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Can e-governance aid young people in indigent communities gain access to higher education: Analysis from an action-research project in OR Tambo District
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Mdleleni, Lwando
The central theme of this thesis is to establish the effectiveness and the role that ICTs have in improving the livelihood of people in rural areas. Its intent is to demonstrate how the use of ICTs, in particular via the e-government approach can help to alleviate unemployment and poverty by assisting prospective students to gain access to higher education. The study focuses on the OR Tambo district (ORTD) which is one of the poorest districts in South Africa, part of the Eastern Cape Province, more specifically on Mankosi village, Ngqeleni Administrative Area (A/A) in Nyandeni Local Municipality. This inquiry is conducted through participatory action research, because it did not only seek to investigate and learn about the problems but, also to intervene and improve the current state of affair and thus improving the livelihoods of those involved. This model was chosen because of its commitment to social justice and equity, especially in powerless and disenfranchised communities such as Mankosi in ORTD. The study benefitted from a long-standing engagement project undertaken by University of the Western Cape (UWC) researchers with communities in ORTD. Consequently, in this thesis, I seek to establish how the availability of electronic government can assist to help young people from the rural Eastern Cape to attain access to higher education. Bearing in mind that Eastern Cape is one of the poorest provinces with, according to statistics from the Department of Social Development, the highest percentage of people living in poverty and the HIV prevalence is among the highest levels in the country. The O.R. Tambo district is the poorest district in the Eastern Cape in terms of all poverty measures. It has the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) (0.45) and the highest poverty gap (231 million) in the Eastern Cape. The number of people living in poverty is also high in this district (64.6%); unemployment is at 65, 5% and the literacy rate 42, 2%. (ECDSD, 2013).
Testing OH megamaser identification methods in H i surveys: updated source-flagging algorithms and new detections in ALFALFA
(Institute of Physics, 2025) Baker, Andrew; Roberts, Hayley; Darling, Jeremy
OH megamasers (OHMs) are extragalactic masers found primarily in gas-rich galaxy major mergers. To date, only ∼120 OHMs have been cataloged since their discovery in 1982, and efforts to identify distinct characteristics of OHM host galaxies have remained inconclusive. As radio astronomy advances with next-generation telescopes and extensive 21 cm H i surveys, precursors to the Square Kilometre Array are expected to detect the 18 cm OH masing line with significantly increased frequency, potentially expanding the known OHM population tenfold. These detections, however, risk confusion with lower-redshift H i emitters unless accompanied by independent spectroscopic redshifts. Building on methods proposed by Roberts et al. for distinguishing these interloping OHMs via near- to mid-IR photometry and emission line frequencies, we apply these techniques to data from the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA [Arecibo L-band Feed Array] (ALFALFA) survey and a preliminary Aperture Tile In Focus (Apertif) H i emission line catalog from the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope. Our study, utilizing the Apache Point Observatory 3.5 m telescope to obtain optical spectroscopic redshifts of 142 candidates (107 from ALFALFA and 35 from Apertif), confirms five new OHM host galaxies and reidentifies two previously catalogued OHMs misclassified as H i emitters in ALFALFA. These findings support the predictions from Roberts et al. and underscore the evolving landscape of radio astronomy in the context of next-generation telescopes.
Lanthanide-mediated spectral conversion and electrochemical charge dynamics in gadolinium oxyselenide for high-performance solar cells
(American Chemical Society, 2025) Nwambaekwe, Kelechi Chiemezie; Tshobeni, Ziyanda Zamaswazi; Cox, Meleskow; Xia, Ruidong; Admassie, Shimelis; Zhong, Linxin; Peng, Xinwen; Iwuoha, Emmanuel Iheanyichukwu
To improve visible-light absorption and charge transport in wide-band-gap oxide-based solar absorbers, photovoltaic (PV) devices were developed using terbium (Tb)- and europium (Eu)-doped gadolinium oxyselenide (GOSe) as the photoactive material. GOSe was selected for its thermal stability, optoelectronic tunability, and capacity to accommodate lanthanide dopants that introduce energy levels favorable for photon conversion and defect passivation. The nanophosphors were synthesized using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method to ensure controlled morphology and crystallinity. Structural analysis confirmed hexagonal Gd2O2Se phase formation, with dopant-induced modifications in unit cell parameters and bond lengths. Eu doping resulted in denser atomic packing and shorter bond lengths, while Tb doping introduced lattice strain, both influencing optical and charge-transport behavior. Optical characterization showed significant band-gap reduction from 3.8 eV in GOSe to 3.1 eV (GOSeT) and 2.8 eV (GOSeE), expanding absorption into the visible region. Photoluminescence confirmed characteristic 4f emissions at 543 nm (Tb) and 615 nm (Eu), indicating successful energy transfer and validating activation of Tb3+and Eu3+transitions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and voltammetry analyses revealed improved electron mobility, reduced charge-transfer resistance (GOSeE: 0.60 kΩ), and enhanced surface kinetics. The doped nanophosphors were incorporated into thin-film solar cells with the architecture Ag/GOSe:Ln/CdS/ZnO/Al:ZnO/ITO. GOSeE-based devices achieved a power conversion efficiency of 3.22%, with a short-circuit current of 8.20 mA cm–2and an open-circuit voltage of 1.20 V, outperforming both GOSeT (1.40%) and undoped GOSe (0.12%). Energy-band analyses of the device layers showed favorable band alignment in doped samples, supporting efficient charge separation. 24-h stability tests under AM 1.5G conditions revealed that GOSeE had better device performance retention, indicating reduced recombination and better structural stability. This study confirm that RE-metal doping is an effective strategy to tune optical and electronic properties of GOSe for use in high-efficiency thin-film PV devices. © 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.
