Natural and Agricultural Sciences
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A molecular study of the causal agent of bacterial leaf streak disease
(North-West University, 2016)Bacterial leaf streak disease (BLSD) of maize is caused by the pathogen currently classified as Xanthomonas campestris pv. zeae. The disease has only been reported in South Africa and is a potential threat to commercial ... -
The feasibility of alternative fuels to reduce air emissions from South African cement production
(North-West University, 2017)The research aims to determine the feasibility of alternative fuel co-processing to reduce kiln stack emissions and focussed on the calculation of possible reductions in these emissions when substituting one tonne of ... -
The development of a Relative Risk Method model based on the risk management of aquatic ecosystems influenced by construction activities
(North-West University, 2017)The water quality of Wilge River sub-catchment in the upper Olifants water management area is under threat from a number of land-use activities. The aims of this study is to use existing environmental monitoring and ... -
Sustainable regional planning in a mining environment: Madibeng and Rustenburg municipalities
(North-West University, 2016)The study relates to a focused approach evaluating appropriate spatial planning in a mining environment. The 48km long Platinum Reef is situated between Brits and Rustenburg municipalities, located in the North West Province ... -
Riparian bird diversity of the Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa
(North-West University, 2016)Riparian areas are the ecotones between aquatic and terrestrial landscapes. They are critical areas for biodiversity conservation as they are rich in species diversity. Riparian habitats have more complex vegetation ... -
Landscape function in bush thickened and -controlled areas of the semi-arid savanna in the Molopo region, South Africa
(North-West University, 2017)Bush thickening (bush encroachment) and the effects thereof on the environment has been a very well debated topic over the past few decades which led to the formation of two valid but rather opposite opinions. Pasture ... -
Development of a two-level full factorial model to analyse antenatal HIV data
(North-West University, 2018)The present study is based on antenatal HIV data collected annually by South Africa’s National Department of Health (NDoH) from 2001 to 2010. The data was obtained by sampling pregnant women attending the clinic for antenatal ... -
Lecturers’ perspectives of using problem solving guidelines during the teaching of computer programming
(North-West University, 2018)The purpose of this study was to discover what the views and experiences of the lecturers are when presenting programming, using problem-solving guidelines. The study was prompted by the "digital natives" students who are ... -
Expectations of industry regarding the ICT competencies of HEI graduates
(North-West University, 2018)The scarcity of information and communication technology (ICT) skills is a global issue. Organisations expect the implementation of new technologies to be supported by a competent ICT workforce with up-to-date ICT skills ... -
A metabolomics investigation of selected m.3243A>G mutation phenotypes
(North-West University, 2018)Mitochondrial disease (MD) is a subgroup of inborn errors of metabolism, which can be caused by a mutation in either the nuclear DNA (nDNA) or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). One of the most common mtDNA disease causing mutations ... -
New statistical approaches for the assessment of metabolomics data
(North-West University, 2018)The aim of this PhD study was primarily to develop statistical methods that can accommodate the characteristics of metabolomics data, as well as assist in answering the underlying biological questions. However, to identify ... -
Factors influencing surface ozone variability over continental South Africa and implications for air quality and agriculture
(North-West University, 2018)Extensive scientific research has been conducted on surface ozone (O3) concentrations over several decades in North America and Europe. Through these efforts, significant information is available on the role of chemistry, ... -
Chemical and structural changes of biomass during pyrolysis and the influence on gasification reactivity in coal-biomass blends
(North-West University, 2018)In this study, the conversion of biomass for thermochemical energy applications is studied. In the first section, the effect of biomass upgrade, via torrefaction, on the structural and chemical properties of lignocellulosic ... -
The impact of raw material selection on damring formation and pre-reduction during ferrochrome production
(North-West University, 2018)Electricity consumption is the largest cost component in the production of ferrochrome (FeCr). Currently the pelletised chromite pre-reduction process (solid-state reduction of chromite) is the process option with the ... -
A mine water management strategy for the extension of an Opencast Colliery in Mpumalanga
(North-West University, 2018)Water is a critical resource and can pose a huge risk to mining operations. Therefore, understanding the hydrogeological conditions at mining sites is essential in minimizing the impact on groundwater, and to develop ... -
Awareness of the National Water Act requirements within the Viljoenskroon rural farming community in the Free State Province
(North-West University, 2018)The aim of this research was to measure the awareness of the Viljoenskroon rural farming community of the Section 21 requirements of the National Water Act. The National Water Act has specific regulations regarding the ... -
Enhancing understanding of conceptual relationships in introductory mechanics
(North-West University, 2018)For more than four decades researchers in the field of introductory mechanics have investigated ways to develop student understanding of physics concepts and overcome deficiencies in student ability to apply physics knowledge ... -
ISO 14001:2015 - Understanding context with related risks and opportunities - a South African construction industry perspective
(North-West University, 2018)ISO 14001-based Environmental Management System (EMS), according to extant literature, is the world’s most widely used voluntary environmental management tool. The 2015 version of the ISO 14001 standard introduces a new ... -
Spatially defining the South African map requirements for Environmental Authorisations: a Gauteng Province perspective
(North-West University, 2018)Geography is not limited to a single discipline and must be recognised as a study of the understanding and realisation of how various disciplines are connected and what role they play over time, space and scale in relation ... -
Analysing the factors that influence the procedural efficiency of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process in the Western Cape Province
(North-West University, 2018)The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process have been criticised for being costly and time-delaying to the development of countries and service provisions. Internationally, various authors have researched how the ...
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