Film Review: Hollywood on Safari
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142680 , vital:38101 , https://doi.org/10.1386/jams.1.2.335_4
- Description: Film Review: Hollywood on Safari.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142680 , vital:38101 , https://doi.org/10.1386/jams.1.2.335_4
- Description: Film Review: Hollywood on Safari.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
The writing is on the wall: ways that work
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159102 , vital:40267 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC146296
- Description: When I proposed to 26 third-year journalism students that our writing class take inspiration from an idea pioneered in places as unfashionable and inhospitable as the former Soviet Union and Nepal, I should have expected the icy stares. But happily, within five weeks, this winter of classroom discontent, had begun to thaw into a tentative spring of journalistic and pedagogical innovation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159102 , vital:40267 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC146296
- Description: When I proposed to 26 third-year journalism students that our writing class take inspiration from an idea pioneered in places as unfashionable and inhospitable as the former Soviet Union and Nepal, I should have expected the icy stares. But happily, within five weeks, this winter of classroom discontent, had begun to thaw into a tentative spring of journalistic and pedagogical innovation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
A tale of 2 investigations:
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159438 , vital:40297 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC139354
- Description: This is a tale of two in-depth stories, both produced by one Daily Dispatch journalist, Gcina Nstaluba, in 2009. One was wildly successful - it helped change the face of the government's housing policy and won Ntsaluba SA Story of the Year at the 2010 Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards. The other was deemed a dismal failure by Ntsaluba himself. Why? And what can these stories teach us and our students about doing journalism in South Africa?
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159438 , vital:40297 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC139354
- Description: This is a tale of two in-depth stories, both produced by one Daily Dispatch journalist, Gcina Nstaluba, in 2009. One was wildly successful - it helped change the face of the government's housing policy and won Ntsaluba SA Story of the Year at the 2010 Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards. The other was deemed a dismal failure by Ntsaluba himself. Why? And what can these stories teach us and our students about doing journalism in South Africa?
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Oxford dictionary of journalism:
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142656 , vital:38099 , DOI: 10.1080/23743670.2015.1041305
- Description: Tony Harcup is a self-confessed ‘hackademic’, a term which he defines in his Oxford dictionary of journalism as ‘a journalist who goes on to work in journalism education where they combine the roles of journalism (hack) and academic’ (p. 121). Harcup explains that hackademics perform this balancing act in the ‘hackademy’, a curious space within academe where journalism training intersects with Journalism Studies (a field of study which is nowadays often granted ‘upper case’ status), ‘sometimes with mutual respect and insight, sometimes with mutual suspicion and hostility’ (ibid.). And this tension is never far from the surface in many of the 1 300 definitions in this useful and absorbing dictionary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142656 , vital:38099 , DOI: 10.1080/23743670.2015.1041305
- Description: Tony Harcup is a self-confessed ‘hackademic’, a term which he defines in his Oxford dictionary of journalism as ‘a journalist who goes on to work in journalism education where they combine the roles of journalism (hack) and academic’ (p. 121). Harcup explains that hackademics perform this balancing act in the ‘hackademy’, a curious space within academe where journalism training intersects with Journalism Studies (a field of study which is nowadays often granted ‘upper case’ status), ‘sometimes with mutual respect and insight, sometimes with mutual suspicion and hostility’ (ibid.). And this tension is never far from the surface in many of the 1 300 definitions in this useful and absorbing dictionary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Paper bridges: a critical examination of the Daily Dispatch's ‘community dialogues’
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142645 , vital:38098 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02560054.2011.545564
- Description: A series of town-hall-like meetings called the ‘community dialogues’ were conducted in 2009 by the Daily Dispatch newspaper in East London, under the banner of public/civic journalism, a global journalistic reform movement begun in the United States in the late 1980s. the editorial leadership of the newspaper imagined a number of core journalistic and civic purposes for the dialogues and succeeded in achieving some of these. However, the newspaper's claim that the dialogues could help to build ‘horizontal bridges’ between diverse communities in East London is critically examined through the example of two community dialogues which took place in neighbouring locations - the predominantly white, middle-class suburb of Beacon Bay, and the informal African settlement of Nompumelelo - on consecutive days in 2009. This article argues that social inequalities, particularly acute in the South African context, may preclude the emergence of a shared vision of the common good, and that joint deliberation between diverse social groups in the pursuit of consensus may not be realistic or even an appropriate goal, especially if it means ratifying an unjust status quo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Amner, Roderick J
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142645 , vital:38098 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02560054.2011.545564
- Description: A series of town-hall-like meetings called the ‘community dialogues’ were conducted in 2009 by the Daily Dispatch newspaper in East London, under the banner of public/civic journalism, a global journalistic reform movement begun in the United States in the late 1980s. the editorial leadership of the newspaper imagined a number of core journalistic and civic purposes for the dialogues and succeeded in achieving some of these. However, the newspaper's claim that the dialogues could help to build ‘horizontal bridges’ between diverse communities in East London is critically examined through the example of two community dialogues which took place in neighbouring locations - the predominantly white, middle-class suburb of Beacon Bay, and the informal African settlement of Nompumelelo - on consecutive days in 2009. This article argues that social inequalities, particularly acute in the South African context, may preclude the emergence of a shared vision of the common good, and that joint deliberation between diverse social groups in the pursuit of consensus may not be realistic or even an appropriate goal, especially if it means ratifying an unjust status quo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Foreign direct investment, trade openness and economic growth linkages: the role of exchange rate regime choice in South Africa
- Amoah, Edmund Vincent Nyarko
- Authors: Amoah, Edmund Vincent Nyarko
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Investment -- South Africa , Foreign Exchange rates
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57523 , vital:58058
