List of Titles

Present day challenges in understanding the geomagnetic hazard to national power grids

- Thompson, A W P, Kotze, P, Ngwira, C M, Lotz, Stefanus I, Gaunt, C T, Cilliers, P, Wild, J A, Opperman, Ben D L, McKinnell, Lee-Anne, Lotz, S I

Authors: Thompson, A W P , Kotze, P , Ngwira, C M , Lotz, Stefanus I , Gaunt, C T , Cilliers, P , Wild, J A , Opperman, Ben D L , McKinnell, Lee-Anne , Lotz, S I
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6812 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004305
Description: Power grids and pipeline networks at all latitudes are known to be at risk from the natural hazard of geomagnetically induced currents. At a recent workshop in South Africa, UK and South African scientists and engineers discussed the current understanding of this hazard, as it affects major power systems in Europe and Africa. They also summarised, to better inform the public and industry, what can be said with some certainty about the hazard and what research is yet required to develop useful tools for geomagnetic hazard mitigation.
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Date Issued: 2010

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Public green space inequality in small towns in South Africa

- McConnachie, Matthew M, Shackleton, Charlie M

Authors: McConnachie, Matthew M , Shackleton, Charlie M
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6644 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006874
Description: The distribution of public green space within towns is frequently uneven, and influenced by attributes such as its location relative to the commercial core, as well as the ethnicity and relative wealth and education of the residents. Yet most studies are from large cities in developed countries. In contrast, this study reports on the distribution of public green space across 9 small towns in a developing country, namely South Africa, which offers a unique case study because of its former racially defined settlement patterns. We do so using GIS analysis of aerial photographs focusing on 3 types of suburbs in each town, defined on the basis of wealth as well as race-based history under the previous apartheid regime. The more affluent suburbs, inhabited mainly by whites, have the lowest density of housing and the highest area of green space per capita. Proportionally, they have a similar area under public green space as to the previously racially defined townships, but because of the lower housing density, they have a greater area per person. The newly built low-cost housing areas (termed RDP suburbs), occupied largely by poor black South Africans, are poorly endowed with public green space, and fare worse than the other 2 suburb types on all attributes measured. This needs to be addressed in further low-cost housing developments.
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Date Issued: 2010

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Quantifying the annual fish harvest from South Africa’s largest freshwater reservoir

- Ellender, Bruce R, Weyl, Olaf L F, Winker, A Henning, Booth, Anthony J

Authors: Ellender, Bruce R , Weyl, Olaf L F , Winker, A Henning , Booth, Anthony J
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:7149 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011852
Description: South African inland fisheries are poorly developed and their contribution to near-shore communities is poorly understood. This study is the first comprehensive assessment of recreational and subsistence angling undertaken in an inland fishery in South Africa. The study was conducted on the 360 km2 Lake Gariep, South Africa’s largest freshwater reservoir. A total of 508 anglers were interviewed between February 2007 and January 2008. Of those interviewed, 67% were subsistence anglers and 33% recreational anglers. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) did not differ significantly between sectors. CPUE fluctuated seasonally, ranging between 0.37 (95% CI= 0.26 to 0.51) kg·angler-1·h-1 in winter and 0.88 (0.67 to 1.17) kg·angler- 1·h-1 in summer. The duration of a fishing day ranged from 5.99 (5.24 to 6.74) h in mid-winter to 7.26 (6.88 to 7.63) h in early summer. Expected end-of-day catch (CPUE × fishing-trip duration) ranged from 2.2 to 6.4 kg·angler-1·d-1 depending on the season. The number of anglers ranged from 22 (8 to 53) anglers·d-1 in June/July to 74 (25 to 176) anglers·d-1 in April. Total annual catch from the roving creel survey was estimated at 71.4 (57.4 to 91.4) t·yr-1. Another 7.5 t∙yr-1 were landed during recreational angling competitions. The resultant total catch divided by the lakeshore population equated to a per capita fish supply of 11.1 kg·yr-1. More than 70% of the catch was the alien invasive carp Cyprinus carpio and there was no evidence of overfishing. The fish resource of Lake Gariep is of significant recreational and subsistence value. As a result of the low fish price (ZAR5.72 ± 2.60·kg-1) subsistence fishing was considered a low-revenue activity that mainly augmented food security in lakeshore communities. The relatively high CPUE indicated that the fishery may be an important safety-net during periods when alternate sources of livelihoods are limited. Consequently, we recommend that the importance of angling to local communities needs to be taken into account when planning fisheries development and developing an inland fisheries policy
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Date Issued: 2010

