Asymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine conjugated to various nanomaterials for applications in phototransformation of organic pollutants and photoinactivation of bacteria
- Authors: Mgidlana, Sithi , Openda, Yolande Ikala , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/360344 , vital:65081 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134850"
- Description: Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) complexes are linked to metallic nanoparticles covalently via amide and ester bonds. The photocatalytic activity of the conjugates of ZnPc complexes with NiWO4, Ag2WO4, CoWO4 and Ag-Fe3O4 nanoparticles are evaluated for photodegradation of methylene blue, tetracycline, and dibenzothiophene. The photocatalytic efficiencies of the prepared phthalocyanine complexes increased in the presence of nanoparticles. This work also reports on the photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy activity of these materials against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. The results indicate that Ag2WO4 based nanoconjugates exhibit high antimicrobial activity with higher log reduction compared to NiWO4, CoWO4 and Ag-Fe3O4 based materials.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Best practices in the use and exchange of microorganism biological control genetic resources
- Authors: Mason, Peter G , Hill, Martin P , Smith, David , Silvestri, Luciano C , Weyl, Philip S R , Brodeur, Jacques , Vitorino, Marcello Diniz
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417927 , vital:71495 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-023-10197-3"
- Description: The Nagoya Protocol actions the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity and provides a framework to effectively implement the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources. This includes microorganisms used as biological control agents. Thus biological control practitioners must comply with access and benefit-sharing regulations that are implemented by countries providing microbial biological control agents. A review of best practices and guidance for the use and exchange of microorganisms used for biological control has been prepared by the IOBC Global Commission on Biological Control and Access and Benefit-Sharing to demonstrate commitment to comply with access and benefit-sharing requirements, and to reassure the international community that biological control is a very successful and environmentally safe pest management strategy that uses biological resources responsibly and sustainably. We propose that best practices include the following elements: collaboration to facilitate information exchange about the availability of microbial biological control agents and where they may be sourced; freely sharing available knowledge in databases about successes and failures; collaborative research with provider countries to develop capacity; and production technology transfer to provide economic opportunities. We recommend the use of model concept agreements for accessing microorganisms for scientific research and non-commercial release into nature where access and benefit-sharing regulations exist and where regulations are not restrictive or do not exist. We also recommend a model agreement for deposition of microbial biological control agents into culture collections.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Blended Agile Learning of Computer Architecture under COVID
- Authors: Machanick, Philip
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/439141 , vital:73550 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Grant-Ooster-wyk/publication/375547243_Beyond_the_Hype_A_Cautionary_Tale_of_ChatGPT_in_the_Programming_Classroom/links/654e3009b1398a779d76a75e/Beyond-the-Hype-A-Cautionary-Tale-of-ChatGPT-in-the-Programming-Classroom.pdf#page=45
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges. 2021 was an interesting year because we had overcome the worst of the teething problems of remote learning but were able to resume some in-person activities. I present experiences from a second-year computer architecture course that I have taught since 2014 to illustrate that some lessons from operating under pandemic conditions can apply to running courses under more normal conditions. 2021 was an interesting year because we reintroduced in-person pracs partway through this course, allowing students to reflect on the difference this made. Reflection on what did and did not work in the course points to possible improvements in pedagogy in more “normal” times. In isolation, the very positive feedback in a course survey may be flattering but there are useful insights to be drawn from what worked. Drawing on ideas from the social construction model of education, where students should be actively involved in learning, and agile software development, results in some insights that may generalize. The kind of feedback that is part of agile development can be layered on top of formative assessment. Empathy with difficulties faced by a class can make a class more involved in the strategy for course delivery. In 2022, without COVID constraints, some of the lessons were applied with positive outcomes.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Celebrating authentic bodies: Instagram (self) representations of models
- Authors: Battisti, Fabiana , Dalvit, Lorenzo
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/468151 , vital:77024 , DOI Code: 10.1285/i22840753n25p7
- Description: South African society is characterized by a historical legacy of institutionalized segregation and oppression along racial and, to a lesser extent, gender and (dis) ability lines. While social media can be considered a relatively elite phenomenon, it has the potential to challenge stereotypes and reshape public discourse. Beauty contests, fashion shows and modelling parades represent offline as well as online sites of struggle over aesthetic canons, aspirational looks, and ideal bodies. At the same time, they offer opportunities for alternative, marginalized and stigmatized bodies to" step into the light", as it were. Due to the primacy of the visual element, a platform like Instagram offers a rather unique opportunity to affirm that racialized, gendered and disabled bodies are not only normal, but authentically beautiful. In this paper we adopt an intersectional lens to investigate Instagram profiles by South African models with disabilities. Five women who differ in terms of ethnic affiliation as well as impairment were selected for an in-depth qualitative critical visual analysis and an ethnographic content analysis. In a South African context still largely shaped by patriarchy, sexism and ableism, we found (self) representations on social media are intimately intertwined with resistance, advocacy and social change. Self-representations by models with disabilities include sharing authentic aspects of self, affirmation, and role modelling.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Challenges and Opportunities of Preserving African Indigenous Knowledge Using Digital Technologies: The Case of Bogwera