- Description: For a country to ensure economic stability, growth, development, and technological advancement, FDI and trade openness play a vital role in achieving such development. Economic growth leads to employment creation and poverty reduction. FDI inflows are important to countries, especially in developing countries, as they enhance domestic savings and capital inflows from abroad. It further accumulates the transfer of technology, speeds up competition and pushes for a more positive development of firms. On the other hand, trade openness involves the removal or relaxation of trade barriers that hinder the free flow of trade between countries. FDI and trade openness is viewed as a catalyst to economic growth. However, FDI, trade openness, and economic growth are largely influenced by the exchange rate regime choice of a country. South Africa’s economy is founded on the principles of trade openness and strives to attract FDI and ensure economic growth. The country has also transitioned from different exchange rate regime choices, and currently adopts the free-floating exchange rate regime choice. These policies are aimed to enhance growth and better the lives of the people. However, this is not the case as unemployment continues to rise. Economic growth has not appreciated to the level the country aims to reach. Economic growth has shown a downward trend over the past years. These indicators raise the question about the impact of FDI, trade openness, and economic growth, and the role of exchange rate regime policies implemented in the country for many decades. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the linkages between FDI, trade openness, economic growth, and the role of the exchange rate regime choice. Specific objectives of the study include: first, to establish whether there is a direct relationship between FDI, trade openness, and economic growth, or not and, second, to investigate the effect of exchange rate regime choice on foreign direct investment, trade openness and economic growth. To achieve these objectives, the study made use of secondary data and quantitative research design. Data was collected from different sources namely, the statistics South Africa data base, world development indicators, the international monetary fund, and the Reserve Bank of South Africa. Data was collected from 1995 to 2018. In the aspect of vi data analysis, Stata, a statistical computer software and time series was used to analyse the data for the current study. The study employed an estimation technique such as the ARDL. This was to ensure that variables are I (0) or I (1). The Zivot-Andrews test was employed to investigate all possible structural breaks. Due to its inability to deal with more than one structural break, CLEMAO, or IO routine, was introduced to close the gap and to allow for a possible two event of structural break in time series. The study performed a granger causality test to determine the causalities that arose among the variables under study. The results showed no granger causality between GDP and FDI. A uni-directional granger causality was found to flow from GDP to trade openness, FDI to trade openness and FDI to exchange rate. A bi-directional causality was established between GDP and exchange rate, and between trade openness and exchange rate. The study employed critical values because the sample size appeared to be small in nature. The F statistics from the ARDL appeared to be greater than the critical value, which symbolizes a long-run relationship of the variables currently under study. A Gregory-Hansen cointegration test was introduced to handle the concept of regime changes in the current study. Findings from the ARDL with known structural break for exchange rate regime choice revealed that, exchange rate had a positive significant impact on economic growth in the short-run, whereas it had a significant negative impact on economic growth in the long-run. This implies that, during the initial stages of an exchange rate policy, the South African rand appreciated, leading to a boost in economic growth. A change from managed float exchange rate regime to a free float exchange rate regime caused a 1.49 percent increase in economic growth. This was an indication that the free float exchange rate is a better choice compared to a managed float exchange rate. Based on these findings, the study recommended that South Africa should continue with free float exchange rate policy as it is found to promote economic growth. To attract FDI, the study recommended that economic restrictions on foreign investors should be minimised. However, the South African government should encourage foreign investors to provide training and skills to South Africans who are employed in their establishments. This will in the long-run contribute to technology and human capital transfer needed by vii the country to stimulate economic growth. Finally, the study recommended that South African government should curb the importation of certain goods and services which are locally produced. This will improve economic growth and enhance employment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Amoah, Edmund Vincent Nyarko
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Investment -- South Africa , Foreign Exchange rates
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57523 , vital:58058
- Description: For a country to ensure economic stability, growth, development, and technological advancement, FDI and trade openness play a vital role in achieving such development. Economic growth leads to employment creation and poverty reduction. FDI inflows are important to countries, especially in developing countries, as they enhance domestic savings and capital inflows from abroad. It further accumulates the transfer of technology, speeds up competition and pushes for a more positive development of firms. On the other hand, trade openness involves the removal or relaxation of trade barriers that hinder the free flow of trade between countries. FDI and trade openness is viewed as a catalyst to economic growth. However, FDI, trade openness, and economic growth are largely influenced by the exchange rate regime choice of a country. South Africa’s economy is founded on the principles of trade openness and strives to attract FDI and ensure economic growth. The country has also transitioned from different exchange rate regime choices, and currently adopts the free-floating exchange rate regime choice. These policies are aimed to enhance growth and better the lives of the people. However, this is not the case as unemployment continues to rise. Economic growth has not appreciated to the level the country aims to reach. Economic growth has shown a downward trend over the past years. These indicators raise the question about the impact of FDI, trade openness, and economic growth, and the role of exchange rate regime policies implemented in the country for many decades. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the linkages between FDI, trade openness, economic growth, and the role of the exchange rate regime choice. Specific objectives of the study include: first, to establish whether there is a direct relationship between FDI, trade openness, and economic growth, or not and, second, to investigate the effect of exchange rate regime choice on foreign direct investment, trade openness and economic growth. To achieve these objectives, the study made use of secondary data and quantitative research design. Data was collected from different sources namely, the statistics South Africa data base, world development indicators, the international monetary fund, and the Reserve Bank of South Africa. Data was collected from 1995 to 2018. In the aspect of vi data analysis, Stata, a statistical computer software and time series was used to analyse the data for the current study. The study employed an estimation technique such as the ARDL. This was to ensure that variables are I (0) or I (1). The Zivot-Andrews test was employed to investigate all possible structural breaks. Due to its inability to deal with more than one structural break, CLEMAO, or IO routine, was introduced to close the gap and to allow for a possible two event of structural break in time series. The study performed a granger causality test to determine the causalities that arose among the variables under study. The results showed no granger causality between GDP and FDI. A uni-directional granger causality was found to flow from GDP to trade openness, FDI to trade openness and FDI to exchange rate. A bi-directional causality was established between GDP and exchange rate, and between trade openness and exchange rate. The study employed critical values because the sample size appeared to be small in nature. The F statistics from the ARDL appeared to be greater than the critical value, which symbolizes a long-run relationship of the variables currently under study. A Gregory-Hansen cointegration test was introduced to handle the concept of regime changes in the current study. Findings from the ARDL with known structural break for exchange rate regime choice revealed that, exchange rate had a positive