Synthesis and emerging frontiers in social-ecological systems research methods
- Schluter, Maja, Biggs, Reinette, Clements, Hayley, de Vos, Alta, Maciejewski, Kristine, Preiser, Rika
- Authors: Schluter, Maja , Biggs, Reinette , Clements, Hayley , de Vos, Alta , Maciejewski, Kristine , Preiser, Rika
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/433887 , vital:73007 , ISBN 9781000401516 , https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/49560
- Description: Social-ecological systems (SES) research is a rapidly emerging new research domain within the broader emerging area of sustainability science. It is largely a problem-driven and action-oriented field, motivated by the immense sustainability and equity-related challenges facing society (see Chapter 1). Social-ecological systems research is based on an understanding that SES are complex adaptive systems (CAS), where social and ecological dynamics are deeply intertwined, and give rise to features and problems that cannot be understood or addressed by studying these dimensions in isolation (see Chapter 2). The field draws on and combines methods from both natural and social sciences, and combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. As such, SES research is characterised by epistemological and methodological pluralism, which is challenging for those entering the field and has complex implications for the research process, methods and ethical considerations to be taken into account in SES research (see Chapter 3). This book aims to clarify and synthesise this plurality by providing an introduction to SES research (Part 1), and the diversity of methods currently used in the field (Part 2). The aim of this final chapter (Part 3) is to provide a synthesis of the current landscape of SES methods, critically reflect on the methods with respect to their ability to address systemic features of SES and discuss some of the most common methodological challenges associated with the complex adaptive and intertwined nature of SES. Based on this synthesis, we identify methodological gaps and discuss novel methods and method combinations that may help to address these gaps and move the field forward.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Schluter, Maja , Biggs, Reinette , Clements, Hayley , de Vos, Alta , Maciejewski, Kristine , Preiser, Rika
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/433887 , vital:73007 , ISBN 9781000401516 , https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/49560
- Description: Social-ecological systems (SES) research is a rapidly emerging new research domain within the broader emerging area of sustainability science. It is largely a problem-driven and action-oriented field, motivated by the immense sustainability and equity-related challenges facing society (see Chapter 1). Social-ecological systems research is based on an understanding that SES are complex adaptive systems (CAS), where social and ecological dynamics are deeply intertwined, and give rise to features and problems that cannot be understood or addressed by studying these dimensions in isolation (see Chapter 2). The field draws on and combines methods from both natural and social sciences, and combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. As such, SES research is characterised by epistemological and methodological pluralism, which is challenging for those entering the field and has complex implications for the research process, methods and ethical considerations to be taken into account in SES research (see Chapter 3). This book aims to clarify and synthesise this plurality by providing an introduction to SES research (Part 1), and the diversity of methods currently used in the field (Part 2). The aim of this final chapter (Part 3) is to provide a synthesis of the current landscape of SES methods, critically reflect on the methods with respect to their ability to address systemic features of SES and discuss some of the most common methodological challenges associated with the complex adaptive and intertwined nature of SES. Based on this synthesis, we identify methodological gaps and discuss novel methods and method combinations that may help to address these gaps and move the field forward.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Synthesis of a near infrared-actuated phthalocyanine-lipid vesicle system for augmented photodynamic therapy
- Nwahara, Namdi, Managa, Muthumuni, Stoffels, Mihlali, Britton, Jonathan, Prinsloo, Earl, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Nwahara, Namdi , Managa, Muthumuni , Stoffels, Mihlali , Britton, Jonathan , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185395 , vital:44383 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synthmet.2021.116811"
- Description: The efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) is often limited by the poor bio-distributive properties of conventional photosensitizers and the local hypoxic microenvironment that characterises most solid tumours. Herein, a novel in situ oxygenic lipid formulation for photodynamic therapy (PDT) is reported. Such a hybrid was synthesized by adsorbing bimetallic nanozyme, MnO2@PtNPs (NPs = nanoparticles) onto graphene quantum dots (GQDs) – zinc (II) phthalocyanine conjugates, followed by liposomal encapsulation, affording it enhanced water solubility. The MnO2@PtNPs, which are is shown to possess excellent catalase-like properties surpassing that of MnO2 or PtNPs alone, serves to catalyze H2O2 to O2, while the zinc (II) phthalocyanine (1) serves to transform the formed oxygen to generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen immediately. We show that by combining each function of the respective building blocks, the as-synthesized 1-GQDs-MnO2@PtNPs-liposomes not only maintains the properties of oxygen supplementation through H2O2 catalysis but also displays cooperative properties for enhanced singlet oxygen production. Consequently, a remarkably improved PDT efficacy was observed for 1-GQDs-MnO2@PtNPs-liposomes in both normoxia and hypoxia. These results demonstrate the potential applicability of such nanozyme constituted 1-GQDs-MnO2@PtNPs-liposomes for achieving tumour treatment in hypoxic conditions by PDT.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Nwahara, Namdi , Managa, Muthumuni , Stoffels, Mihlali , Britton, Jonathan , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185395 , vital:44383 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synthmet.2021.116811"
- Description: The efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) is often limited by the poor bio-distributive properties of conventional photosensitizers and the local hypoxic microenvironment that characterises most solid tumours. Herein, a novel in situ oxygenic lipid formulation for photodynamic therapy (PDT) is reported. Such a hybrid was synthesized by adsorbing bimetallic nanozyme, MnO2@PtNPs (NPs = nanoparticles) onto graphene quantum dots (GQDs) – zinc (II) phthalocyanine conjugates, followed by liposomal encapsulation, affording it enhanced water solubility. The MnO2@PtNPs, which are is shown to possess excellent catalase-like properties surpassing that of MnO2 or PtNPs alone, serves to catalyze H2O2 to O2, while the zinc (II) phthalocyanine (1) serves to transform the formed oxygen to generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen immediately. We show that by combining each function of the respective building blocks, the as-synthesized 1-GQDs-MnO2@PtNPs-liposomes not only maintains the properties of oxygen supplementation through H2O2 catalysis but also displays cooperative properties for enhanced singlet oxygen production. Consequently, a remarkably improved PDT efficacy was observed for 1-GQDs-MnO2@PtNPs-liposomes in both normoxia and hypoxia. These results demonstrate the potential applicability of such nanozyme constituted 1-GQDs-MnO2@PtNPs-liposomes for achieving tumour treatment in hypoxic conditions by PDT.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Synthesis, characterization, computational studies and DPPH scavenging activity of some triazatetracyclic derivatives
- Odame, Felix, Hosten, Eric C, Betz, Richard, Krause, Jason, Frost, Carminita L, Lobb, Kevin A, Tshentu, Zenixole R
- Authors: Odame, Felix , Hosten, Eric C , Betz, Richard , Krause, Jason , Frost, Carminita L , Lobb, Kevin A , Tshentu, Zenixole R
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/451186 , vital:75026 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-021-02158-3"
