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Bread and honour: white working class women and Afrikaner Nationalism in the 1930s

- Vincent, Louise

Authors: Vincent, Louise
Date: 2000
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:6205 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008575
Description: Women have occupied a central place in the ideological formulations of nationalist movements. In particular, the figure of woman as mother recurs throughout the history of nationalist political mobilizations. In Afrikaner nationalism, this symbolic female identity takes the form of the volksmoeder (mother of the nation) icon, commonly assumed to describe a highly circumscribed set of women's social roles, created for women by men. The academic orthodoxy holds that middle-class Afrikaner women submitted to the volksmoeder ideology early on in the development of Afrikaner nationalism but that the working class Afrikaner women of the Garment Workers' Union (GWU) represented an enclave of resistance to dominant definitions of ethnic identity. They chose instead to ally themselves with militant, class-conscious trade unionism. This paper argues that Afrikaner women of different classes helped to shape the contours of the volksmoeder icon. Whilst middle class Afrikaner women questioned the idea that their social contribution should remain restricted to narrow familial and charitable concerns, prominent working class women laid claim to their own entitlement to the volksmoeder heritage. In doing so, the latter contributed to the popularization and reinterpretation of an ideology that was at this time seeking a wider audience. The paper argues that the incorporation of Afrikaner women into the socialist milieu of the GWU did not result in these women simply discarding the ethnic components of their identity. Rather their self-awareness as Afrikaner women with a recent rural past was grafted onto their new experience as urban factory workers. The way in which leading working class Afrikaner women articulated this potent combination of 'derived' and 'inherent' ideology cannot be excluded from the complex process whereby Afrikaner nationalism achieved success as a movement appealing to its imagined community across boundaries of class and gender.
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Date Issued: 2000

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Effect of water temperature on the biogeography of South African estuarine fishes associated with the subtropical/warm temperate subtraction zone

- Maree, R C, Booth, Anthony J, Whitfield, A K

Authors: Maree, R C , Booth, Anthony J , Whitfield, A K
Date: 2000
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:7133 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011776
Description: Estuarine biogeographical regions along the southeastern coast of South Africa were investigated in terms of fish distribution and abundance patterns, with particular emphasis on the role of water temperature in influencing these patterns. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted upon the ichthyofaunal assemblages to determine whether the location of the subtropical/warm temperate boundary corresponds to that proposed by Whitfield.(n1) Analyses included the distribution ranges of species associated with estuaries according to presence/absence data, cluster analysis of gill net catches in eight estuaries along the southeastern coast and the relative proportion of tropical to temperate marine species within these eight systems. Quantitative analysis indicated that the ichthyofaunal biogeographical regions are indeed a reflection of water temperature regimes and that the subtropical/warm temperate boundary is located between the Great Kei and Mbashe estuaries. A strong negative correlation was found between the number of temperate fish species and the mean of the minimum monthly temperatures recorded in the systems studied. Qualitative analysis revealed that a barrier appears to exist in the vicinity of the Swartkops estuary, which prevents the westward migration of tropical 'vagrants'. The influence of the Agulhas Current along the east coast and its divergence from the coastline in the Algoa Bay region, as well as upwelling phenomena on the southeast and south coasts are identified as major factors that influence marine and estuarine temperature regimes and therefore the ichythyofauna of this region.
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Date Issued: 2000

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The development of a geomorphological classification system for the longitudinal zonation of South African rivers

- Rowntree, Kate, Wadeson, Roy A, O'Keeffe, Jay

Authors: Rowntree, Kate , Wadeson, Roy A , O'Keeffe, Jay
Date: 2000
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:7082 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012338
Description: The recognition of the Reserve by the new South African Water Law poses new challenges for river scientists. The ecological water requirement or environmental flow is recognised by that part of the Reserve known as the ecological Reserve. If the ecological Reserve is to be implemented, it must first be defined and quantified for all river systems subject to water related developments. Standard procedures are being developed through the Resource Directed Measures (RDM) of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry while monitoring the health of South Africa's rivers is taking place through the National River Health Programme (NRHP). Cost effective methods of developing spatial frameworks for both the RDM and NRHP are required. Concepts of longitudinal river zonation were developed by river ecologists in the 1960s and 1970s to assist in the classification of ecologically uniform stretches of rivers. This paper reviews the different zonation concepts and presents a geomorphological classification of South African river zones that is being applied to the RDM and NRHP. The classification is tested on three rivers, the Sabie, Buffalo and Olifants.
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Date Issued: 2000

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Analysis of chromameter results obtained from corticosteroid-induced skin blanching assay: comparison of visual and chromameter data