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Quest for space : Rhodes University Library odyssey 1904-2010

- Van der Riet, Sue

Authors: Van der Riet, Sue
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6995 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012424
Description: The completion in 2010 of the magnificent new and expanded Rhodes University Library, billed as Rhodes' most intelligent building, seems an appropriate time to trace its history and reflect on the events that led to this much-needed facility and the enormous amount of planning, canvassing, pleading, persuasion and fundraising that brought it to fruition. It is the nature of libraries to devour space. Collections grow exponentially, creating a voracious and insatiable appetite for more and more places in which to store them. In addition, as users’ needs change over time, there is an ongoing demand for working areas which are versatile, able to accommodate modern paradigms of teaching and learning which now necessitate group study areas with computer access, yet which remain inviting and attractive to a broad range of students and researchers who wish simply to find a congenial space to study. The ongoing shortage of space, and the need to accommodate evolving patterns of use, common to most academic libraries, fuelled the engine which drove the Rhodes Library on its circuitous journey from humble lodgings in a single room in the old Drostdy Building more than a hundred years ago, to its final destination in the imposing position it occupies today. A constant refrain was to be money – or more aptly, the lack of it.
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Date Issued: 2010

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Reflecting on the next generation of models for community-based natural resources management

- Shackleton, Charlie M, Willis, T V, Brown, K, Polunin, N

Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Willis, T V , Brown, K , Polunin, N
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6659 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007083
Description: Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) has been a pervasive paradigm in conservation circles for three decades. Despite many potentially attractive attributes it has been extensively critiqued from both ecological and sociological perspectives with respect to theory and practice (for example Leach et al. 1999; Berkes 2004; Fabricius et al. 2004; Blaikie 2006). Nonetheless, many successful examples exist, although an equal number have seemingly not met expectations. Is this because of poor implementation or rather a generally flawed model? If the criteria and conditions for success are so onerous that relatively few projects or situations are likely to qualify, what then is the value of the model? The questions thus become: how and what can we learn from the past theory and practice to develop a new generation of flexible, locally responsive and implementable CBNRM models, and what are likely to be the attributes of such models?
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Date Issued: 2010

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Simultaneous determination of irinotecan hydrochloride and its related compounds by high performance liquid chromatography using ultraviolet detection

- Mohammadi, Ali, Esmaeili, Farnaz, Dinarvand, Rassoul, Atyabi, Fatemeh, Walker, Roderick B

Authors: Mohammadi, Ali , Esmaeili, Farnaz , Dinarvand, Rassoul , Atyabi, Fatemeh , Walker, Roderick B
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6413 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006508
Description: A new simple, precise and accurate high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of irinotecan (CPT-11) and two related compounds viz., 7-ethyl-10 hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38) and camptothecin (CPT) in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Chromatography was accomplished using a reversed-phase C18 column and ultraviolet (UV)detection and an isocratic mobile phase consisting of 3 % v/v triethylammonium acetate buffer (pH 3) and acetonitrile (70:30 v/v). The linear range of quantitation for all the compounds was 0.1-10 μg/mL. The limit of quantitation for all the compounds ranged between 0.01-0.05 μg/mL. The method has the requisite accuracy, selectivity, sensitivity and precision to assay of CPT-11 and related compounds in pharmaceutical dosage forms and bulk API.
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Date Issued: 2010

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TB treatment initiation and adherence in a South African community influenced more by perceptions than by knowledge of tuberculosis

