Experiences of students with immunological and virological failure on antiretroviral drugs at the University of Limpopo, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019Virological failure occurs when the viral load fails to supress to undetectable limit and immunological failure is when the immune system fails to improve with the CD4 count remaining low on clients on antiretroviral drugs. These being markers of poor adherence to antiretroviral drugs or treatment failure. Upon routine blood-monitoring of students on antiretroviral drugs, the researcher noticed that some students’ viralload levels were not suppressing and their immune system was not improving. The purpose of the study was to identify the experiences of those students whose viral load is not suppressing and their immune system not improving. The objective was to identify and describe the experiences of students with immunological and virological failure on antiretroviral drugs at the University of Limpopo. A qualitative, explorative and descriptive study design was used. Convenience purposive sampling method was adopted. Using a semi-structured interview guide, face-toface interviews were conducted on 10 students on antiretroviral drugs at the Student Health and Wellness Centre, University of Limpopo. Techs’ method was used to analyse data. Guba’s model for establishing trustworthiness was used. The study yielded the following themes: Disclosure, stigma, antiretroviral drugs packaging, side effects of antiretroviral drugs and service delivery. The study concluded that students are afraid to take their treatment for fear of stigmatisation and disclosure is still a problem. Students tend to forfeit taking drugs when studying for examinations due to side effects of the drugs. It is recommended that service delivery and antiretroviral drugs packaging be user friendly. Key words: Disclosure, stigma, side effects, antiretroviral drugs packaging and antiretroviral drugs

A model for legal compliance in the South African banking sector : an information security perspective

In the past, many organisations used to keep their information on paper, which resulted in the loss of important information. In today’s knowledge era the information super-highway facilitates highly connected electronic environments where business applications can communicate on an intra- as well as inter-organizational level. As business expanded more into the cyber-world, so did the need to protect the information they have. Technology advances did not only bring benefits, it also increased the vulnerability of companies’ information. Information, the lifeblood of an organization, must be protected from threats such as hackers and fraud, amongst others. In the highly regulated financial sector, the protection of information is not only a best practice, but a legal obligation carrying penalties for non-compliance. From a positive aspect, organisations can identify security controls that can help them to secure their information, with the aid of legal sources. But organisations find themselves burdened by a burgeoning number of legal sources and requirements, which require vast resources and often become unmanageable. This research focuses on finding a solution for South African banks to comply with multiple legal sources, as seen from an information security perspective

An evaluative study of the performance management system in the South African Police Service, Capricorn area in the Limpopo Province

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 200

STRATEGIES TO PREVENT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AT UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA: A NARRATIVE REVIEW.

Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to be a significant public health issue affecting millions worldwide. It is pervasive and deeply embedded within societies. Despite numerous efforts by governments and various organizations to combat it, GBV has become almost a routine occurrence at South African universities. This paper explored strategies that may be adopted to reduce GBV at South African universities. This is a conceptual paper, and it relies solely on secondary data for analysis and interpretation. The authors employed a purposive sampling strategy to gather data from a variety of databases that were particularly relevant to the subject matter. Secondary data from EbscoHost, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, Jstor, Sabinet, and Proquest were sampled and reviewed using keywords and phrases related to GBV. This review highlights how universities can foster a safer, more inclusive environment where GBV is not tolerated and victims are supported and empowered through continuous training, awareness campaigns, peer support systems, clear policies, and effective response and reporting mechanisms. Preventing GBV at universities requires a collective effort from academic staff, support staff, students, and partners. Therefore, ongoing collaboration, sustained efforts, and a commitment to change are essential for making a significant difference in the prevention of GBV. To support GBV prevention efforts in universities, research should be conducted to investigate how well-coordinated strategies involving the university community contribute to creating safer campus environments. Further research should be conducted to assess the influence of digital awareness campaigns and peer-led programs on shifting student perceptions and behaviors related to GBV. University GBV policies should formally recognize and support peer-led education programs and survivor advocacy groups. These policies must also incorporate intersectional, inclusive approaches that address the unique requirements of marginalized populations, such as students with disabilities, international students, and the LGBTQ+ community

Building a sustainable platform for low-cost mobility in South Africa

Paper presented at the 32nd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 8-11 July 2013 "Transport and Sustainable Infrastructure", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.The transportation burden faced by developing rural and urban communities on a daily basis in South Africa is real and substantial. Many rural communities for example are still not connected to the main rural network or are only provided with unreliable access to socio-economic opportunities. This lack of mobility and accessibility of goods and persons has had the effect of limiting their participation in the mainstream economy thereby entrenching their isolation. No wonder this lack of access is regarded as one of the most significant determinants of poverty. The problem is not transitory, that is, given time it will pass away. Thus, the challenge for transport policies is clearly to achieve a much better level of general mobility and accessibility, at a much lower cost. Non-motorized transport modes provide that option. In this regard, the need for a concerted, deliberate and systematic effort to redress this problem cannot be over-emphasised. Making use of largely secondary data, this paper will seek to showcase as well as assess the work of the Department of Transport running the gamut from demonstration projects, workshops, design fiestas, to a non-motorized transport policy with a view to determining the gaps in the current approach in terms of type and intensity of intervention options as a departure point for crafting a much more robust implementation framework.This paper was transferred from the original CD ROM created for this conference. The material was published using Adobe Acrobat 10.1.0 Technology. The original CD ROM was produced by Document Transformation Technologies Postal Address: PO Box 560 Irene 0062 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 667 2074 Fax: +27 12 667 2766 E-mail: nigel@doctech URL: http://www.doctech.co.zamv201

The experience of learning wind ensemble music through a Dalcroze-inspired approach: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