- Schwarb, Fabian P, Smith, Eric W, Haigh, John M, Surber, Christian

Authors: Schwarb, Fabian P , Smith, Eric W , Haigh, John M , Surber, Christian
Date: 1999
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:6426 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006562
Description: In a Guidance document, the American FDA recommends the use of a Minolta chromameter rather than the human eye for the quantitative assessment of the pharmacodynamic blanching response produced by topical application of corticosteroids. The purpose of this study was to compare the appropriateness of the human eye and two models of chromameter for the estimation of skin blanching, in terms of the quality of the data generated by each method. The corticosteroid-induced skin blanching from four different betamethasone 17-valerate cream formulations was compared in a typical human skin blanching trial. The optimized assay methodology routinely practised in our laboratories was utilized. The blanching responses were assessed visually by three trained, independent observers and recorded by two chromameters (Minolta model CR-200 and model CR-300). The topical availability of the four creams was determined using visual scoring and chromameter measurements. All data were manipulated in such a manner as to produce a blanching response versus time profile from which AUBC analysis could be performed. Good correlation was observed between the visual assessments made by three independent observers. In contrast, moderate correlation was determined between visual, CR-200 and CR-300 measurements. Surprisingly, no direct linear relationship between the AUBCs produced by the two chromameters was observed indicating that the quality of the data obtained from the two instruments may not be equal. This investigation also indicated that the use of the chromameter is not completely objective. Visual scoring and chromameter measurement produce data sets that differ in quality. Each procedure needs to be validated and investigators have to be trained for both visual assessment and the operation of the chromameter, particularly with regard to the manipulation of the measuring head of the instrument.
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Date Issued: 1999

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Effect of concentration and degree of saturation of topical fluocinonide formulations on in vitro membrane transport and in vivo availability on human skin

- Schwarb, Fabian P, Imanidis, Georgios, Smith, Eric W, Haigh, John M, Surber, Christian

Authors: Schwarb, Fabian P , Imanidis, Georgios , Smith, Eric W , Haigh, John M , Surber, Christian
Date: 1999
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:6425 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006560
Description: Purpose. The thermodynamic acitvity of drugs in topical vehicles is considered to significantly influence topical delivery. In vitro diffusion across a synthetic membrane was shown to be correlated to the degree of saturation of the drug in the applied vehicle and therefore offers a potential for increased topical drug delivery. Fluocinonide a topical corticosteroid, was chosen as a model compound to investigate in vitro and in vivo availability from formulations with different degrees of saturation. Methods. Sub-, as well as, supersaturated drug solutions were prepared using PVP as an antinucleant agent. In vitro membrane diffusion experiments across silicone membrane and in vivo pharmacodynamic activity assessments, using the human skin blanching assay, were carried out. Results. Over the concentration range studied, the in vitro membrane transport of fluocinonide was proportional to the degree of saturation of the respective formulations. The in vivo pharmacodynamic response in the human skin blanching assay was related to the concentration of the drug in the vehicle irrespective of the degree of saturation. Conclusions. From the membrane permeation experiment it can be concluded, that the drug flux might be increased supra-proportionally with increasing donor concentration, drug (super-)saturation (proportional), beyond what would be anticipated based on ideal donor concentration and partition coefficient considerations only. These findings could not be confirmed in the in vivo investigation, probably due to additional vehicle effects (e.g., enhancement, irritation, drug binding) which have to be expected and could have altered the integrity of the stratum corneum and therewith topical bioavailability of the drug.
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Date Issued: 1999

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Systematic status of Plectroctena mandibularis Smith and P. conjugata Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerini)

- Villet, Martin H, McKitterick, L, Robertson, H G

Authors: Villet, Martin H , McKitterick, L , Robertson, H G
Date: 1999
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:6893 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011653
Description: Plectroctena mandibularis Smith is the type species of Plectroctena F. Smith. Because there has been some doubt about its distinctness from P. conjugata, several techniques were used to assess the systematic status of the two species. Most crucially, several colony series contained workers of both phenotypes, and where these series included queens or males, the distinguishing feature of these specimens was not consistently related to those of the workers. Queens, males and workers did not manifest qualitative differences between the taxa, and morphological variation was continuous between the two. The putative morphological basis (funicular index) for distinguishing workers of the taxa arose from allometric variation. Putatively diagnostic colour variation in males was related to latitude, but no simple pattern of morphological variation could be correlated with geographical distribution. Plectroctena conjugata is therefore considered a junior synonym of P. mandibularis.
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Date Issued: 1999

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Analysis of chromameter results obtained from corticosteroid-induced skin blanching. I. Manipulation of data

- Smith, Eric W, Haigh, John M, Walker, Roderick B

Authors: Smith, Eric W , Haigh, John M , Walker, Roderick B
Date: 1998
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:6424 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006559
Description: Purpose. One of the unresolved issues in the FDA Guidance document for topical corticosteroid bioequivalence testing is the method of manipulation suggested for the chromameter data. The purpose of this study was to manipulate the instrumental data from a typical blanching study in a number of ways to investigate the appropriateness of these procedures for comparison with the subjective visually-assessed results. Methods. The human skin blanching assay methodology routinely practiced in our laboratories was utilised and the vasoconstriction produced by two corticosteroid formulations of different potency was assessed visually and instrumentally by use of a Minolta chromameter. The instrumental data were corrected for zero-time and unmedicated site readings. In addition, Euclidean distances were calculated using all data generated by the instrument. Results. Individually the a-, b- and L-scale chromameter values are imprecise and there is negligible vasoconstriction response recorded for the moderately potent formulation. Arithmetical manipulation of the data as suggested by the FDA does not appear to improve the quality of the data in any way. Euclidean distance analysis more closely resembles the visual data and appears to have better precision. Conclusions. It is clear that mathematical correction of chromameter data is unnecessary, especially since the instrumental data are extremely imprecise. Furthermore, the assessment of each individual chromameter index does not adequately characterise the blanching response profile. It is therefore suggested that Euclidean distance may be a better measure on which to base an analysis of bioequivalence than the truncated data set methodology currently suggested by the FDA.
Full Text: false
Date Issued: 1998

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