Environmental entrepreneurship as an innovation catalyst for social change: A systematic review as a basis for future research
- Diale, Dineo, Kanakana-Katumba, Mukondeleli G, Maladzhi, Rendani W
- Authors: Diale, Dineo , Kanakana-Katumba, Mukondeleli G , Maladzhi, Rendani W
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/450641 , vital:74970 , xlink:href="https://www.astesj.com/publications/ASTESJ_060145.pdf"
- Description: There are pressures to adopt sustainable behaviour more so in generating profits and benefiting the society to accelerate green efforts through a green framework. The overarching goal of the paper is premised through various works of literature, building the ecosystem the elements highlighted by most researchers in the field of environmental entrepreneurship. The various models reviewed consists of generic incubators and entrepreneurship, and societal and environmental factors. Environmental entrepreneurship is often used interchangeably with concepts such as green entrepreneurship and ecopreneurship which under-researched globally, with non-existent efforts on the applicability and modelling of key environmental entrepreneurship within a specific context utilising the system dynamics approach. In order to assess the environmental entrepreneurship ecosystem, the authors adopted a system dynamic approach to determine key variables that enable the development of the system. A literature review was conducted, and of the 135 articles reviewed, n= 92 peer-reviewed articles met the criteria that the researchers set. Some of the results emanating from a systematic review are environmental policy, green skills, financial and non-financial support, societal and behavioural factors, environmental agility, ethics and governance, and access to markets. The theoretical results are simulated using system dynamics modelling. Due to limited research on the abovementioned topic, a possible impacting variable (Exogenous variables) was broadened to add value to, and have an impact on, the study. Upon reviewing the above-mentioned models, the framework emerged signalling elements to be simulated in the system dynamics model, which were then theoretically contextualised for the South African context. The theoretical virtual system dynamic model forming part of the framework will be tested and validated in the next study. The applicability of the theoretical ecosystem to South African context as well as future recommendations are provided in the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Diale, Dineo , Kanakana-Katumba, Mukondeleli G , Maladzhi, Rendani W
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/450641 , vital:74970 , xlink:href="https://www.astesj.com/publications/ASTESJ_060145.pdf"
- Description: There are pressures to adopt sustainable behaviour more so in generating profits and benefiting the society to accelerate green efforts through a green framework. The overarching goal of the paper is premised through various works of literature, building the ecosystem the elements highlighted by most researchers in the field of environmental entrepreneurship. The various models reviewed consists of generic incubators and entrepreneurship, and societal and environmental factors. Environmental entrepreneurship is often used interchangeably with concepts such as green entrepreneurship and ecopreneurship which under-researched globally, with non-existent efforts on the applicability and modelling of key environmental entrepreneurship within a specific context utilising the system dynamics approach. In order to assess the environmental entrepreneurship ecosystem, the authors adopted a system dynamic approach to determine key variables that enable the development of the system. A literature review was conducted, and of the 135 articles reviewed, n= 92 peer-reviewed articles met the criteria that the researchers set. Some of the results emanating from a systematic review are environmental policy, green skills, financial and non-financial support, societal and behavioural factors, environmental agility, ethics and governance, and access to markets. The theoretical results are simulated using system dynamics modelling. Due to limited research on the abovementioned topic, a possible impacting variable (Exogenous variables) was broadened to add value to, and have an impact on, the study. Upon reviewing the above-mentioned models, the framework emerged signalling elements to be simulated in the system dynamics model, which were then theoretically contextualised for the South African context. The theoretical virtual system dynamic model forming part of the framework will be tested and validated in the next study. The applicability of the theoretical ecosystem to South African context as well as future recommendations are provided in the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Ecosystem of renewable energy enterprises for sustainable development: A systematic review
- Diale, Dineo, Kanakana-Katumba, Mukondeleli G, Maladzhi, Rendani W
- Authors: Diale, Dineo , Kanakana-Katumba, Mukondeleli G , Maladzhi, Rendani W
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/450613 , vital:74967 , xlink:href="https://www.astesj.com/publications/ASTESJ_060146.pdf"