significant impact on economic growth in the short-run, whereas it had a significant negative impact on economic growth in the long-run. This implies that, during the initial stages of an exchange rate policy, the South African rand appreciated, leading to a boost in economic growth. A change from managed float exchange rate regime to a free float exchange rate regime caused a 1.49 percent increase in economic growth. This was an indication that the free float exchange rate is a better choice compared to a managed float exchange rate. Based on these findings, the study recommended that South Africa should continue with free float exchange rate policy as it is found to promote economic growth. To attract FDI, the study recommended that economic restrictions on foreign investors should be minimised. However, the South African government should encourage foreign investors to provide training and skills to South Africans who are employed in their establishments. This will in the long-run contribute to technology and human capital transfer needed by vii the country to stimulate economic growth. Finally, the study recommended that South African government should curb the importation of certain goods and services which are locally produced. This will improve economic growth and enhance employment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
The impacts of anthropogenic fires in West African savanna woodlands and parklands: the case of the Guinea savanna, Ghana
- Authors: Amoako, Esther Ekua Amfoa
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Firemaking Ghana , Agroforestry Ghana , Parks Fire management Ghana , Nature Effect of human beings on Ghana , Land use Ghana , Savanna ecology Ghana , Traditional ecological knowledge Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365610 , vital:65764 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/365610
- Description: Fire is recognised as an important factor influencing the structure and function of tropical savannas. Despite the extensive studies conducted on the effects of fire on global savannas, there are relatively few studies focusing on fire-assisted land use practices in the agroforestry parkland of the Sudano-Guinean savannas of West Africa. The region experiences recurrent fires in the dry season which begins from November to April. The fires are anthropogenic and are mainly caused through rural livelihoods and cultural practices such as farming - to remove debris from crop fields and to improve soil fertility and hunting to flush out animals, among other reasons. This study therefore sought to: 1. contribute to the understanding of fire-assisted traditional land use practices, people’s knowledge and perceptions of fire use and fire regime: 2. analyse the effects of fire on vegetation, and 3. determine the effects of fire on soils in the Guinea savanna woodlands and parklands of Ghana. Study sites (burnt and unburnt land use types) were selected based on five-year daily fire counts (2013-2017) data, obtained from the Earth Observation Research and Innovation Centre (EORIC), Ghana in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Meraka Institute, South Africa. Fire densities were calculated for the 18 districts in the Guinea savanna (Northern Region of Ghana). The districts were stratified into low, medium and high fire frequency areas. The East Gonja district recorded the highest fire density (1.0 fires km-2) while Tamale recorded the lowest fire density (0.3 fires km-2). Of the eighteen districts, six districts were purposively selected and ten communities sampled. Firstly, I investigated the frequency of fire use and control, perceptions of fire regime for selected livelihood and socio-cultural activities in the six districts. The majority of respondents (83%) across the study districts indicated that they used fire once a year for at least one of the following activities: land preparation, weed/grass/pest control, burning stubble after harvest, bush clearing around homesteads, firebreaks, charcoal burning and hunting. The study showed the highest frequency of fire use in the dry season was for land preparation for cropping. However, less than a fifth of the respondents (17%) indicated that they did not use fire for any of the above activities. The results of a multiple regression predicted fire activities in the dry season from gender, age, level of education, occupation and household size. Secondly, the study examined how fire influenced the population structure and abundance of two economically important woody species Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn. (Shea tree) and Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. & Perr. (African Birch) in burnt and unburnt land-use types. Stand basal area, mean densities of juveniles and adult trees and Simpson’s index of dominance were determined. Eight diameter size classes of each species were analysed by comparing their observed distributions to a three-parameter Weibull distribution across the land use types. A total of 3,366 individuals of A. leiocarpa (n = 1,846) and V. paradoxa (n = 1,520) were enumerated. The highest total basal area of Anogeissus leiocarpa (16.9 m2/ha) was estimated in sacred groves whereas Vitellaria. paradoxa (20.6 m2 /ha) was found in unburnt woodland. The highest mean densities of A. leiocarpa (22.7±29.7 stems/ha) and V. paradoxa (15.3±2.2 stems/ha) were found in sacred in groves. Anogeissus leiocarpa was, however, absent in fallows and burnt crop fields. A somewhat inverse J-shaped distribution was found in sacred groves for both species. Thirdly, the study compared species composition in early burnt, late burnt and unburnt plots in a protected area where fire was regulated. Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn., Terminalia avicennioides Guill. & Perr., Combretum adenogonium Steud. ex A. Rich. and Combretum molle R. Br. Ex. G. Don. were the most common and abundant in all treatments. Late burnt and unburnt plots recorded the lowest diversity amongst the three treatments. Unburnt plots had higher tree density than burnt plots. A Detrended Canonical Analysis showed a changing trend, indicating a moderately strong positive association between burning time and species composition. The first and second axes contributed 53% and 12% variation, respectively. Most of the species found in axis one had fairly strong positive association to early and late burnt treatment than unburnt treatments. Finally, the effects of fire on soil properties in burnt and unburnt crop fields and woodland in the ten communities were also investigated. A total of 151 composite samples in selected burnt and unburnt land use types (burnt crop field n=20; unburnt crop field n=27; burnt woodland n=53, unburnt woodland n=51) were analysed. The variables analysed were pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (P), Exchangeable bases - potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), cation exchange and soil texture. Total N, SOC, pH and Ca differed significantly across the burnt and unburnt land-use types. A principal component analysis showed a stronger association and more positive gradient in woodlands than in crop fields. Total N showed a positive association with SOC, whereas silt showed a negative association to sand and clay. Traditional knowledge and perceptions of users of savanna agroforestry parklands can inform the formulation of local by-laws for community fire management as well as national policy regulation on fire use in the savanna through the interlinked analysis of social and ecological systems as have been elucidated in this study. The results on vegetation assessment revealed that fire practices and land uses influenced size class distribution of the two study species as well as the densities of woody species in traditional crop fields and the National Park. The unstable populations observed in most land uses and the absence of A. leiocarpa in crop fields and fallows call for education and policy actions on the use of fire in parklands of West Africa. Furthermore, fires positively influenced some soil properties in both woodlands and crop fields confirming one of the emphasised reasons why rural subsistence farmers use fire. As an environmental management decision and land use policy intervention, early dry season burning could be an option to curbing the indiscriminate and unplanned fire use. Also, the protection of trees on farm lands could check the unstable population structure of economically important woody species leading to the different structures that deviated from the recommended reverse J-shaped distribution curve observed in these agroforestry parklands. The management of socio-ecological systems such as the agroforestry parklands of West Africa require a holistic understanding of the complexity of the different resource systems, units and actors involved for sustainable management of these natural resources. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Amoako, Esther Ekua Amfoa