- Description: Some dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolines have been synthesized from aldehydes and ketones, using the ketones as both reagents and solvents and tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the solvent for the aldehydes, to yield the triazatetracyclics. The compounds have been characterized with spectroscopy and microanalysis. The crystal structures of 9,9-dimethyl-8,10,17- triazatetracyclo[8.7.02,7.011,16]heptadeca-1(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaene (I), 9-butyl-9-methyl-8,10,17-triazatetracyclo[8.7.0.02 , 7 .011,16]heptadeca-(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaene (III) and 9-phenyl-8,10,17-triazatetracyclo[8.7.0 02 7.011,16] heptadeca-1(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaene (VIII) have been discussed. The computed NMR, IR, molecular electrostatic potential and frontier molecular orbitals of compounds I, III and VIII have been discussed. The M06 functional gave most of its values closest to the experimental values for the bond lengths and bond angles of compounds I and III. For compound VIII, none of the functionals gave values for bond lengths and bond angles that were consistent with the experimental values, but M06 gave values closest to experimental values. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity of the triazatetracyclics showed that compound I exhibits signifcant DPPH scavenging activity with an IC50 of 56.18 µM compared to 2.37 µM for ascorbic acid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Odame, Felix , Hosten, Eric C , Betz, Richard , Krause, Jason , Frost, Carminita L , Lobb, Kevin A , Tshentu, Zenixole R
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/451186 , vital:75026 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-021-02158-3"
- Description: Some dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolines have been synthesized from aldehydes and ketones, using the ketones as both reagents and solvents and tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the solvent for the aldehydes, to yield the triazatetracyclics. The compounds have been characterized with spectroscopy and microanalysis. The crystal structures of 9,9-dimethyl-8,10,17- triazatetracyclo[8.7.02,7.011,16]heptadeca-1(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaene (I), 9-butyl-9-methyl-8,10,17-triazatetracyclo[8.7.0.02 , 7 .011,16]heptadeca-(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaene (III) and 9-phenyl-8,10,17-triazatetracyclo[8.7.0 02 7.011,16] heptadeca-1(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaene (VIII) have been discussed. The computed NMR, IR, molecular electrostatic potential and frontier molecular orbitals of compounds I, III and VIII have been discussed. The M06 functional gave most of its values closest to the experimental values for the bond lengths and bond angles of compounds I and III. For compound VIII, none of the functionals gave values for bond lengths and bond angles that were consistent with the experimental values, but M06 gave values closest to experimental values. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity of the triazatetracyclics showed that compound I exhibits signifcant DPPH scavenging activity with an IC50 of 56.18 µM compared to 2.37 µM for ascorbic acid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Synthesis, spectroscopic and nonlinear optical properties of asymmetric A3B type phthalocyanine complexes
- Authors: Mugeza, Rhulani Donney
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Spectrum analysis , Mass spectrometry , Phthalocyanines
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171667 , vital:42108
- Description: This work reports on the synthesis of symmetrical and asymmetrical A 3 B type metal free, cobalt and zinc Phthalocyanines (Pc) .A wide range of spectroscopic techniques such as Uv - visible absorption (UV), magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and time correlated single photo n counting spectroscopy (TCSPC) have been used to study the spectroscopic properties of the phthalocyanine complexes. The Z - scan technique was used to comparatively investigate the nonlinear absorption coefficient ( 휷 ) and the nonlinear refraction index ( 풏 ퟐ ) of the synthesized complexes. The following trend was obtained for the synthesized Pc’s in terms of the 휷 values 7.25 × 10 − 10 ( 4b ) > 3.76 × 10 − 10 ( 4a ) > 3.52 × 10 − 10 ( 4c ) > 2.29 × 10 − 10 ( 3c ) > 1.68 × 10 − 10 ( 3a ) > 1.65 × 10 − 10 ( 3b ) mW - 1 . The 휷 values trend of synthesized Pc complexes show that the asymmetrical A 3 B type metal free, cobalt and zinc Pc complexes ( 4a , 4b and 4c ) have larger 휷 values as compared to the octa - substituted symmetrical metal free, cobalt and zinc Pc complexes ( 3a , 3b and 3c ) which is attributed to the low symmetry of the Pc complexes. The five - level model rate equations were used to determine the two photon absorption, excited state absorption and ground state absorption cross sections of the synthesized complexes. The z inc A 3 B type asymmetrical Pc complexes gave the largest two photon absorption and 휎 푒 / 휎 푔 ratio values. This Pc complex could be used in future work to enhance the nonlinear response further by introducing nanomaterials and converting the Pc complex to a binuclear Pc. This work also reports on the density functional theory (DFT) calculations o f dipolar/octupolar contributions in order to study the first order hyperpolarizability of the synthesized Pc complexes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Mugeza, Rhulani Donney
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Spectrum analysis , Mass spectrometry , Phthalocyanines
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171667 , vital:42108
- Description: This work reports on the synthesis of symmetrical and asymmetrical A 3 B type metal free, cobalt and zinc Phthalocyanines (Pc) .A wide range of spectroscopic techniques such as Uv - visible absorption (UV), magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and time correlated single photo n counting spectroscopy (TCSPC) have been used to study the spectroscopic properties of the phthalocyanine complexes. The Z - scan technique was used to comparatively investigate the nonlinear absorption coefficient ( 휷 ) and the nonlinear refraction index ( 풏 ퟐ ) of the synthesized complexes. The following trend was obtained for the synthesized Pc’s in terms of the 휷 values 7.25 × 10 − 10 ( 4b ) > 3.76 × 10 − 10 ( 4a ) > 3.52 × 10 − 10 ( 4c ) > 2.29 × 10 − 10 ( 3c ) > 1.68 × 10 − 10 ( 3a ) > 1.65 × 10 − 10 ( 3b ) mW - 1 . The 휷 values trend of synthesized Pc complexes show that the asymmetrical A 3 B type metal free, cobalt and zinc Pc complexes ( 4a , 4b and 4c ) have larger 휷 values as compared to the octa - substituted symmetrical metal free, cobalt and zinc Pc complexes ( 3a , 3b and 3c ) which is attributed to the low symmetry of the Pc complexes. The five - level model rate equations were used to determine the two photon absorption, excited state absorption and ground state absorption cross sections of the synthesized complexes. The z inc A 3 B type asymmetrical Pc complexes gave the largest two photon absorption and 휎 푒 / 휎 푔 ratio values. This Pc complex could be used in future work to enhance the nonlinear response further by introducing nanomaterials and converting the Pc complex to a binuclear Pc. This work also reports on the density functional theory (DFT) calculations o f dipolar/octupolar contributions in order to study the first order hyperpolarizability of the synthesized Pc complexes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Synthesis, theoretical calculations and laser flash photolysis studies of selected amphiphilic porphyrin derivatives used as biofilm photodegradative materials
- Openda, Yolande I, Ngoy, Bokolombe P, Muva, Jules T, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Openda, Yolande I , Ngoy, Bokolombe P , Muva, Jules T , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190589 , vital:45008 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NJ02651H"
- Description: Photodynamic antimicrobial activities of gallium and indium porphyrins as well as their quaternized derivatives have been investigated against S. aureus and E. coli biofilms, as well as on their planktonic (free floating) cells using a light emitting diode lamp at 415 nm. The studied photosensitizers show considerable ability to generate singlet oxygen and the quaternized molecules 2a and 3a are potential photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) agents with log10 colony forming units >9 for E. coli and S. aureus planktonic cells. The quaternized derivatives are found to have higher ability to significantly suppress the biofilms of both S. aureus and E. coli in vitro. Therefore, this demonstrates that they are potentially suitable photosensitive agents for PACT use. The TD-B3LYP/LanL2DZ calculations were performed to evaluate the singlet excitation energies of quaternized and non-quaternized porphyrins in vacuo. Our study shows excellent agreement between time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) excited energies and experimental S1 > S0 excitation energies. The small deviation observed between the calculated and experimental spectra arises from the solvent effect. The excitation energies observed in these UV-visible spectra mostly originated from electron promotion between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) for the less intense band and the HOMO−1 for the most intense band of the ground states to the lower unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the excited states.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Openda, Yolande I , Ngoy, Bokolombe P , Muva, Jules T , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190589 , vital:45008 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NJ02651H"
