Zimbabwe's 2018 elections: funding, public resources and vote buying
- Authors: Ndakaripa, Musiwaro
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148988 , vital:38793 , DOI: 10.1080/03056244.2020.1735327
- Description: Using the concept of ‘competitive authoritarianism’, this briefing examines how the governing Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) retained power in the July 2018 presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. It advances that, having come to power through military assistance in November 2017, the new ZANU–PF government instituted cosmetic political reforms to gain domestic and international legitimacy while maintaining financial networks and tentacles on public institutions. This briefing posits that, with a huge funding base, abuse of public resources and massive vote buying, materially, Zimbabwe's 2018 elections were heavily slanted in favour of ZANU–PF.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Ndakaripa, Musiwaro
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148988 , vital:38793 , DOI: 10.1080/03056244.2020.1735327
- Description: Using the concept of ‘competitive authoritarianism’, this briefing examines how the governing Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) retained power in the July 2018 presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. It advances that, having come to power through military assistance in November 2017, the new ZANU–PF government instituted cosmetic political reforms to gain domestic and international legitimacy while maintaining financial networks and tentacles on public institutions. This briefing posits that, with a huge funding base, abuse of public resources and massive vote buying, materially, Zimbabwe's 2018 elections were heavily slanted in favour of ZANU–PF.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Using action cameras to estimate the abundance and habitat use of threatened fish in clear headwater streams:
- Hannweg, B, Marr, S M, Bloy, Lesley E, Weyl, Olaf L F
- Authors: Hannweg, B , Marr, S M , Bloy, Lesley E , Weyl, Olaf L F
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148911 , vital:38785 , DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2019.1701404
- Description: Snorkel and electrofishing surveys are the traditional baseline methods for fish surveys in clear headwater streams. However, action cameras provide a non-harmful alternative to monitor freshwater fish populations to develop informed conservation management initiatives. In this paper, estimates from photographs and videos from action cameras are compared with snorkel survey estimates of the density of a threatened endemic minnow species in a headwater stream, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Photograph-based relative abundances of fish summed over five microhabitats in each pool returned equivalent results to snorkel surveys, whereas the equivalent video-based abundance estimates were approximately 50% greater than the snorkel estimates. Therefore, photograph-derived estimates could be used as an alternative to snorkel surveys for fish population monitoring and habitat use studies in clear headwater streams.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Hannweg, B , Marr, S M , Bloy, Lesley E , Weyl, Olaf L F
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148911 , vital:38785 , DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2019.1701404
- Description: Snorkel and electrofishing surveys are the traditional baseline methods for fish surveys in clear headwater streams. However, action cameras provide a non-harmful alternative to monitor freshwater fish populations to develop informed conservation management initiatives. In this paper, estimates from photographs and videos from action cameras are compared with snorkel survey estimates of the density of a threatened endemic minnow species in a headwater stream, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Photograph-based relative abundances of fish summed over five microhabitats in each pool returned equivalent results to snorkel surveys, whereas the equivalent video-based abundance estimates were approximately 50% greater than the snorkel estimates. Therefore, photograph-derived estimates could be used as an alternative to snorkel surveys for fish population monitoring and habitat use studies in clear headwater streams.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Two new Caenis Species (Insecta: Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from the Kruger National Park, South Africa:
- Malzacher, P, Barber-James, Helen M
- Authors: Malzacher, P , Barber-James, Helen M
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/150256 , vital:38954 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.4001/003.028.0062
- Description: The new mayfly species Caenis albicans sp. n. and Caenis letabanensis sp. n. (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from the Kruger National Park, South Africa, are described herein. The new species were collected in the area of the confluence of the Olifants and Letaba Rivers. They belong to the Caenis – TPA group, a group widely distributed in Africa, characterised inter alia by forceps apically having a tuft of long spines. The material examined also contained samples from the Crocodile and Sabie Rivers, with larvae and imagines of Caenis brevipes Kimmins, 1956. The previously unknown larva of this species is also described.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Malzacher, P , Barber-James, Helen M