- Description: In the Global sphere, the social, environmental, and economic pillars are the main contributors and accelerators to the sustainable development goals. As a result, the latter creates a platform for interdisciplinary researchers, society and decision-makers to collaborate in formulating ways to minimize factors contributing to environmental concerns. Energy is currently referred to as one of the scarce resources. The scarcity of electricity is mainly experienced in the rural areas of most countries in the world. The mandate of the green economy is to introduce innovative ways to redress the inequalities and lack of access, especially when it comes to Energy. Based on the sector's efforts, questions arise as to what comprises the ecosystem that can be accelerated to enhance entry to the sector. Hence, the researchers focus on Renewable Energy with specific reference to the entrepreneurial motives to meet sustainable goals. The applicable sustainable goals are goal 7 (affordable and clean Energy) and Goal 8 (decent work and economic growth). Furthermore, Energy contributes to modern access and poverty reduction to accelerate the transitioning to a Green economy. The current paper hopes to answer the following questions: Firstly, how Renewable Energy enterprise can contribute to sustainable development goals theoretically. Secondly, how can the theoretical energy enterprise ecosystem be contextualized in the South African context? A theoretical review was conducted through a literature review of which n=47 sources met the criteria that the researchers set for ecosystem variables. The overarching goal of the paper is premised on various works of literature building the ecosystem of the elements highlighted by most researchers in the field of renewable energy enterprises or business ventures. From the various models, the framework emerged singling out the critical success factors of the ecosystem of the Renewable Energy enterprise. The theoretical ecosystem consists of accelerators, social factors, sustainable development goals, as well as selected business models. The latter ecosystem was then contextualized in the South African context for a complete framework. Some of the critical drivers derived from the latter broad ecosystem are: Renewable Energy Feed-in Tarrif (REFIT), Utility Renewable Energy business model, Customer renewable energy business model, Energy Justice (distributive justice), Off-grid (Mini-grid), Saurian Lilting lamp, Renewable powered irrigation system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Diale, Dineo , Kanakana-Katumba, Mukondeleli G , Maladzhi, Rendani W
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/450613 , vital:74967 , xlink:href="https://www.astesj.com/publications/ASTESJ_060146.pdf"
- Description: In the Global sphere, the social, environmental, and economic pillars are the main contributors and accelerators to the sustainable development goals. As a result, the latter creates a platform for interdisciplinary researchers, society and decision-makers to collaborate in formulating ways to minimize factors contributing to environmental concerns. Energy is currently referred to as one of the scarce resources. The scarcity of electricity is mainly experienced in the rural areas of most countries in the world. The mandate of the green economy is to introduce innovative ways to redress the inequalities and lack of access, especially when it comes to Energy. Based on the sector's efforts, questions arise as to what comprises the ecosystem that can be accelerated to enhance entry to the sector. Hence, the researchers focus on Renewable Energy with specific reference to the entrepreneurial motives to meet sustainable goals. The applicable sustainable goals are goal 7 (affordable and clean Energy) and Goal 8 (decent work and economic growth). Furthermore, Energy contributes to modern access and poverty reduction to accelerate the transitioning to a Green economy. The current paper hopes to answer the following questions: Firstly, how Renewable Energy enterprise can contribute to sustainable development goals theoretically. Secondly, how can the theoretical energy enterprise ecosystem be contextualized in the South African context? A theoretical review was conducted through a literature review of which n=47 sources met the criteria that the researchers set for ecosystem variables. The overarching goal of the paper is premised on various works of literature building the ecosystem of the elements highlighted by most researchers in the field of renewable energy enterprises or business ventures. From the various models, the framework emerged singling out the critical success factors of the ecosystem of the Renewable Energy enterprise. The theoretical ecosystem consists of accelerators, social factors, sustainable development goals, as well as selected business models. The latter ecosystem was then contextualized in the South African context for a complete framework. Some of the critical drivers derived from the latter broad ecosystem are: Renewable Energy Feed-in Tarrif (REFIT), Utility Renewable Energy business model, Customer renewable energy business model, Energy Justice (distributive justice), Off-grid (Mini-grid), Saurian Lilting lamp, Renewable powered irrigation system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Grand challenges in urban agriculture: ecological and social approaches to transformative sustainability
- Zimmerer, Karl S, Bell, Martha G, Chirisa, Innocent, Duvall, Chris S, Egerer, Monika, Hung, Po-Yi, Lerner, Amy M, Shackleton, Charlie M, Ward, James D, Ochoa, Carolina Y
- Authors: Zimmerer, Karl S , Bell, Martha G , Chirisa, Innocent , Duvall, Chris S , Egerer, Monika , Hung, Po-Yi , Lerner, Amy M , Shackleton, Charlie M , Ward, James D , Ochoa, Carolina Y