- Description: Photodynamic antimicrobial activities of gallium and indium porphyrins as well as their quaternized derivatives have been investigated against S. aureus and E. coli biofilms, as well as on their planktonic (free floating) cells using a light emitting diode lamp at 415 nm. The studied photosensitizers show considerable ability to generate singlet oxygen and the quaternized molecules 2a and 3a are potential photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) agents with log10 colony forming units >9 for E. coli and S. aureus planktonic cells. The quaternized derivatives are found to have higher ability to significantly suppress the biofilms of both S. aureus and E. coli in vitro. Therefore, this demonstrates that they are potentially suitable photosensitive agents for PACT use. The TD-B3LYP/LanL2DZ calculations were performed to evaluate the singlet excitation energies of quaternized and non-quaternized porphyrins in vacuo. Our study shows excellent agreement between time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) excited energies and experimental S1 > S0 excitation energies. The small deviation observed between the calculated and experimental spectra arises from the solvent effect. The excitation energies observed in these UV-visible spectra mostly originated from electron promotion between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) for the less intense band and the HOMO−1 for the most intense band of the ground states to the lower unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the excited states.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
T Kondo (Ed) law and investment in Africa: the fovernance of foreign direct investment in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Zongwe, Dunia P
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions , Corporate governance
- Language: English
- Type: text , review , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6387 , vital:45443 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2077-4907/2021/ldd.v25.16 "
- Description: Tinashe Kondo’s book, Law and investment in Africa, narrates the efforts of a country to regain the trust [and the love] of foreign investors after several decades of argument and hostility. Encapsulated in the “Zimbabwe is open for business” slogan, these efforts show “how a country can move to regain credibility and commit to global rules despite its recent history”. This review of Kondo’s book concerns the manner in which readers can take advantage of this immensely useful publication. Particularly, this review looks into the book in order to advise law academics on possible strategies to integrate the book into their curricula in Zimbabwe and elsewhere on the continent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Zongwe, Dunia P
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions , Corporate governance
- Language: English
- Type: text , review , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6387 , vital:45443 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2077-4907/2021/ldd.v25.16 "
- Description: Tinashe Kondo’s book, Law and investment in Africa, narrates the efforts of a country to regain the trust [and the love] of foreign investors after several decades of argument and hostility. Encapsulated in the “Zimbabwe is open for business” slogan, these efforts show “how a country can move to regain credibility and commit to global rules despite its recent history”. This review of Kondo’s book concerns the manner in which readers can take advantage of this immensely useful publication. Particularly, this review looks into the book in order to advise law academics on possible strategies to integrate the book into their curricula in Zimbabwe and elsewhere on the continent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Tapping the role of microbial biosurfactants in pesticide remediation: an eco-friendly approach for environmental sustainability
- Raj, Aman, Kumar, Ashwani, Dames, Joanna F
- Authors: Raj, Aman , Kumar, Ashwani , Dames, Joanna F
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440430 , vital:73782 , https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.791723
- Description: Pesticides are used indiscriminately all over the world to protect crops from pests and pathogens. If they are used in excess, they contaminate the soil and water bodies and negatively affect human health and the environment. However, bioremediation is the most viable option to deal with these pollutants, but it has certain limitations. Therefore, harnessing the role of microbial biosurfactants in pesticide remediation is a promising approach. Biosurfactants are the amphiphilic compounds that can help to increase the bioavailability of pesticides, and speeds up the bioremediation process. Biosurfactants lower the surface area and interfacial tension of immiscible fluids and boost the solubility and sorption of hydrophobic pesticide contaminants. They have the property of biodegradability, low toxicity, high selectivity, and broad action spectrum under extreme pH, temperature, and salinity conditions, as well as a low critical micelle concentration (CMC). All these factors can augment the process of pesticide remediation. Application of metagenomic and in-silico tools would help by rapidly characterizing pesticide degrading microorganisms at a taxonomic and functional level. A comprehensive review of the literature shows that the role of biosurfactants in the biological remediation of pesticides has received limited attention. Therefore, this article is intended to provide a detailed overview of the role of various biosurfactants in improving pesticide remediation as well as different methods used for the detection of microbial biosurfactants. Additionally, this article covers the role of advanced metagenomics tools in characterizing the biosurfactant producing pesticide degrading microbes from different environments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Raj, Aman , Kumar, Ashwani , Dames, Joanna F
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440430 , vital:73782 , https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.791723
- Description: Pesticides are used indiscriminately all over the world to protect crops from pests and pathogens. If they are used in excess, they contaminate the soil and water bodies and negatively affect human health and the environment. However, bioremediation is the most viable option to deal with these pollutants, but it has certain limitations. Therefore, harnessing the role of microbial biosurfactants in pesticide remediation is a promising approach. Biosurfactants are the amphiphilic compounds that can help to increase the bioavailability of pesticides, and speeds up the bioremediation process. Biosurfactants lower the surface area and interfacial tension of immiscible fluids and boost the solubility and sorption of hydrophobic pesticide contaminants. They have the property of biodegradability, low toxicity, high selectivity, and broad action spectrum under extreme pH, temperature, and salinity conditions, as well as a low critical micelle concentration (CMC). All these factors can augment the process of pesticide remediation. Application of metagenomic and in-silico tools would help by rapidly characterizing pesticide degrading microorganisms at a taxonomic and functional level. A comprehensive review of the literature shows that the role of biosurfactants in the biological remediation of pesticides has received limited attention. Therefore, this article is intended to provide a detailed overview of the role of various biosurfactants in improving pesticide remediation as well as different methods used for the detection of microbial biosurfactants. Additionally, this article covers the role of advanced metagenomics tools in characterizing the biosurfactant producing pesticide degrading microbes from different environments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Teacher Contexts as Amplifiers and Filters to Environmental Pedagogical Content Knowledge within a Professional Development System
