This study investigates the signal processing required in order to allow for the evaluation of hearing perception prediction models at low signal-to-noise Ratios (SNR). It focusses on speech enhancement and the estimation of the cues from which speech may be recognized, specifically where these cues are estimated from severely degraded speech (SNR ranging from -10 dB to -3 dB). This research has application in the field of cochlear implants (CI), where a listener would hear degraded speech due to several distortions introduced by the biophysical interface (e.g. frequency and amplitude discretization). These difficulties can also be interpreted as a loss in signal quality due to a specific type of noise. The ability to investigate perception in low SNR conditions may have application in the development of CI signal processing algorithms to counter the effects of noise. In the military domain a speech signal may be degraded intentionally by enemy forces or unintentionally owing to engine noise, for example. The ability to analyse and predict perception can be used for algorithm development to counter the unintentional or intentional interference or to predict perception degradation if low SNR conditions cannot be avoided. A previously documented perception model (Svirsky, 2000) is used to illustrate that the proposed signal processing steps can indeed be used to estimate the various cues used by the perception model at SNRs successfully as low as -10 dB. AFRIKAANS : Hierdie studie ondersoek die seinprosessering wat nodig is om ’n gehoorpersepsievoorspellingmodel te evalueer by lae sein-tot-ruis-verhoudings. Hierdie studie fokus op spraakverbetering en die estimasie van spraakeienskappe wat gebruik kan word tydens spraakherkenning, spesifiek waar hierdie eienskappe beraam word vir ernstig gedegradeerde spraak (sein-tot-ruisverhoudings van -10 dB tot -3 dB). Hierdie navorsing is van toepassing in die veld van kogleêre inplantings, waar die luisteraar degradering van spraak ervaar weens die bio-fisiese koppelvlak (bv. diskrete frekwensie en amplitude). Hierdie degradering kan gesien word as ’n verlies aan seinkwaliteit weens ’n spesifieke tipe ruis. Die vermoë om persepsie te ondersoek by lae sein-tot-ruis kan toegepas word tydens die ontwikkeling van kogleêre inplantingseinprosesseringalgoritmes om die effekte van ruis teen te werk. In die militêre omgewing kan spraak deur vyandige magte gedegradeer word, of degradering van spraak kan plaasvind as gevolg van bv. enjingeraas. Die vermoë om persepsie te ondersoek en te voorspel in die teenwoordigheid van ruis kan gebruik word vir algoritme-ontwikkeling om die ruis teen te werk of om die verlies aan persepsie te voorspel waar lae sein-tot-ruis verhoudings nie vermy kan word nie. ’n Voorheen gedokumenteerde persepsiemodel (Svirsky, 2000) word gebruik om te demonstreer dat die voorgestelde seinprosesseringstappe wel suksesvol gebruik kan word om die spraakeienskappe te beraam wat deur die persepsiemodel benodig word by sein-tot-ruis verhouding so laag as -10 dB. Copyright / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / unrestricted

Title: Quality of life of women with urinary stress incontinence Objectives: The aim of this thesis was to assess quality of life of women after conservative therapy and chirurgic therapy of urinary stress incontinence in Brno-město and Brno- venkov district. Methods: We did a questionnaire survey on quality of life by using a standardized questionnaire I-QoL (Urinary Incontinence Quality-of-life questionnaire). The questionnaire survey was conducted in patients after conservative or surgical therapy by TVT or TOT tape. Subjectively perceived quality of life of these patients after completion of the therapy was observed. The results were compared between the groups undergoing conservative and surgical therapy by TVT or TOT tape. Results: After the output assessment of quality of life of patients after the treatment, we found that there is a difference in the quality of life of patients treated conservatively and surgically by TVT or TOT tape. Patients treated surgically had higher quality of life than patients treated conservatively by 9%. We also found that there is a difference in the physical, mental and social scores of the groups. The respondents who were treated conservatively had lower score in all evaluated areas with the greatest difference in the physical area and the smallest difference...

