Nigeria where the burden of HIV disease is high. Even though the treatment of HIV looked promising to all HIV sufferers, there were strict requirements for taking the ARVs, that meant patients had to be able to take the medication more than 95% of the prescribed time. The requirements also involved strict dietary restrictions that further made adherence to these medications very difficult indeed. In addition, the potential for side effects of the medications and its requirement for life-style modifications like abstinence from excess alcohol made sticking to the required regimen very cumbersome and rather patient unfriendly. Therefore, as the use of ARVs became more popular and effective, so did the problem of nonadherence continue to fester and deteriorate even further. Therefore, the problem of lack of optimum adherence to ARVs is one that potentially threatens all the gains of the discovery and use of potent, life-saving ARVs. Hence, there is now a need to look at how best to improve adherence to ARVs in the most innovative, cost-effective and patient-friendly manner. This study argues for the use of simple, locally-driven adherence strategies that overcome the low literacy and excessive alcoholism that are major factors preventing optimal adherence to ARVs amongst patients. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die intrede van anti-retrovirale behandeling het hoop en genade gebring aan ‘n voorheen hopelose situasie waar daar geen behandeling beskikbaar was om die virus te beveg nie, wat daartoe gelei het dat VIGS, as gevolg van MIV-infeksie wat nie behandel is nie, die grootste oorsaak van sterftes in veral Sub-Sahara Afrika is. Sedert 19 Maart 1987, wanneer Zidovudine goedgekeur is vir die behandeling van VIGS, is daar ‘n groot verbetering in die prognose en kwaliteit van lewe van MIV-geinfekteerde mense, veral in Sub-Sahara lande soos Nigerië waar die voorkoms van MIV hoog is. Hoewel de behandeling van MIV vir alle MIV-lyers belowend gelyk het, was daar streng vereistes vir die neem van anti-retrovirale behandeling. Daar was ook streng dieetkundige beperkinge wat die getrouheid tot die behandeling bemoeilik het. Die moontlike newe-effekte van die behandeling en nodige leefstyl veranderinge, soos byvoorbeeld weerhouding van oormatige alkohol gebruik, maak die behandeling redelik pasiënt onvriendelik. Soos die anti-retrovirale behandeling meer gewild en effektief geraak het, het die probleem van ongetrouheid ook toegeneem. Die probleem rondom ongetrouheid tot behandeling bedreig alles wat deur die behandeling gebied kan word. Daar is nou ‘n behoefte daaraan om getrouheid tot anti-retrovirale behandeling te bevorder in die mees innoverende, koste-effektiewe en pasiënt vriendelike manier. Die studie beveel eenvoudige, plaaslik gedrewe getrouheid-strategieë aan wat optimale getrouheid aan behandeling sal verseker.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The vulnerability of female adolescents to HIV/AIDS has been widely documented with little effort being made to investigate the obstacles that these female adolescents actually face in translating HIV knowledge and attitudes into HIV preventive behaviours. The researcher randomly selected 120 school going female adolescents aged between 14-19, from six secondary schools in the Gweru District in an effort to assess their levels of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and their attitudes towards HIV prevention. The study aimed to uncover the obstacles the female adolescents face in practicing HIV preventive sexual behaviours. Inferences drawn from the study point to the fact that although female adolescents may have high levels of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and positive attitudes towards HIV prevention, there are cultural and religious values that promote male dominance in patriarchal societies and female docility thereby leaving little or no room for females to negotiate HIV prevention in sexual relationships. Poverty- driven economic dependency on men, orphan hood, peer pressure, lack of support from parents and guardians on issues to do with their sex and sexuality, lack of skills to be assertive and negative attitudes of health service providers were some of the barriers the female adolescents face as they try to pave their way in to safe motherhood. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kwesbaarheid van vroulike adolessente aan MIV/vigs is wyd gedokumenteer met min moeite wat gemaak word die struikelblokke te ondersoek dat hierdie vroulike adolessente werklik gesig in die vertaling van MIV kennis en gesindhede in MIV voorkomende gedrag. Die navorser lukraak gekies 120 skoolgaande vroulike adolessente tussen die ouderdomme van 14-19, van ses sekondêre skole in die Gweru-distrik in 'n poging om hulle vlakke van kennis oor MIV / vigs en hul houding teenoor MIV-voorkoming te evalueer. Die studie is daarop gerig om die struikelblokke ontbloot die vroulike adolessente gesig in die beoefening van MIV voorkomende seksuele gedrag. Gevolgtrekkings waartoe die studie verwys na die feit dat alhoewel vroulike adolessente kan 'n hoë vlakke van kennis oor MIV / vigs en 'n positiewe houding teenoor MIV-voorkoming, is daar kulturele en godsdienstige waardes wat die bevordering van manlike oorheersing in patriargale samelewings en vroulike handelbaarheid daardeur sodat daar min of geen ruimte vir vrouens MIV-voorkoming in seksuele verhoudings te onderhandel. Armoede-gedrewe ekonomiese afhanklikheid van mans, wees kap, groepsdruk, gebrek aan ondersteuning van ouers en voogde op die kwessies te doen het met hul seks en seksualiteit, gebrek aan vaardighede om selfgeldend en negatiewe houdings van gesondheid diensverskaffers is 'n paar van die hindernisse die vroulike adolessente gesig soos hulle probeer om hul weg te baan in 'n veilige moederskap.