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Welcome to the NWU Repository, the open access Institutional Repository of the North-West University (NWU-IR). This is a digital archive that collects, preserves and distributes research material created by members of NWU. The aim of the NWU-IR is to increase the visibility, availability and impact of the research output of the North-West University through Open Access, search engine indexing and harvesting by several initiatives.

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Facilitation of the theoretical content of Computer Applications Technology to enhance self-directed learning
(North-West University, 2024) Stoltz. J H; SC van Zyl; B Bunt
The focus of this study was to determine how gamification in the teaching-learning of Computer Applications Technology's theoretical content could contribute to the development of self-directed learning characteristics of Generation Z learners. From the literature, it appears that learners could experience the learning of theoretical content as difficult and subsequently learners were often not motivated and engaged in the teaching and learning of theoretical content. The Computer Applications Technology curriculum included a practical and theoretical component, which contributed to the development of knowledge and skills that were essential for the 21st century. It is, therefore, important that Computer Applications Technology learners should be self-directed learners, who were motivated and engaged in the learning content of the practical as well as the theoretical component of the Computer Applications Technology curriculum. A basic interpretive study, within an interpretivist paradigm and qualitative approach, was applied as research design. The population consisted of Grade 8 to Grade 12 learners from a secondary school in the Western Cape province in South Africa. Purposive sampling was applied and 106 Grade 11 and Grade 12 Computer Applications Technology learners gave assent to participate in the research. A direct teaching approach was first followed to facilitate theoretical content during the second term, but during the third term, gamification was applied as intervention. Pre- and post-open-ended questionnaires were administered to participants. Thereafter focus group interviews were conducted. Results indicated that Generation Z learners displayed some self-directed learning characteristics, wanted instant gratification, and lacked skills such as self-motivation, critical thinking and collaboration. A teacher-centred approach was found not suitable for facilitating theoretical content to Generation Z learners. Gamification had potential for enticing them to experience theoretical content in a more engaging and enjoyable experience and fostered self-directed learning. A limitation of the study was that the population only consisted of male learners. Further research was suggested on the application of gamification to enhance self-directed learning learners in diverse contexts.
Interaksie van Geselekteerde Transkripsiefaktore met Reguleringsgebiede van die Mensgeen vir Pro-al(I)-Kollageen
(North-West University South Africa, 1994) Vergeer, Willemina Petronella; de Wet, W J
The fibrillar collagen Type I is abundant in a variety of connective tissue. Type I collagen is first assembled as two pro-a 1 (I) and one pro-a2(I) chains and the genes are under coordinated control. Preliminary studies in the elucidation of the transcriptional regulation of the collagen genes, showed that the human pro-al(I) collagen gene contains a strong promoter as well as an enhancer-like element in the first intron (Rossouw et al. , 1987). Publication of negative elements in the identified enhancer-like region, however, led to much controversy surrounding the existence of this enhancer-like element in the first intron of the human pro-a 1 (I) gene. Little knowledge about cis-acting sequences and their interaction with trans-acting elements in the human pro-al(I) gene is available in the literature. Therefore the aim of this study was to clarify the controversy surrounding the enhancer-like element in the first intron of the human pro-al(I) collagen gene and to further delineate the transcription regulatory regions in this gene between -442 and + 1697. The first part of this study deals with the functional data obtained from two different functional assays, the X. laevis oocyte system and the transfection system. Results from these experiments showed the existence of an enhancer-like region as well as negative elements in the first intron of the human pro-al(I) gene. The negative effect of these negative elements, however, is neutralized depending on the promoter region tested together with the intron region. In the second part of this study the nature and characteristics of the interaction between the cis-acting sequences and trans-acting elements between -442 and + 1697 of the human pro-al(I) gene was determined. DNase I footprinting with crude nuclear extracts from BJA-B and HeLa cells as well as S-300 fractions from BJA-B and HeLa cells, revealed long stretches of masked sequences. These long stretches of masked sequences indicate that there are regions where transcription factors overlap. To delineate 1 the interaction of specific factors, purified transcription factors are necessary. For this purpose three commercial available transcription factors: Spl , Apl and Ap2 were used to analyze the gene region between -442 and + 1697 systematically, employing DNase I footprinting. In a first step of delineation