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Firemaking Ghana , Agroforestry Ghana , Parks Fire management Ghana , Nature Effect of human beings on Ghana , Land use Ghana , Savanna ecology Ghana , Traditional ecological knowledge Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365610 , vital:65764 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/365610
- Description: Fire is recognised as an important factor influencing the structure and function of tropical savannas. Despite the extensive studies conducted on the effects of fire on global savannas, there are relatively few studies focusing on fire-assisted land use practices in the agroforestry parkland of the Sudano-Guinean savannas of West Africa. The region experiences recurrent fires in the dry season which begins from November to April. The fires are anthropogenic and are mainly caused through rural livelihoods and cultural practices such as farming - to remove debris from crop fields and to improve soil fertility and hunting to flush out animals, among other reasons. This study therefore sought to: 1. contribute to the understanding of fire-assisted traditional land use practices, people’s knowledge and perceptions of fire use and fire regime: 2. analyse the effects of fire on vegetation, and 3. determine the effects of fire on soils in the Guinea savanna woodlands and parklands of Ghana. Study sites (burnt and unburnt land use types) were selected based on five-year daily fire counts (2013-2017) data, obtained from the Earth Observation Research and Innovation Centre (EORIC), Ghana in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Meraka Institute, South Africa. Fire densities were calculated for the 18 districts in the Guinea savanna (Northern Region of Ghana). The districts were stratified into low, medium and high fire frequency areas. The East Gonja district recorded the highest fire density (1.0 fires km-2) while Tamale recorded the lowest fire density (0.3 fires km-2). Of the eighteen districts, six districts were purposively selected and ten communities sampled. Firstly, I investigated the frequency of fire use and control, perceptions of fire regime for selected livelihood and socio-cultural activities in the six districts. The majority of respondents (83%) across the study districts indicated that they used fire once a year for at least one of the following activities: land preparation, weed/grass/pest control, burning stubble after harvest, bush clearing around homesteads, firebreaks, charcoal burning and hunting. The study showed the highest frequency of fire use in the dry season was for land preparation for cropping. However, less than a fifth of the respondents (17%) indicated that they did not use fire for any of the above activities. The results of a multiple regression predicted fire activities in the dry season from gender, age, level of education, occupation and household size. Secondly, the study examined how fire influenced the population structure and abundance of two economically important woody species Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn. (Shea tree) and Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. & Perr. (African Birch) in burnt and unburnt land-use types. Stand basal area, mean densities of juveniles and adult trees and Simpson’s index of dominance were determined. Eight diameter size classes of each species were analysed by comparing their observed distributions to a three-parameter Weibull distribution across the land use types. A total of 3,366 individuals of A. leiocarpa (n = 1,846) and V. paradoxa (n = 1,520) were enumerated. The highest total basal area of Anogeissus leiocarpa (16.9 m2/ha) was estimated in sacred groves whereas Vitellaria. paradoxa (20.6 m2 /ha) was found in unburnt woodland. The highest mean densities of A. leiocarpa (22.7±29.7 stems/ha) and V. paradoxa (15.3±2.2 stems/ha) were found in sacred in groves. Anogeissus leiocarpa was, however, absent in fallows and burnt crop fields. A somewhat inverse J-shaped distribution was found in sacred groves for both species. Thirdly, the study compared species composition in early burnt, late burnt and unburnt plots in a protected area where fire was regulated. Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn., Terminalia avicennioides Guill. & Perr., Combretum adenogonium Steud. ex A. Rich. and Combretum molle R. Br. Ex. G. Don. were the most common and abundant in all treatments. Late burnt and unburnt plots recorded the lowest diversity amongst the three treatments. Unburnt plots had higher tree density than burnt plots. A Detrended Canonical Analysis showed a changing trend, indicating a moderately strong positive association between burning time and species composition. The first and second axes contributed 53% and 12% variation, respectively. Most of the species found in axis one had fairly strong positive association to early and late burnt treatment than unburnt treatments. Finally, the effects of fire on soil properties in burnt and unburnt crop fields and woodland in the ten communities were also investigated. A total of 151 composite samples in selected burnt and unburnt land use types (burnt crop field n=20; unburnt crop field n=27; burnt woodland n=53, unburnt woodland n=51) were analysed. The variables analysed were pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (P), Exchangeable bases - potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), cation exchange and soil texture. Total N, SOC, pH and Ca differed significantly across the burnt and unburnt land-use types. A principal component analysis showed a stronger association and more positive gradient in woodlands than in crop fields. Total N showed a positive association with SOC, whereas silt showed a negative association to sand and clay. Traditional knowledge and perceptions of users of savanna agroforestry parklands can inform the formulation of local by-laws for community fire management as well as national policy regulation on fire use in the savanna through the interlinked analysis of social and ecological systems as have been elucidated in this study. The results on vegetation assessment revealed that fire practices and land uses influenced size class distribution of the two study species as well as the densities of woody species in traditional crop fields and the National Park. The unstable populations observed in most land uses and the absence of A. leiocarpa in crop fields and fallows call for education and policy actions on the use of fire in parklands of West Africa. Furthermore, fires positively influenced some soil properties in both woodlands and crop fields confirming one of the emphasised reasons why rural subsistence farmers use fire. As an environmental management decision and land use policy intervention, early dry season burning could be an option to curbing the indiscriminate and unplanned fire use. Also, the protection of trees on farm lands could check the unstable population structure of economically important woody species leading to the different structures that deviated from the recommended reverse J-shaped distribution curve observed in these agroforestry parklands. The management of socio-ecological systems such as the agroforestry parklands of West Africa require a holistic understanding of the complexity of the different resource systems, units and actors involved for sustainable management of these natural resources. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Azawan: precolonial musical culture and Saharawi nationalism in the refugee camps of the Hamada Desert in Algeria
- Authors: Amoros, Luis Gimenez
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59710 , vital:27641 , http://dx.doi.org/10.21504/amj.v10i1.1225