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The researcher conducted an explorative, qualitative study to identify the perceptions and experiences of stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV and AIDS in order to establish strategies within ARV Clinic to deal with the situation and eliminate this as a barrier to access the services. The study population included 5 men and 5 women who access health services at Oshakati ARV Clinic and have been on ARVs for more than one year, aged 20-60 years old. The study participants were selected using a purposive sampling approach and interviewed in the ARV clinic. The study found that participants have experienced enacted and internal stigma and discrimination related to their HIV status within their community and families. They however did not perceive or report any experiences of stigma and discrimination in the ARV clinic. Possibility exists that the participants might not be well empowered to detect acts of stigma and discrimination in the health care environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorser het 'n verkennende, kwalitatiewe studie uitgevoer om die waarnemings en ervarings van stigma en diskriminasie tussen mense wat met MIV en VIGS leef, vas te stel met die doel om strategieë te bepaal binne die ARV kliniek om die situasie te hanteer en die hindernes om dienste te bekom te verwyder. Die studiepopulasie het bestaan uit 5 mans en 5 vroue wat die gesondheidsdienste van die Oshakati ARV kliniek gebruik en wat ARV’S vir meer as een jaar gebruik en tussen die ouderdomme van 20-60 jaar is. Die deelnemers is gekies met 'n doelgerigte steekproeftrekking-benadering en onderhoude is gevoer in die ARV-kliniek. Die studie het bevind dat die deelnemers interne stigma en diskriminasie wat verband hou met hul MIV-status binne hul gemeenskap en families ondervind het. Hulle het egter nie aangedui dat hulle stigma en diskriminasie ervaar het by die ARV-kliniek nie. Die moontlikheid bestaan dat die deelnemers nie goed bemagtig is om dade van stigma en diskriminasie in gesondheidsdienste te kan identifiseer nie.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study sought to answer the question, what are the reasons for low utilization of long acting contraceptives among HIV positive women attending the Harare Post-test support services clinic. The study was conducted at Harare Post-test support services clinic from September to December 2012. Data was collected using respondent administered questionnaires. A sample of 30 respondents was used for the study. After data collection, data was grouped, analysed and presented in the form of tables, figures, charts and descriptive statistics. The major findings from the study were that the majority of the women who attend the Harare Post-test support services clinic are within the age groups 35-49yaers. Most of the women are not using and modern contraceptive method. Condoms are used by 17% of the respondents and the long acting contraceptives, Jadelle and IUCD and used by a very low number of women attending the clinic. Fear of side effects is one of the reasons why the women are not suing long acting contraception. Most of the women know that the Jadelle and IUCD are long acting methods of contraception which prevents unintended pregnancy for up to five years for Jadelle and up to ten years for the IUCD. The long acting contraceptives are not available at the post test-support services clinic since the set-up of the clinic is not ideal for the provision of these services, women who need the methods are refereed outside the clinic were the cost to access the services is not affordable for most of the respondents. The conclusion drawn from the study is that women living with HIV have limited knowledge and access the long acting contraceptives at Harare Post-test support services clinic hence are not utilizing the methods. The researcher recommends that all women attending the clinic should be educated on the benefits of using dual protection to protect against unintended pregnancy as well as HIV transmission. A proper referral system should be established so that women referred to other service providers do not pay extra fees to access family planning services at the referral centres. Any IEC material should address the myths and fears related to use of long acting contraception by HIV positive women. The young age group below 35years should also be encouraged to access family planning services through the Post-test support services clinic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal wat die redes is vir die lae gebruik van langwerkende voorbehoeding onder MIV positiewe vroue wat die Harare Post-test ondersteuningsdienste kliniek besoek. Data is deur middel van vraelyste onder 30 deelnemers ingesamel. Die resultate het getoon dat die meerderheid van vroue wat die kliniek besoek het tussen die ouderdomme van 35 en 49 was. Meeste van hulle gebruik nie moderne voorbehoeding nie, slegs 17% het aangedui dat hul kondome gebruik. Die langwerkende voorbehoeding Jadelle en IUCD word deur min die van vroue gebruik. ‘n Vrees vir die nadelige uitwerking daarvan is een