- Brundit, Susan, Schudel, Ingrid J
- Authors: Brundit, Susan , Schudel, Ingrid J
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435141 , vital:73133 , ISBN 9781928502241 , https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/64082
- Description: The chapter draws on the contextual work underpinning a broader study that aimed to understand how environmental pedagogical content knowledge is supported and constructed in the Fundisa for Change teacher professional development (TPD) courses (Brundrit 2018). Necessary to this was an understanding of the contextual realities (amplifiers and filters) of the system in which the course occurs, leading to the question: How do school and classroom contexts act to amplify and filter the environmental pedagogical content knowledge learning of teachers in a teacher professional development programme?.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Brundit, Susan , Schudel, Ingrid J
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435141 , vital:73133 , ISBN 9781928502241 , https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/64082
- Description: The chapter draws on the contextual work underpinning a broader study that aimed to understand how environmental pedagogical content knowledge is supported and constructed in the Fundisa for Change teacher professional development (TPD) courses (Brundrit 2018). Necessary to this was an understanding of the contextual realities (amplifiers and filters) of the system in which the course occurs, leading to the question: How do school and classroom contexts act to amplify and filter the environmental pedagogical content knowledge learning of teachers in a teacher professional development programme?.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Teacher Professional Development in Environment and Sustainability Education
- Songqwaru, Zintle, Tshiningayamwe, Sirkka
- Authors: Songqwaru, Zintle , Tshiningayamwe, Sirkka
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435248 , vital:73142 , ISBN 9781928502241 , https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/64082
- Description: No education policy, no matter how well designed, can succeed without a teacher (Sanyal 2013). Additionally, a change in policy alone is not sufficient to improve an education system (Livingstone 2012), no matter how well meaning. The quality of teachers’ professional practices determines to some extent the quality of teaching and learning in the schooling sector. Teacher quality, and not only teacher supply, is important for learning; hence, teacher professional development should be a priority in all education and development strategies (Unesco 2015a).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Songqwaru, Zintle , Tshiningayamwe, Sirkka
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435248 , vital:73142 , ISBN 9781928502241 , https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/64082
- Description: No education policy, no matter how well designed, can succeed without a teacher (Sanyal 2013). Additionally, a change in policy alone is not sufficient to improve an education system (Livingstone 2012), no matter how well meaning. The quality of teachers’ professional practices determines to some extent the quality of teaching and learning in the schooling sector. Teacher quality, and not only teacher supply, is important for learning; hence, teacher professional development should be a priority in all education and development strategies (Unesco 2015a).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Teaching and learning for change: Education and sustainability in South Africa
- Schudel, Ingrid J, Songqwaru, Zintle, Tshiningayamwe, Sirkka, Lotz-Sisitka, Heila
- Authors: Schudel, Ingrid J , Songqwaru, Zintle , Tshiningayamwe, Sirkka , Lotz-Sisitka, Heila
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/434971 , vital:73120 , ISBN 9781928502241 , https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/64082
- Description: Like many national curricula around the world, South Africa’s curriculum is rich in environment and sustainability content. Despite this, environmental teaching and learning can be challenging for educators. This comes at a time when Sustainable Development Goal 4 via Target 4.7 requires governments to integrate Education for Sustainable Development into national education systems. Teaching and Learning for Change is an exploration of how teachers and teacher educators engage environment and sustainability content knowledge, methods, and assessment practices – an exposition of quality education processes in support of ecological and social justice and sustainability. The chapters evolve from a ten-year research programme led out of the DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Global Change and Social Learning Systems working with national partners in the Fundisa for Change programme and the UNESCO Sustainability Starts with Teachers programme. They show the integration of education for sustainable development in teacher professional development and curricula in schools in South Africa. They reveal how university-based researchers, teachers and teacher educators have made theoretically and contextually reasoned choices about their lives and their teaching in response to calls for a more sustainable world in which education must play a role. Teaching and Learning for Change will be of interest to education policymakers in government, advisors and educators in educational and environmental departments, NGOs and other institutions. It will also be of interest to teacher educators, teachers and researchers in education more generally, and environment and sustainability education specifically.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Schudel, Ingrid J , Songqwaru, Zintle , Tshiningayamwe, Sirkka , Lotz-Sisitka, Heila
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/434971 , vital:73120 , ISBN 9781928502241 , https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/64082
- Description: Like many national curricula around the world, South Africa’s curriculum is rich in environment and sustainability content. Despite this, environmental teaching and learning can be challenging for educators. This comes at a time when Sustainable Development Goal 4 via Target 4.7 requires governments to integrate Education for Sustainable Development into national education systems. Teaching and Learning for Change is an exploration of how teachers and teacher educators engage environment and sustainability content knowledge, methods, and assessment practices – an exposition of quality education processes in support of ecological and social justice and sustainability. The chapters evolve from a ten-year research programme led out of the DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Global Change and Social Learning Systems working with national partners in the Fundisa for Change programme and the UNESCO Sustainability Starts with Teachers programme. They show the integration of education for sustainable development in teacher professional development and curricula in schools in South Africa. They reveal how university-based researchers, teachers and teacher educators have made theoretically and contextually reasoned choices about their lives and their teaching in response to calls for a more sustainable world in which education must play a role. Teaching and Learning for Change will be of interest to education policymakers in government, advisors and educators in educational and environmental departments, NGOs and other institutions. It will also be of interest to teacher educators, teachers and researchers in education more generally, and environment and sustainability education specifically.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Terminaliamide, a new ceramide and other phytoconstituents from the roots of Terminalia mantaly H. Perrier and their biological activities
- Mbosso, Emmanuel, Siwe-Noundou, Xavier, Fannang, Simone V, Song, Achille M, Assob, Jules C N, Hoppe, Heinrich C, Krause, Rui W M
- Authors: Mbosso, Emmanuel , Siwe-Noundou, Xavier , Fannang, Simone V , Song, Achille M , Assob, Jules C N , Hoppe, Heinrich C , Krause, Rui W M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191779 , vital:45163 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2019.1647425"
