CO2-induced woody thickening depends strongly on interacting abiotic and biotic factors
- Authors: Raubenheimer, Sarah Lynn
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164646 , vital:41151 , doi:10.21504/10962/164646
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Botany, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Raubenheimer, Sarah Lynn
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164646 , vital:41151 , doi:10.21504/10962/164646
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Botany, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Coastal engineers embrace nature: characterizing the metamorphosis in hydraulic engineering in terms of Four Continua
- Slinger, Jill H, Vreugdenhil, Heleen S I
- Authors: Slinger, Jill H , Vreugdenhil, Heleen S I
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163846 , vital:41076 , https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092504
- Description: Hydraulic engineering infrastructures, such as reservoirs, dikes, breakwaters, and inlet closures, have significantly impacted ecosystem functioning over the last two centuries. Currently, nature-based solutions are receiving increasing attention in hydraulic engineering projects and research programs. However, there is a lack of reflection on the concomitant, fundamental changes occurring in the field of hydraulic engineering, and coastal engineering in particular, and what this could mean for sustainability. In this article, we signal the shift from conventional to ecosystem-based hydraulic engineering design and characterize this in terms of four continua: (i) the degree of inclusion of ecological knowledge, (ii) the extent to which the full infrastructural lifecycle is addressed, (iii) the complexity of the actor arena taken into account, and (iv) the resulting form of the infrastructural artefact. We support our arguments with two carefully selected, iconic examples from the Netherlands and indicate how the stretching ideals of ecosystem-based engineering could engender further shifts towards sustainability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Slinger, Jill H , Vreugdenhil, Heleen S I
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163846 , vital:41076 , https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092504
- Description: Hydraulic engineering infrastructures, such as reservoirs, dikes, breakwaters, and inlet closures, have significantly impacted ecosystem functioning over the last two centuries. Currently, nature-based solutions are receiving increasing attention in hydraulic engineering projects and research programs. However, there is a lack of reflection on the concomitant, fundamental changes occurring in the field of hydraulic engineering, and coastal engineering in particular, and what this could mean for sustainability. In this article, we signal the shift from conventional to ecosystem-based hydraulic engineering design and characterize this in terms of four continua: (i) the degree of inclusion of ecological knowledge, (ii) the extent to which the full infrastructural lifecycle is addressed, (iii) the complexity of the actor arena taken into account, and (iv) the resulting form of the infrastructural artefact. We support our arguments with two carefully selected, iconic examples from the Netherlands and indicate how the stretching ideals of ecosystem-based engineering could engender further shifts towards sustainability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Combination ecosystem green engineering and early life history processes to enhance the intertidal biodiversity in the Port of East London
- Authors: Mafanya, Sandisiwer
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Biotic communities -- South Africa -- East London , Perna -- Ecology --South Africa -- South Africa-- East London , Mexilhao mussel -- Ecology -- South Africa -- East London , Habitat (Ecology) -- Modification -- South Africa -- East London , Benthic animals -- Effect of habitat modification on -- South Africa -- East London , Harbors -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166376 , vital:41357
- Description: Marine coastal ecosystems are highly impacted by anthropogenic activities, including the development of, and practices within, harbours and/or ports. Artificial structures associated with harbours have a different chemical composition, texture and orientation than that of the natural benthic habitats they have replaced, and are therefore not generally favourable for the settlement and occurrence of indigenous species. Attempts are being made to identify what structures and materials can be used to aid in the rehabilitation of native species within harbours. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of utilising environmentally-friendly artificial structures (tiles) with varying complexity (crevices and ridges with different depths) with ecological engineers (the indigenous bivalve Perna perna), on the associated benthic biodiversity within an international port in South Africa (Port of East London). The objectives of the study were to test the effects of artificial habitat complexity and the presence of bivalves on 1) the growth, mortality and biomass of a selected model species of ecosystem engineer (P. perna), and 2) the associated intertidal biodiversity. Tiles seeded with bivalves (P. perna) were deployed at two sites in the Port of East London and monitored monthly over a period of 12 months (November 2016-October 2017) to assess survival, growth and associated biodiversity. Environmental variables were also measured every month. The results of the three-way repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that tile treatment (especially high complexity of 2.5 and 5 cm) had an effect on the diversity of mobile species, length, height and biomass of the bivalves used as model ecosystem engineer, indicating the potentials for protection from wave dislodgement and refuge provision. Treatment (especially flat tiles) also had an effect on sessile/sedentary species diversity, indicating the greater proportion of space provided by these non-complex tiles. In addition, month had an effect on the mortality, height and biomass of the bivalves. Mortality was highest in October 2017, while the growth in height and biomass of P. perna were largest in January and October 2017 respectively. The use of artificial tiles also had a positive effect on the survival, growth, and biomass of bivalves (especially the length, weight and dry weight in 2.5 cm and 5 cm complexity). Additionally, this research investigated patterns of settlement and recruitment of the local bivalve population (P. perna) in the Port of East London and adjacent natural coastline to understand the early life history temporal and spatial dynamics of this model ecosystem engineer species. Settlement and recruitment were assessed every month by deploying and replacing artificial collectors for a total period of 19 months (November 2016-May 2018). The results of the two-way ANOVAs indicated that month and site (port vs natural) had an effect on settlement and recruitment of bivalves. Settlement and recruitment of bivalves were highest in July 2017 (port) and March 2018 (natural rocky shore). This study has highlighted that the use of artificial concrete tiles with increased complexity, as well as the investigation of the early stages of mussel populations could be important to consider in a framework of rehabilitation of urban coastal environments such as the Port of East London. Ecological engineering (in terms of increased complexity and heterogeneity) has indeed the potentials to be incorporated in South African programmes aiming at improving natural biodiversity in coastal urban environments. Nonetheless, the spatio-temporal variability of early driver of mussel populations (settlement and recruitment) is also an important feature to be closely monitored if biodiversity in South African coastal armouring is to be enhanced effectively and in the long term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mafanya, Sandisiwer
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Biotic communities -- South Africa -- East London , Perna -- Ecology --South Africa -- South Africa-- East London , Mexilhao mussel -- Ecology -- South Africa -- East London , Habitat (Ecology) -- Modification -- South Africa -- East London , Benthic animals -- Effect of habitat modification on -- South Africa -- East London , Harbors -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166376 , vital:41357