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402287 , vital:69838 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.668561"
- Description: This synopsis of the Grand Challenges of Urban Agriculture (UA) is framed by the urgent need to understand and strengthen the expanding yet highly diverse roles of UA amid rapid global urbanization, failures of predominant food systems, and crises in systems of physical and mental health. More than half of humanity lives in cities today and by 2030 this is projected to grow to 60.4 percent, ∼5 billion people (UN Habitat, 2020). More than 90 percent of urban demographic increase is anticipated to take place in the developing world. Ecological and social dimensions of UA are situated in these expanding spaces of cities, towns, and villages (along with their urban fringe or peri-urban areas), and among their diverse populations. UA is further situated in the powerful, far-reaching influences of urbanization processes that occur within and beyond these spaces. UA is thus integral to the prospect of Urban Sustainability as SDG 11 (“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”) of the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Zimmerer, Karl S , Bell, Martha G , Chirisa, Innocent , Duvall, Chris S , Egerer, Monika , Hung, Po-Yi , Lerner, Amy M , Shackleton, Charlie M , Ward, James D , Ochoa, Carolina Y
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402287 , vital:69838 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.668561"
- Description: This synopsis of the Grand Challenges of Urban Agriculture (UA) is framed by the urgent need to understand and strengthen the expanding yet highly diverse roles of UA amid rapid global urbanization, failures of predominant food systems, and crises in systems of physical and mental health. More than half of humanity lives in cities today and by 2030 this is projected to grow to 60.4 percent, ∼5 billion people (UN Habitat, 2020). More than 90 percent of urban demographic increase is anticipated to take place in the developing world. Ecological and social dimensions of UA are situated in these expanding spaces of cities, towns, and villages (along with their urban fringe or peri-urban areas), and among their diverse populations. UA is further situated in the powerful, far-reaching influences of urbanization processes that occur within and beyond these spaces. UA is thus integral to the prospect of Urban Sustainability as SDG 11 (“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”) of the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Thien-2-yl substituted chlorins as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy
- Babu, Balaji, Sindelo, Azole, Mack, John, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Babu, Balaji , Sindelo, Azole , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190578 , vital:45007 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2020.108886"
- Description: The synthesis and characterization of meso-tetra(thien-2-yl)chlorin (1) and meso-tetra(5-bromothien-2-yl)chlorin (2) is reported. These dyes have red-shifted absorption maxima compared to those of the analogous meso-tetraphenylchlorin (3). 1 and 2 have Q bands at 660 and 664 nm, respectively, singlet oxygen quantum yields of 0.60 and 0.64 and exhibit good photostability. The triplet states were found to have lifetimes of 8.6 μs in N2 purged DMF. Time-dependent cellular uptake of chlorins reached a maximum in MCF-7 cancer cells after 12 h. Upon irradiation with a Thorlabs M660L3 LED (280 mW cm−2), 2 exhibited better photocytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 2.7 μM against MCF-7 cells. The 2ʹ,7ʹ-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) assay provided evidence for intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species. Photodynamic inactivation of bacteria by the chlorins was also studied. 2 exhibits better activity with log reduction values of 7.42 and 8.34 towards Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, under illumination for 60 min at 660 nm with a Thorlabs M660L3 LED (280 mW cm−2). These results demonstrate that 2 is a promising candidate for future in vivo experiments and merits further in-depth investigation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Babu, Balaji , Sindelo, Azole , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190578 , vital:45007 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2020.108886"
- Description: The synthesis and characterization of meso-tetra(thien-2-yl)chlorin (1) and meso-tetra(5-bromothien-2-yl)chlorin (2) is reported. These dyes have red-shifted absorption maxima compared to those of the analogous meso-tetraphenylchlorin (3). 1 and 2 have Q bands at 660 and 664 nm, respectively, singlet oxygen quantum yields of 0.60 and 0.64 and exhibit good photostability. The triplet states were found to have lifetimes of 8.6 μs in N2 purged DMF. Time-dependent cellular uptake of chlorins reached a maximum in MCF-7 cancer cells after 12 h. Upon irradiation with a Thorlabs M660L3 LED (280 mW cm−2), 2 exhibited better photocytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 2.7 μM against MCF-7 cells. The 2ʹ,7ʹ-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) assay provided evidence for intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species. Photodynamic inactivation of bacteria by the chlorins was also studied. 2 exhibits better activity with log reduction values of 7.42 and 8.34 towards Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, under illumination for 60 min at 660 nm with a Thorlabs M660L3 LED (280 mW cm−2). These results demonstrate that 2 is a promising candidate for future in vivo experiments and merits further in-depth investigation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Positively charged styryl pyridine substituted Zn (II) Phthalocyanines for Photodynamic Therapy and Photoantimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Magadla, Aviwe, Babu, Balaji, Mack, John, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Magadla, Aviwe , Babu, Balaji , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190600 , vital:45009 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/D1DT01047F"