Abstract in Afrikaans and English / This study was initiated when the researcher became aware of the problem that learners from low socio-economic environments tend to experience barriers to learning in numeracy and literacy. These barriers were identified in a class of Grade 1 learners through extensive literature study, after which the development, teaching and learning of numeracy and literacy in grade 1 were investigated. The researcher then developed intervention programmes for literacy and numeracy, each running for a period of six weeks, in order to overcome learners’ difficulties in these learning areas. Each programme was subdivided into three shorter programmes of two weeks each, which addressed different aspects of literacy and numeracy. Each sub-programme was supplemented by a schedule of daily activities in order to reinforce learning. Learners’ competence in literacy and numeracy was assessed before starting the programme and re-assessed at the end, using the same tests they had done at the beginning. Learners’ marks in both sets of tests were compared, which demonstrated their progress or non-progress after having participated in the intervention programmes. / Inleidend tot die studie word ‘n uiteensetting gegee van hoe die navorser bewus geword het van die navorsingsprobleem, wat as volg gestel word: Die navorser is bewus daarvan dat leerders uit ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese milieu gewoonlik struikelblokke in leeraktiwiteite in gesyferdheid en geletterdheid ervaar. Deur literatuurstudie is die struikelblokke wat graad 1-leerders in geletterdheid en gesyferdheid ondervind, geïdentifiseer. Vervolgens is die ontwikkeling, onderrig en leer van geletterdheid en gesyferdheid volledig uiteengesit en intervensieprogramme in geletterdheid en gesyferdheid saamgestel om leerders se struikelblokke tydens leeraktiwiteite te bowe te kom. Drie intervensieprogramme in geletterdheid en drie in gesyferdheid is saamgestel, wat elk vir twee weke gevolg is. Volledige skedules van daaglikse aktiwiteite wat by elke program uitgevoer is, is ook ingesluit. Leerders se bedrewenheid in geletterdheid en gesyferdheid is geassesseer voor daar met die programme begin is. Na afloop van die intervensieprogramme het leerders weer dieselfde toetse afgelê waardeur hulle vordering of nie-vordering bepaal kon word. Verskeie tabelle is saamgestel wat leerders se vordering aantoon. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Summaries in English and Afrikkans / The aim of this thesis is to investigate the labour law position of South African farm workers. For three and a half centuries farm workers constituted the most neglected group in the South African labour force. Consequently, an understanding of their present position can only be obtained by investigating their labour history. As in other parts of the world, farm workers in South Africa held a subordinate position to agricultural employers. Discrimination against black persons added to the inferior socio-economic and political position of South African farm workers. White farmers occupied a strong political position during most of the time under investigation, which enabled them to institute and apply discriminatory legislation and informal methods to overcome labour shortages. The freedom of movement of black people and their access to land were restricted to create a cheap immobile labour force. During the 20th century farmers prevented the inclusion of farm workers in labour legislation by exercising their political influence. Pressure by industrial trade unions and encouragement by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) resulted in the adoption of the Agricultural Labour Act which made labour legislation applicable to farm workers, but precluded them from striking and made allowance for longer working hours than for industrial workers. The new political dispensation facilitated the inclusion of farm workers in general labour legislation without any discriminatory exceptions and land reform legislation now protects farm workers against arbitrary evictions. A bill of rights furthermore guarantees the rights of farm workers which were previously violated. It would superficially seem that farm workers' problems are something of the past. Farm workers, however, remain handicapped in exercising their new rights by historical factors and circumstances peculiar to the agricultural sector. Legal comparison with Ontario and California confirms that legislation alone is insufficient to empower farm workers. It is recommended that the government amend existing legislation to accommodate the special needs of farm workers and that relevant ILO conventions, especially Convention 141 of 1975, be ratified to aid the development of unions for farm workers. This will contribute to the empowerment of and social justice for farm workers. / Die doel van hierdie tesis is om die arbeidsregtelike posisie van Suid-Afrikaanse plaaswerkers te ondersoek. Plaaswerkers was vir drie en 'n half eeue die mees afgeskeepte groep in die Suid-Afrikaanse werksmag. Om die huidige posisie van plaaswerkers te begryp is dus slegs moontlik deur 'n bestudering van die regsgeskiedenis van plaaswerkers. Soos in ander werelddele beklee plaaswerkers in Suid-Afrika 'n minderwaardige posisie teenoor landbouwerkgewers. Diskriminasie teenoor swartpersonehet bygedra tot die sosio-ekonomiese en polities minderwaardige posisie van Suid-Afrikaanse plaaswerkers. Blanke boere het gedurende die grootste deel van die tydperk onder bespreking 'n sterk politiese posisie beklee wat hulle in staat gestel het om diskriminerende wetgewing en informele metodes aan te wend om arbeidstekorte te bowe te kom. Swart persone se bewegingsvryheid en toegang tot grond is beperk om 'n goedkoop immobiele werksmag te vorm. Gedurende die 20ste eeu het boere se sterk politiese posisie hulle in staat gestel om te verhoed dat plaaswerkers by arbeidswetgewing ingesluit word. Druk deur industriele vakbonde en aanmoediging deur die Intemasionale Arbeidsorganisasie (IAO) het gelei tot die Wet op Landbou-arbeid waardeur arbeidswetgewing op plaaswerkers van toepassing gemaak is, maar wat plaaswerkers verbied het om te staak en wat voorsiening gemaak het vir langer werkure as vir industriele werkers. 