- Description: Marine coastal ecosystems are highly impacted by anthropogenic activities, including the development of, and practices within, harbours and/or ports. Artificial structures associated with harbours have a different chemical composition, texture and orientation than that of the natural benthic habitats they have replaced, and are therefore not generally favourable for the settlement and occurrence of indigenous species. Attempts are being made to identify what structures and materials can be used to aid in the rehabilitation of native species within harbours. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of utilising environmentally-friendly artificial structures (tiles) with varying complexity (crevices and ridges with different depths) with ecological engineers (the indigenous bivalve Perna perna), on the associated benthic biodiversity within an international port in South Africa (Port of East London). The objectives of the study were to test the effects of artificial habitat complexity and the presence of bivalves on 1) the growth, mortality and biomass of a selected model species of ecosystem engineer (P. perna), and 2) the associated intertidal biodiversity. Tiles seeded with bivalves (P. perna) were deployed at two sites in the Port of East London and monitored monthly over a period of 12 months (November 2016-October 2017) to assess survival, growth and associated biodiversity. Environmental variables were also measured every month. The results of the three-way repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that tile treatment (especially high complexity of 2.5 and 5 cm) had an effect on the diversity of mobile species, length, height and biomass of the bivalves used as model ecosystem engineer, indicating the potentials for protection from wave dislodgement and refuge provision. Treatment (especially flat tiles) also had an effect on sessile/sedentary species diversity, indicating the greater proportion of space provided by these non-complex tiles. In addition, month had an effect on the mortality, height and biomass of the bivalves. Mortality was highest in October 2017, while the growth in height and biomass of P. perna were largest in January and October 2017 respectively. The use of artificial tiles also had a positive effect on the survival, growth, and biomass of bivalves (especially the length, weight and dry weight in 2.5 cm and 5 cm complexity). Additionally, this research investigated patterns of settlement and recruitment of the local bivalve population (P. perna) in the Port of East London and adjacent natural coastline to understand the early life history temporal and spatial dynamics of this model ecosystem engineer species. Settlement and recruitment were assessed every month by deploying and replacing artificial collectors for a total period of 19 months (November 2016-May 2018). The results of the two-way ANOVAs indicated that month and site (port vs natural) had an effect on settlement and recruitment of bivalves. Settlement and recruitment of bivalves were highest in July 2017 (port) and March 2018 (natural rocky shore). This study has highlighted that the use of artificial concrete tiles with increased complexity, as well as the investigation of the early stages of mussel populations could be important to consider in a framework of rehabilitation of urban coastal environments such as the Port of East London. Ecological engineering (in terms of increased complexity and heterogeneity) has indeed the potentials to be incorporated in South African programmes aiming at improving natural biodiversity in coastal urban environments. Nonetheless, the spatio-temporal variability of early driver of mussel populations (settlement and recruitment) is also an important feature to be closely monitored if biodiversity in South African coastal armouring is to be enhanced effectively and in the long term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Combining DNA barcoding and morphology to identify larval fishes from the nearshore environment off the south-east coast of South Africa
- Authors: Somana, Zinzi Sinazo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa -- Identification , Fishes -- Genetics -- Research -- Technique , Fishes -- South Africa -- Classification , Genetic markers
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144605 , vital:38362
- Description: The early life history stages of most marine fish species are undescribed. The problem is, most of these fishes have pelagic larvae which are minute, delicate forms. Linking the larval stage to an adult counterpart is extremely challenging as larvae are morphologically different from the adults. Historically, larval fish identification relied solely on distinguishing morphological characteristics and meristic measurements, which has resulted in taxonomic confusion and misidentification. The introduction of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcoding technique as an alternative approach has been successful in positively identifying larval fishes. The correct identification of larval specimens is the key to a better understanding of larval ecology, which underpins the success of any adult fish population. This study aimed to positively identify larval fishes of the south-east coast of South Africa using morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding. Larval and eggs specimens for this study were collected from the shallow nearshore waters of the south-east coast of South Africa. A total of 177 larval specimens were used for morphological analysis. Body shape, gut shape, pigmentation and morphometric measurements (such as body depth, preanal length and total body length) were used to identify each specimen to the family level. In addition, a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI) was adopted for sequencing to identify larval fish specimens and fish eggs. Sequences generated from this study were compared to those in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). When there were no close matches to a sequence, the GenBank nucleic acid sequence database, maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), was used as an alternative. A total of 18 different families were identified through morphology. Seventy-seven of the 177 larval specimens were not subjected to morphological identification due to physical damage. The majority of larvae identified using morphological characteristics belonged to either the Sparidae, Tripterygiidae or Gobiesocidae fish families. Through DNA barcoding, 12 fish families, 16 genera and 18 different species were identified. Ten DNA barcodes (categorised as ‘no match’) from 10 different larval specimens were not identified through any of the online databases. Therefore, the 2% threshold value was used to identify members of the same species. The K2P genetic distance relationships were calculated among the no match sequences and downloaded probability matches from NCBI. This resulted in two unknown specimens assigned to the Blenniidae and Gobiidae. All other taxa were identified to species level, except specimens representing the Gobiidae and Tripterygiidae families. Based on the K2P genetic distances Gobiidae representatives were categorised as members of the Caffrogobius genus. Twenty-eight barcodes represented specimens from the Tripterygiidae. DNA barcode data from COI was analysed using the standard phylogenetic procedures in MEGA6 to examine relationships and differentiation among sequences. These could not be identified to the lowest taxonomic rank due to limited sequence data to compare them with. The sequence data from these specimens gave different results in the two online databases. BOLD results were to family level (Tripterygiidae) and NCBI to the species level (Clinidae: Pavoclinus profundus). Results in this study confirmed the efficiency of the DNA barcoding technique in species level identification of fish larvae. The evidence from genetic barcodes of the Tripterygiidae specimens, supported by morphological characteristics, suggests the need for thorough research to identify the individuals to the species level. The fact that this study identified taxonomically problematic Gobiidae and Tripterygiidae specimens suggests that studies similar to this may highlight additional diversity and help to resolve the taxonomy of other species in these families. However, the lack of reference sequence data from the adult specimens, and especially those with cryptic diversity, were both shortcomings for the positive identification of larvae. With that being said, it shows the necessity for more research to be conducted on barcoding of larvae in general as to accommodate all kinds of species from biodiversity to economic perspectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Somana, Zinzi Sinazo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa -- Identification , Fishes -- Genetics -- Research -- Technique , Fishes -- South Africa -- Classification , Genetic markers
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144605 , vital:38362
- Description: The early life history stages of most marine fish species are undescribed. The problem is, most of these fishes have pelagic larvae which are minute, delicate forms. Linking the larval stage to an adult counterpart is extremely challenging as larvae are morphologically different from the adults. Historically, larval fish identification relied solely on distinguishing morphological characteristics and meristic measurements, which has resulted in taxonomic confusion and misidentification. The introduction of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcoding technique as an alternative approach has been successful in positively identifying larval fishes. The correct identification of larval specimens is the key to a better understanding of larval ecology, which underpins the success of any adult fish population. This study aimed to positively identify larval fishes of the south-east coast of South Africa using morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding. Larval and eggs specimens for this study were collected from the shallow nearshore waters of the south-east coast of South Africa. A total of 177 larval specimens were used for morphological analysis. Body shape, gut shape, pigmentation and morphometric measurements (such as body depth, preanal length and total body length) were used to identify each specimen to the family level. In addition, a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI) was adopted for sequencing to identify larval fish specimens and fish eggs. Sequences generated from this study were compared to those in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). When there were no close matches to a sequence, the GenBank nucleic acid sequence database, maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), was used as an alternative. A total of 18 different families were identified through morphology. Seventy-seven of the 177 larval specimens were not subjected to morphological identification due to physical damage. The majority of larvae identified using morphological characteristics belonged to either the Sparidae, Tripterygiidae or Gobiesocidae fish families. Through DNA barcoding, 12 fish families, 16 genera and 18 different species were identified. Ten DNA barcodes (categorised as ‘no match’) from 10 different larval specimens were not identified through any of the online databases. Therefore, the 2% threshold value was used to identify members of the same species. The K2P genetic