MA (Musicology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2019This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) aimed to understand the meaning that the members of the North-West University (NWU) Symphonic Wind Ensemble ascribed to their experiences in incorporating a Dalcroze-inspired approach in their wind band rehearsals. The basis of interest in this topic stemmed from the fact that the Dalcroze approach is not widely employed within the instrumental music learning environment in South Africa and, more specifically, within the wind ensemble context. Five students who were members of the NWU Symphonic Wind Ensemble were interviewed for this IPA; they were all at different stages in their studies and had different levels of experience in ensemble playing. Additionally, some of the chosen participants had had previous experiences with the Dalcroze approach through occasional workshops and through their music theory lessons at the NWU School of Music. The NWU Symphonic Wind Ensemble was subjected to several rehearsals in which a Dalcroze-inspired approach was incorporated for the purpose of learning Bernstein's "Mambo". Data were collected by means of in-depth, semi-structured interviews and observational field notes, and analysed by using Atlas.ti 8, where distinctive codes indicated four superordinate themes. The data analysis process revealed that the participants found their musical awareness heightened by the approach. The participants also found the approach to be a socially beneficial and enjoyable experience, and ultimately found that it made their music learning experience easier. The importance of these findings lies in their potential to assist in developing pedagogical methods in ensemble teaching; the possibilities for research in this regard include how Dalcroze-inspired activities could contribute to students' attitudes and confidence in ensemble settings.Master

Chromatic Polynomials and Certain Classes of Graphs

A thesis submitted to the School of Mathematics in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Mathematics University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2023The chromatic polynomial of a graph has been widely studied in the literature. The focus of this research is on exploring the chromatic polynomial of specific graphs that result from the application of a join operation. The chromatic polynomial of a graph can be expressed in various forms; power form, tree form, factorial form and cycle form. The expressions in various forms, such as power form, tree form, and factorial form, have been subject to comprehensive investigation. However, it should be noted that the cycle form presents relative gaps that necessitate further exploration. This work builds upon the existing literature by engaging in a discussion of the coefficients of the chromatic polynomial of a graph expressed in cycle form. To achieve this objective, we commence by presenting the general formula of the chromatic polynomial in cycle form. Following this, we introduce an algorithm that computes the chromatic polynomial of a graph in cycle form. Additionally, we outline a method for converting the chromatic polynomial of a graph from its tree form into the cycle form. Furthermore, we determine the values of the first and second terms of the chromatic polynomial in its cycle form. This research also complements the well established knowledge of the chromatic polynomial of graphs resulting from the application of a join operation. Of particular interest, we explore the joins of various classes of graphs, including the join of a null graph, N1 with a graph G, which is known as the vertex join of graph G. Building upon this framework, we extend our analysis to encompass the join of a null graph, N2, with graph G. Similarly, we present results pertaining to the join of a complete graph, Kn, with a graph G. Significantly, we conduct a thorough comparative analysis of the chromatic equivalence class among these derived classes of graphs. Lastly, we discuss the chromatic uniqueness of these derived classes of graphs, alongside introducing variations to these derived graphs by deleting their edges and subgraphs.MM202

The geometry of the hecke groups acting on hyperbolic plane and their associated real continued fractions.

Continued fractions have been extensively studied in number theoretic ways. In this text we will consider continued fraction expansions with partial quotients that are in Z = f x : x 2 Zg and where = 2 cos( q ); q 3 and with 1 < < 2. These continued fractions are expressed as the composition of M obius maps in PSL(2;R), that act as isometries on H2, taken at 1. In particular the subgroups of PSL(2;R) that are studied are the Hecke groups G . The Modular group is the case for q = 3 and = 1. In the text we show that the Hecke groups are triangle groups and in this way derive their fundamental domains. From these fundamental domains we produce the v-cell (P0) that is an ideal q-gon and also tessellate H2 under G . This tessellation is called the -Farey tessellation. We investigate various known -continued fractions of a real number. In particular, we consider a geodesic in H2 cutting across the -Farey tessellation that produces a \cutting sequence" or path on a -Farey graph. These paths in turn give a rise to a derived -continued fraction expansion for the real endpoint of the geodesic. We explore the relationship between the derived -continued fraction expansion and the nearest - integer continued fraction expansion (reduced -continued fraction expansion given by Rosen, [25]). The geometric aspect of the derived -continued fraction expansion brings clarity and illuminates the algebraic process of the reduced -continued fraction expansion

Exploring patients’ understanding of behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases: a study on diabetes and hypertension in Bushbuckridge, South Africa

Abstract Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 41 million annual deaths worldwide, or 74% of all deaths. Notably, 86% of the 17 million premature deaths attributed to NCDs occur in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the burden of these diseases, many patients lack sufficient knowledge of behavioral risk factors that contribute to NCDs. The study aimed to explore the knowledge of patients diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension about behavioral risk factors contributing to non-communicable diseases. Method The study employed a qualitative, explorative, and descriptive design. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and participants were selected purposively. The data analysis followed Tesch’s open thematic approach, applied at various levels and based on patient-provided text data, with the thematic analysis, the researcher was able to organize and interpret the data presented in the themes systematically. Results Four major themes emerged regarding the understanding of behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases among patients diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension. These include unhealthy eating habits and poor lifestyle choices, mental health issues and stress, challenges patients face in adhering to medications, and optimal management of their conditions, cultural practices, and beliefs. Conclusion The study shed some insights into the knowledge of patients diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension about behavioral risk factors contributing to NCD. They indicated that witchcraft, cultural beliefs, and inadequate health education could have resulted in NCDs, which influenced them to consult traditional healers before coming to the health facility. The observations of participants underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve the knowledge of patients regarding behavioral risk factors for NCDs