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Research Publications (Health Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/216

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Browsing Research Publications (Health Sciences) by SDG "SDG07"

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    Carbon utilization profile of a thermophilic fungus, Thermomyces lanuginosus using phenotypic microarray
    (Scientific Research Publishing, 2013-09) Mchunu, Nokuthula Peace; Permaul, Kugen; Alam, Maqsudul; Singh, Suren
    The thermophilic filamentous fungus, Thermomyces lanuginosus produces the largest amount of xylanase reported. In addition to this, it expresses large amount of other enzymes that have been used indus- trially or have academic interest. Thus, this fungus has a potential to be applied for biomass conversion to produce biofuel or other applications. In this study, the Biolog system was used to characterize the utilisa- tion and growth of T. lanuginosus on 95 carbon sources. The carbohydrates based compounds, both single sugars and oligosaccharide, showed the best utilisation profile, with the pentose sugar xylose in- ducing the highest growth, followed by trehelose, raf- finose, D-mannose turanose fructose and glucose. Among oligosaccharides, sucrose had the highest my- celium formation followed by stachyose, maltose, maltotriose, glycogen and dextrin. Interestingly the fungus also grew well on cellobiose suggesting that this fungus can produce cellulose hydrolysing pro- teins. D-alanine was the best amino acid to promote fungal growth while the effect of other amino acids tested was similar to the control. These results dem- onstrate the ability of this fungus to grow relatively well on most plant based compounds thus making this fungus a possible candidate for plant biomass conver- sion which can be applied to a number of biotechno- logical applications including biofuel production.
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    Perceptions of facilitators using case-based educational strategies in a nursing management decentralized program in South Africa
    (Post Academic Publications, 2013-06) Nkosi, Zethu; Pillay, Padmini; Nokes, Kathleen M.
    Background: Case-based education has a long history in the disciplines of education, business, law and the health professions. Research suggests that students who learn via a case-based method have advanced critical thinking skills and a greater ability for application of knowledge in practice. In medical education, case-based methodology is widely used to facilitate knowledge transfer from theoretical knowledge to application in patient care. Nursing education has also adopted case-based methodology to enhance learner outcomes and critical thinking. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of case-based facilitators in a decentralised nursing management education program located in Durban, South Africa. Methods: This descriptive, exploratory study used focus groups to examine perceptions of facilitators (N=15) using case-based education in a nursing management program. Results: The average facilitator was female, between 41 and 50 years of age, working part-time, educated with a baccalaureate degree, working as a professional nurse between 11 and 20 years, and slightly more than half had worked as a facilitator 3 or more years. The three major themes emerged were related to the student learners, the learning environment, and using facilitation to teach the programme. Conclusion: Decentralised nursing management educational programs can meet the needs of nurses who are located in remote areas which are characterised by poor transportation patterns and limited resources and have great need for quality healthcare services.