distance relationships were calculated among the no match sequences and downloaded probability matches from NCBI. This resulted in two unknown specimens assigned to the Blenniidae and Gobiidae. All other taxa were identified to species level, except specimens representing the Gobiidae and Tripterygiidae families. Based on the K2P genetic distances Gobiidae representatives were categorised as members of the Caffrogobius genus. Twenty-eight barcodes represented specimens from the Tripterygiidae. DNA barcode data from COI was analysed using the standard phylogenetic procedures in MEGA6 to examine relationships and differentiation among sequences. These could not be identified to the lowest taxonomic rank due to limited sequence data to compare them with. The sequence data from these specimens gave different results in the two online databases. BOLD results were to family level (Tripterygiidae) and NCBI to the species level (Clinidae: Pavoclinus profundus). Results in this study confirmed the efficiency of the DNA barcoding technique in species level identification of fish larvae. The evidence from genetic barcodes of the Tripterygiidae specimens, supported by morphological characteristics, suggests the need for thorough research to identify the individuals to the species level. The fact that this study identified taxonomically problematic Gobiidae and Tripterygiidae specimens suggests that studies similar to this may highlight additional diversity and help to resolve the taxonomy of other species in these families. However, the lack of reference sequence data from the adult specimens, and especially those with cryptic diversity, were both shortcomings for the positive identification of larvae. With that being said, it shows the necessity for more research to be conducted on barcoding of larvae in general as to accommodate all kinds of species from biodiversity to economic perspectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Come listen quickly
- Authors: Gouws, Leigh-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141559 , vital:37985
- Description: Creative work portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Gouws, Leigh-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141559 , vital:37985
- Description: Creative work portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Commonplaces
- Authors: Orsmond, Joseph Granger
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144061 , vital:38307
- Description: My thesis is a collection of short to medium length poems. All of the subject matter is sustained by reflections, anecdotes or stories. The pieces in the collection are concerned with experiences linked to the seemingly ordinary and mundane. In this regard, I am inspired by how Alan Ziegler (in “Tales of Teaching” and Love at First Sight) and Raymond Carver (All of Us: The collected Poems) find stories in subject matter which is so commonplace, that it is often ignored creatively. Likewise, the lyricism and modes of expression of William Carlos Williams, Federico García Lorca and Luis Cernuda have informed how I write and structure my poetry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Orsmond, Joseph Granger
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144061 , vital:38307
- Description: My thesis is a collection of short to medium length poems. All of the subject matter is sustained by reflections, anecdotes or stories. The pieces in the collection are concerned with experiences linked to the seemingly ordinary and mundane. In this regard, I am inspired by how Alan Ziegler (in “Tales of Teaching” and Love at First Sight) and Raymond Carver (All of Us: The collected Poems) find stories in subject matter which is so commonplace, that it is often ignored creatively. Likewise, the lyricism and modes of expression of William Carlos Williams, Federico García Lorca and Luis Cernuda have informed how I write and structure my poetry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Comparative analysis of the known Hop1b and the novel Hop1a isoforms of the Hop gene
- Authors: Makhubu, Portia
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164311 , vital:41108 , doi:10.21504/10962/164311
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Makhubu, Portia
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164311 , vital:41108 , doi:10.21504/10962/164311
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Compounds isolation and biological activities of Piptadeniastrum africanum (hook. f.) Brennan (Fabaceae) roots:
- Teinkela, Jean E M, Noundou, Xavier S, Mimba, Jeanne E Z, Meyer, Franck, Tabouguia, Octavie M, Nguedia, Jules C A, Hoppe, Heinrich C, Krause, Rui W M, Wintjens, René, Azebaze, Anatole G B
- Authors: Teinkela, Jean E M , Noundou, Xavier S , Mimba, Jeanne E Z , Meyer, Franck , Tabouguia, Octavie M , Nguedia, Jules C A , Hoppe, Heinrich C , Krause, Rui W M , Wintjens, René , Azebaze, Anatole G B
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/150084 , vital:38938 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112716
- Description: The dicotyledonous plant Piptadeniastrum africanum (hook.f.) Brennan (Fabaceae) is used in traditional medicine to treat various human complaints including bronchitis, coughing, urino-genital ailments, meningitis, abdominal pain, treatment of wounds, malaria and gastrointestinal ailments, and is used as a purgative and worm expeller. The present study describes the phytochemical investigation and the determination of the antimicrobial, antiplasmodial and antitrypanosomal activities of crude extract, fractions and compounds extracted from Piptadeniastrum africanum roots.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Teinkela, Jean E M , Noundou, Xavier S , Mimba, Jeanne E Z , Meyer, Franck , Tabouguia, Octavie M , Nguedia, Jules C A , Hoppe, Heinrich C , Krause, Rui W M , Wintjens, René , Azebaze, Anatole G B
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/150084 , vital:38938 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112716
- Description: The dicotyledonous plant Piptadeniastrum africanum (hook.f.) Brennan (Fabaceae) is used in traditional medicine to treat various human complaints including bronchitis, coughing, urino-genital ailments, meningitis, abdominal pain, treatment of wounds, malaria and gastrointestinal ailments, and is used as a purgative and worm expeller. The present study describes the phytochemical investigation and the determination of the antimicrobial, antiplasmodial and antitrypanosomal activities of crude extract, fractions and compounds extracted from Piptadeniastrum africanum roots.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Comprehensive data on the mechanical properties and biodegradation profile of polylactide composites developed for hard tissue repairs
- Aworinde, Abraham K, Adeosun, Samson O, Oyawale, Festus A, Emagbetere, Eyere, Ishola, Felix A, Olatunji, Obafemi, Akinlab, Stephen, Oyedepo, Sunday O, Ajayi, Oluseyi O, Akinlabi, Esther T
- Authors: Aworinde, Abraham K , Adeosun, Samson O , Oyawale, Festus A , Emagbetere, Eyere , Ishola, Felix A , Olatunji, Obafemi , Akinlab, Stephen , Oyedepo, Sunday O , Ajayi, Oluseyi O , Akinlabi, Esther T
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Regeneration (Biology) , Vickers microhardness , Melt-blending technique
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/3149 , vital:43158 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.106107
- Description: Africa, the ancestral home of all modern humans, is the most informative continent for understanding the human genome and its contribution to complex disease. To better understand the genetics of schizophrenia, we studied the illness in the Xhosa population of South Africa, recruiting 909 cases and 917 age-, gender-, and residence-matched controls. Individuals with schizophrenia were significantly more likely than controls to harbor private, severely damaging mutations in genes that are critical to synaptic function, including neural circuitry mediated by the neurotransmitters glutamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and dopamine. Schizophrenia is genetically highly heterogeneous, involving severe ultrarare mutations in genes that are critical to synaptic plasticity. The depth of genetic variation in Africa revealed this relationship with a moderate sample size and informed our understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia worldwide.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Aworinde, Abraham K , Adeosun, Samson O , Oyawale, Festus A , Emagbetere, Eyere , Ishola, Felix A , Olatunji, Obafemi , Akinlab, Stephen , Oyedepo, Sunday O , Ajayi, Oluseyi O , Akinlabi, Esther T
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Regeneration (Biology) , Vickers microhardness , Melt-blending technique
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/3149 , vital:43158 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.106107
- Description: Africa, the ancestral home of all modern humans, is the most informative continent for understanding the human genome and its contribution to complex disease. To better understand the genetics of schizophrenia, we studied the illness in the Xhosa population of South Africa, recruiting 909 cases and 917 age-, gender-, and residence-matched controls. Individuals with schizophrenia were significantly more likely than controls to harbor private, severely damaging mutations in genes that are critical to synaptic function, including neural circuitry mediated by the neurotransmitters glutamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and dopamine. Schizophrenia is genetically highly heterogeneous, involving severe ultrarare mutations in genes that are critical to synaptic plasticity. The depth of genetic variation in Africa revealed this relationship with a moderate sample size and informed our understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia worldwide.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Conceptualisations of and responses to plagiarism in the South African higher education system