a computer search was done to determine all potential binding sites for the three selected transcription factors whereafter the DNase I footprinting experiments were performed. During these experiments sixteen Spl , one Apl and twentytwo Ap2 binding sites were identified in the human pro-o:1(1) gene between -442 and + 1697 and mapped. An indication of the binding affinities of each binding protein to its related binding site was obtained by the use of increasing protein concentrations with a constant DNA concentration during DNase I footprinting. Quantitative determination of each affinity binding constant was obtained by utilizing densitometry and liquid scintillation spectrometry as well as Marquard's method of non linear least square analysis. Detection of DNA-protein binding via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) supports the results obtained via DNase I footprinting . Analysis of DNA-protein binding via TEM also emphasized the ability of this technique to identify DNA-protein binding regions on long DNA-molecules at low resolution. A looping model was proposed during this study to elucidate the ranscriptional regulation of the human pro-o:1(1) collagen gene, using the results obtained in this study. The basis of this model is the binding of the homologuos pyrimidine-rich regions in the promoter and first intron of the gene with one another, bringing the promoter and enhancer in near proximity to one another while looping out the intervening DNA. The identified Spl and Ap2 binding sites in the enhancer can then bind to the Ap2 binding sites in the promoter region via protein-protein interaction thereby enhancing the transcription activity from the promoter. Protein-protein interaction between different proteins, as well as protein selfassociation, while looping out the intervening DNA, was observed during the electron microscopy study supporting the proposed model in this study. This study makes a real contribution to the elucidation of the transcriptional regulation of the human pro-a 1 (I) collagen gene. Part of the functional data was incorporated in the following paper: Rossouw, C.M.S., Vergeer, W.P., du Plooy, S.J., Bernard, M.P., Ramirez, F. & de Wet, W.J. (1987). "DNA sequences in the first intron of the human pro-al(I) collagen gene enhance transcription" Journal of Biological Chemistry 262, 15151-15157. The rest of the results emanating from this study are in preparation for publication. Various facets of this work have also been presented at the following meetings: de Wet, W.J., de Vries, W.N., Koedood, R. , Rossouw, C.M.S. & Vergeer, W.P. "Interaction of nuclear factors with the enhancer and promoter regions of the human pro-a 1 (I) collagen gene" Second International Conference on Molecular Biology and Pathology of Matrix. Philadelphia, USA (June 1988). Vergeer, W.P. , Rossouw, C.M.S. & de Wet, W.J. "Sequences in the first intron of the human pro-al(I) collagen gene enhance transcription in transfected fibroblasts" Ninth Congress of the South African Biochemical Society: Wilderness (27-31 March 1988). Vergeer, W.P., de Vries, W.N. & de Wet, W.J. "In vitro binding of Spl , Apl and Ap2 to regulatory regions of human pro-al(I) collagen gene" Eleventh Congress of the South African Biochemical Society: Sun City (28 June -1 July 1992).
An Assessment of the Viability of Independent Schools
(North-West University (South Africa), 2002) Verbeek, P A; Nel, I
A master model consisting of six different appendices has generated the necessary basic data in 24 various tables. These tables contain the influence that the four most important variables have on each other. The various appendices form the basis of the data presented and analysed in various tables throughout this chapter. Assuming a certain number of learners as the basis of every table, the four variables (the number of learners, the amount of school fees, the different salaries of the educators and the renting of building of the infrastructure) are viewed according to a specified learner-to-educator ratio. The empirical study confirms that it is possible for an entrepreneur to operate an independent school on a financially viable basis. Assuming that certain variables are held constant it is possible to measure the effect that other variables have on the basic financial viability. The entrepreneur should be aware of the danger of being held at gunpoint by the demands of the learners. The low enrolled numbers have a direct impact on the financial viability. In addition, the educator is an asset to the independent school and should be utilised to draw learners to enrol in the school. The entrepreneur must realise that a delicate management of this asset must lead to future salary increases for the individual educator. A high turnover of educational staff will increase the general perception of academic and managerial problems and will ultimately be detrimental to the financial viability. The various scenarios sketched in this chapter are meant to give the entrepreneur the proverbial food for thought concerning the possible solutions and the effect that they will have on the financial viability of operating an independent school as a business venture. The various tables presented within the scenarios bring to the forefront the basic problem that the entrepreneur faces: how realistic is it to increase the learners from 17 to 22 per educator, and, does the entrepreneur have any indication concerning the possible number of learners that will seek suitable education elsewhere when the school fees are increased?