- Authors: Aiseng, Kealeboga
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/455424 , vital:75429 , ISBN 9781668470244 , DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-7024-4.ch007
- Description: Most indigenous knowledge systems, practices, and values disappear due to the influence of technology, human migrations, climate change, globalization, death, memory loss, and civilization. Therefore, indigenous knowledge systems will disappear if they are no longer used. This is because many traditional practices and activities within indigenous knowledge systems that have been used are essential coping and living strategies and are now in danger of disappearing. The chapter investigates how social web technologies, social media platforms, and online video tools can digitize, share, and preserve indigenous knowledge for the current generations that need to be more knowledgeable about these systems and future generations. With the example of bogwera, the chapter studies the role that digital technologies can play in protecting and preserving indigenous knowledge systems in the Taung community in North West, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Check for updates Assessing the Impact of DNS Configuration
- Authors: Okuthe, J A , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430917 , vital:72727 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34896-9
- Description: Domain name system (DNS) is an essential enabler for connecting us-ers and services on the Internet. DNS translates human readable do-main names into IP addresses and precedes client connection to a server via a domain name. DNS service is therefore expected to con-sume network bandwidth even though it offers no direct benefit to the user. Having observed the large component of DNS traffic on the com-munity network local loop in our previous study, we migrated the DNS service from a server on the LAN to the gateway router and reconfig-ured the cache time-to-live. Results from the analysis of network traffic captured from the gateway router interface show a 26% decrease in the downlink bandwidth utilization and 46% decline in the uplink bandwidth utilization. The DNS component of the local loop traffic reduces from 45.28% to 4.11%. On the other hand, the Web component of the local loop traffic increases from 49.42% to 95.49%. Data collected from a mirroring port on the LAN switch indicate a decrease in the DNS portion of the internal traffic from 0.38% to 0.18%. Although the DNS reconfigu-ration helps alleviate network bandwidth constraints and reduces DNS component of the traffic, the Web portion increases. The implementa-tion of effective, efficient and sustainable Web traffic management is therefore required.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Co phthalocyanine mediated electrochemical detection of the HER2 in the presence of Au and CeO2 nanoparticles and graphene quantum dots
- Authors: Centane, Sixolile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/360372 , vital:65083 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108301"
- Description: In this work, cobalt tetra phenoxy acetic acid phthalocyanine (CoTAPc) is investigated as an electron mediator, immobilization platform for an HB5 aptamer and to enhance the electrochemical signal for the detection of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Furthermore, the CoTAPc was combined individually with sulphur/nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (SNGQDs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs), on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) via sequential adsorption. The CoTAPc and SNGQDs were also π-π stacked, used for electrode modification similarly to the rest of the other surfaces and applied towards the electrochemical detection of HER2. The designed sensors were characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The designed aptasensors showed detection limits as low as 6.0 pg/mL. The real life applicability of the designed aptasensors was tested in human serum samples. The aptasensors showed great storage stability, sensitivity and specificity towards HER2, implying great potential for applications in early diagnosis of breast cancer.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Combination of photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy and ciprofloxacin to combat S. aureus and E. coli resistant biofilms
- Authors: Openda, Yolande Ikala , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/360384 , vital:65084 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.103142"
- Description: Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) coupled with an antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (CIP), was investigated using two indium metallated cationic photosensitizers, a porphyrin (1) and a phthalocyanine (2). Applying PACT followed by the antibiotic treatment led to a remarkable reduction in the biofilm cell survival of two antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, S. aureus (Gram-positive) and E. coli (Gram-nenative). Treating both bacteria strains with PACT alone showed no significant activity at 32 µM with 15 min irradiation, while CIP alone exhibited a minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC) at 4 and 8 µg/mL on S. aureus and E. coli, respectively following 24 h incubation. The combined treatment resulted in the complete eradication of the matured biofilms with high log10 reduction values of 7.05 and 7.20 on S. aureus and E. coli, respectively, at low concentrations. It was found that 15 min PACT irradiation of 8 µM of complexes (1 and 2) combined with 2 µg/mL of CIP have a 100% reduction of the resistant S. aureus biofilms. Whereas the total killing of E. coli was obtained when combining 8 µM of complex 1 and 16 µM of complex 2 both combined with 4 µg/mL of CIP.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Comparative situational analysis of comprehensive abortion care in four Southern African countries