- Description: This article analyses Saharawi music as performed for the refugee community in the camps. I argue that the construction and evolution of Saharawi music in the camps is divided into two main areas: nationalism in relation to the decolonisation of Western Sahara, and maintenance of cultural values in Saharawi music found in the historical retention of the Haul modal system originating in precolonial Saharawi culture. Local audiences use the term Azawan to define the combination of nationalist sentiments and retention of their precolonial musical culture in Saharawi music.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Amoros, Luis Gimenez
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59710 , vital:27641 , http://dx.doi.org/10.21504/amj.v10i1.1225
- Description: This article analyses Saharawi music as performed for the refugee community in the camps. I argue that the construction and evolution of Saharawi music in the camps is divided into two main areas: nationalism in relation to the decolonisation of Western Sahara, and maintenance of cultural values in Saharawi music found in the historical retention of the Haul modal system originating in precolonial Saharawi culture. Local audiences use the term Azawan to define the combination of nationalist sentiments and retention of their precolonial musical culture in Saharawi music.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Pragmatic research design
- Amos, Trevor L, Pearse, Noel J
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Pearse, Noel J
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270943 , vital:54494 , xlink:href="https://academic-publishing.org/index.php/ejbrm/article/view/1230/1193"
- Description: The creation of wealth is an important issue in any society, and entrepreneurship is regarded as an important catalyst in the creation of new wealth. This presents a challenge to develop entrepreneurship successfully. An important site for the development of entrepreneurship is higher education. The challenge however, is that there is a lack of a general understanding on how to educate students for entrepreneurship. In addition, current thought and practice on entrepreneurship education is historically biased, implying that graduates are essentially prepared for the past instead of for the future. From the perspective of higher education, the problem is how to develop current students to be entrepreneurial in the future. What is needed is to project into the future and then to develop an understanding of what should be taught as well as how it should be taught today. A versatile research technique that can assist in achieving this objective is the Delphi technique, as it is used to conduct futures research or research into areas where knowledge is incomplete. The Delphi method is a type of group interview, using the collective opinion of knowledgeable experts. The technique makes use of several rounds of data collection and feedback to create a consensus of opinion. Making use of the Delphi technique, research is being designed that will formulate expert‑based strategic guidelines on entrepreneurial education within the South African higher education sector. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the research design considerations that arise in the use of the Delphi technique for this purpose and how they are addressed. The main characteristics of the Delphi are presented and arguments for the use of the Delphi within a constructivist paradigm are discussed. Practical issues related to the design of the Delphi, panel‑member selection, and the formulation of panel questions, are examined. In illustrating these design considerations, the paper demonstrates a pragmatic approach to research design as well as the importance of creating coherence between the research question, the research paradigm, the research method and its use, encouraging research practitioners to adopt a more systematic, deliberate and philosophically‑based approach to research design.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Pearse, Noel J
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270943 , vital:54494 , xlink:href="https://academic-publishing.org/index.php/ejbrm/article/view/1230/1193"
- Description: The creation of wealth is an important issue in any society, and entrepreneurship is regarded as an important catalyst in the creation of new wealth. This presents a challenge to develop entrepreneurship successfully. An important site for the development of entrepreneurship is higher education. The challenge however, is that there is a lack of a general understanding on how to educate students for entrepreneurship. In addition, current thought and practice on entrepreneurship education is historically biased, implying that graduates are essentially prepared for the past instead of for the future. From the perspective of higher education, the problem is how to develop current students to be entrepreneurial in the future. What is needed is to project into the future and then to develop an understanding of what should be taught as well as how it should be taught today. A versatile research technique that can assist in achieving this objective is the Delphi technique, as it is used to conduct futures research or research into areas where knowledge is incomplete. The Delphi method is a type of group interview, using the collective opinion of knowledgeable experts. The technique makes use of several rounds of data collection and feedback to create a consensus of opinion. Making use of the Delphi technique, research is being designed that will formulate expert‑based strategic guidelines on entrepreneurial education within the South African higher education sector. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the research design considerations that arise in the use of the Delphi technique for this purpose and how they are addressed. The main characteristics of the Delphi are presented and arguments for the use of the Delphi within a constructivist paradigm are discussed. Practical issues related to the design of the Delphi, panel‑member selection, and the formulation of panel questions, are examined. In illustrating these design considerations, the paper demonstrates a pragmatic approach to research design as well as the importance of creating coherence between the research question, the research paradigm, the research method and its use, encouraging research practitioners to adopt a more systematic, deliberate and philosophically‑based approach to research design.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Transformational leadership and organisational effectiveness in the administration of cricket in South Africa
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270958 , vital:54495 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-682622887"
- Description: After years of isolation from the international sporting arena, South African sports teams have recently achieved much success. This article is concerned specifically with managing for organisational effectiveness in South African cricket According to the theory of transformational leadership, there should be a positive relationship between this style of leadership and organisational effectiveness. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire was used to collect information about leadership while data for organisational effectiveness, the dependent variable, was collected using the Effectiveness Survey for Cricket Administration. Most of the results regarding the relationship of the transformational leadership factors and organisational effectiveness were significant. On the other hand, most of the results regarding the relationship of the transactional leadership factors and organisational effectiveness were not significant. The overall results provide general support of Bass' (1990) argument of the universal application of the transformational leadership theory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270958 , vital:54495 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-682622887"
- Description: After years of isolation from the international sporting arena, South African sports teams have recently achieved much success. This article is concerned specifically with managing for organisational effectiveness in South African cricket According to the theory of transformational leadership, there should be a positive relationship between this style of leadership and organisational effectiveness. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire was used to collect information about leadership while data for organisational effectiveness, the dependent variable, was collected using the Effectiveness Survey for Cricket Administration. Most of the results regarding the relationship of the transformational leadership factors and organisational effectiveness were significant. On the other hand, most of the results regarding the relationship of the transactional leadership factors and organisational effectiveness were not significant. The overall results provide general support of Bass' (1990) argument of the universal application of the transformational leadership theory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