- Mphahlele, Martha Matee (Amanda)
- Authors: Mphahlele, Martha Matee (Amanda)
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Plagiarism , Plagiarism -- Prevention -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Moral and ethical aspects , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Cheating (Education) -- South Africa , College students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , College discipline -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162642 , vital:40963
- Description: Violations of academic integrity are a cause for concern in universities around the world and plagiarism is one of the most significant examples of these academic integrity issues with which universities are grappling . The approach taken to managing plagiarism depends to a large extent on the understanding of the phenomenon within institutions. This study investigated how plagiarism is conceptualised and responded to in the South African Higher Education system and how this impacts on teaching and learning. Data was collected from 25 out of the 26 South African public universities; the missing university had just been established and did not yet have policies or processes in place. The data was primarily in the form of documents known in these institutions as ‘plagiarism policies’, along with a wealth of other related policies and reports. This was supplemented by interviews as a means of verifying the document analysis with seven plagiarism committee members from across the three institutional types in South Africa, namely: traditional universities, comprehensive universities, and universities of technology. Using Bhaskar’s (2008) critical realism as a metatheory and Archer’s (1995) social realism as both a substantive theory and analytical framework, the experiences and events of plagiarism management were critically examined. Critical realism consider s these experiences and events at the level of the e mpirical and the actual , in order to identify the mechanisms at the l evel of the r eal from which these emerge. Social realism argues that when undertaking such an analysis in the social world, this entails identifying the emergent properties of both the parts (structure and culture) and people (agents). Therefore, the data was analysed using Archer’s analytical dualism to identify structural, cultural and agential mechanisms shaping the understanding of plagiarism and the practices associated with managing the phenomenon. The study found that dominant in the sector was an un derstanding of plagiarism as always being an intentional act, with implications for teaching and learning practices, which then focused on identifying and punishing incidents of plagiarism in student writing. A legal discourse was found to permeate the universities’ plagiarism management systems, such that most procedures replicated the legal framework. This was seen to undermine the identity of universities as teaching and learning spaces and of students as novice members of the disciplinary fields. The study further highlighted that due to plagiarism being perceived as an intentional act, punishment in almost all universities is prioritised as the key means of attending to plagiarism in the se institutions. This emerged as a structural constraint to students’ acquisition of academic writing norms. Such understandings and approaches were seen to be complementary to the risk-aversion of many institutions in a globalised era of university rankings. As increased bureaucracy has been put in place to attend to incidents of plagiarism, including obligatory reporting thereof, an unintentional consequence emerged, where it was at times simpler for academics to ignore incidences of plagiarism than to act on them. Turnitin was frequently referred to across the data as the preferred text - matching tool, but Turnitin together with other text-matching tools , was often used in a way that complemented the understanding of plagiarism as always being an intentional act. The stu dy found that text - matching software was largely misunderstood to be plagiarism software, where the similarity index was perceived to be a measure of plagiarism. This led to an understanding that students needed to paraphrase texts in order to avoid detect ion by the program me, and this may inadvertently encourage plagiarism , as students are taught to write towards the software. The research found that in those instances where educational responses to plagiarism were in place, they often demonstrated a lack of understanding of academic literacies development and the extent to which norms of knowledge production are disciplinary specific. Most (but not all) of the data about educational responses focused on add-on workshops and the signing of a declaration form, indicating that the student has not plagiarised. The workshops were seen to emphasise technical skills, such as the punctuation norms of referencing, and were often offered in a generic format by people outside of the target disciplines. These workshops were found to ignore the connection between the technical skills of referencing and the norms of knowledge construction, with a potential deleterious effect on the development of authorial identity. Finally, the data showed a few instances where particular institutions acknowledged that plagiarism occurs along a continuum, where on one side is intentional plagiarism associated with cheating and requiring punishment, and on the other side is unintentional plagiarism, which is understood to require an educational response , and was seen to emerge from either a lack of understanding of academic literacy norms , or from negligence. Literacy development with regard to taking on the norms of knowledge-making in the academy was seen to be a complex and lengthy process that was fundamental to educational endeavours of facilitating epistemological access, while cases of negligence were seen to be mainly caused by technical oversight rather than a lack of access to the relevant knowledge production norms. The study concludes by arguing that cases of intentional plagiarism require quick and appropriate punishment, but that there also needs to be an institution-wide understanding that unintentional plagiarism often emerges from students failing to access the specific knowledge-making norms of the discipline. There is thus a need for academics to be aware of the complexities related to taking on literacy practices, and who also understand the role of feedback in this process. But it ought not to be assumed that academics would have such insights simply by virtue of their expertise in the discipline. These academics need to have carefully constructed staff development support, as they take on such pedagogical approaches. The study argues that the dominant conceptualisation of plagiarism in the domain of culture as an intentional act and the complementary policies and processes in the domain of structure as focusing on detecting and punishing incidents of plagiarism, fail to address plagiarism in appropriate educational ways.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mphahlele, Martha Matee (Amanda)
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Plagiarism , Plagiarism -- Prevention -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Moral and ethical aspects , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Cheating (Education) -- South Africa , College students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , College discipline -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162642 , vital:40963
- Description: Violations of academic integrity are a cause for concern in universities around the world and plagiarism is one of the most significant examples of these academic integrity issues with which universities are grappling . The approach taken to managing plagiarism depends to a large extent on the understanding of the phenomenon within institutions. This study investigated how plagiarism is conceptualised and responded to in the South African Higher Education system and how this impacts on teaching and learning. Data was collected from 25 out of the 26 South African public universities; the missing university had just been established and did not yet have policies or processes in place. The data was primarily in the form of documents known in these institutions as ‘plagiarism policies’, along with a wealth of other related policies and reports. This was supplemented by interviews as a means of verifying the document analysis with seven plagiarism committee members from across the three institutional types in South Africa, namely: traditional universities, comprehensive universities, and universities of technology. Using Bhaskar’s (2008) critical realism as a metatheory and Archer’s (1995) social realism as both a substantive theory and analytical framework, the experiences and events of plagiarism management were critically examined. Critical realism consider s these experiences and events at the level of the e mpirical and the actual , in order to identify the mechanisms at the l evel of the r eal from which these emerge. Social realism argues that when undertaking such an analysis in the social world, this entails identifying the emergent properties of both the parts (structure and culture) and people (agents). Therefore, the data was analysed using Archer’s analytical dualism to identify structural, cultural and agential mechanisms shaping the understanding of plagiarism and the practices associated with managing the phenomenon. The study found that dominant in the sector was an un derstanding of plagiarism as always being an intentional act, with implications for teaching and learning practices, which then focused on identifying and punishing incidents of plagiarism in student writing. A legal discourse was found to permeate the universities’ plagiarism management systems, such that most procedures replicated the legal framework. This was seen to undermine the identity of universities as