Spiervolumeverskille tussen Boesman-, Zoeloe- en Blanke Volwasse Mans
(North-West University (South Africa), 1992) Bezuidenhout, Adriana; Van der Walt, T.S.P.; De Ridder, J.H.
During project Antsam (1986) and project Gladiator (1990) comparisons of absolute and proportional muscle volumes were made among European (young, n= 218; old, n= 88), Bushmen (n= 148) and Zulu (n= 156) national servicemen. Muscle volumes for the trunk, upper arm, forearm, thigh and calf, corrected for skinfolds and bone volumes, were calculated according to a formula describing a frustrum of right circular cone with two radii. Comparisons among the test-subjects were made using absolute profiles and proportionality profiles of z-values. Absolute and proportionality assessments were obtained using a phantom strategem. Significant differences (p < 0,05) among the subjects' results were determined through overlap of two standard errors as used in the phantom strategem. With regard to absolute muscle volume measurements for the trunk, upper arm, forearm, thigh and calf the results indicated that the European ( old) group had the biggest muscle volume, while the Bushmen had the smallest muscle volumes. With regard to proportional muscle volume the following results were obtained: FOF the trunk the Zulu had the biggest muscle volume, while the European ( old) group had the smallest muscle volume. For the upper arm the European ( old) group had the biggest muscle volume, while the Bushmen had the smallest volume. For the forearm the European (young) group had the biggest muscle volume, while the Bushmen had the smallest volume. For the thigh the Zulu had the biggest muscle volume, while the European (young) group had the smallest volume. For the calf the European (young) group had the biggest volume, while the Bushmen had the smallest volume. The muscle volume measurement that seemed to be the least affected and which had the fewest differences among the subjects was that of the calf.
Die ontleding van enkele aspekte van stbategiese beplanning van 'n klein hersteldiensonderneming
(North-West University, 1984) Venter, S. J; Havenga, J J D
In South Africa , as well as in the rest of the world , the importance of the small business sector is being recognized and encouraged. An important section of these small businesses is repair service undertakings, that are usually started by technically trained persons . Because they have no training in management and do no long-term planning, their efforts are due to fail . A strategic plan can turn failure of these businesses into success. A small repair business is regarded as an open system with numerous external and internal factors , that either threaten, or offer opportunities to the business. The manager of the small repair business should become acquainted with these facts , in order to manage his business in such a manner that opportunities are exploited to their full extent, and threats can be overcome . This can be done by planning a successful long- term strategy for his business. This strategy should be tested regularly and effectively, to ascertain whether the undertaking is managed optimally in its dynamically changing environment. The small repair business usually does not have the sources available to do an extensive macro arid micro economic study. Therefore , it must rely on the media and commercial organizations to do the economical studies and to explore the environment . The bank of the business can also play an important role in this matter. On the technical side of the business other participants in the industry , and technical publications are important sources of information . Using his own initiative and experience , the manager should determine the influence of the identified factors on his business, and then act accordingly . Usually , an internal examination and resource audit are reletavely simple . However , it is not always so simple to do a forecast of the influence of internal factors on the business, especially not in a growth period. The influence of the internal factors is not easily quantifiable . It should be done, however. Examining his most important competitors is not always easy, especially in a repair business. The success of the different strategies is however quite evident . Therefore he can react accordingly . Identification of various factors and their influence leads to the development of various alternatives and strategies for the small repair business. From these alternatives only one strategy should be developed , that will lead to the optimal attainment of the previously determined goals of a small repair business.