- Cramm, Jane M, Finkenflügel, Harry J M, Moller, Valerie, Nieboer, Anna P

Authors: Cramm, Jane M , Finkenflügel, Harry J M , Moller, Valerie , Nieboer, Anna P
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:7101 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010657
Description: Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health concern. Inadequate case finding and case holding has been cited as major barrier to the control of TB. The TB literature is written almost entirely from a biomedical perspective, while recent studies show that it is imperative to understand lay perception to determine why people seek treatment and may stop taking treatment. The Eastern Cape is known as a province with high TB incidence, prevalence and with one of the worst cure rates of South Africa. Its inhabitants can be considered lay experts when it comes to TB. Therefore, we investigated knowledge, perceptions of (access to) TB treatment and adherence to treatment among an Eastern Cape population. Methods An area-stratified sampling design was applied. A total of 1020 households were selected randomly in proportion to the total number of households in each neighbourhood. Results TB knowledge can be considered fairly good among this community. Respondents' perceptions suggest that stigma may influence TB patients' decision in health seeking behavior and adherence to TB treatment. A full 95 percent of those interviewed believe people with TB tend to hide their TB status out of fear of what others may say. Regression analyses revealed that in this population young and old, men and women and the lower and higher educated share the same attitudes and perceptions. Our findings are therefore likely to reflect the actual situation of TB patients in this population. Conclusions The lay experts' perceptions suggests that stigma appears to effect case holding and case finding. Future interventions should be directed at improving attitudes and perceptions to potentially reduce stigma. This requires a patient-centered approach to empower TB patients and active involvement in the development and implementation of stigma reduction programs.
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Date Issued: 2010

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The determination of acetaminophen using a carbon nanotube: graphite-based electrode

- Moghaddam, Abdolmajid B, Mohammadi, Ali, Mohammadi, Somaye, Rayeji, Danyal, Dinarvand, Rassoul, Baghi, Mansoureh, Walker, Roderick B

Authors: Moghaddam, Abdolmajid B , Mohammadi, Ali , Mohammadi, Somaye , Rayeji, Danyal , Dinarvand, Rassoul , Baghi, Mansoureh , Walker, Roderick B
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article , text
Identifier: vital:6414 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006509
Description: The oxidation of acetaminophen was studied at a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and a graphite paste. Cyclic voltammety, differential pulse voltammetry and square wave voltammetry at various pH values, scan rates, and the effect of the ratio of nanotubes to graphite were investigated in order to optimize the parameters for the determination of acetaminophen. Square wave voltammetry is the most appropriate technique in giving a characteristic peak at 0.52 V at pH 5. The porous nanostructure of the electrode improves the surface area which results in an increase in the peak current. The voltammetric response is linear in the range between 75 and 2000 ng.mL−1, with standard deviations between 0.25 and 7.8%, and a limit of detection of 25 ng.mL−1. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of acetaminophen in tablets and biological fluids.
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Date Issued: 2010

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The genus Boccardia (Polychaeta: Spionidae) associated with mollusc shells on the south coast of South Africa

- Simon, Carol A, Worsfold, T M, Lange, Louise, Sterley, Jessica A

Authors: Simon, Carol A , Worsfold, T M , Lange, Louise , Sterley, Jessica A
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:6873 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011620 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315409990452
Description: Three species of Boccardia (B. polybranchia, B. pseudonatrix and B. proboscidea) were associated with mollusc shells on the south and south-east coasts of South Africa. Boccardia polybranchia was widely distributed along the coast and falls within the known distribution range of this species. Comparisons with material from other, international, locations showed that some specimens have been misidentified. No characters could be found to characterize distinct species for different regions within the range of B. polybranchia, as currently recognized. Boccardia pseudonatrix was found only at the most eastern site, increasing its known distribution range. Boccardia proboscidea, a non-indigenous species, was found only on abalone farms and was most abundant in the west.
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Date Issued: 2010

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The invasive ‘mothcatcher’ (Araujia sericifera Brot.; Asclepiadoideae) co-opts native honeybees as its primary pollinator in South Africa