Management education and training
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Quinn, Lynn
- Date: 1997
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270902 , vital:54490 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_559"
- Description: The paper outlines the role of language in leaming and cognitive development and argues that management education and training needs to be integrated with language development to enable students to cope with the demands made of them at university as well as with those of careers in the business world. An integrated language developmEint project developed by the Depanment of Management and academic language practitioners at Rhodes Uhlvetsity is descriptionbed and suggestions are outlined as to how university Management departments can integrate language development in their mainstream teaching.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1997
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Quinn, Lynn
- Date: 1997
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270902 , vital:54490 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_559"
- Description: The paper outlines the role of language in leaming and cognitive development and argues that management education and training needs to be integrated with language development to enable students to cope with the demands made of them at university as well as with those of careers in the business world. An integrated language developmEint project developed by the Depanment of Management and academic language practitioners at Rhodes Uhlvetsity is descriptionbed and suggestions are outlined as to how university Management departments can integrate language development in their mainstream teaching.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1997
Integrating the development of academic literacy into mainstream teaching and learning
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270891 , vital:54489 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_947"
- Description: Higher education is challenged to develop effective and independent learners of students who experience learning difficulties. These students are however, (potentially) able to engage in and do not necessarily lack the the inherent bstract cognitive capability necessary for academic success. The aim of this article is to be done in practice to integrate the development of academic literacy into mainstream teaching and learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270891 , vital:54489 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_947"
- Description: Higher education is challenged to develop effective and independent learners of students who experience learning difficulties. These students are however, (potentially) able to engage in and do not necessarily lack the the inherent bstract cognitive capability necessary for academic success. The aim of this article is to be done in practice to integrate the development of academic literacy into mainstream teaching and learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
Understanding and responding to student learning difficulties within the higher education context
- Amos, Trevor L, Fischer, Sarah
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Fischer, Sarah
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270972 , vital:54497 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_570"
- Description: Higher education in South Africa is challenged to promote the academic success of students through quality teaching and learning. This article provides a sound theoretical understanding of student learning difficulties as difficulties of accessing and mastering the cognitive processes entailed in the groundrules of the specific academic disciplines within higher education Based on this theoretical groundwork. the article argues for the integration of academic development into the mainstream teaching and learning activities of specific disciplines where the tutorial system is used to develop the specific academic literacy required for success within the discipline.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Fischer, Sarah
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270972 , vital:54497 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_570"
- Description: Higher education in South Africa is challenged to promote the academic success of students through quality teaching and learning. This article provides a sound theoretical understanding of student learning difficulties as difficulties of accessing and mastering the cognitive processes entailed in the groundrules of the specific academic disciplines within higher education Based on this theoretical groundwork. the article argues for the integration of academic development into the mainstream teaching and learning activities of specific disciplines where the tutorial system is used to develop the specific academic literacy required for success within the discipline.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
Factors Influencing the Entrepreneurial Orientation of Students
- Amos, Trevor L, Louw, L, Baxter, Jeremy
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Louw, L , Baxter, Jeremy
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270879 , vital:54488 , xlink:href="https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2001.329.334"
- Description: With entrepreneurship being an important catalyst in wealth creation, it is imperative that entrepreneurs be developed. The aim of this exploratory research is to contribute to our understanding of the development of entrepreneurs and to encourage further research in the area. This paper proposes a model of entrepreneurship and tests the influencing factors on this model. Based on the findings of this research, it appears that entrepreneurial activity of family members influences the development of entrepreneurship more than gender, race, age or education. With education being a logical site for the development of entrepreneurship within society, this finding raises more questions than it provides answers, highlighting the need for educators to critically review the educational process if entrepreneurship is to be a realistic outcome.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Louw, L , Baxter, Jeremy
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270879 , vital:54488 , xlink:href="https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2001.329.334"
- Description: With entrepreneurship being an important catalyst in wealth creation, it is imperative that entrepreneurs be developed. The aim of this exploratory research is to contribute to our understanding of the development of entrepreneurs and to encourage further research in the area. This paper proposes a model of entrepreneurship and tests the influencing factors on this model. Based on the findings of this research, it appears that entrepreneurial activity of family members influences the development of entrepreneurship more than gender, race, age or education. With education being a logical site for the development of entrepreneurship within society, this finding raises more questions than it provides answers, highlighting the need for educators to critically review the educational process if entrepreneurship is to be a realistic outcome.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
A systematic review of published literature examining the link between maternal attachment and adolescent anxiety
- Amos-Brown, Alexa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8180-3176
- Authors: Amos-Brown, Alexa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8180-3176
- Date: 2022-02
- Subjects: Adolescent psychopathology , Teenagers -- Mental health
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23677 , vital:58295