van die redes waarom hul nie die voorbehoeding gebruik nie. Meeste van die vroue is bewus dat Jadelle en IUCd langwerkede metodes is wat swangerskap voorkom en dat Jadell tot 5 jaar werk en IUCD tot 10 jaar effektief kan wees. Die langwerkende metodes is egter nie by die kliniek beskikbaar nie en vroue wat die metodes verkies word na ander diensverskaffers verwys waar wat vir meeste van die vroue nie bekostigbaar is nie. Daar kan dus van die studie afgelei word dat MIV positiewe vroue beperkte kennis en toegang rakende die langwerkende voorbehoeding het en daarom nie die metodes ten volle benut nie. Die navorser beveel aan dat alle vroue wie die klinkiek besoek ingelig moet word oor die voordele van die tweeledige vorm van beskerming, nie net teen swangerskap nie maar ook teen MIV-infeksie. ‘n Verwysingstelsel moet in plek gestel word sodat die vroue wat na ander diensverskaffers verwys word nie nodig het om ekstra daarvoor te betaal nie. Daar word verder ook voorgestel dat die klinkiek meer inligtig rakende die langwerkende voorbehoeding beskikbaar stel en ook gesinsbeplanningsdienste aanbied.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study sought to establish the level of knowledge of people on the medical benefits of male circumcision, especially the protective effect against HIV, with the aim of gathering baseline information on the subject for future health promotion programmes. A cross-section survey was conducted at Border Timbers Limited forest management units with 220 respondents that were conveniently selected into the study, and of these 49% were males and the reminder females. The data were collected using two questionnaires; one for females and the other for males. The data was analyzed using an Epi Info programme. The findings showed that, there was little knowledge on the benefits of male circumcision as they scored an average score of three out of eight, and 66% scored less than 50%. Striking was that that females were more knowledgeable than their male counterparts. Less than 20% knew of the protective effect of male circumcision against HIV. Fifty eight percent of the respondents had negative perceptions of the procedure, and 55% of the respondents were of the opinion that, male circumcision should be stopped with as little as twenty percent of the uncircumcised men willing to be circumcised. Under a third of the total respondents (26.7%) expressed their willingness to circumcise their male children. Medically conducted circumcision was preferred by 95% of the respondents over traditionally conducted circumcision. Based on the above; the study concluded that, raising people's knowledge on benefits of male circumcision would help in changing people's perceptions and increase the acceptability of the procedure. It is recommended that the government together with the private sector urgently need to carry awareness campaigns to raise workplace on how male circumcision can reduce chances of getting HIV. Furthermore, traditional circumcision practice should be encouraged and the practitioners trained to carry the procedure in a safe way. Further studies are recommended to assess the impact of stigma on the already circumcised in order to effectively plan and overcome societal barriers for the recommended strategies to make an impact. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie poog om die vlak van kennis van mense rakende die mediese voordele van manlike besnyding te vestig, veral die voorkomende effek teen MIV met die doel om basislyn inligting oor die onderwerp van toekomstige gesondheidsbevoordelings programme te bevorder. 'n Proefopname is uitgevoer by die Border Timbers Beperk bosbestuur eenhede met 220 respondente wat gerieflik gekies is, waarvan 49% mans en die res vroue is. Data is ingesamel met behulp van twee vraelyste vir vrouens en mans onderskeidelik. Die data was ontleed deur gebruik te maak van die Epi Info program. Die bevindinge het getoon dat daar min kennis oor die voordele van manlike besnyding is, aangesien 'n gemiddelde telling van drie uit agt behaal is en 66% respondente het minder as 50% behaal. Wat opvallend was, is dat vroue meer kennis as hul manlike eweknieë oor die onderwerp gehad het. Minder as 20% het geweet van die beskermende effek van manlike besnyding teen MIV. Agt en vyftig persent van die respondente het negatiewe persepsies oor die proses en 55% van die respondente was van mening dat manlike besnyding gestop moet word en so min as twintig persent van die onbesnyde mans is bereid om besny te word. Minder as 'n derde van die totale respondente (26,7%) was bereid om hul manlike kinders te besny. Medies uitgevoerde besnyding was verkies deur 95% van die respondente teenoor tradisionele besnyding. Gegrond op bogenoemde, het hierdie studie bevind dat die verhoging van mense se kennis oor die voordele van manlike besnyding sal help om mense se persepsies asook die verhoging van aanvaarbaarheid van die proses te verander. Daar word aanbeveel dat die regering, tesame met die privaatsektor dringend bewusmakingsveldtogte moet uitvoer om die werksplek op te voed oor hoe manlike besnyding die kanse om MIV te verminder. Verder moet tradisionele besnydingspraktyke aangemoedig word en praktisyne moet opgelei word om die prosedure op „n veilige manier uit te voer. Verdere studies word aanbeveel om die impak van stigma op die reeds besnydes te assesseer om doeltreffend te beplan en om maatskaplike hindernisse te oorkom vir die aanbevole strategieë om 'n impak te maak.

