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The antifungal effect of Salvadora persica and Euclea natalensis on Candida isolates from Libyan patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus
(University of the Western Cape, 2018) Esmaio, Mustafa Hasan Mustafa
Improved oral hygiene plays a vital role on quality of health and well-being of diabetic patients. Poor oral health leads to an increased incidence of oral diseases, particularly oral candidiasis. The emergence and global spread of azole- resistant Candida species has necessitated the need for novel, cost effective antifungals to stop further spread of resistant Candida infections. This project is the first documented investigation of Candida species prevalence in Libyan type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and investigated the antifungal effect of Salvadora persica and Euclea natalensis on azole-resistant Candida isolates. In this study, 182 Candida isolates from the oral mucosa of T2DM patients were identified using presumptive species identification by chromogenic media followed by confirmation using API ID 32 C, YST Vitek 2 and phenotype microarrays. Their drug susceptibility profiles were tested using the disc diffusion and the AST Vitek 2 compact system. High-pressure liquid chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance were employed to separate, isolate and purify the bioactive compounds and fractions of the plant extracts which were then tested for their antifungal activity. The results showed that both Salvadora persica and Euclea natalensis promise to provide beneficial alternatives to conventional drugs in treating oral candidiasis in diabetic patients.
The relationship between job satisfaction and organisational citizenship behaviour amongst primary school teachers in previously disadvantaged areas in the Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2008) Hassen, Nadiema
Education is one of the top three issues on the national agenda. Any means for improving the system is in the best interest of the nation, and "improved leadership and management are critical to the conditions of work that are required for effective teaching and learning to occur" (National Education Association, 1986, Foreword). Several recent studies have drawn attention to the relationship between job satisfaction and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB). OCB and Job Satisfaction are two attitudinal dimensions that have been identified as important to understanding the work behavior of employees in organisations. Organisational. Citizenship Behaviours (OCB's) refer to employee work behaviours such as helping others, staying late, or working weekends, performing at levels that exceed enforceable standards, tolerating impositions or inconveniences on the job, and being actively involved in the organisation's affairs (Podsakoff, Mackenzie, Paine & Bachrach,2000).
The assessment of Namibian water resources for endocrine disruptors
(University of the Western Cape, 2018) Faul, Andre Karel
Namibia is the driest sub-Saharan country in Africa and it is characterised by low and variable rainfall. As a result, potable water in this mostly semi-arid country is considered an extremely valuable resource. Given the variety of anthropogenic and natural chemicals released into the environment by a growing human population, many water resources worldwide present health risks to both man and wildlife. Many of these chemicals are classified as endocrine disruptors which are chemicals with the ability to adversely affect the physiological systems regulated by the endocrine systems of organisms. These include, among others, reproductive, neurological and immunological effects. Endocrine disrupting chemicals include: natural and synthetic hormones such as estrogen, estrone, estriol and testosterone; heavy metals such as tri-butyltin, lead and cadmium; pesticides such as organophosphates and organochlorides; and a number of compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, has for long been at the forefront of water reclamation by being the first town in the world to reclaim sewage for direct potable re-use. Presently, reclaimed sewage contributes approximately a third of the potable water utilised in Windhoek, with the remaining water being sourced mainly from a three-dam system: the S von Bach, Swakoppoort and Omatako dams, as well as from boreholes tapping into the Windhoek aquifer. Prior to the research conducted for this thesis, no studies have been undertaken to determine the endocrine disrupting potential of the reclaimed sewage in Windhoek. Likewise, no such studies have been performed on any of the surface water sources in this country, including the three-dam system supplying Windhoek. During 2010 and 2011, raw sewage, treated sewage and reclaimed sewage samples from Windhoek were collected at different stages of the wet and dry season. These samples were analysed for cytotoxicity using a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, for neurotoxicity using an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assay, for inflammatory activity using enzyme-linked immunosorbent-assays (ELISAs) to determine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations, as well as for the presence and quantification of three selected steroid hormones: estradiol, estrone and testosterone using ELISAs. Simultaneously, surface water from nine dams in Namibia were collected and analysed for the same parameters. High estradiol, estrone and testosterone levels were detected in the raw sewage. The sewage treatment plant process significantly reduced the concentration of these hormones, but levels were still in the range where adverse effects can be expected in organisms exposed to this water. The reclamation process successfully removed these residual hormones. The AChE inhibition and inflammatory activity of the treated sewage was also significantly lower than in the raw sewage and were completely removed in the reclaimed water. Cytotoxicity was only present in the raw sewage. In all the dam waters, no samples showed cytotoxicity. Estrone was the only hormone detected at low levels, once in the Avis dam water sample and once in the Goreangab dam water sample. The highest acetylcholinesterase inhibition was noted in the Goreangab dam water. Water from all the dams induced high IL-6 production with the highest levels being in the Goreangab and Swakoppoort dam water. IL-10 was lower than IL-6 concentrations in all samples, but was also highest in the Goreangab and Swakoppoort as well as the Avis dam water samples. During 2017 the efficiency of the reclamation process of treated sewage in Windhoek was assessed using a range of immunotoxicological bioassays on the water samples. This again included LDH and AChE inhibition assays as well as IL-6 and IL-10 production. In addition interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) -1β production were also determined using ELISAs. As a broad screen for immunotoxicity, proteome profiling was performed to test for 36 different chemokines and cytokines. This is the first time that proteome profiling is used for determining the immunotoxicity of treated sewage reclaimed for direct potable water use. For the 2017 assays, no cytotoxicity was detected in treated sewage or reclaimed water. Based on the ELISAs, treated sewage induced IL-6, MIP-1β and IL-10 production, but not IFN-γ. The corresponding test results for the reclaimed water were negative. The proteome profile indicated the presence of interleukin-1ra (IL1ra), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), MIP-1α/MIP-1β, IL-6 and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in culture supernatants exposed to treated sewage, but not to the reclaimed water. In conclusion, the results of the studies indicated the usefulness of the in vitro bioassays to test the endocrine disrupting potential of water sources. Results indicated that intake water at the reclamation plant in Windhoek contains contaminants that can adversely affect human health. The reclamation process however successfully removed these. However, routine monitoring is required to ensure continued delivery of safe potable water. The study further indicated the usefulness of proteome profiling as a quick, cost-effective screen for the immunotoxicity of water sources. The proteome profile can be followed up with cytokine-specific ELISAs to better quantify the inflammatory potential of water sources.