- Description: Terminaliamide (1), a new ceramide was isolated from the roots of Terminalia mantaly H. Perrier (Combretaceae) along with 4 known compounds (2–5). The structures of the compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy analysis and mass spectrometry. Compound 1 exhibited moderated antibacterial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus with MIC value of 62.5 μg/mL. The crude MeOH extract (TMr) highly reduced Plasmodium falciparum growth with an IC50 value of 10.11 μg/mL, while hexane fraction (F1) highly reduced Trypanosoma brucei brucei growth with an IC50 value of 5.60 µg/mL. All tested samples presented little or no in vitro cytotoxicity on HeLa cell line. The present work confirms that T. mantaly is medicinally important and may be used effectively as an antimicrobial, an antiplasmodial and an antitrypanosomial with promising therapeutic index.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Mbosso, Emmanuel , Siwe-Noundou, Xavier , Fannang, Simone V , Song, Achille M , Assob, Jules C N , Hoppe, Heinrich C , Krause, Rui W M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191779 , vital:45163 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2019.1647425"
- Description: Terminaliamide (1), a new ceramide was isolated from the roots of Terminalia mantaly H. Perrier (Combretaceae) along with 4 known compounds (2–5). The structures of the compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy analysis and mass spectrometry. Compound 1 exhibited moderated antibacterial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus with MIC value of 62.5 μg/mL. The crude MeOH extract (TMr) highly reduced Plasmodium falciparum growth with an IC50 value of 10.11 μg/mL, while hexane fraction (F1) highly reduced Trypanosoma brucei brucei growth with an IC50 value of 5.60 µg/mL. All tested samples presented little or no in vitro cytotoxicity on HeLa cell line. The present work confirms that T. mantaly is medicinally important and may be used effectively as an antimicrobial, an antiplasmodial and an antitrypanosomial with promising therapeutic index.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The antibacterial and antifungal properties of neutral, octacationic and hexadecacationic Zn phthalocyanines when conjugated to silver nanoparticles
- Mapukata, Sibusisiwe, Sen, Pinar, Osifeko, Olawale L, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Mapukata, Sibusisiwe , Sen, Pinar , Osifeko, Olawale L , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185667 , vital:44408 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102361"
- Description: The syntheses and characterization of novel octacationic and hexadecacationic Pcs is reported. With the aim of enhancing singlet oxygen generation efficiencies and hence antimicrobial activities, these Pcs (including their neutral counterpart) are conjugated to Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). The obtained results show that the conjugate composed of the neutral Pc has a higher loading of Pcs as well as a greater singlet oxygen quantum yield enhancement (in the presence of AgNPs) in DMSO. The antimicrobial efficiencies of the Pcs and their conjugates were evaluated and compared on S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans. The cationic Pcs possess better activity than the neutral Pc against all the microorganisms with the hexadecacationic Pc being the best. This work therefore demonstrates that increase in the number of cationic charges on the reported Pcs results in enhanced antimicrobial activities, which is maintained even when conjugated to Ag nanoparticles. The high activity and lack of selectivity of the cationic Pcs when conjugated to Ag NPs against different microorganisms make them good candidates for real life antimicrobial treatments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Mapukata, Sibusisiwe , Sen, Pinar , Osifeko, Olawale L , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185667 , vital:44408 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102361"
- Description: The syntheses and characterization of novel octacationic and hexadecacationic Pcs is reported. With the aim of enhancing singlet oxygen generation efficiencies and hence antimicrobial activities, these Pcs (including their neutral counterpart) are conjugated to Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). The obtained results show that the conjugate composed of the neutral Pc has a higher loading of Pcs as well as a greater singlet oxygen quantum yield enhancement (in the presence of AgNPs) in DMSO. The antimicrobial efficiencies of the Pcs and their conjugates were evaluated and compared on S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans. The cationic Pcs possess better activity than the neutral Pc against all the microorganisms with the hexadecacationic Pc being the best. This work therefore demonstrates that increase in the number of cationic charges on the reported Pcs results in enhanced antimicrobial activities, which is maintained even when conjugated to Ag nanoparticles. The high activity and lack of selectivity of the cationic Pcs when conjugated to Ag NPs against different microorganisms make them good candidates for real life antimicrobial treatments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The antibody assisted detection of HER2 on a cobalt porphyrin binuclear framework and gold functionalized graphene quantum dots modified electrode
- Centane, Sixole, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Centane, Sixole , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185931 , vital:44449 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2020.114908"
- Description: In this work a novel simple, inexpensive and highly sensitive approach for the antibody assisted detection of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is presented. Three sensors using carboxylic group containing gold functionalized graphene quantum dots (SNGQDs@AuNPs), CoP-BNF (cobalt porphyrin binuclear framework) and CoP-BNF/SNGQDs@AuNPs (the conjugate) nanocomposites on a GCE were designed. The sensors were fabricated by covalent immobilization of the antibody to the GCE via an amide bond. The modified GCE was characterized using cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The performance of the sensors was assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The selective recognition of the antibody towards HER2 on the electrode led to an increase of the electron transfer resistance (Rct). The different modified electrodes had low detection limit values: 0.0327 ng/mL, 0.0454 ng/mL and 0.1072 ng/mL towards the detection of HER2. The sensors showed good stability and reproducibility. The sensors showed promising potential in clinical applicability, in the detection of HER2 protein in human serum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Centane, Sixole , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185931 , vital:44449 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2020.114908"
- Description: In this work a novel simple, inexpensive and highly sensitive approach for the antibody assisted detection of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is presented. Three sensors using carboxylic group containing gold functionalized graphene quantum dots (SNGQDs@AuNPs), CoP-BNF (cobalt porphyrin binuclear framework) and CoP-BNF/SNGQDs@AuNPs (the conjugate) nanocomposites on a GCE were designed. The sensors were fabricated by covalent immobilization of the antibody to the GCE via an amide bond. The modified GCE was characterized using cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The performance of the sensors was assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The selective recognition of the antibody towards HER2 on the electrode led to an increase of the electron transfer resistance (Rct). The different modified electrodes had low detection limit values: 0.0327 ng/mL, 0.0454 ng/mL and 0.1072 ng/mL towards the detection of HER2. The sensors showed good stability and reproducibility. The sensors showed promising potential in clinical applicability, in the detection of HER2 protein in human serum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The application of human factors and ergonomics (HFE) to community-sport organisations in resource scarce contexts: a case study of grassroots football in Makana, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Bennett, Ryan
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Makana Local Football Association (South Africa) , Human engineering , Soccer teams -- South Africa -- Makhanda -- Management , Soccer -- Management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172412 , vital:42198 , 10.21504/10962/172412