teaching and learning spaces and of students as novice members of the disciplinary fields. The study further highlighted that due to plagiarism being perceived as an intentional act, punishment in almost all universities is prioritised as the key means of attending to plagiarism in the se institutions. This emerged as a structural constraint to students’ acquisition of academic writing norms. Such understandings and approaches were seen to be complementary to the risk-aversion of many institutions in a globalised era of university rankings. As increased bureaucracy has been put in place to attend to incidents of plagiarism, including obligatory reporting thereof, an unintentional consequence emerged, where it was at times simpler for academics to ignore incidences of plagiarism than to act on them. Turnitin was frequently referred to across the data as the preferred text - matching tool, but Turnitin together with other text-matching tools , was often used in a way that complemented the understanding of plagiarism as always being an intentional act. The stu dy found that text - matching software was largely misunderstood to be plagiarism software, where the similarity index was perceived to be a measure of plagiarism. This led to an understanding that students needed to paraphrase texts in order to avoid detect ion by the program me, and this may inadvertently encourage plagiarism , as students are taught to write towards the software. The research found that in those instances where educational responses to plagiarism were in place, they often demonstrated a lack of understanding of academic literacies development and the extent to which norms of knowledge production are disciplinary specific. Most (but not all) of the data about educational responses focused on add-on workshops and the signing of a declaration form, indicating that the student has not plagiarised. The workshops were seen to emphasise technical skills, such as the punctuation norms of referencing, and were often offered in a generic format by people outside of the target disciplines. These workshops were found to ignore the connection between the technical skills of referencing and the norms of knowledge construction, with a potential deleterious effect on the development of authorial identity. Finally, the data showed a few instances where particular institutions acknowledged that plagiarism occurs along a continuum, where on one side is intentional plagiarism associated with cheating and requiring punishment, and on the other side is unintentional plagiarism, which is understood to require an educational response , and was seen to emerge from either a lack of understanding of academic literacy norms , or from negligence. Literacy development with regard to taking on the norms of knowledge-making in the academy was seen to be a complex and lengthy process that was fundamental to educational endeavours of facilitating epistemological access, while cases of negligence were seen to be mainly caused by technical oversight rather than a lack of access to the relevant knowledge production norms. The study concludes by arguing that cases of intentional plagiarism require quick and appropriate punishment, but that there also needs to be an institution-wide understanding that unintentional plagiarism often emerges from students failing to access the specific knowledge-making norms of the discipline. There is thus a need for academics to be aware of the complexities related to taking on literacy practices, and who also understand the role of feedback in this process. But it ought not to be assumed that academics would have such insights simply by virtue of their expertise in the discipline. These academics need to have carefully constructed staff development support, as they take on such pedagogical approaches. The study argues that the dominant conceptualisation of plagiarism in the domain of culture as an intentional act and the complementary policies and processes in the domain of structure as focusing on detecting and punishing incidents of plagiarism, fail to address plagiarism in appropriate educational ways.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Conclusion: The diversity of contemporary African foreign policy: Selecting Signifiers to explain Agency
- Authors: Bischoff, Paul, 1954-
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/161681 , vital:40654 , ISBN 9780367348281 , https://www.routledge.com/African-Foreign-Policies-Selecting-Signifiers-to-Explain-Agency/Bischoff/p/book/9780367348281
- Description: This book explores, at a time when several powers have become serious players on the continent, aspects of African agency, past and present, by African writers on foreign policy, representative of geography, language and state size.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Bischoff, Paul, 1954-
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/161681 , vital:40654 , ISBN 9780367348281 , https://www.routledge.com/African-Foreign-Policies-Selecting-Signifiers-to-Explain-Agency/Bischoff/p/book/9780367348281
- Description: This book explores, at a time when several powers have become serious players on the continent, aspects of African agency, past and present, by African writers on foreign policy, representative of geography, language and state size.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Congruence between fine-scale genetic breaks and dispersal potential in an estuarine seaweed across multiple transition zones:
- Nicastro, Katy R, Assis, Jorge, Serrão, Ester A, Pearson, Gareth A, Neiva, Joao, Valero, Myriam, Jacinto, Rita, Zardi, Gerardo I
- Authors: Nicastro, Katy R , Assis, Jorge , Serrão, Ester A , Pearson, Gareth A , Neiva, Joao , Valero, Myriam , Jacinto, Rita , Zardi, Gerardo I
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149873 , vital:38908 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1093/icesjms/fsz179
- Description: Genetic structure in biogeographical transition zones can be shaped by several factors including limited dispersal across barriers, admixture following secondary contact, differential selection, and mating incompatibility. A striking example is found in Northwest France and Northwest Spain, where the estuarine seaweed Fucus ceranoides L. exhibits sharp, regional genetic clustering. This pattern has been related to historical population fragmentation and divergence into distinct glacial refugia, followed by post-glacial expansion and secondary contact. The contemporary persistence of sharp ancient genetic breaks between nearby estuaries has been attributed to prior colonization effects (density barriers) but the effect of oceanographic barriers has not been tested. Here, through a combination of mesoscale sampling (15 consecutive populations) and population genetic data (mtIGS) in NW France, we define regional genetic disjunctions similar to those described in NW Iberia. Most importantly, using high resolution dispersal simulations for Brittany and Iberian populations, we provide evidence for a central role of contemporary hydrodynamics in maintaining genetic breaks across these two major biogeographic transition zones. Our findings further show the importance of a comprehensive understanding of oceanographic regimes in hydrodynamically complex coastal regions to explain the maintenance of sharp genetic breaks along continuously populated coastlines.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Nicastro, Katy R , Assis, Jorge , Serrão, Ester A , Pearson, Gareth A , Neiva, Joao , Valero, Myriam , Jacinto, Rita , Zardi, Gerardo I
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149873 , vital:38908 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1093/icesjms/fsz179
- Description: Genetic structure in biogeographical transition zones can be shaped by several factors including limited dispersal across barriers, admixture following secondary contact, differential selection, and mating incompatibility. A striking example is found in Northwest France and Northwest Spain, where the estuarine seaweed Fucus ceranoides L. exhibits sharp, regional genetic clustering. This pattern has been related to historical population fragmentation and divergence into distinct glacial refugia, followed by post-glacial expansion and secondary contact. The contemporary persistence of sharp ancient genetic breaks between nearby estuaries has been attributed to prior colonization effects (density barriers) but the effect of oceanographic barriers has not been tested. Here, through a combination of mesoscale sampling (15 consecutive populations) and population genetic data (mtIGS) in NW France, we define regional genetic disjunctions similar to those described in NW Iberia. Most importantly, using high resolution dispersal simulations for Brittany and Iberian populations, we provide evidence for a central role of contemporary hydrodynamics in maintaining genetic breaks across these two major biogeographic transition zones. Our findings further show the importance of a comprehensive understanding of oceanographic regimes in hydrodynamically complex coastal regions to explain the maintenance of sharp genetic breaks along continuously populated coastlines.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Conservation implications of fine scale population genetic structure of Ficus species in South African forests:
- Deng, Jun-Yin, van Noort, Simon, Compton, Stephen G, Chen, Yan, Greeff, Jaco M
- Authors: Deng, Jun-Yin , van Noort, Simon , Compton, Stephen G , Chen, Yan , Greeff, Jaco M
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163838 , vital:41074 , ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118387