- Description: Aim: Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in mental health challenges in adolescents, specifically anxiety and depression. There has thus been concern around what could be causing this increase. The present study therefore aimed to examine the link between maternal attachment and adolescent anxiety. Methodology: The research was conducted using a qualitative systematic review as the methodological approach. The sample included ten academic journal articles. These articles were searched using Google Scholar and The University of Fort Hare’s library database search engine. Final articles were selected based on the systematic review process of ensuring that the articles matched the inclusion criteria, centred on the main research question and sub-questions. Findings and Results: At the end of the systematic review process, the final literature articles were analysed using thematic analysis, which identified, analysed, and reported emerging themes. The study revealed that secure attachment and sensitive parenting buffer and protect against the risk and onset of anxiety and adolescent internalizing behaviours. The thematic analysis findings identified emerging themes based on the data analysis, which include: ‘Sensitive parenting as a buffer’, ‘Quality attachment protects’, ‘Safe haven’, ‘Insecure attachment precedes emotion regulation difficulties’, ‘Insecure attachment is associated with anxiety’, ‘Social problems,’ and ‘Negative parental-control undermines attachment security’. Conclusion and recommendations: The extracts provided by the literature were able to successfully give sufficient information to meet all of my study’s research objectives. The findings revealed that very few articles spoke about interventions that can be applied to assist in the development of healthy maternal attachment. Therefore, it is recommended that research be conducted on attachment-based interventions and building restorative adolescent attachment bonds. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-02
- Authors: Amos-Brown, Alexa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8180-3176
- Date: 2022-02
- Subjects: Adolescent psychopathology , Teenagers -- Mental health
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23677 , vital:58295
- Description: Aim: Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in mental health challenges in adolescents, specifically anxiety and depression. There has thus been concern around what could be causing this increase. The present study therefore aimed to examine the link between maternal attachment and adolescent anxiety. Methodology: The research was conducted using a qualitative systematic review as the methodological approach. The sample included ten academic journal articles. These articles were searched using Google Scholar and The University of Fort Hare’s library database search engine. Final articles were selected based on the systematic review process of ensuring that the articles matched the inclusion criteria, centred on the main research question and sub-questions. Findings and Results: At the end of the systematic review process, the final literature articles were analysed using thematic analysis, which identified, analysed, and reported emerging themes. The study revealed that secure attachment and sensitive parenting buffer and protect against the risk and onset of anxiety and adolescent internalizing behaviours. The thematic analysis findings identified emerging themes based on the data analysis, which include: ‘Sensitive parenting as a buffer’, ‘Quality attachment protects’, ‘Safe haven’, ‘Insecure attachment precedes emotion regulation difficulties’, ‘Insecure attachment is associated with anxiety’, ‘Social problems,’ and ‘Negative parental-control undermines attachment security’. Conclusion and recommendations: The extracts provided by the literature were able to successfully give sufficient information to meet all of my study’s research objectives. The findings revealed that very few articles spoke about interventions that can be applied to assist in the development of healthy maternal attachment. Therefore, it is recommended that research be conducted on attachment-based interventions and building restorative adolescent attachment bonds. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-02
In silico analysis of plasmodium falciparum Hsp70-x for potential binding sites and hits
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59136 , vital:27435
- Description: Restricted access-thesis embargoed for 1 year - release date April 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59136 , vital:27435
- Description: Restricted access-thesis embargoed for 1 year - release date April 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Establishing computational approaches towards identifying malarial allosteric modulators: a case study of plasmodium falciparum hsp70s
- Amusengeri, Arnold, Astl, Lindy, Lobb, Kevin A, Verkhivker, Gennady M, Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold , Astl, Lindy , Lobb, Kevin A , Verkhivker, Gennady M , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163000 , vital:41003 , https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20225574
- Description: Combating malaria is almost a never-ending battle, as Plasmodium parasites develop resistance to the drugs used against them, as observed recently in artemisinin-based combination therapies. The main concern now is if the resistant parasite strains spread from Southeast Asia to Africa, the continent hosting most malaria cases. To prevent catastrophic results, we need to find non-conventional approaches. Allosteric drug targeting sites and modulators might be a new hope for malarial treatments. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are potential malarial drug targets and have complex allosteric control mechanisms. Yet, studies on designing allosteric modulators against them are limited. Here, we identified allosteric modulators (SANC190 and SANC651) against P. falciparum Hsp70-1 and Hsp70-x, affecting the conformational dynamics of the proteins, delicately balanced by the endogenous ligands. Previously, we established a pipeline to identify allosteric sites and modulators. This study also further investigated alternative approaches to speed up the process by comparing all atom molecular dynamics simulations and dynamic residue network analysis with the coarse-grained (CG) versions of the calculations. Betweenness centrality (BC) profiles for PfHsp70-1 and PfHsp70-x derived from CG simulations not only revealed similar trends but also pointed to the same functional regions and specific residues corresponding to BC profile peaks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold , Astl, Lindy , Lobb, Kevin A , Verkhivker, Gennady M , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163000 , vital:41003 , https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20225574
- Description: Combating malaria is almost a never-ending battle, as Plasmodium parasites develop resistance to the drugs used against them, as observed recently in artemisinin-based combination therapies. The main concern now is if the resistant parasite strains spread from Southeast Asia to Africa, the continent hosting most malaria cases. To prevent catastrophic results, we need to find non-conventional approaches. Allosteric drug targeting sites and modulators might be a new hope for malarial treatments. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are potential malarial drug targets and have complex allosteric control mechanisms. Yet, studies on designing allosteric modulators against them are limited. Here, we identified allosteric modulators (SANC190 and SANC651) against P. falciparum Hsp70-1 and Hsp70-x, affecting the conformational dynamics of the proteins, delicately balanced by the endogenous ligands. Previously, we established a pipeline to identify allosteric sites and modulators. This study also further investigated alternative approaches to speed up the process by comparing all atom molecular dynamics simulations and dynamic residue network analysis with the coarse-grained (CG) versions of the calculations. Betweenness centrality (BC) profiles for PfHsp70-1 and PfHsp70-x derived from CG simulations not only revealed similar trends but also pointed to the same functional regions and specific residues corresponding to BC profile peaks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Understanding the Pyrimethamine drug resistance mechanism via combined molecular dynamics and dynamic residue network analysis:
- Amusengeri, Arnold, Tata, Rolland B, Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold , Tata, Rolland B , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163022 , vital:41005 , https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040904