- Description: Background: Modern Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) focuses on the optimisation of complex socio-technical systems and has been challenged to contribute to broader societal issues. An example is within grassroots football organisations in resource-scarce areas such as Makana, South Africa. Through embedded participatory approaches, the research problem was co-constructed: To investigate the socio-technical system of the Makana Local Football Association (LFA). Method: A useful complex system modelling tool is that of Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA), with its 5 phases used to identify constraints and affordances. Three perspectives were adopted for the application of an adapted (to suit participant characteristics) CWA to the Makana LFA: 1) how work is prescribed by the governing body SAFA, 2) how subject matter experts (SME) disclose its current functioning, and 3) how SMEs imagine it could function. Five SMEs attended 12 three-hour workshops to complete the latter two perspectives. Results: The composite work domain analysis between work as prescribed and work as disclosed identified significant mismatches between how policymakers envision the system and how SMEs report its functioning. Key differences in perspectives included the fundamental purpose of the Makana LFA, while only four of 22 functions operate within the Makana LFA. Participants also identified key affordances for the LFA such as reorientation as a community sports organisation. Discussion: Comparison between perspectives indicated four mismatches. 1) SAFA views the LFA as the foundation of the talent identification and development infrastructure of South African football. SMEs view it as a community centred organisation. 2) A lack of human capacity is evident at the community level of Makana football. 3) Funding and assets are absent at this grassroots level. 4) The LFA relies on other stakeholders, but these relationships are not formalised. Policymakers, therefore, have a lack of knowledge of the contextual challenges faced by LFA administrators. It is recommended that SAFA view the LFA as a community sport organisation, focusing on improving human capacity, increasing funding, and formalising stakeholder networks. Furthermore, conceptual models from CWA provide explicit socio-technical system redesign recommendations. Conclusion: Large mismatches between the organising body SAFA and the actual functioning of the LFA significantly hinder the effective management and running of football at a grassroots level in resource-scarce contexts in South Africa. The perspectives approach to CWA was useful in elucidating the constraints and affordances of the Makana LFA socio-technical system and informing redesign opportunities. Systems HFE methodology is therefore well placed to contribute to broader societal issues within resources scarce contexts such as football in Makana. Furthermore, the philosophical underpinnings of systems based HFE were successful in the development of sustainable participatory research within the South African grassroots football context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Bennett, Ryan
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Makana Local Football Association (South Africa) , Human engineering , Soccer teams -- South Africa -- Makhanda -- Management , Soccer -- Management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172412 , vital:42198 , 10.21504/10962/172412
- Description: Background: Modern Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) focuses on the optimisation of complex socio-technical systems and has been challenged to contribute to broader societal issues. An example is within grassroots football organisations in resource-scarce areas such as Makana, South Africa. Through embedded participatory approaches, the research problem was co-constructed: To investigate the socio-technical system of the Makana Local Football Association (LFA). Method: A useful complex system modelling tool is that of Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA), with its 5 phases used to identify constraints and affordances. Three perspectives were adopted for the application of an adapted (to suit participant characteristics) CWA to the Makana LFA: 1) how work is prescribed by the governing body SAFA, 2) how subject matter experts (SME) disclose its current functioning, and 3) how SMEs imagine it could function. Five SMEs attended 12 three-hour workshops to complete the latter two perspectives. Results: The composite work domain analysis between work as prescribed and work as disclosed identified significant mismatches between how policymakers envision the system and how SMEs report its functioning. Key differences in perspectives included the fundamental purpose of the Makana LFA, while only four of 22 functions operate within the Makana LFA. Participants also identified key affordances for the LFA such as reorientation as a community sports organisation. Discussion: Comparison between perspectives indicated four mismatches. 1) SAFA views the LFA as the foundation of the talent identification and development infrastructure of South African football. SMEs view it as a community centred organisation. 2) A lack of human capacity is evident at the community level of Makana football. 3) Funding and assets are absent at this grassroots level. 4) The LFA relies on other stakeholders, but these relationships are not formalised. Policymakers, therefore, have a lack of knowledge of the contextual challenges faced by LFA administrators. It is recommended that SAFA view the LFA as a community sport organisation, focusing on improving human capacity, increasing funding, and formalising stakeholder networks. Furthermore, conceptual models from CWA provide explicit socio-technical system redesign recommendations. Conclusion: Large mismatches between the organising body SAFA and the actual functioning of the LFA significantly hinder the effective management and running of football at a grassroots level in resource-scarce contexts in South Africa. The perspectives approach to CWA was useful in elucidating the constraints and affordances of the Makana LFA socio-technical system and informing redesign opportunities. Systems HFE methodology is therefore well placed to contribute to broader societal issues within resources scarce contexts such as football in Makana. Furthermore, the philosophical underpinnings of systems based HFE were successful in the development of sustainable participatory research within the South African grassroots football context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The changing nature of work: understanding precarity and the gendered individualisation of risk in post-apartheid South Africa
- Authors: Mhlana, Siviwe
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Precarious employment , Labor supply -- South Africa , Labor supply -- Statistics -- South Africa , Precarious employment -- South Africa , Informal sector (Economics) -- Employees -- South Africa , Women employees -- South Africa , Women temporary employees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172146 , vital:42170
- Description: Against the backdrop of workplace restructuring globally, post-Apartheid South Africa is experiencing consistently high levels of unemployment, the deterioration of employment security, and limited improvements in earnings. This trend in the proliferation of low-paid, unstable and otherwise insecure employment has given rise to a segment of the literature that is centred on the growing precariousness of work in a number of different contexts. This thesis reviews empirical work on the changing nature of labour-intensive production in the past two decades, with particular focus on the trends in non-standard, informal and precarious employment. Further, the thesis examines the shift in the gender structure of South Africa’s manufacturing sector and how it affects the share in the benefits of employment, particularly with regard to social reproduction. In so doing, the thesis expands the critical theoretical narrative about the challenges of labour under neoliberalism by providing an intersectional perspective of precarious work in post- Apartheid South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Mhlana, Siviwe
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Precarious employment , Labor supply -- South Africa , Labor supply -- Statistics -- South Africa , Precarious employment -- South Africa , Informal sector (Economics) -- Employees -- South Africa , Women employees -- South Africa , Women temporary employees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172146 , vital:42170