- Description: Genetic considerations are rarely applied in forest conservation management strategies, but forest fragmentation can reduce pollen and seed dispersal both between and within isolated fragments. Gene flow and immigration rates determine the extent to which individual plants are related to each other at different distances from themselves. This gradation in relatedness is known as a population's fine scale spatial genetic structure (SGS). Specifically, reduced but clumped immigration from distant fragments reduces fine scale SGS, whereas reduced gene flow within fragments increases fine scale SGS. In addition, non-random mortality caused by post-dispersal ecological processes can also affect SGS. We studied the effects of fragmentation on the fine scale SGS of Ficus species with different habitat preferences and distributional ranges in an archipelago of South African forest patches.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Deng, Jun-Yin , van Noort, Simon , Compton, Stephen G , Chen, Yan , Greeff, Jaco M
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163838 , vital:41074 , ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118387
- Description: Genetic considerations are rarely applied in forest conservation management strategies, but forest fragmentation can reduce pollen and seed dispersal both between and within isolated fragments. Gene flow and immigration rates determine the extent to which individual plants are related to each other at different distances from themselves. This gradation in relatedness is known as a population's fine scale spatial genetic structure (SGS). Specifically, reduced but clumped immigration from distant fragments reduces fine scale SGS, whereas reduced gene flow within fragments increases fine scale SGS. In addition, non-random mortality caused by post-dispersal ecological processes can also affect SGS. We studied the effects of fragmentation on the fine scale SGS of Ficus species with different habitat preferences and distributional ranges in an archipelago of South African forest patches.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Conserving land for people: transformative adaptive co-management of sustainable protected areas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
- Authors: Kalyongo, Kujirakwinja Deo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Protected areas -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Protected areas -- Government policy -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Protected areas -- Management -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Conservation of natural resources -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165912 , vital:41296
- Description: Conservation practices and approaches in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as in other parts of the world, have evolved from traditional to fortress and collaborative contemporary approaches such as adaptive co-management. These approaches aim to include multiple decision-makers using diversified resources and, existing formal and informal governance structures. Collaborative approaches also consider conflict resolution and external factors that can influence conservation outputs and outcomes. In the DRC context, conflicts over resources are related not only to resource access and power but also to the ineffectiveness of collaborative approaches that exclude stakeholders such as local communities. These conflicts have negatively affected protected areas and weakened the management and governance of protected areas. Therefore, evolving approaches such as adaptive co-management that consider power relations, the multi-scaled involvement of actors and learning loops to adjust strategies are seen as better options to improve the governance of protected areas and minimise the degradation of key ecosystems. My research explored the gazettement processes of three protected areas in the eastern DRC (Itombwe, Kabobo and Okapi Reserves). I focused on the influence of social-political, historical and psychological factors on the management and governance of protected areas in the DRC. In addition, the research reveals the inclusive gazettement processes of protected areas is the foundation of successful co-management approaches. I found that values and good governance practices play a key role in influencing local perceptions and support to conservation interventions. Whilst some conservation practitioners believe that economic benefits to communities are the most predominant motivating factor, I found that good conservation management practices can motivate communities to support protected area management. Bad management practices were related not only to inadequate conservation approaches and practices but also to factors such as corruption, inadequate law enforcement and the inappropriate equipment of rangers. Therefore, I suggest that long term protected area management in DRC should consider how the value of resources for communities and protected areas have been changing throughout the history of conservation, and how to best share power and responsibilities with local resource users and stakeholders. This is only possible if conservation practices and approaches, governance process and institutions are transformed at multiple levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kalyongo, Kujirakwinja Deo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Protected areas -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Protected areas -- Government policy -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Protected areas -- Management -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Conservation of natural resources -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165912 , vital:41296
- Description: Conservation practices and approaches in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as in other parts of the world, have evolved from traditional to fortress and collaborative contemporary approaches such as adaptive co-management. These approaches aim to include multiple decision-makers using diversified resources and, existing formal and informal governance structures. Collaborative approaches also consider conflict resolution and external factors that can influence conservation outputs and outcomes. In the DRC context, conflicts over resources are related not only to resource access and power but also to the ineffectiveness of collaborative approaches that exclude stakeholders such as local communities. These conflicts have negatively affected protected areas and weakened the management and governance of protected areas. Therefore, evolving approaches such as adaptive co-management that consider power relations, the multi-scaled involvement of actors and learning loops to adjust strategies are seen as better options to improve the governance of protected areas and minimise the degradation of key ecosystems. My research explored the gazettement processes of three protected areas in the eastern DRC (Itombwe, Kabobo and Okapi Reserves). I focused on the influence of social-political, historical and psychological factors on the management and governance of protected areas in the DRC. In addition, the research reveals the inclusive gazettement processes of protected areas is the foundation of successful co-management approaches. I found that values and good governance practices play a key role in influencing local perceptions and support to conservation interventions. Whilst some conservation practitioners believe that economic benefits to communities are the most predominant motivating factor, I found that good conservation management practices can motivate communities to support protected area management. Bad management practices were related not only to inadequate conservation approaches and practices but also to factors such as corruption, inadequate law enforcement and the inappropriate equipment of rangers. Therefore, I suggest that long term protected area management in DRC should consider how the value of resources for communities and protected areas have been changing throughout the history of conservation, and how to best share power and responsibilities with local resource users and stakeholders. This is only possible if conservation practices and approaches, governance process and institutions are transformed at multiple levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Contributions of the pars lateralis, pars basilaris and femur to age estimations of the immature skeleton within a South African forensic setting:
- Thornton, Roxanne, Edkins, Adrienne L, Hutchinson, E F
- Authors: Thornton, Roxanne , Edkins, Adrienne L , Hutchinson, E F
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165451 , vital:41245 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1007/s00414-019-02143-9
- Description: Dental development and eruption sequences have prevailed as the gold standard in age estimations of previously unidentified immature individuals within a legal context. However, in the absence of the dentition, skeletal assessments have served as a frequently applied alternative. While various cranial and postcranial skeletal elements have been used in estimating age of the immature skeleton, little is known about the anthropometric value of the pars basilaris, pars lateralis and femur as skeletal age estimation tools. Thus, this study aimed to assess if these bones of the immature human skeleton were useful elements in estimating the age of prenatal and postnatal individuals. These bones were excised from the remains of 74 unclaimed human immature individuals and evaluated using traditional anthropometric methods. The study sample was sourced from the Johannesburg Forensic Pathology Services (JFPS) and the Johannesburg Forensic Paediatric Collection (JFPC), University of the Witwatersrand and subdivided into an early prenatal (younger than 30 gestational weeks); late prenatal (30 to 40 gestational weeks) and postnatal (birth to 7.5 months) age ranges.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Thornton, Roxanne , Edkins, Adrienne L , Hutchinson, E F
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165451 , vital:41245 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1007/s00414-019-02143-9