An analytical model for assessing the knowledge of statistical procedures amongst postgraduate students in a higher educational environment
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Kamleu, Germaine
Over the past decades, the use and application of statistical concepts for university students have been a big challenge learned from their previous courses. Aftermath of democracy, South African higher education focused on redressing issues of reparation and social imbalances inherited from Apartheid with the commitment to reconstruct a comprehensive educational quality framework. Growing activities lead to new models emphasised to support students and universities in their attempts to demonstrate evidence of enthusiastic statistics learning, with an acceptable degree of accuracy. This study combines quantitative and qualitative research approaches to assess the knowledge of postgraduate students in applying suitable statistical procedures in higher education (HE). The quantitative data were randomly collected from the postgraduate students (n1=307) while the qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews (n2=19) from two institutions (University of Cape Town [UCT] and University of the Western Cape [UWC]) in the Western Cape, South Africa. The SPSS V24 statistical package was used for quantitative data analysis and the explorative design was selected as a theoretical framework to guide the investigation, analysis and interpretation of the qualitative findings. UCT model achieved for all combined categories 73% high prediction accuracy. The UWC model revealed similar results, with ask for help, worth of statistics, fear of statistics monitors, affect, cognitive competence, support from significant others, marital status, ethnic groups and type of study as significant predictors with a high prediction accuracy of 75.49%. Additionally, the ethnic groups, marital status, postgraduate programmes, experiences in statistics and effort were significant contributed factors of SELS beliefs while findings of the combined data of UCT and UWC significantly explained the variation observed in SELS beliefs with only 60% model accuracy. Nevertheless, the qualitative data outcomes indicated that the comments of the participants provided a rich understanding of the perceived failure to choose a relevant statistical test. The results further indicated that confusion and frustration characterised the attitude of students during the selection of a suitable statistical test. The original value of this current study is bridging the inequity gap, in terms of statistics learning, and building a substantial input to the achievement of the objectives of UNESCO, the World Education Forum and the White Paper 3, while ultimately, contributing to the sustainable development of learning statistics at universities in the Western Cape, South Africa. By logical extrapolation, this current study proffers significant insights to the rest of the universities in Africa, and beyond.
The influence of organisational culture on organisational commitment amongst managerial and supervisory staff at a beverage bottling organisation in the Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Ables, Sharneigh
At present organisations are faced with considerable changes in the business environment due to globalisation illustrated through specialisation and individualisation in the workplace (Rastegar & Aghayan, 2012). To stay abreast of these changes, organisations attempt to gain competitive advantage within the competitive business environments they operate. The competitive advantage referred to is, enhancing the organisation's culture, so as to ensure the employees in the workplace stay committed (Acar, 2012). Dwivedi, Kaushik and Luxmi (2014) further add that organisation culture is a fundamental element to any activity in the organisation. The authors also purport that a good organisational culture, which yields self-actualisation needs such as capability development, empowerment, achievement and recognition leads to a greater level of commitment between employees. The inverse, that is, poor organisational culture, leads to lower levels of commitment with consequences such as increased employee turnover and lower productivity rates (Dwivedi et al., 2014). The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of organisational culture (sub-dimensions being, mission, involvement, adaptability and consistency) on organisational commitment (sub-dimensions being, affective commitment, normative commitment and continuance commitment). The sample was chosen by means of convenience sampling. Two hundred and thirty – six supervisory and managerial staff who were employed at a beverage company in the Western Cape partook in the study. Three questionnaires were utilised to collect the data namely, a self - developed biographical questionnaire, containing six items which was used to collect information pertaining to the demographics of the sample. The second questionnaire utilised was the Denison Organisational Culture Survey, which contained 60 items and the final questionnaire administered was Allen and Meyer's (1990) Organisational Commitment Questionnaire, which contained 24 items.