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/150256 , vital:38954 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.4001/003.028.0062
- Description: The new mayfly species Caenis albicans sp. n. and Caenis letabanensis sp. n. (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from the Kruger National Park, South Africa, are described herein. The new species were collected in the area of the confluence of the Olifants and Letaba Rivers. They belong to the Caenis – TPA group, a group widely distributed in Africa, characterised inter alia by forceps apically having a tuft of long spines. The material examined also contained samples from the Crocodile and Sabie Rivers, with larvae and imagines of Caenis brevipes Kimmins, 1956. The previously unknown larva of this species is also described.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The Northern Cross fast radio burst project–I: overview and pilot observations at 408 MHz
- Locatelli, Nicola T, Bernardi, Gianni, Bianchi, Germano, Chiello, Riccardo C, Magro, Alessio, Naldi, Giovanni, Pilia, Maura, Pupillo, Giuseppe, Ridolfi, Alessandro, Setti, Giancarlo, Vazza, Franco
- Authors: Locatelli, Nicola T , Bernardi, Gianni , Bianchi, Germano , Chiello, Riccardo C , Magro, Alessio , Naldi, Giovanni , Pilia, Maura , Pupillo, Giuseppe , Ridolfi, Alessandro , Setti, Giancarlo , Vazza, Franco
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148791 , vital:38774 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1093/mnras/staa813
- Description: Fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain one of the most enigmatic astrophysical sources. Observations have significantly progressed over the last few years, due to the capabilities of new radio telescopes and the refurbishment of existing ones. Here, we describe the upgrade of the Northern Cross radio telescope, operating in the 400–416 MHz frequency band, with the ultimate goal of turning the array into a dedicated instrument to survey the sky for FRBs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Locatelli, Nicola T , Bernardi, Gianni , Bianchi, Germano , Chiello, Riccardo C , Magro, Alessio , Naldi, Giovanni , Pilia, Maura , Pupillo, Giuseppe , Ridolfi, Alessandro , Setti, Giancarlo , Vazza, Franco
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148791 , vital:38774 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1093/mnras/staa813
- Description: Fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain one of the most enigmatic astrophysical sources. Observations have significantly progressed over the last few years, due to the capabilities of new radio telescopes and the refurbishment of existing ones. Here, we describe the upgrade of the Northern Cross radio telescope, operating in the 400–416 MHz frequency band, with the ultimate goal of turning the array into a dedicated instrument to survey the sky for FRBs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The feasibility of prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD in low-and middle-income countries: a review
- Booysen, Duane D, Kagee, Ashraf
- Authors: Booysen, Duane D , Kagee, Ashraf
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148505 , vital:38745 , DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1753941
- Description: There is a need in the global south to evaluate and implement empirically supported psychological interventions to ameliorate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Empirically supported treatments (ESTs) have increasingly been developed and implemented, yet the majority people in the global south do not have access to these treatments for mental disorders such as PTSD. Prolonged exposure therapy has accrued substantial empirical evidence to show it as an effective treatment for PTSD. Research on the effectiveness and acceptability of prolonged exposure in a low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are sparse. This brief report presents a review of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy and its feasibility as a trauma therapy for PTSD in LMICs. First, we present a brief overview of PE as a first-line treatment for PTSD. Second, using South Africa as a case example, we present a brief overview of traumatic stress in South Africa and how mental healthcare has developed since the abolishment of apartheid in 1994. Lastly, we discuss the challenges pertaining to the dissemination and implementation of PE in LMICs and propose future perspectives regarding the implementation of ESTs such as PE in LMICs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Booysen, Duane D , Kagee, Ashraf
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148505 , vital:38745 , DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1753941
- Description: There is a need in the global south to evaluate and implement empirically supported psychological interventions to ameliorate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Empirically supported treatments (ESTs) have increasingly been developed and implemented, yet the majority people in the global south do not have access to these treatments for mental disorders such as PTSD. Prolonged exposure therapy has accrued substantial empirical evidence to show it as an effective treatment for PTSD. Research on the effectiveness and acceptability of prolonged exposure in a low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are sparse. This brief report presents a review of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy and its feasibility as a trauma therapy for PTSD in LMICs. First, we present a brief overview of PE as a first-line treatment for PTSD. Second, using South Africa as a case example, we present a brief overview of traumatic stress in South Africa and how mental healthcare has developed since the abolishment of apartheid in 1994. Lastly, we discuss the challenges pertaining to the dissemination and implementation of PE in LMICs and propose future perspectives regarding the implementation of ESTs such as PE in LMICs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The establishment and rapid spread of Sagittaria Platyphylla in South Africa:
- Ndlovu, Mpilonhle S, Coetzee, Julie A, Nxumalo, Menzi M, Lalla, Reshnee, Shabalala, Ntombifuthi, Martin, Grant D
- Authors: Ndlovu, Mpilonhle S , Coetzee, Julie A , Nxumalo, Menzi M , Lalla, Reshnee , Shabalala, Ntombifuthi , Martin, Grant D
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149788 , vital:38884 , https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051472
- Description: Sagittaria platyphylla Engelm. (Alismataceae) is a freshwater aquatic macrophyte that has become an important invasive weed in freshwater systems in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and recently China. In South Africa, due to its rapid increase in distribution and ineffective control options, it is recognised as one of the country’s worst invasive aquatic alien plants. In this paper, we investigate the spread of the plant since its first detection in 2008, and the management strategies currently carried out against it. Despite early detection and rapid response programmes, which included chemical and mechanical control measures, the plant was able to spread both within and between sites, increasing from just one site in 2008 to 72 by 2019. Once introduced into a lotic system, the plant was able to spread rapidly, in some cases up to 120 km within 6 years, with an average of 10 km per year. The plant was successfully extirpated at some sites, however, due to the failure of chemical and mechanical control, biological control is currently being considered as a potential control option.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Ndlovu, Mpilonhle S , Coetzee, Julie A , Nxumalo, Menzi M , Lalla, Reshnee , Shabalala, Ntombifuthi , Martin, Grant D
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149788 , vital:38884 , https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051472
- Description: Sagittaria platyphylla Engelm. (Alismataceae) is a freshwater aquatic macrophyte that has become an important invasive weed in freshwater systems in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and recently China. In South Africa, due to its rapid increase in distribution and ineffective control options, it is recognised as one of the country’s worst invasive aquatic alien plants. In this paper, we investigate the spread of the plant since its first detection in 2008, and the management strategies currently carried out against it. Despite early detection and rapid response programmes, which included chemical and mechanical control measures, the plant was able to spread both within and between sites, increasing from just one site in 2008 to 72 by 2019. Once introduced into a lotic system, the plant was able to spread rapidly, in some cases up to 120 km within 6 years, with an average of 10 km per year. The plant was successfully extirpated at some sites, however, due to the failure of chemical and mechanical control, biological control is currently being considered as a potential control option.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Social circumstances and cultural beliefs influence maternal nutrition, breastfeeding and child feeding practices in South Africa:
- Authors: Chakona, Gamuchirai
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148627 , vital:38757 , https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-020-00566-4
- Description: Maternal and child undernutrition remain prevalent in developing countries with 45 and 11% of child deaths linked to poor nutrition and suboptimal breastfeeding, respectively. This also has adverse effects on child growth and development. The study determined maternal dietary diversity, breastfeeding and, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and identified reasons for such behavior in five rural communities in South Africa, in the context of cultural beliefs and social aspects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Chakona, Gamuchirai
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148627 , vital:38757 , https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-020-00566-4
- Description: Maternal and child undernutrition remain prevalent in developing countries with 45 and 11% of child deaths linked to poor nutrition and suboptimal breastfeeding, respectively. This also has adverse effects on child growth and development. The study determined maternal dietary diversity, breastfeeding and, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and identified reasons for such behavior in five rural communities in South Africa, in the context of cultural beliefs and social aspects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Rosarium: a four-part collage
- Authors: Mann, Chris M
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148848 , vital:38779 , https://doi.org/10.4102/lit.v41i1.1679
- Description: A collage of poems written in different forms that refer to different stages of human life and express different aspects of romantic love using the symbol of a rose.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mann, Chris M
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148848 , vital:38779 , https://doi.org/10.4102/lit.v41i1.1679