- Description: Dental development and eruption sequences have prevailed as the gold standard in age estimations of previously unidentified immature individuals within a legal context. However, in the absence of the dentition, skeletal assessments have served as a frequently applied alternative. While various cranial and postcranial skeletal elements have been used in estimating age of the immature skeleton, little is known about the anthropometric value of the pars basilaris, pars lateralis and femur as skeletal age estimation tools. Thus, this study aimed to assess if these bones of the immature human skeleton were useful elements in estimating the age of prenatal and postnatal individuals. These bones were excised from the remains of 74 unclaimed human immature individuals and evaluated using traditional anthropometric methods. The study sample was sourced from the Johannesburg Forensic Pathology Services (JFPS) and the Johannesburg Forensic Paediatric Collection (JFPC), University of the Witwatersrand and subdivided into an early prenatal (younger than 30 gestational weeks); late prenatal (30 to 40 gestational weeks) and postnatal (birth to 7.5 months) age ranges.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Covalent attachment of cobalt (II) tetra-(3-carboxyphenoxy) phthalocyanine onto pre-grafted gold electrode for the determination of catecholamine neurotransmitters:
- Tshenkeng, Keamogetse, Mashazi, Philani N
- Authors: Tshenkeng, Keamogetse , Mashazi, Philani N
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163521 , vital:41045 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2020.137015
- Description: The fabrication of electroactive thin films onto gold electrode surfaces yields very interesting surfaces with excellent electrocatalytic activity. Cobalt (II) tetra-(3-carboxyphenoxy) phthalocyanine (CoTCPhOPc) was successfully synthesized and fully characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. The CoTCPhOPc was immobilized onto phenylethylamino (PEA) pre-grafted gold electrode surface, Au-PEA, using amide coupling reaction to obtain Au-PEA-CoTCPhOPc.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Tshenkeng, Keamogetse , Mashazi, Philani N
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163521 , vital:41045 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2020.137015
- Description: The fabrication of electroactive thin films onto gold electrode surfaces yields very interesting surfaces with excellent electrocatalytic activity. Cobalt (II) tetra-(3-carboxyphenoxy) phthalocyanine (CoTCPhOPc) was successfully synthesized and fully characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. The CoTCPhOPc was immobilized onto phenylethylamino (PEA) pre-grafted gold electrode surface, Au-PEA, using amide coupling reaction to obtain Au-PEA-CoTCPhOPc.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Creating learning and action space in South Africa’s post-apartheid land redistribution program:
- Authors: Kepe, Thembela , Hall, Ruth
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163842 , vital:41075 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1177/1476750317705966
- Description: This paper uses the case of South Africa’s latest land redistribution strategy known as the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy, to explore whether, and how, research can have direct and positive impacts on beneficiaries of land reform. The study is situated within the practice of action research: to explore how it can generate knowledge that can be shared back and forth between stakeholders, as well as how it may ignite changes that the participants desire.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kepe, Thembela , Hall, Ruth
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163842 , vital:41075 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1177/1476750317705966
- Description: This paper uses the case of South Africa’s latest land redistribution strategy known as the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy, to explore whether, and how, research can have direct and positive impacts on beneficiaries of land reform. The study is situated within the practice of action research: to explore how it can generate knowledge that can be shared back and forth between stakeholders, as well as how it may ignite changes that the participants desire.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Creative production and existential thought: a feminist existential analysis of South African visual artist Berni Searle’s artwork
- Authors: Mokwena, Palesa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Women artists -- South Africa , Women artists, Black -- South Africa , Existentialism and art , Feminism and art -- South Africa , Searle, Berni
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148005 , vital:38701
- Description: Through an analysis of the work of South African artist Berni Searle, my study will investigate feminist existential ideas and concepts that have been explored by various creative producers in and outside of Europe/South Africa through different forms of creative productions and under different epistemological categories. ‘Canons’ of European existentialist/feminist thought often exclude the existence of feminist existential knowledge productions and producers outside of Europe. In conducting this study, I am responding to the past and present separatist and identitarian categorisations of creative productions from black/African creative producers, particularly women creative producers in South Africa, creating an alternative canonisation around their selected works. Although canons have been and can be used to drive separatist and identitarian categorisations, it is my hope to elucidate a discourse around the preservations and acknowledgements of South African creative and knowledge productions through a feminist existential framework that canonises important black feminist existentialist works and thereby brings to light their intellectual contributions over and above their identities. My development of a South African feminist existentialism is an attempt to graft a more intersectional, holistic framework to introduce in the feminist and existential discourses, and to proffer a new intersectional holistic paradigm of discussing categories that do not limit creative productions. To frame this research, I will reflect on the politics of historical and contemporary South African society as it is reflected in the works of the chosen creative producers and theorists and to question how we respond as creative feminist existentialists to contemporary South African struggles and how such a lens can be activated as a creative-theoretical tool of investigation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mokwena, Palesa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Women artists -- South Africa , Women artists, Black -- South Africa , Existentialism and art , Feminism and art -- South Africa , Searle, Berni
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148005 , vital:38701
- Description: Through an analysis of the work of South African artist Berni Searle, my study will investigate feminist existential ideas and concepts that have been explored by various creative producers in and outside of Europe/South Africa through different forms of creative productions and under different epistemological categories. ‘Canons’ of European existentialist/feminist thought often exclude the existence of feminist existential knowledge productions and producers outside of Europe. In conducting this study, I am responding to the past and present separatist and identitarian categorisations of creative productions from black/African creative producers, particularly women creative producers in South Africa, creating an alternative canonisation around their selected works. Although canons have been and can be used to drive separatist and identitarian categorisations, it is my hope to elucidate a discourse around the preservations and acknowledgements of South African creative and knowledge productions through a feminist existential framework that canonises important black feminist existentialist works and thereby brings to light their intellectual contributions over and above their identities. My development of a South African feminist existentialism is an attempt to graft a more intersectional, holistic framework to introduce in the feminist and existential discourses, and to proffer a new intersectional holistic paradigm of discussing categories that do not limit creative productions. To frame this research, I will reflect on the politics of historical and contemporary South African society as it is reflected in the works of the chosen creative producers and theorists and to question how we respond as creative feminist existentialists to contemporary South African struggles and how such a lens can be activated as a creative-theoretical tool of investigation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Critical success factors in implementing projects on restituted land parcels in South Africa
- Authors: Whiting, Christoper Whiting
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Community development -- Management -- South Africa , Community development -- Management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Economic development projects -- Management -- South Africa , Economic development projects -- Management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Land reform -- South Africa -- Economic aspects , Land reform beneficiaries -- South Africa -- Case studies , Restitution -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167697 , vital:41504