'n Nuwe politieke bedeling het gelei tot die insluiting van plaaswerkers in algemene arbeidswetgewing sonder enige diskriminerende uitsonderings en grondhervormingswetgewing beskerm plaaswerkers nou teen arbitrere uitsettings. 'n Handves van menseregte waarborg verder die regte van plaaswerkers wat voorheen misken is. Oenskynlik is die probleme van plaaswerkers nou iets van die verlede. Plaaswerkers word egter steeds in die uitoefening van hulle nuwe regte gestrem deur historiese faktore en die eiesoortige omstandighede van die landbousektor. Regsvergelyking met Kalifomie en Ontario het aangetoon <lat wetgewing alleen nie voldoende is om plaaswerkers te bemagtig nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die regering bestaande wetgewing wysig om voorsiening te maak vir die spesiale behoeftes van plaaswerkers en dat relevante IA0 konvensies, veral Konvensie 141 van 197 5 geratifiseer word om die ontwikkeling van vakbonde vir plaaswerkers te bevorder. Dit sal bydra tot die bemagtiging van en tot sosiale geregtigheid vir plaaswerkers / Law / LL.D.

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The name of the School 'Tot Nut van het Algemeen' appears often in the literature on early Cape education. It is described as an institution of excellence that boasts many famous pupils such as President Jan Brand, Ds JH Neethling and 'Onze Jan' Hendrik Hofmeyr. In this study I explore how the School managed to adapt to political, social and philosophical changes to survive for 70 years. I do this through telling the narrative of its existence and functioning, and investigate the vexing question as to why it was forced to close in 1870. The research document consists of 9 chapters. The introductory chapter provides the orientation for the study. It is followed by a chapter dealing with the factors that led to the establishment of the School, taking into account events both overseas and at the Cape. Chapter 3 focuses on the British occupation of the Cape, with special emphasis on the Anglicisation of schools and the reaction of the colonists to this change of circumstance. Chapter 4 describes the School's activities from 1832, covering among other aspects, its reopening, curriculum and funding. The School's link with the South African College is also explored. In Chapter 5, I discuss the education policies that shaped the School, as well as the ideals of liberalism and democracy in as far as the School practiced them. Chapter 6 deals with the closing of the School, and I offer various reasons for this. In chapter 7, I present cameos of some of the influential teachers, while the School's legacy to Cape society is examined in Chapter 8. The study concludes with a reflection that draws these facts into an integrated view and highlights pertinent insights into the 'Tot Nut' as a worthy institution in the light of the findings revealed in this research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die naam van die skool 'Tot Nut van het Algemeen' verskyn dikwels in die literatuur oor vroeë onderwys aan die Kaap. Dit word as 'n puik instansie beskryf, met menige bekende oudleerlinge soos President Jan Brand, Ds JH Neethling en 'Onze Jan' Hendrik Hofmeyr. In hierdie studie ondersoek ek hoe die Skool by verskeie politiese, sosiale en filosofiese veranderinge aangepas het om sodoende 70 jaar te kon oorleef. Dit doen ek deur die Skool se bestaan en funksionering te beskryf, en ek spreek die frustrerende kwessie aan waarom dit in 1870 gedwing is om te sluit. Die navorsingsverslag bestaan uit 9 hoofstukke. Die inleiding behels die oriëntasie ten opsigte van die studie. Dit word gevolg deur 'n hoofstuk wat handeloor die faktore wat tot die ontstaan van die Skool gelei het, waar daar na gebeure oorsee sowel as aan die Kaap, gekyk word. Hoofstuk 3 fokus op die Britse besetting, veralop die Anglisasie van die skole en die , koloniste se reaksie daarop. Hoofstuk 4 beskryf die Skool se aktiwiteite vanaf 1832, onder andere sy heropening, die kurrikulum en bevondsing. Die Skool se verwantskap met die Suid- Afrikaanse Kollege word ook bespreek. In Hoofstuk 5 ondersoek ek die opvoedingsbeleid wat die Skool beïnvloed het, asook die ideale van liberalisme en demokrasie in so ver die Skool dit beoefen het. Hoofstuk 6 handeloor die sluiting van die Skool en ek bied verskeie redes daarvoor aan. In Hoofstuk 7 bestaan uit sketse van die vernaamste onderwyspersoneel, terwyl die Skool se bydrae tot die Kaapse samelewing in Hoofstuk 8 voorgelê word. Die studie word afgerond met 'n terugblik wat hierdie feite in 'n integreerde perspektief oor die 'Tot Nut' bymekaar bring en, in die lig van die bevindings wat in hierdie navorsing blootgelê is, kan dit as 'n waardige instansie beskou word.