- Description: Against the backdrop of workplace restructuring globally, post-Apartheid South Africa is experiencing consistently high levels of unemployment, the deterioration of employment security, and limited improvements in earnings. This trend in the proliferation of low-paid, unstable and otherwise insecure employment has given rise to a segment of the literature that is centred on the growing precariousness of work in a number of different contexts. This thesis reviews empirical work on the changing nature of labour-intensive production in the past two decades, with particular focus on the trends in non-standard, informal and precarious employment. Further, the thesis examines the shift in the gender structure of South Africa’s manufacturing sector and how it affects the share in the benefits of employment, particularly with regard to social reproduction. In so doing, the thesis expands the critical theoretical narrative about the challenges of labour under neoliberalism by providing an intersectional perspective of precarious work in post- Apartheid South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The cicada genus Tugelana Distant, 1912 (Hemiptera, Cicadidae): phylogenetic position and conservation status
- Villet, Martin H, Edwards, Shelley
- Authors: Villet, Martin H , Edwards, Shelley
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440628 , vital:73798 , https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/66891/
- Description: The cicada genus Tugelana Distant, 1912 is monotypic and endemic to south-eastern Africa. Material was not available for a recent molecular phylogeny of its tribe, so its precise phylogenetic placement is unestablished. Consequently, a 627 bp sequence of the cytochrome oxidase gene was obtained and its candidate relatives identified as several species of Platypleura Amyot and Audinet-Serville, 1843 using the BOLD Identification System and NCBI Genbank’s BLAST. Bayesian inference analyses indicated that the type species, the Maputaland Orangewing Cicada Tugelana butleri Distant, 1912, is closely related to the Dune Koko Orangewing Cicada Platypleura zuluensis Villet, 1989, which has a geographical distribution that is parapatric with T. butleri and which has aberrant genitalia for a member of Platypleura. This pair of species is placed fairly deep within the African clade of Platypleura. We therefore formally recognized Platypleura Amyot and Audinet-Serville, 1843 as a senior synonym of Tugelana Distant, 1912, syn. nov., and assign T. butleri Distant, 1912 to Platypleura as Platypleura butleri (Distant 1912), comb. nov. The species occurs on the wooded grasslands of the Maputaland coastal plateau east of Lebombo Mountains and south of Maputo Bay. Its Extent of Occurrence is about 6360 km2, which would qualify it as Vulnerable under the IUCN’s classification criteria for conservation status.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Villet, Martin H , Edwards, Shelley
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440628 , vital:73798 , https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/66891/
- Description: The cicada genus Tugelana Distant, 1912 is monotypic and endemic to south-eastern Africa. Material was not available for a recent molecular phylogeny of its tribe, so its precise phylogenetic placement is unestablished. Consequently, a 627 bp sequence of the cytochrome oxidase gene was obtained and its candidate relatives identified as several species of Platypleura Amyot and Audinet-Serville, 1843 using the BOLD Identification System and NCBI Genbank’s BLAST. Bayesian inference analyses indicated that the type species, the Maputaland Orangewing Cicada Tugelana butleri Distant, 1912, is closely related to the Dune Koko Orangewing Cicada Platypleura zuluensis Villet, 1989, which has a geographical distribution that is parapatric with T. butleri and which has aberrant genitalia for a member of Platypleura. This pair of species is placed fairly deep within the African clade of Platypleura. We therefore formally recognized Platypleura Amyot and Audinet-Serville, 1843 as a senior synonym of Tugelana Distant, 1912, syn. nov., and assign T. butleri Distant, 1912 to Platypleura as Platypleura butleri (Distant 1912), comb. nov. The species occurs on the wooded grasslands of the Maputaland coastal plateau east of Lebombo Mountains and south of Maputo Bay. Its Extent of Occurrence is about 6360 km2, which would qualify it as Vulnerable under the IUCN’s classification criteria for conservation status.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The cicada genus Tugelana Distant, 1912 (Hemiptera, Cicadidae): phylogenetic position and conservation status
- Villet, Martin H, Edwards, Shelley
- Authors: Villet, Martin H , Edwards, Shelley
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461561 , vital:76213 , xlink:href="http://zoobank.org/9A40F791-5D6C-42A5-8D7F-6D8A7CA8A99E"
- Description: The cicada genus Tugelana Distant, 1912 is monotypic and endemic to south-eastern Africa. Material was not available for a recent molecular phylogeny of its tribe, so its precise phylogenetic placement is unestablished. Consequently, a 627 bp sequence of the cytochrome oxidase gene was obtained and its candidate relatives identified as several species of Platypleura Amyot and Audinet-Serville, 1843 using the BOLD Identification System and NCBI Genbank’s BLAST. Bayesian inference analyses indicated that the type species, the Maputaland Orangewing Cicada Tugelana butleri Distant, 1912, is closely related to the Dune Koko Orangewing Cicada Platypleura zuluensis Villet, 1989, which has a geographical distribution that is parapatric with T. butleri and which has aberrant genitalia for a member of Platypleura. This pair of species is placed fairly deep within the African clade of Platypleura. We therefore formally recognized Platypleura Amyot and Audinet-Serville, 1843 as a senior synonym of Tugelana Distant, 1912, syn. nov., and assign T. butleri Distant, 1912 to Platypleura as Platypleura butleri (Distant 1912), comb. nov. The species occurs on the wooded grasslands of the Maputaland coastal plateau east of Lebombo Mountains and south of Maputo Bay. Its Extent of Occurrence is about 6360 km2, which would qualify it as Vulnerable under the IUCN’s classification criteria for conservation status.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Villet, Martin H , Edwards, Shelley
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461561 , vital:76213 , xlink:href="http://zoobank.org/9A40F791-5D6C-42A5-8D7F-6D8A7CA8A99E"
- Description: The cicada genus Tugelana Distant, 1912 is monotypic and endemic to south-eastern Africa. Material was not available for a recent molecular phylogeny of its tribe, so its precise phylogenetic placement is unestablished. Consequently, a 627 bp sequence of the cytochrome oxidase gene was obtained and its candidate relatives identified as several species of Platypleura Amyot and Audinet-Serville, 1843 using the BOLD Identification System and NCBI Genbank’s BLAST. Bayesian inference analyses indicated that the type species, the Maputaland Orangewing Cicada Tugelana butleri Distant, 1912, is closely related to the Dune Koko Orangewing Cicada Platypleura zuluensis Villet, 1989, which has a geographical distribution that is parapatric with T. butleri and which has aberrant genitalia for a member of Platypleura. This pair of species is placed fairly deep within the African clade of Platypleura. We therefore formally recognized Platypleura Amyot and Audinet-Serville, 1843 as a senior synonym of Tugelana Distant, 1912, syn. nov., and assign T. butleri Distant, 1912 to Platypleura as Platypleura butleri (Distant 1912), comb. nov. The species occurs on the wooded grasslands of the Maputaland coastal plateau east of Lebombo Mountains and south of Maputo Bay. Its Extent of Occurrence is about 6360 km2, which would qualify it as Vulnerable under the IUCN’s classification criteria for conservation status.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The complex relationship between asset wealth, adaptation, and diversification in tropical fisheries
- Taylor, Sarah F, Aswani, Shankar, Jiddawi, Narriman, Coupland, Jack, James, Phillip, Kelly, Stephen, Kizenga, Hellen, Roberts, Michael J, Popova, Ekaterina
- Authors: Taylor, Sarah F , Aswani, Shankar , Jiddawi, Narriman , Coupland, Jack , James, Phillip , Kelly, Stephen , Kizenga, Hellen , Roberts, Michael J , Popova, Ekaterina
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403475 , vital:69964 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105808"