- Description: Currently there is a perception in South Africa that projects undertaken on parcels of restituted land are experiencing a much higher failure than success rate. There are, however, a few projects that are reaping the rewards and uplifting their communities, as intended by the land redistribution program. One community in particular, located in Mpumalanga, called community A, is presently undertaking a development project. This development project is one of the most successful restituted land parcel projects ever in South Africa. The purpose of the study is to determine the critical success factors in this community development project that have allowed it to enjoy such high levels of success. Are these critical success factors different from the generic industry critical success factors and, if so, what are they? As informed through literature, the critical success factors focused on in this study are as follows: the influence of management, project communication, knowledge management, the role of senior management, business strategy, project success measurements, and training and development. For the empirical study, a physical questionnaire was handed to 35 management members currently employed in the community development project. The questionnaire requested the demographics of all participants and asked them to rate, using a five-point Likert scale, their perceptions of the present project activities and of the importance of the project activities mentioned in making the project successful. Participants had to indicate the extent to which they agreed with each statement in the questionnaire. The responses obtained from the survey were presented and analysed. The study found that the critical success factor “role of senior management” was the largest problem area in the restituted land development project. “Training and development opportunities” came in second, with both factor areas showing large variances. Recommendations have been given on how to address both these problematic areas in the development project and how future restituted land parcel projects can better utilize these factors to ensure successful project implementation and long-term project success.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Whiting, Christoper Whiting
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Community development -- Management -- South Africa , Community development -- Management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Economic development projects -- Management -- South Africa , Economic development projects -- Management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Land reform -- South Africa -- Economic aspects , Land reform beneficiaries -- South Africa -- Case studies , Restitution -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167697 , vital:41504
- Description: Currently there is a perception in South Africa that projects undertaken on parcels of restituted land are experiencing a much higher failure than success rate. There are, however, a few projects that are reaping the rewards and uplifting their communities, as intended by the land redistribution program. One community in particular, located in Mpumalanga, called community A, is presently undertaking a development project. This development project is one of the most successful restituted land parcel projects ever in South Africa. The purpose of the study is to determine the critical success factors in this community development project that have allowed it to enjoy such high levels of success. Are these critical success factors different from the generic industry critical success factors and, if so, what are they? As informed through literature, the critical success factors focused on in this study are as follows: the influence of management, project communication, knowledge management, the role of senior management, business strategy, project success measurements, and training and development. For the empirical study, a physical questionnaire was handed to 35 management members currently employed in the community development project. The questionnaire requested the demographics of all participants and asked them to rate, using a five-point Likert scale, their perceptions of the present project activities and of the importance of the project activities mentioned in making the project successful. Participants had to indicate the extent to which they agreed with each statement in the questionnaire. The responses obtained from the survey were presented and analysed. The study found that the critical success factor “role of senior management” was the largest problem area in the restituted land development project. “Training and development opportunities” came in second, with both factor areas showing large variances. Recommendations have been given on how to address both these problematic areas in the development project and how future restituted land parcel projects can better utilize these factors to ensure successful project implementation and long-term project success.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Cross-sectional study of prevalence and determinants of uncontrolled hypertension among South African adult residents of Mkhondo municipality
- Masilela, Charity, Pearce, Brendon, Ongole, Joven Jebio, Adeniyi, Oladele Vincent, Benjeddou, Mongi
- Authors: Masilela, Charity , Pearce, Brendon , Ongole, Joven Jebio , Adeniyi, Oladele Vincent , Benjeddou, Mongi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Blood pressure control , Dyslipidaemia , Uncontrolled hypertension
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/4481 , vital:44124 , https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09174-7
- Description: Achieving the blood pressure treatment target in individuals with hypertension is a serious global health challenge. Furthermore, the actual burden of uncontrolled hypertension is poorly understood, especially in the developing countries. Therefore, this study comprehensively examined the prevalence and factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension in individuals receiving care at the primary healthcare facilities in the rural areas of Mkhondo Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 329 individuals attending care for hypertension were recruited from January 2019 to June 2019 at three primary healthcare centres, namely, Piet Retief hospital, Mkhondo town clinic and Thandukukhanya community health centre. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg in accordance with the South African Hypertension Society guideline (2014). Multiple logistic regression (Forward LR method) analysis was used to identify the significant determinants of uncontrolled hypertension. Results: The majority of the participants were 55 years old and above (69.0%), Zulus (81.2%), non-smokers (84.19%) and had been diagnosed with hypertension for more than a year prior to the study (72.64%). The overall prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension was 56.83% (n = 187) with no significant difference between sexes, 57.38% male versus 56.88% female, respectively. In the multiple logistic regression model analysis after adjusting for confounding variables, obesity (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI 1.66–5.05), physical activity (AOR = 4.79; 95% CI 2.15–10.65) and HDL-C (AOR = 5.66; 95% CI 3.33–9.60) were the significant and independent determinants of uncontrolled hypertension in the cohort. Conclusion: The high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in the study setting can be largely attributed to obesity, physical activity and dyslipidaemia. Treatment will require the collaborative efforts of individuals, clinicians and health authorities. All these determinants should be addressed decisively so as to achieve the treatment blood pressure targets in the study population.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Masilela, Charity , Pearce, Brendon , Ongole, Joven Jebio , Adeniyi, Oladele Vincent , Benjeddou, Mongi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Blood pressure control , Dyslipidaemia , Uncontrolled hypertension
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/4481 , vital:44124 , https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09174-7
- Description: Achieving the blood pressure treatment target in individuals with hypertension is a serious global health challenge. Furthermore, the actual burden of uncontrolled hypertension is poorly understood, especially in the developing countries. Therefore, this study comprehensively examined the prevalence and factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension in individuals receiving care at the primary healthcare facilities in the rural areas of Mkhondo Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 329 individuals attending care for hypertension were recruited from January 2019 to June 2019 at three primary healthcare centres, namely, Piet Retief hospital, Mkhondo town clinic and Thandukukhanya community health centre. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg in accordance with the South African Hypertension Society guideline (2014). Multiple logistic regression (Forward LR method) analysis was used to identify the significant determinants of uncontrolled hypertension. Results: The majority of the participants were 55 years old and above (69.0%), Zulus (81.2%), non-smokers (84.19%) and had been diagnosed with hypertension for more than a year prior to the study (72.64%). The overall prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension was 56.83% (n = 187) with no significant difference between sexes, 57.38% male versus 56.88% female, respectively. In the multiple logistic regression model analysis after adjusting for confounding variables, obesity (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI 1.66–5.05), physical activity (AOR = 4.79; 95% CI 2.15–10.65) and HDL-C (AOR = 5.66; 95% CI 3.33–9.60) were the significant and independent determinants of uncontrolled hypertension in the cohort. Conclusion: The high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in the study setting can be largely attributed to obesity, physical activity and dyslipidaemia. Treatment will require the collaborative efforts of individuals, clinicians and health authorities. All these determinants should be addressed decisively so as to achieve the treatment blood pressure targets in the study population.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020