The promotion of sustainable development is an objective shared by African Union (AU) member states and the pursuance thereof is expressly mandated by the Constitutive Act of the African Union, 2000 and the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community, 1992. Lack of access to modern energy sources, such as electricity and the heavy reliance on traditional biomass as primary energy source are factors contributing to the non-achievement of the promotion of sustainable development. These factors are collectively referred to as energy poverty. The African Continent as a whole has limited, and in some instances, lack access to modern energy sources while the majority of its population relies heavily on traditional biomass as primary energy source. Africa can accordingly be classified as an energy poor region–a situation which does not bode well for the promotion of sustainable development. Access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources is fundamental to socio-economic development. Mitigating the impacts of energy poverty and more specifically lack of access to modern energy sources on the sustainable development of Africa depends upon ensuring increased access to modern energy sources. The above-mentioned instruments furthermore contain provisions which link regional cooperation on the formulation of coordinated regional law and policy on areas/matters of common concern with the achievement of the objective of promoting sustainable development in Africa. One of the areas of common concerns listed is that of energy. Regional cooperation must accordingly be geared towards the effective development of the continent‘s energy and natural resources; promoting the development of new and renewable energy in the framework of the policy of diversification of sources of energy; and establishing an adequate mechanism of concerted action and coordination for the collective solution of the energy development problems within the AU. The formulation of coordinated energy law and policy should take place with reference to the specific sources of energy to be regulated. In this regard, the provisions of the Abuja Treaty and other sub-regional energy access initiatives list various sources of energy as forming part of a diversified AU energy mix – one of which is nuclear energy. In this study recommendations are made as to what should be embodied in a coordinated AU regional nuclear legal framework aimed at regulating increased access to nuclear energy capable of contributing towards the promotion of sustainable development. The recommendations are based on an examination of relevant international, regional and sub-regional legal instruments and other initiatives. / PhD (Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

La pregunta sobre com s’ha de representar l’Holocaust és i ha estat una qüestió problemàtica i essencial en els Estudis de l’Holocaust. Certs acadèmics i intel•lectuals han negat la possibilitat de representació de l’horror del genocidi dels jueus europeus, i en especial, s’ha negat l’ús de la ficció literària i cinematogràfica. Aquesta tesi analitza les tres etapes de recepció de l’Holocaust i els seus discursos acadèmics predominants. L’inicial silenci i la invisibilitat social del genocidi, en la que es formula el dictum adornià sobre la irrepresentabilitat del genocidi dels jueus europeus. Més endavant, l’Holocaust es fa socialment visible, i l’aparició d’obres de ficció controvertides obliguen a plantejar-se certs “límits de representació”. I contemporàniament, quan la ficció sobre l’Holocaust s’ha popularitzat i globalitzat, arribant a formar part de l’entreteniment i del consum mediàtic. En aquest context, en el que les representacions de ficció del genocidi dels jueus europeus ja formen part de la nostra cultura, l’estudi de cas es centra en l’anàlisi narratològica del llibre Everything is Illuminated (2002) de Jonathan Safran Foer, amb l’objectiu de presentar una opció de ficció de l’Holocaust. / La pregunta sobre cómo se debe representar el Holocausto es y ha sido una cuestión problemática y esencial en los Estudios del Holocausto. Ciertos académicos e intelectuales han negado la posibilidad de representación del horror del genocidio de los judíos europeos, y en especial, se ha negado el uso de la ficción literaria y cinematográfica. Esta tesis analiza las tres etapas de recepción del Holocausto y sus discursos académicos predominantes. El inicial silencio e invisibilidad social del genocidio, en el que se formula el dictum adorniano sobre la irrepresentabilidad del genocidio de los judíos europeos. Más adelante, el Holocausto se hace socialmente visible, y la aparición de obras de ficción controvertidas obligan a plantearse ciertos “límites de representación”. Y contemporáneamente, cuando la ficción sobre Holocausto se ha popularizado y globalizado, llegando a formar parte del entretenimiento y del consumo mediático. En este contexto, en el que las representaciones de ficción del genocidio de los judíos europeos ya forman parte de nuestra cultura, el caso de estudio se centra en el análisis narratológico del libro Everything is Illuminated (2002) de Jonathan Safran Foer, con el objetivo de presentar una opción de ficción del Holocausto. / The question of how the Holocaust should be represented is and has been a