- Description: In this era of precision medicine, insights into the resistance mechanism of drugs are integral for the development of potent therapeutics. Here, we sought to understand the contribution of four point mutations (N51I, C59R, S108N, and I164L) within the active site of the malaria parasite enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) towards the resistance of the antimalarial drug pyrimethamine. Homology modeling was used to obtain full-length models of wild type (WT) and mutant DHFR. Molecular docking was employed to dock pyrimethamine onto the generated structures. Subsequent all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free-energy computations highlighted that pyrimethamine’s stability and affinity inversely relates to the number of mutations within its binding site and, hence, resistance severity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold , Tata, Rolland B , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163022 , vital:41005 , https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25040904
- Description: In this era of precision medicine, insights into the resistance mechanism of drugs are integral for the development of potent therapeutics. Here, we sought to understand the contribution of four point mutations (N51I, C59R, S108N, and I164L) within the active site of the malaria parasite enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) towards the resistance of the antimalarial drug pyrimethamine. Homology modeling was used to obtain full-length models of wild type (WT) and mutant DHFR. Molecular docking was employed to dock pyrimethamine onto the generated structures. Subsequent all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free-energy computations highlighted that pyrimethamine’s stability and affinity inversely relates to the number of mutations within its binding site and, hence, resistance severity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Discorhabdin N, a South African Natural Compound, for Hsp72 and Hsc70 Allosteric Modulation: combined study of molecular modeling and dynamic residue network analysis
- Amusengeri, Arnold, Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162949 , vital:40999 , https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24010188
- Description: The human heat shock proteins (Hsps), predominantly Hsp72 and Hsp90, have been strongly implicated in various critical stages of oncogenesis and progression of human cancers. While drug development has extensively focused on Hsp90 as a potential anticancer target, much less effort has been put against Hsp72. This work investigated the therapeutic potential of Hsp72 and its constitutive isoform, Hsc70, via in silico-based screening against the South African Natural Compounds Database (SANCDB). A comparative modeling approach was used to obtain nearly full-length 3D structures of the closed conformation of Hsp72 and Hsc70 proteins. Molecular docking of SANCDB compounds identified one potential allosteric modulator, Discorhabdin N, binding to the allosteric β substrate binding domain (SBDβ) back pocket, with good binding affinities in both cases.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162949 , vital:40999 , https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24010188
- Description: The human heat shock proteins (Hsps), predominantly Hsp72 and Hsp90, have been strongly implicated in various critical stages of oncogenesis and progression of human cancers. While drug development has extensively focused on Hsp90 as a potential anticancer target, much less effort has been put against Hsp72. This work investigated the therapeutic potential of Hsp72 and its constitutive isoform, Hsc70, via in silico-based screening against the South African Natural Compounds Database (SANCDB). A comparative modeling approach was used to obtain nearly full-length 3D structures of the closed conformation of Hsp72 and Hsc70 proteins. Molecular docking of SANCDB compounds identified one potential allosteric modulator, Discorhabdin N, binding to the allosteric β substrate binding domain (SBDβ) back pocket, with good binding affinities in both cases.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Paper recycling patterns and potential interventions in the education sector: A case study of paper streams at Rhodes University, South Africa
- Amutenya, N, Shackleton, Charlie M, Whittington-Jones, Kevin J
- Authors: Amutenya, N , Shackleton, Charlie M , Whittington-Jones, Kevin J
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181180 , vital:43705 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.12.001"
- Description: This paper considers the use of paper by academics and student computer laboratories at Rhodes University as a basis for identifying areas to reduce the amounts used and increase rates of recycling. A sample of 50 academic staff monitored the volume and purpose of the paper they used over 5 months, and the procurement officers in all the academic departments were interviewed regarding the total amount of paper used per academic department. Mean use was 34 ± 20 new sheets of paper per working day, of which 3% were trashed, 15% were kept for later use (as scrap or printed on the opposite side) and 79% were given out as notes to students, filed as records or posted out as mail to other departments or institutions. There was a significant relationship between number of students served by a department and the overall demand for paper, as well the number of staff per department and the number of recycling bins. The university could save approximately US$ 7000 per year for every 10% reduction in current use of paper (12,784 reams/year). Reduction in paper usage could be achieved through an increase in re-use of paper, printing handouts for students on both sides of each sheet of paper and by investing in printers that are capable of printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. Double-sided printers are only 20–25% more expensive than single-sided ones, but will potentially reduce paper usage by half. A 40% reduction would save the university approximately US $ 20,000 per year in direct costs, and more in reduced waste streams, as well as help promote the environmental image of the university. On a per unit basis, the higher costs for a double-sided printer in offices would be repaid in 9 months or less through reduced paper use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Amutenya, N , Shackleton, Charlie M , Whittington-Jones, Kevin J
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181180 , vital:43705 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.12.001"
- Description: This paper considers the use of paper by academics and student computer laboratories at Rhodes University as a basis for identifying areas to reduce the amounts used and increase rates of recycling. A sample of 50 academic staff monitored the volume and purpose of the paper they used over 5 months, and the procurement officers in all the academic departments were interviewed regarding the total amount of paper used per academic department. Mean use was 34 ± 20 new sheets of paper per working day, of which 3% were trashed, 15% were kept for later use (as scrap or printed on the opposite side) and 79% were given out as notes to students, filed as records or posted out as mail to other departments or institutions. There was a significant relationship between number of students served by a department and the overall demand for paper, as well the number of staff per department and the number of recycling bins. The university could save approximately US$ 7000 per year for every 10% reduction in current use of paper (12,784 reams/year). Reduction in paper usage could be achieved through an increase in re-use of paper, printing handouts for students on both sides of each sheet of paper and by investing in printers that are capable of printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. Double-sided printers are only 20–25% more expensive than single-sided ones, but will potentially reduce paper usage by half. A 40% reduction would save the university approximately US $ 20,000 per year in direct costs, and more in reduced waste streams, as well as help promote the environmental image of the university. On a per unit basis, the higher costs for a double-sided printer in offices would be repaid in 9 months or less through reduced paper use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009