- Description: Cationic Zn phthalocyanine complexes were synthesized using Knoevenagel reaction starting from a Zn(II) tetrakis(2-formylphenoxy)phthalocyanine (1) to form Zn(II) tetrakis(1-butyl-4-(4-(tetraphenoxy)styryl)pyridin-1-ium) phthalocyanine (2) and Zn(II) tetrakis(4-(4-(tetraphenoxy)styryl)-1-(4-(triphenylphosphonio)butyl)pyridin-1-ium)phthalocyanine (3). The photophysicochemical behaviours of the Pc complexes were assessed. The cationic complexes display high water-solubility and gave moderate singlet oxygen quantum yield in water. The cationic Pcs demonstrate good cellular uptake and photodynamic activity against MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 8.2 and 4.9 μM for 2 and 3, respectively. The cationic Pcs also demonstrate high photoantimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli with log reductions of 5.3 and 6.0 for 2 and 3, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Magadla, Aviwe , Babu, Balaji , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190600 , vital:45009 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/D1DT01047F"
- Description: Cationic Zn phthalocyanine complexes were synthesized using Knoevenagel reaction starting from a Zn(II) tetrakis(2-formylphenoxy)phthalocyanine (1) to form Zn(II) tetrakis(1-butyl-4-(4-(tetraphenoxy)styryl)pyridin-1-ium) phthalocyanine (2) and Zn(II) tetrakis(4-(4-(tetraphenoxy)styryl)-1-(4-(triphenylphosphonio)butyl)pyridin-1-ium)phthalocyanine (3). The photophysicochemical behaviours of the Pc complexes were assessed. The cationic complexes display high water-solubility and gave moderate singlet oxygen quantum yield in water. The cationic Pcs demonstrate good cellular uptake and photodynamic activity against MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 8.2 and 4.9 μM for 2 and 3, respectively. The cationic Pcs also demonstrate high photoantimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli with log reductions of 5.3 and 6.0 for 2 and 3, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
How people foraging in urban greenspace can mobilize social–ecological resilience during Covid-19 and beyond
- Sardeshpande, Mallika, Hurley, Patrick T, Mollee, Eefke, Garekae, Hesekia, Dahlberg, Annika C, Emery, Marla R, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Sardeshpande, Mallika , Hurley, Patrick T , Mollee, Eefke , Garekae, Hesekia , Dahlberg, Annika C , Emery, Marla R , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402313 , vital:69841 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.686254"
- Description: Informal foraging for food and other natural materials in urban greenspaces is an activity undertaken by many across the world. For some, foraging is a necessary means of survival and livelihood, while for others, it provides cultural and recreational opportunities. In the socioeconomic crises induced by Covid-19, foraging can help communities, especially (but not exclusively) vulnerable people, cope with the impacts of lockdowns, and associated economic decline. In the long run, foraging can help improve social–ecological resilience in urban systems, particularly in response to climate, economic, and disease disruptions. First, we elaborate the ways in which urban foraging can provide immediate relief from the shocks to natural, human, social, physical, and financial capital. We then describe how over time, the livelihood, food, and income diversification brought about by foraging can contribute to preparedness for future uncertainties and gradual change. Cities are increasingly becoming home to the majority of humanity, and urban foraging can be one of the pathways that makes cities more liveable, for humans as well as other species we coexist with. Through the capitals framework, we explore the role foraging could play in addressing issues of biodiversity conservation, culture, and education, good governance and social justice, multifunctional greenspace, and sustainable nature-based livelihoods in urban areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Sardeshpande, Mallika , Hurley, Patrick T , Mollee, Eefke , Garekae, Hesekia , Dahlberg, Annika C , Emery, Marla R , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402313 , vital:69841 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.686254"