problematic and essential question in Holocaust Studies. Certain academics and intellectuals have denied the possibility of representation, and very specially, have denied the use of literary and cinematographic fiction. This thesis analyses the three stages of reception of the Holocaust and their predominant academic discourses. The initial silence and social invisibility of the genocide, in which the Adornian dictum is formulated on the unrepresentability of the genocide of European Jews. Later, the Holocaust is made socially visible, and the emergence of controversial works of fiction force us to consider the option of certain “limits of representation”. And, recently, in which fiction about the Holocaust has become popularized and globalized, and become part of the entertainment and consumer mass media. In this context, in which fictional representations of the genocide of European Jews are now part of our culture, this case study focuses on the narratological analysis of the book, Everything is Illuminated (2002), by Jonathan Safran Foer, in order to present a fictional choice of the Holocaust.

No description available.

No description available.

Ageing populations and the unique challenges they pose are characteristic of the accelerating demographic transition evident in both developed and developing countries. In South Africa the elderly population is also increasing dramatically. There is a disproportionate distribution of older persons per ethnic group, with white older people representing the largest group of older South Africans (21%, proportional to ethnic group). The influx of the baby boomer generation will inevitably lead to an exponential increase in the numbers of white older people within the next two decades. Regardless of integration policies in post-apartheid South Africa, 90% of all residential care facilities are still occupied solely by white older people. Such facilities are described as buildings or other structures used primarily for the purposes of providing accommodation and of providing a 24-hour service to older persons. The increasingly larger segment of white older people holds considerable implications for the future of these facilities since more individuals will turn to this living arrangement. The Older Persons Act of South Africa was inaugurated by the government in 2006 and its key objectives are aligned with the recommendations of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (2002). Amongst many other objectives, the Older Persons Act emphasises practices that enhance the wellbeing and quality of life (QoL) of all older persons. However, the reigning circumstances in most residential care facilities have been described as challenging. A national audit of residential care facilities in 2010 indicated a need for psychosocial interventions since the QoL of residents was found to be undefined and unspecific. The purpose of the study was to explore the construction of QoL, from the perspective of the older people living in residential care facilities. A purposive sample of 54 participants (male, n=10; female, n=44) with ages ranging between 62 and 95 years was drawn. The participants were able to communicate congruently and understood the research purpose. Participants resided in four similar facilities situated in urban areas in two South African provinces. A multiple-context inquiry was conducted to gather rich data and collateral information. The study made use of interviews, focus groups, journals, and the Mmogo-method® to collect qualitative data. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and visual analysis methods were used to analyse the data. Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA) was conducted with 19 participants, resulting in a conceptual model of QoL. Member-checking was performed by the participants. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), as part of a larger project, namely “An exploration of enabling contexts (05K14)”. The findings revealed that the nature of QoL is informed by spiritual worldviews, interpersonal contexts and the maintained ability of older people to regulate aspects of their own lives. The nature of QoL was also revealed as transitional throughout the ageing process and that the dimensions of QoL may be found on a continuum. Six domains were elicited in the construction of QoL, namely spirituality, health, relationships, meaningfulness, autonomy and sense of place. Each domain presented with certain contributors and inhibitors influencing the older person’s ability to experience QoL. Findings revealed the strengths of older people to deal with adversities associated with later life. The inhibitors of QoL are emphasised for the attention of policy makers, the managers of residential care facilities, care givers and family members. The study provided insight into the causal influences between the domains of QoL. A conceptual model with systemic properties is proposed. The theoretical implications of this systems model are that QoL domains are mutually informing and exercise a particular influence on the relational states of older people. It is hoped that new knowledge in the area of QoL might direct future research efforts and put resources channeled to residential care facilities to better use. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.