- Description: Marine small-scale fisheries are complex social and ecological systems that are currently pressurised by climate change, increasing demand for food, and expectation to sustain livelihoods. Species diversification and occupational diversification are often offered as adaptation strategies to increase the resilience of these fisheries to natural and economic shocks. However, little is known about the nature of species diversification within marine tropical fisheries. Based on 293 interviews with artisanal fishers from six coastal communities located at the isles of Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia, and Mainland Tanga in Tanzania - we assess if fishers with the highest level of species diversification are the most financially secure and able to adapt to changes in the fishing industry. By creating an Asset Wealth Index (AWI) based on a Multiple Correspondence Approach (MCA), we investigate the relative levels of adaptive capacity and fishery connectivity within the different regional wealth quartiles. We find that less wealthy fishers target fewer species, making them less able to absorb changes in management measures focused on species, area, and closures. Likewise, fishers with higher wealth scores and higher adaptive capacity are able to better absorb the short-term losses of fisheries closures when compared to those with lower wealth and adaptive scores reliant on higher levels of fishery connectivity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The complex relationship between asset wealth, adaptation, and diversification in tropical fisheries
- Authors: Taylor, Sarah F , Aswani, Shankar , Jiddawi, Narriman , Coupland, Jack , James, Phillip , Kelly, Stephen , Kizenga, Hellen , Roberts, Michael J , Popova, Ekaterina
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403475 , vital:69964 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105808"
- Description: Marine small-scale fisheries are complex social and ecological systems that are currently pressurised by climate change, increasing demand for food, and expectation to sustain livelihoods. Species diversification and occupational diversification are often offered as adaptation strategies to increase the resilience of these fisheries to natural and economic shocks. However, little is known about the nature of species diversification within marine tropical fisheries. Based on 293 interviews with artisanal fishers from six coastal communities located at the isles of Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia, and Mainland Tanga in Tanzania - we assess if fishers with the highest level of species diversification are the most financially secure and able to adapt to changes in the fishing industry. By creating an Asset Wealth Index (AWI) based on a Multiple Correspondence Approach (MCA), we investigate the relative levels of adaptive capacity and fishery connectivity within the different regional wealth quartiles. We find that less wealthy fishers target fewer species, making them less able to absorb changes in management measures focused on species, area, and closures. Likewise, fishers with higher wealth scores and higher adaptive capacity are able to better absorb the short-term losses of fisheries closures when compared to those with lower wealth and adaptive scores reliant on higher levels of fishery connectivity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The cultural significance of plant-fiber crafts in Southern Africa: a comparative study of Eswatini, Malawi, and Zimbabwe
- Pullanikkatil, Deepa, Thondhlana, Gladman, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Pullanikkatil, Deepa , Thondhlana, Gladman , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/399860 , vital:69564 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2021.1998797"
- Description: Traditional handicrafts made from various plant materials are produced by most cultures around the world. Many originated through symbolic and utilitarian needs that became ritualized through time, thereby gradually attaining greater value as cultural items or symbols rather than solely functional ones. Here we report on a survey of 343 crafters across Eswatini, Malawi, and Zimbabwe in southern Africa regarding the cultural uses and significance of the items they make from wild plant fibers and sell to local communities or tourists. The plant materials used were largely dictated by tradition and local availability and were crafted into a diverse range of products including baskets, mats, brooms, storage containers, hats, fish traps, ornaments, and furniture. Many products had uses and cultural significance at major ceremonies or rituals, such as weddings, funerals, initiation, and divination. The preparation and design of the different crafts were influenced by tradition as well as market demand as indicated by tourist fashions and advice provided by government or non-government agencies to boost income generation from crafts. Although the crafting of cultural objects is increasingly commercialized and subject to the tastes and fashions of tourist markets in the region, the traditional and cultural significance of such artifacts remains widely recognized and valued.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Pullanikkatil, Deepa , Thondhlana, Gladman , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/399860 , vital:69564 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2021.1998797"
- Description: Traditional handicrafts made from various plant materials are produced by most cultures around the world. Many originated through symbolic and utilitarian needs that became ritualized through time, thereby gradually attaining greater value as cultural items or symbols rather than solely functional ones. Here we report on a survey of 343 crafters across Eswatini, Malawi, and Zimbabwe in southern Africa regarding the cultural uses and significance of the items they make from wild plant fibers and sell to local communities or tourists. The plant materials used were largely dictated by tradition and local availability and were crafted into a diverse range of products including baskets, mats, brooms, storage containers, hats, fish traps, ornaments, and furniture. Many products had uses and cultural significance at major ceremonies or rituals, such as weddings, funerals, initiation, and divination. The preparation and design of the different crafts were influenced by tradition as well as market demand as indicated by tourist fashions and advice provided by government or non-government agencies to boost income generation from crafts. Although the crafting of cultural objects is increasingly commercialized and subject to the tastes and fashions of tourist markets in the region, the traditional and cultural significance of such artifacts remains widely recognized and valued.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The dark surrealism of Phyllis Haring’s poetry
- Authors: Wylie, Dan
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/458160 , vital:75720 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-iseaeng_v48_n3_a4
- Description: The slender poetic oeuvre of Phyllis Haring (1919–2016) is now almost forgotten. Only one collection, A Taste of Salt, was published in 1976, and a number of poems appeared in small magazines until 1991. Though she is unquestionably a “minor poet,” I argue that her dream-like, dark yet musical work is worth attention, especially as something of a local pioneer in Surrealist techniques. (Surrealism’s influence more broadly in South African poetry is apparently yet to be comprehensively explored.) This article aims to reintroduce Haring’s work, and suggest some possibilities for further, more precisely theorised study. Following a biographical sketch and brief history of her publications, I respond to selected poems to provide a preliminary taste of her salty, almost Nietzschean, world-view, her craft, and some persistent techniques, themes and images – notably of human cruelty, death, and the natural world.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Wylie, Dan
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/458160 , vital:75720 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-iseaeng_v48_n3_a4
- Description: The slender poetic oeuvre of Phyllis Haring (1919–2016) is now almost forgotten. Only one collection, A Taste of Salt, was published in 1976, and a number of poems appeared in small magazines until 1991. Though she is unquestionably a “minor poet,” I argue that her dream-like, dark yet musical work is worth attention, especially as something of a local pioneer in Surrealist techniques. (Surrealism’s influence more broadly in South African poetry is apparently yet to be comprehensively explored.) This article aims to reintroduce Haring’s work, and suggest some possibilities for further, more precisely theorised study. Following a biographical sketch and brief history of her publications, I respond to selected poems to provide a preliminary taste of her salty, almost Nietzschean, world-view, her craft, and some persistent techniques, themes and images – notably of human cruelty, death, and the natural world.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021