- Description: Informal foraging for food and other natural materials in urban greenspaces is an activity undertaken by many across the world. For some, foraging is a necessary means of survival and livelihood, while for others, it provides cultural and recreational opportunities. In the socioeconomic crises induced by Covid-19, foraging can help communities, especially (but not exclusively) vulnerable people, cope with the impacts of lockdowns, and associated economic decline. In the long run, foraging can help improve social–ecological resilience in urban systems, particularly in response to climate, economic, and disease disruptions. First, we elaborate the ways in which urban foraging can provide immediate relief from the shocks to natural, human, social, physical, and financial capital. We then describe how over time, the livelihood, food, and income diversification brought about by foraging can contribute to preparedness for future uncertainties and gradual change. Cities are increasingly becoming home to the majority of humanity, and urban foraging can be one of the pathways that makes cities more liveable, for humans as well as other species we coexist with. Through the capitals framework, we explore the role foraging could play in addressing issues of biodiversity conservation, culture, and education, good governance and social justice, multifunctional greenspace, and sustainable nature-based livelihoods in urban areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
An introduction to the fourth decadal review of biological control of invasive alien plants in South Africa (2011–2020)
- Paterson, Iain D, den Breeyen, Alana, Martin, Grant D, Olckers, Tamryn
- Authors: Paterson, Iain D , den Breeyen, Alana , Martin, Grant D , Olckers, Tamryn
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/413387 , vital:71031 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-ento_v29_n3_a2"
- Description: This special issue is the fourth decadal review of biological control of invasive alien plants (biocontrol of weeds) in South Africa, following those published in 1991, 1999 and 2011. Including this introduction, there are 24 papers covering the weed biocontrol programmes, or important developments in the science and practice, from the period 2011-2020. Seventy-two target weed species are covered, including 25 species on which projects were initiated during the past decade. Developments in regulations, mass-rearing and implementation, and community engagement are also reviewed. An updated catalogue of agents released, rejected and under consideration is presented and reflects the most recent methods of quantifying success in weed biocontrol. Key events over the last decade include the hosting of the XIV International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds to celebrate 100 years of weed biocontrol in South Africa, as well as the establishment of the Centre for Biological Control at Rhodes University. The science and practice of weed biocontrol has expanded significantly in the past decade, with growth in the number of researchers and practitioners, increased funding, and an increased number of scholarly outputs. Unlike many other countries in the world, South Africa has largely avoided constraints due to restrictive and risk averse legislation and bureaucracy, and has continued to release new biocontrol agents at a similar rate to that in previous years. Much of the success of weed biocontrol in South Africa is due to the sustained and increasing support of the Natural Resource Management Programme of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (Working for Water Programme). However, gaps in funding, where no funds are available for months at a time, are a major concern as the weed biocontrol community loses human capital in these periods, and research programmes suffer significant set-backs. Weed biocontrol is an essential component of South Africa’s strategy to reduce the negative impacts of invasive alien plants and has contributed significantly towards the protection of the country’s ecosystems, indigenous biodiversity, water security, agricultural productivity, and society in general. If the trend of increasing support for weed biocontrol in South Africa continues, we can expect that the benefits for the country at large will increase substantially in the future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Paterson, Iain D , den Breeyen, Alana , Martin, Grant D , Olckers, Tamryn
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/413387 , vital:71031 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-ento_v29_n3_a2"
- Description: This special issue is the fourth decadal review of biological control of invasive alien plants (biocontrol of weeds) in South Africa, following those published in 1991, 1999 and 2011. Including this introduction, there are 24 papers covering the weed biocontrol programmes, or important developments in the science and practice, from the period 2011-2020. Seventy-two target weed species are covered, including 25 species on which projects were initiated during the past decade. Developments in regulations, mass-rearing and implementation, and community engagement are also reviewed. An updated catalogue of agents released, rejected and under consideration is presented and reflects the most recent methods of quantifying success in weed biocontrol. Key events over the last decade include the hosting of the XIV International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds to celebrate 100 years of weed biocontrol in South Africa, as well as the establishment of the Centre for Biological Control at Rhodes University. The science and practice of weed biocontrol has expanded significantly in the past decade, with growth in the number of researchers and practitioners, increased funding, and an increased number of scholarly outputs. Unlike many other countries in the world, South Africa has largely avoided constraints due to restrictive and risk averse legislation and bureaucracy, and has continued to release new biocontrol agents at a similar rate to that in previous