- Authors: Macleod, Catriona I , Reuvers, Megan , Reynolds, John H , Lavelanet, Antonella , Delate, Richard
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441199 , vital:73865 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2023.2217442"
- Description: We report on a comparative situational analysis of comprehensive abortion care (CAC) in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia. We conducted systematic literature searches and country consultations and used a reparative health justice approach (with four dimensions) for the analysis. The following findings pertain to all four countries, except where indicated. Individual material dimension: pervasive gender-based violence (GBV); unmet need for contraception (15−17%); high HIV prevalence; poor abortion access for rape survivors; fees for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services (Eswatini). Collective material dimension: no clear national budgeting for SRH; over-reliance on donor funding (Eswatini; Lesotho); no national CAC guidelines or guidance on legal abortion access; poor data collection and management systems; shortage and inequitable distribution of staff; few facilities providing abortion care. Individual symbolic dimension: gender norms justify GBV; stigma attached to both abortion and unwed or early pregnancies. Collective symbolic dimension: policy commitments to reducing unsafe abortion and to post-abortion care, but not to increasing access to legal abortion; inadequate research; contradictions in abortion legislation (Botswana); inadequate staff training in CAC. Political will to ensure CAC within the country’s legislation is required. Reparative health.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Conceptualizing the socio-cultural impacts of marine plastic pollution on human well-being–a perspective
- Authors: Yose, Papama , Thondhlana, Gladman , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471196 , vital:77428 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115285
- Description: Marine plastic pollution is one of the major environmental problems globally, with adverse impacts on human well-being but socio-cultural impacts remain poorly conceptualized and little understudied. This perspective paper argues for a more nuanced understanding of the socio-cultural dimensions of impacts beyond direct and quantitatively measured impacts. The paper provides a working definition of and a conceptual framework for categorizing the socio-cultural impacts of marine plastic pollution. It also highlights three dimensions of socio-cultural impacts (lifestyle, mental health, and cultural and heritage impacts), and characterizes and suggests ways socio-cultural impacts can be assessed and recognized. The paper is meant to provoke productive debate and policy and management options for addressing the impacts of marine plastic pollution in socially meaningful and equitable ways.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Contrasting effects of climate change on the invasion risk and biocontrol potential of the invasive Iris pseudacorus L. between Northern and Southern Hemisphere
- Authors: Minuti, Gianmarco , Coetzee, Julie A , Stiers, Iris
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/423329 , vital:72048 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2023.105290"
- Description: Iris pseudacorus is both a prized ornamental and an invasive aquatic plant that tends to grow dense monospecific stands, displacing the local vegetation and altering the hydrology of freshwater ecosystems. Originally from Europe, this species has historically invaded North America, China and Japan, and more recently spread through Argentina, South Africa and Australasia, where it is now a target for biological control. Field surveys within its native range have led to the selection of three candidate biocontrol agents. Prioritizing the best candidates for different regions constitutes a critical step, which could save significant time and resources before further cost-intensive experimental studies are conducted. Climate change is seldom taken into consideration in the prioritization process. In this regard, climatic suitability can be used to model the potential distributions of weeds and their candidate agents, both in space and time, thus allowing to identify areas at risk of invasion and predict where agents will be able to establish long-term. Accordingly, the objectives of this work were (i) to predict I. pseudacorus invasions and range shifts in the context of climate change; (ii) to identify wetland areas most at risk of invasion under present and future climatic conditions; and (iii) to prioritize the best suite of candidate biocontrol agents for different invaded ranges, worldwide. To do so, we modelled the present and future (2040–2060) climatic suitability of I. pseudacorus and its candidate agents using the software MaxEnt. Our results highlight a clear distinction between predictions for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In North America and eastern Asia, the area climatically suitable for I. pseudacorus is expected to increase and shift northwards. As for its biocontrol agents, very low suitability is predicted across these regions, further decreasing under future climatic conditions. On the other hand, climatically suitable areas for the plant in South America, southern Africa and Australasia are predicted, on average, to reduce in response to climate change. A decrease in climatic suitability is also expected for its candidate biocontrol agents which, however, would still maintain a significant range overlap with their host. These results can be used to prioritize areas most at risk of invasion and identify which combination of candidates could potentially provide the best level of control across different invaded ranges.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Count me in: Leopard population density in an area of mixed land‐use, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Bouderka, Safia , Perry, Travis W , Parker, Daniel M , Beukes, Maya , Mgqatsa, Nokubonga
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462591 , vital:76317 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13078"