Doctor of Philosophy / Electrical and Computer Engineering / Steven Warren / Linear Systems (a.k.a., Signals and Systems) is an important class in an Electrical Engineering curriculum. A clear understanding of the topics in this course relies on a well-developed notion of lower-level mathematical constructs and procedures, including the roles these procedures play in system analysis. Students with an inadequate math foundation regularly struggle in this class, as they are typically able to perform sequences of the underlying calculations but cannot piece together the higher-level, conceptual relationships that drive these procedures. This dissertation describes an investigation to assess and improve students’ higher-level understanding of Linear Systems concepts. The focus is on the topics of (a) time-domain, linear time-invariant (LTI) system response visualization and (b) Fourier series conceptual understanding, including trigonometric Fourier series (TFS), compact trigonometric Fourier series (CTFS), and exponential Fourier series (EFS). Support data, including exam and online homework data, were collected since 2004 from students enrolled in ECE 512 - Linear Systems at Kansas State University. To assist with LTI response visualization, two online homework modules, Zero Input Response and Unit Impulse Response, were updated with enhanced plots of signal responses and placed in use starting with the Fall 2009 semester. To identify students’ conceptual weaknesses related to Fourier series and to help them achieve a better understanding of Fourier series concepts, teaching-learning interviews were applied between Spring 2010 and Fall 2012. A new concept-based online homework module was also introduced in Spring 2011. Selected final exam problems from 2007 to 2012 were analyzed, and these data were supplemented with detailed mid-term and final exam data from 77 students enrolled in the Spring 2010 and Spring 2011 semesters. In order to address these conceptual learning issues, two frameworks were applied: Bloom’s Taxonomy and APOS theory. The teaching-learning interviews and online module updates appeared to be effective treatments in terms of increasing students’ higher-level understanding. Scores on both conceptual exam questions and more traditional Fourier series exam questions were improved relative to scores received by students that did not receive those treatments.

I Sverige lades 121 671 barn in för sjukhusvård år 2014. Var och en av barnen var i behov av en sjuksköterska som var ansvarig för deras omvårdnad, en omvårdnadsansvarig sjuksköterska (OAS). Enligt svensk lagstiftning har alla rätt till en fast vårdkontakt om ett behov uppstår. Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva vilka arbetsuppgifter en omvårdnadsansvarig sjuksköterska inom barnsjukvården har samt vilken kompetens som barnsjuksköterskor anser vara viktig. För att uppnå syftet genomfördes intervjuer med barnsjuksköterskor. Det transkriberade materialet har bearbetats genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet utmynnade i tre kategorier, vilka speglar de arbetsuppgifter som en OAS har: Kunskap, Teamarbete och Trygghet. De tre kategorierna innefattade arbetsuppgifter såsom att inneha kunskap om barnet, samordna och planera, att vara kontaktperson och att informera. Resultatet bidrar till att belysa en OAS’s arbetsuppgifter för att kunna sprida kunskap om dess roll. / In Sweden 121 671 children were admitted to hospital care in 2014.  Each and every one of them needed a nurse responsible for their care, a primary nurse (PN). According to Swedish law, everyone has the right to a steady care taker if there is a need. The aim of this study was to describe what work assignments a PN within pediatric care has, and what competencies pediatric nurses consider important. Interviews with pediatric nurses were carried out to achieve this. The transcribed material has been worked at through a qualitative content analysis resulting in three categories that reflect a PN work assignments; Knowledge, Team work and Security. These three categories include work assignments such as: knowledge about the child, coordinate and planning, to be a patient confidant, and to educate. The results contribute to and elucidate a primary nurse’s work assignments and help spread knowledge about their role.

Thesis (MA (Dept. of Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The current study was aimed at expanding on and understanding the adaptation and adjustment mechanisms used by families in the wake of heart-related trauma, as a means of providing information that reveals and supports the family's own abilities, capabilities and resilience. The theoretical framework of this study was the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin & Thompson, 1991). The focus of this study is on the existing and new resources (including social support), the situation appraisal (including the family schema) and the problem solving and coping aspects of the family. This focus represents the paradigmatic shift from a pathological view of a family to a salutogenic view. Family resilience factors were collected through the self-report questionnaires and an open ended questionnaire, which were completed by the family member who experienced the heart-related trauma. Results indicated that family time and routines appeared to be a key process for mediating family adaptation, as well as parent-child togetherness and family chores. Affirming communication was identified as a key resilience enhancing factor. Communication that is inflammatory (incendiary communication) was found to have a negative effect on adaptation. Further key processes identified as influencing family adaptation were social support, family hardiness and reframing of problem situations. The identification of key processes that mediate recovery can serve as a valuable guide in the South African context for intervention and prevention, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of families and cardiovascular disease.