- Coombs, Gareth, Peter, Craig I

Authors: Coombs, Gareth , Peter, Craig I
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6510 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005937
Description: Background and aims: Successful invasive plants such as Araujia sericifera usually either are capable of automatic self-pollination or maintain pollinator services by having generalized pollination systems to make use of local pollinators in the invaded range. Alternatively, plants must co-opt new pollinators with similar morphology to native pollinators or reproduce asexually. We aimed to document the pollination biology of A. sericifera in South Africa. Given the success of this species as an invader, we predicted that sexual reproduction occurs either through self-pollination or because A. sericifera has successfully co-opted native insect pollinators. Methodology: We examined the pollination biology of the South American A. sericifera in South Africa. We documented the effective pollinators including a comparison of the efficacy of nocturnal versus diurnal pollinators as well as the breeding system and long-term natural levels of the pollination success of this species. Principal results: We found that native honeybees (Apis mellifera) were the main pollinators of A. sericifera in South Africa. Visiting moths are unimportant pollinators despite being attracted by the pale colour and nocturnal scent of the flowers. Plants from the Grahamstown population were incapable of autonomous self-pollination but pollinator-mediated self-pollination does occur. However, the highest fruit initiation resulted from out-crossed pollination treatments. The high pollen transfer efficiency of this species was comparable to other hymenopteranpollinated exotic and native milkweeds, suggesting that A. sericifera maintains pollinator services at levels experienced by indigenous asclepiad species. Conclusions: Araujia sericifera reproduces successfully in South Africa due to a combined ability of this species to attract and exploit native honeybees as its pollinators and of individual plants to set fruit from pollinator-mediated self-pollination.
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Date Issued: 2010

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The synthesis and photophysical properties of water soluble tetrasulfonated, octacarboxylated and quaternised 2,(3)-tetra-(2 pyridiloxy) Ga phthalocyanines

- Masilela, Nkosiphile, Nyokong, Tebello

Authors: Masilela, Nkosiphile , Nyokong, Tebello
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6579 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004142
Description: The photophysical behaviour of chlorogallium 2,(3)-tetra-(2 pyridiloxy) phthalocyanine (ClGaT-2-PyPc) and its quaternised derivative were compared with that of the water soluble anionic tetrasulfonated gallium phthalocyanine ((OH)GaTSPc) and hydoxy gallium octacarboxy phthalocyanine ((OH)GaOCPc). Although both the quaternised compound and the tetrasulfonated gallium phthalocyanine aggregated in aq. solution at pH 11, resulting in low fluorescence and triplet yields, the presence of the surfactant Cremophore EL improved yields. Triplet quantum yields ranged from 0.52 to 0.70 and fluorescence quantum yields ranged from <0.01 to 0.21. The nature of substituent (sulfonate, carboxy and pyridiloxy) did not influence photophysical properties. Chlorogallium 2,(3)-tetra-(2 pyridiloxy) phthalocyanine and its quaternised derivative displayed longer triplet lifetime than both the tetrasulfonated gallium phthalocyanine ((OH)GaTSPc) and hydroxy gallium octacarboxy phthalocyanine in DMSO and in aq. media in both the presence and absence of surfactant.
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Date Issued: 2010

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The use and appreciation of urban green spaces: the case of selected botanical gardens in South Africa

- Ward, Catherine D, Parker, Caitlin M, Shackleton, Charlie M

Authors: Ward, Catherine D , Parker, Caitlin M , Shackleton, Charlie M
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007086
Description: There are few formal studies on the contribution of botanical gardens as urban green spaces, particularly within developing countries. Therefore, this paper reports on an assessment of the use and appreciation of botanical gardens as urban green spaces in South Africa. Users and staff were surveyed in six national botanical gardens. The gardens provided numerous benefits in terms of conservation, education and recreation. However, the people using the gardens were not demographically representative of the general population of the surrounding city or town. Generally, most of the visitors were middle- to old-aged, well-educated professionals with medium to high incomes. Most were white and English was their home language. There was an even gender representation. Most visited only a few times per year. The majority of users visited the gardens for recreation and psychological reasons rather than educational ones. However, the staff of each garden placed emphasis on education in the gardens and amongst surrounding schools. Most visitors appreciated the conservation dimensions of botanical gardens, and felt that there was insufficient public green space in their town or city. Understanding how people perceive and use the botanical gardens of South Africa is important to inform future research and strategies regarding the conservation of urban green space within a developing country.
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Date Issued: 2010