- Description: Although the leopard (Panthera pardus) has the widest range of any felid in the world is designated as a vulnerable species, mainly because of human-induced conflict (Jacobson et al., 2016). Our study focuses on a population of leopards on privately owned, mixed-use farmland (Baviaanskloof Hartland–BH hereafter) which is adjacent to the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve (BMR) in the Baviaanskloof UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Given the unique make-up of the region, with sometimes conflicting management objectives, the status of leopards in the broader Baviaanskloof is of particular interest to a range of stakeholders. However, despite the need for management decisions to be based on reliable and regular population monitoring efforts (Elliot et al., 2020), the last formal assessment of the leopard population in the Baviaanskloof was performed in 2011/2012 but published 9 years later (Devens et al., 2018). The only other assessment of the status of leopards in the region was an unpublished Master's project (McManus, 2009). Here, we use photographic captures of leopards and a Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture (SECR) analytical framework in the mixed-use BH region of the Baviaanskloof to generate an up-to-date leopard population density estimate that can inform conservation management of the species in this important World Heritage Site.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Cryptojacking Detection in Cloud Infrastructure Using Network Traffic
- Authors: Kwedza, Philip , Chindipha, Stones D
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/473762 , vital:77679 , xlink:href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10389593"
- Description: Cryptomining is a way to obtain cryptocurrency, by performing computationally complex puzzles in exchange for a reward. To perform this requires expensive specialised hardware to become profitable but most times, this is not viable. Cryptojacking is a cybercrime in which an attacker uses devices to mine cryptocurrency without permission. This attack can be extended to use the resources of networks and cloud infrastructure. This research aimed to develop a model that could detect cryptojacking automatically in a cloud environment, utilising network traffic. The models in this paper solved this by developing a machine learning model that could analyse cryptojacking in a dataset of network traffic from an attacked cloud server.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and computational studies of (E)-2, 2-dimethyl-4-styryl-2, 3-dihydro-1H-benzo [b][1, 4] diazepine
- Authors: Odame, Felix , Madanhire, T , Hosten, Eric C , Lobb, Kevin A
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/452677 , vital:75161 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.48317/IMIST.PRSM/morjchem-v11i3.40773"
- Description: The crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis, and computational studies of (E)-2,2-dimethyl-4-styryl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepine have been presented. The compound crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/c with 8 molecules in it unit cell. A comparison of the experimental and computed bond lengths and bond angles showed good agreement among the results with varying deviations from each other. A discussion of the Hirshfeld surface analysis of the compound have been carried out to provide insight into the structural properties of the compound.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Crystal Structure, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis and Computational Studies of Two Benzo [b][1, 4] Diazepine Derivatives
- Authors: Odame, Felix , Madanhire, T , Hosten, Eric C , Lobb, Kevin A
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/452689 , vital:75162 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1134/S0022476623120041"
- Description: The DFT computational studies, crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (E)-4-(2-chlorostyryl)-2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepine (1) and (E)-4-(2-(2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepin-4-yl)vinyl)phenol (2) have been presented. The compounds crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/c with 4 molecules in their unit cells each. The experimental and computed bond lengths and bond angles deviated from each other to some extent but also showed good agreement with each other in some cases. Hirshfeld surface analysis of the compounds provided further information about the structural properties of the compounds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Darknet Traffic Detection Using Histogram-Based Gradient Boosting
- Authors: Brown, Dane L , Sepula, Chikondi
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464063 , vital:76472 , xlink:href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-99-1624-5_59"
- Description: The network security sector has observed a rise in severe attacks emanating from the darknet or encrypted networks in recent years. Network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) capable of detecting darknet or encrypted traffic must be developed to increase system security. Machine learning algorithms can effectively detect darknet activities when trained on encrypted and conventional network data. However, the performance of the system may be influenced, among other things, by the choice of machine learning models, data preparation techniques, and feature selection methodologies. The histogram-based gradient boosting strategy known as categorical boosting (CatBoost) was tested to see how well it could find darknet traffic. The performance of the model was examined using feature selection strategies such as correlation coefficient, variance threshold, SelectKBest, and recursive feature removal (RFE). Following the categorization of traffic as “darknet” or “regular”, a multi-class classification was used to determine the software application associated with the traffic. Further study was carried out on well-known machine learning methods such as random forests (RF), decision trees (DT), linear support vector classifier (SVC Linear), and long-short term memory (LST) (LSTM). The proposed model achieved good results with 98.51% binary classification accuracy and 88% multi-class classification accuracy.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Declines in Livestock Numbers Accompany Cropping Deagrarianisation Processes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Ntshudu, Monde
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402248 , vital:69834 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091735"