The dependence of the type Ia supernova colour-luminosity relation on their host galaxy properties
(Oxford University Press, 2025) Ramaiya, Shruti; Vincenzi, Maria; Jarvis, Matthew J.; Wiseman, Philip; Sullivan, Mark
Using the Dark Energy Survey 5-yr sample, we determine the properties of type Ia supernova (SN Ia) host galaxies across a wide multiwavelength range - from the optical to far-infrared - including data from the Herschel and Spitzer space telescopes. We categorize the SNe Ia into three distinct groups according to the distribution of their host galaxies on the star formation rate (SFR) - stellar mass () plane. Each region comprises host galaxies at distinct stages in their evolutionary pathways: Region 1 - low-mass hosts; Region 2 - high-mass, star-forming hosts and Region 3 - high-mass, passive hosts. We find SNe Ia in host galaxies located in Region 1 have the steepest slope (quantified by) between their colours and luminosities, with. This differs at the significance level to SNe Ia in Region 3, which have the shallowest colour-luminosity slope with. After correcting SNe Ia in each subsample by their respective, events in Region 3 (high-mass, passive hosts) are mag (3\sigma$]]>) brighter, post-standardization. We conclude that future cosmological analyses should apply standardization relations to SNe Ia based upon the region in which the SN host galaxy lies in the SFR- plane. Alternatively, cosmological analyses should restrict the SN Ia sample to events whose host galaxies occupy a single region of this plane.
The health system’s response strategies to the effects of climate change extreme weather events in Malawi: “a policy analysis”
(BioMed Central Ltd, 2025) Chimatiro, Chancy Skenard; Mianda, Solange; Lembani, Martina
Introduction: The effects of climate change and extreme weather events on the health system are becoming unbearable globally. We conducted a health policy analysis to understand the health system’s response strategies to the effects of climate change extreme weather events in Malawi and identified implementation response challenges for improvement. Methods: The policy triangle model was used to analyze health system policies. A list of policies was obtained from the Department of Policy, Planning, and Development at the Ministry of Health. We retrieved the policies from the Ministry of Health Website, and hard copies were obtained for those not published online. A data extraction form was created to capture all climate change-related issues, which were grouped according to the policy triangle model, including context, content, process, and actors. We further identified implementation challenges to climate change. Results: In total, we obtained 32 health policy documents from the Department of Planning at the Ministry of Health that were screened for climate change-related issues. Out of these, only three had climate change-related themes and strategies. Guided by the policy triangle framework, we present our findings under five themes: policy context, policy contents, policy process, actors, and the implementation gaps. Contextually, the policies were aligned with both local and international goals. The contents of the analyzed policies have climate change thematic areas and strategies not specific to health system improvement. The process involved situation analysis and consultations with both national and international stakeholders. The actors involved included government ministries, local councils, development partners, community leaders, and global organizations. Some of the implementation challenges include a lack of health system-specific climate change strategies and guidelines, a lack of clear funding mechanisms, limited consideration of local knowledge, and a lack of capacity building strategies among health workers. Conclusion: The health system in Malawi is moving in the right direction to minimize the effects of climate change extreme weather events on health. The availability of climate change thematic areas, objectives, and strategies in the analyzed health policies shows that some efforts are being made to address the effects climate change extreme weather events in the country. We recommend developing climate change-specific health policies with clear strategies and financing mechanisms.