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Using local experts as benchmarks for household local ecological knowledge: scoring in South African savannas

- Steele, Melita Z, Shackleton, Charlie M

Authors: Steele, Melita Z , Shackleton, Charlie M
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6660 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007084
Description: It is well recognised that local ecological knowledge is an important facet of natural resource management in rural regions of the developing world. However, techniques to assess levels and to integrate it into formal or informal management approaches require further development. In particular, quantitative tools are missing, which would allow more robust analysis of the factors that positively or negatively affect local ecological knowledge and vice versa. This paper reports on a quick assessment approach that provides a quantitative score of generalist local ecological knowledge at the household level. It does so by comparing responses to the knowledge of local people identified as experts within the community. In this way it is both locally constructed and contextualized, and thereby avoids pitfalls of trying to score local ecological knowledge relative to conventional scientific knowledge which frequently cannot account for local constructs. The approach is applied at eight villages throughout the savanna biome in South Africa.
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Date Issued: 2010

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Using systematic case studies to investigate therapist responsiveness : examples from a case series of PTSD treatments

- Edwards, David J A

Authors: Edwards, David J A
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6224 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007774
Description: This article highlights the emerging literature on therapist responsiveness in psychotherapy and examines several concepts used to identify dimensions of responsiveness. Some methodological obstacles are identified to studying responsiveness in a systematic manner, and several examples of existing responsiveness research are reviewed. It is argued that meaningful theory on responsiveness has emerged from research methods that are qualitative and interpretive and that the writing of systematic case studies can be of particular importance since only the presentation of a case unfolding over time can disclose some of the more complex aspects of therapist responsiveness. Examination of a series of systematic case studies of the treatment of post traumatic case disorder in South Africa was used to derive a model for guiding therapist responsiveness with respect with what to focus on at a particular phase of the therapy within a particular session. Material from the cases is used to illustrate aspects of the model related to building social support for the client and promoting emotional processing of trauma memories. , Acknowledgements: This research was supported by grants from the National Research Foundation and the Joint Research Committee of Rhodes University. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Conference of the Society for Psychotherapy Research in Barcelona in 2008 (Edwards, 2008).
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Date Issued: 2010

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Validation of University of New Brunswick Ionospheric Modeling Technique with ionosonde TEC estimation over South Africa

- Moeketsi, D M, McKinnell, Lee-Anne, Combrinck, W L

Authors: Moeketsi, D M , McKinnell, Lee-Anne , Combrinck, W L
Date: 2009-09-01
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6809 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004302
Description: For more than a decade, ionospheric research over South Africa has been carried out using data from ionosondes geographically located at Madimbo (28.38°S, 30.88°E), Grahamstown (33.32°S, 26.50°E), and Louisvale (28.51°S, 21.24°E). The objective has been modelling the bottomside ionospheric characteristics using neural networks. The use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data is described as a new technique to monitor the dynamics and variations of the ionosphere over South Africa, with possible future application in high frequency radio communication. For this task, the University of New Brunswick Ionospheric Modelling Technique (UNB-IMT) was applied to compute midday (10:00 UT) GNSS-derived total electron content (GTEC). GTEC values were computed using GNSS data for stations located near ionosondes for the years 2002 and 2005 near solar maximum and minimum, respectively. The GTEC was compared with the midday ionosonde-derived TEC (ITEC) measurements to validate the UNB-IMT results. It was found that the variation trends of GTEC and ITEC over all stations are in good agreement and show a pronounced seasonal variation for the period near solar maximum, with maximum values ( 80 TECU) around autumn and spring equinoxes, and minimum values ( 22 TECU) around winter and summer. Furthermore, the residual ΔTEC = GTEC − ITEC was computed. It was evident that ΔTEC, which is believed to correspond to plasmaspheric electron content, showed a pronounced seasonal variation with maximum values ( 20 TECU) around equinoxes and minimum ( 5 TECU) around winter near solar maximum. The equivalent ionospheric and total slab thicknesses were also computed and comprehensively discussed. The results verified the use of UNB-IMT as one of the tools for future ionospheric TEC research over South Africa.
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