Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Recent Submissions
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On a new class of tests for the Poisson distribution based on empirical weight functions
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)The aim of our study is to introduce a new class of tests for the Poisson distribution. The testing procedure entails fitting a weighted Poisson distribution to observed data. The Poisson distribution is a special case ... -
Nikkel-bevattende bimetaal-nanodeeltjies as katalisatore vir elektrochemiese watersplyting
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) can occur in an acidic or alkaline medium. The alkaline HER is very important for water-splitting electrolysers because contamination of H2 and corrosion of the electrolysers and ... -
Structured Linear Systems - Realization and Control
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)We considerde centralized linear time-invariant (LTI) systems which consist of several interconnected sub- systems. The communication structure between the subsystems .... -
Organochlorine pesticide exposure levels and haemoparasite infections as health parameters for leopards in South Africa
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Compared to aquatic ecosystems, limited information exists on associated health parameters influencing terrestrial vertebrates, specifically large carnivores, and discussions around wildlife health measures are currently ... -
Spatial planning perspectives on sustainable community development : an analysis of informal settlements intervention in the Gauteng City Region
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Informal settlements are a major planning challenge and have become a central policy issue in democratic South Africa. In spite of the various local, provincial, national and international initiatives to promote the creation ... -
Investigation of factorisation machines and its extensions to predictive models in a statistical context
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Factorisation machines originated from the field of machine learning and have gained popularity because of the high accuracy obtained in several prediction problems, particularly in the field of recommender systems. As ... -
Management of Tuta absoluta with introduced and native biocontrol agents
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae) is severely damaged by the South American tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Surveys among producers confirmed that the use of synthetic insecticides ... -
Persistent organic pollutants in biotic and abiotic components of the Orange-Senqu River basin
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)The Orange-Senqu River Basin (OSRB) stretches over four southern Africa countries that are all Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (SCPOPs). The main tributary, the Vaal River on the eastern ... -
Antagonistic microbes for the management of Cosmopolites sordidus and Radopholus similis in East African bananas
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)The East African highland banana (EAHB, Musa spp.) is a key staple in East and Central Africa (ECA), where they provide up to 60% of total calorie consumed per capita. Banana production has declined since the 1970s, with ... -
Agrochemicals related to maize crops in South Africa and associated biological effects : an in vitro study
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Although agrochemicals reduce pest-associated crop losses, these chemicals end up in non-target environments following rainfall and irrigation. When fractions of agrochemical mixtures are bioavailable, they pose a threat ... -
Optimising the planning of educational facilities : reflecting on the integration of asset base assessment and land use planning
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)A constitutional obligation of the South African Government is to ensure that "everyone has the right to a basic education" (RSA, 1996:1257). The foundation for this fundamental right is adequate, sustainable infrastructure; ... -
Establishing fire regime characteristics for biomes in southwestern Africa
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Fire has been occurring naturally in all ecosystems on earth before human intervention. Natural fires play a crucial role in the removal of plant litter and regeneration of certain plant species. Vegetation and wildlife ... -
Fake news awareness amongst students : an empirical study
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Fake news is a term that describes news, stories, hoaxes, or other deliberately fabricated information that has been created to misinform or deceive readers. It has no factual basis, and although some fake news stories may ... -
Multi-scale study of massive star forming region NGC 6334I/F
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)This thesis reports an observational multi-scale study of the high-mass star-forming region NGC6334I=F on scales ranging from 10 000 AU down to 1 AU. In 2015, NGC6334I-MM1B started a period of high accretion analogous ... -
A closer look at potential exoplanet targets from the Nooitgedacht Observatory
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Exoplanet surveys like KELT and TESS often require follow-up observations with a traditional, ground based telescope to confirm whether a potential candidate is indeed an exoplanet or not. The optical telescope at the ... -
Optical Spectroscopy of Galaxies in the CLoGS and MHONGOOSE Surveys
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)The majority of observable galaxies within the local Universe can be found within group environments. Roughly at the centre of each galaxy group’s gravitational potential well lies each group’s brightest and most massive ... -
Kinematics and star formation histories of brightest cluster galaxies
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) are the most massive and luminous galaxies in the Universe. In this work we study BCGs at intermediate redshifts (0.3 < z < 0.8) to provide more observational insights on the BCG formation ... -
The numerical simulation of astrospheric evolution in different interstellar environments
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)The interaction between the interstellar medium (ISM) and a stellar wind leads to the formation of an astrosphere. In this study, the evolution of astrospheres is simulated with a two-dimensional spherical hydrodynamic ... -
Degradation of glyphosate using environmental lignocellulolytic fungal isolates and extracellular enzymes
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Glyphosate is the most used herbicide in the world. Having been detected in food and water systems, glyphosate raises several concerns around food safety and its environmental impact. Recent studies have found an increase ... -
Optimization of rotavirus reverse genetics and the rescue of rationally designed rotaviruses
(North-West University (South Africa), 2023)Rotaviruses are the leading cause of diarrhoea related deaths in children under the age of five, despite the availability of vaccines. The currently available rotavirus vaccines are up to 30% less effective in the developing ...