years. Much of the success of weed biocontrol in South Africa is due to the sustained and increasing support of the Natural Resource Management Programme of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (Working for Water Programme). However, gaps in funding, where no funds are available for months at a time, are a major concern as the weed biocontrol community loses human capital in these periods, and research programmes suffer significant set-backs. Weed biocontrol is an essential component of South Africa’s strategy to reduce the negative impacts of invasive alien plants and has contributed significantly towards the protection of the country’s ecosystems, indigenous biodiversity, water security, agricultural productivity, and society in general. If the trend of increasing support for weed biocontrol in South Africa continues, we can expect that the benefits for the country at large will increase substantially in the future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The experiences and perceptions of mental health service provision at a primary health centre in the Eastern Cape
- Booysen, Duane D, Mahe-Poyo, Phumeza, Grant, Rosemary
- Authors: Booysen, Duane D , Mahe-Poyo, Phumeza , Grant, Rosemary
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454143 , vital:75313 , xlink:href="https://journals.co.za/doi/full/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1641"
- Description: Background Since 1994, the South African healthcare system has un-dergone several changes to meet the needs of contemporary South Africa. Yet the state of mental healthcare, especially in low-resource areas, remains in a precarious state. Aim This study aimed to explore how persons diagnosed with a mental disorder experience and per-ceive mental health services in a low-resource community in the East-ern Cape, South Africa. Setting The study was conducted at a primary care clinic in a low resource community setting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Booysen, Duane D , Mahe-Poyo, Phumeza , Grant, Rosemary
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454143 , vital:75313 , xlink:href="https://journals.co.za/doi/full/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1641"
- Description: Background Since 1994, the South African healthcare system has un-dergone several changes to meet the needs of contemporary South Africa. Yet the state of mental healthcare, especially in low-resource areas, remains in a precarious state. Aim This study aimed to explore how persons diagnosed with a mental disorder experience and per-ceive mental health services in a low-resource community in the East-ern Cape, South Africa. Setting The study was conducted at a primary care clinic in a low resource community setting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Handwriting Recognition using Deep Learning with Effective Data Augmentation Techniques
- Brown, Dane L, Lidzhade, Ipfi
- Authors: Brown, Dane L , Lidzhade, Ipfi
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465700 , vital:76633 , xlink:href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9519359"
- Description: Machine learning techniques have been successfully used in deciphering handwritten text. Deep learning has made further improvements in this regard. However, they require substantial amounts of training data. This research aims to improve the effectiveness of classification accuracy in the presence of limited training data on handwriting recognition. The main focus thus involves enabling deep models to converge during training on smaller datasets using data augmentation. This will allow for broader use of these systems across more regions, greater accessibility, and future related systems to be less reliant on the amount of data available. Therefore, the proposed research includes an image processing and machine learning approach to handwriting recognition while generating more sample data in various ways. Applying random cropping as an augmentation technique resulted in higher accuracy than several other augmentation techniques examined in this paper. Some of these techniques performed worse than on unaugmented data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Brown, Dane L , Lidzhade, Ipfi
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465700 , vital:76633 , xlink:href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9519359"
- Description: Machine learning techniques have been successfully used in deciphering handwritten text. Deep learning has made further improvements in this regard. However, they require substantial amounts of training data. This research aims to improve the effectiveness of classification accuracy in the presence of limited training data on handwriting recognition. The main focus thus involves enabling deep models to converge during training on smaller datasets using data augmentation. This will allow for broader use of these systems across more regions, greater accessibility, and future related systems to be less reliant on the amount of data available. Therefore, the proposed research includes an image processing and machine learning approach to handwriting recognition while generating more sample data in various ways. Applying random cropping as an augmentation technique resulted in higher accuracy than several other augmentation techniques examined in this paper. Some of these techniques performed worse than on unaugmented data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
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