- Description: Deagrarianisation amongst smallholder farmers is a growing phenomenon globally, driven by a complex array of context-specific and higher-scale factors. Most research has focused on declines in arable cropping, with relatively little regard to the deagrarianisation dynamics associated with livestock ownership, yet the two are often linked through the need for draught power for ploughing. Here, we report on a survey of 293 rural households in 10 rural villages in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, where we ascertained whether ownership of cattle, goats, sheep and pigs had changed over the previous 15 years and what were the underlying reasons for any changes at both village- and household-scale. The majority felt that there had been a decline in the number of households keeping livestock and the number of animals in the village. Additionally, a clear majority of owners for each type of livestock stated that their households currently have fewer animals than 15 years ago. The main reasons for declines were that their animals had died due to drought or disease, theft, or they had sold them because of financial needs. There was a positive association between the keeping of cattle and field cultivation. Despite these general declines, two-thirds of households currently without livestock wished that they had some, primarily for use in cultural ceremonies/rituals or for income. This study shows the deagrarianisation processes in the region also apply to the livestock sector despite the significance of livestock in the local Xhosa culture. This study highlights the multifaceted nature of deagrarianisation in communal tenure systems.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Decomposing the impact of human capital on household income inequality in South Africa: Is education a useful measure?
- Authors: Friderichs, Tamaryn J , Keeton, Gavin R , Rogan, Michael
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470842 , vital:77400 , https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2022.2163228
- Description: Human capital (HC) has increasingly been identified as a driver of economic development, with the potential to reduce income inequality, which, in South Africa, originates in the labour market. HC is, however, a complex concept to measure. This study uses Fields’ regression-based decomposition method to analyse the relationships between income inequality and HC in South Africa. The Fields method allows for the analysis of the impact of several factors contributing to HC on the distribution of a measure of income. Data from the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) wave 1 (2008) and 5 (2017) are used. The findings suggest that increasing educational attainment, through improved school quality for all, would likely play a key role in reducing income inequality in South Africa. Furthermore, the large role of education attainment in explaining household income inequality supports the use of education attainment as a proxy for HC in South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Determining the efficacy of push-pull for management of Eldana saccharina (Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in sugarcane through on-farm field trials
- Authors: Mulcahy, Megan M , Conlong, Desmond E , Hill, Martin P
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/451313 , vital:75039 , http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2023/a15654
- Description: An area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programme was developed to improve management of Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a major pest of South African sugarcane. Push-pull technology is an important component of this AW-IPM approach. The sugarcane push-pull programme uses plants which are both repellent (Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv.(Cyperales: Poaceae)) and attractive (Cyperus dives Delile and Cyperus papyrus L.(both Cyperales: Cyperaceae) to E. saccharina. Previous research demonstrated the efficacy of push-pull in the Midlands North region of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. To date, little research has been conducted in coastal sugarcane growing areas. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using push-pull for management of E. saccharina in coastal KZN, using large-scale on-farm field trials conducted on five model farms. On each farm, wetland habitats were rehabilitated with pull plants (C. dives and C. papyrus) and fields were intercropped with the repellent grass M. minutiflora. Eldana saccharina damage and infestation levels were recorded to assess the efficacy of push-pull, using a multiple before-after-control-impact (mBACI) design.
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- Date Issued: 2023
Development of a translation device for axiological-semantic density in political news articles: Wording and charging
- Authors: Siebörger, Ian , Adendorff, Ralph D
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/385311 , vital:68006 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1515/text-2020-0156"
- Description: The concept of axiological-semantic density from Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) is extremely helpful in analysing political knowledge-building, as it describes the strength of relations between various people, political stances and moral judgements, enabling these to be positioned in relation to each other. We present a multi-level translation device designed to identify strengths of axiological-semantic density in political news articles from the Daily Sun, South Africa’s most popular tabloid newspaper. This translation device was devised through analysis of selected texts from a corpus of 516 articles published between January and June 2015. It was developed through a collaborative process involving the first author and a team of student research assistants. The final translation device has five tools, of which two, the wording and charging tools, are described in this article, and then illustrated using an example analysis of a Daily Sun political news article. Both tools reveal insights into South African political discourses and ways in which axiological-semantic density can be enacted in future research. Making axiological-semantic density visible using such a translation device also has practical applications in assisting readers to understand the ways in which publications such as the Daily Sun position political parties, enabling them to engage more constructively in discussions on the country’s future.
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- Date Issued: 2023