- Description: A collage of poems written in different forms that refer to different stages of human life and express different aspects of romantic love using the symbol of a rose.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Protected and un-protected urban wetlands have similar aquatic macroinvertebrate communities: a case study from the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos region of southern Africa
- Blanckenberg, Michelle, Mlambo, Musa C, Parker, Denham, Motitsoe, Samuel N
- Authors: Blanckenberg, Michelle , Mlambo, Musa C , Parker, Denham , Motitsoe, Samuel N
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149288 , vital:38822 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1371/journal.pone.0233889
- Description: Rapid urbanisation has led to major landscape alterations, affecting aquatic ecosystems’ hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, and biodiversity. Thus, habitat alteration is considered a major driver of aquatic biodiversity loss and related aquatic ecosystem goods and services. This study aimed to investigate and compare aquatic macroinvertebrate richness, diversity and community structure between urban temporary wetlands, located within protected and un-protected areas. The latter were found within an open public space or park with no protection or conservation status, whereas the former were inaccessible to the public and had formal protected, conservation status.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Blanckenberg, Michelle , Mlambo, Musa C , Parker, Denham , Motitsoe, Samuel N
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149288 , vital:38822 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1371/journal.pone.0233889
- Description: Rapid urbanisation has led to major landscape alterations, affecting aquatic ecosystems’ hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, and biodiversity. Thus, habitat alteration is considered a major driver of aquatic biodiversity loss and related aquatic ecosystem goods and services. This study aimed to investigate and compare aquatic macroinvertebrate richness, diversity and community structure between urban temporary wetlands, located within protected and un-protected areas. The latter were found within an open public space or park with no protection or conservation status, whereas the former were inaccessible to the public and had formal protected, conservation status.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Occurrence of selected endocrine disrupting compounds in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa:
- Farounbi, Adebayo I, Ngqwala, Nosiphiwe P
- Authors: Farounbi, Adebayo I , Ngqwala, Nosiphiwe P
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148447 , vital:38740 , DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08082-y
- Description: Endocrine-disrupting compounds are attracting attention worldwide because of their effects on living things in the environment. Ten endocrine disrupting compounds: 4-nonylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, estrone, 17β-estradiol, bisphenol A, 4-tertoctylphenol, triclosan, atrazine, imidazole and 1,2,4-triazole were investigated in four rivers and wastewater treatment plants in this study. Rivers were sampled at upstream, midstream and downstream reaches, while the influent and effluent samples of wastewater were collected from treatment plants near the receiving rivers. Sample waters were freeze-dried followed by extraction of the organic content and purification by solid-phase extraction. Concentrations of the compounds in the samples were determined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The instrument was operated in the positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Farounbi, Adebayo I , Ngqwala, Nosiphiwe P
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148447 , vital:38740 , DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08082-y
- Description: Endocrine-disrupting compounds are attracting attention worldwide because of their effects on living things in the environment. Ten endocrine disrupting compounds: 4-nonylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, estrone, 17β-estradiol, bisphenol A, 4-tertoctylphenol, triclosan, atrazine, imidazole and 1,2,4-triazole were investigated in four rivers and wastewater treatment plants in this study. Rivers were sampled at upstream, midstream and downstream reaches, while the influent and effluent samples of wastewater were collected from treatment plants near the receiving rivers. Sample waters were freeze-dried followed by extraction of the organic content and purification by solid-phase extraction. Concentrations of the compounds in the samples were determined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The instrument was operated in the positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Nutrient patchiness, phytoplankton surge-uptake, and turbulent history: a theoretical approach and its experimental validation
- Schapira, Mathilde, Seuront, Laurent
- Authors: Schapira, Mathilde , Seuront, Laurent
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149774 , vital:38883 , https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids5020080
- Description: Despite ample evidence of micro- and small-scale (i.e., millimeter- to meter-scale) phytoplankton and zooplankton patchiness in the ocean, direct observations of nutrient distributions and the ecological importance of this phenomenon are still relatively scarce. In this context, we first describe a simple procedure to continuously sample nutrients in surface waters, and subsequently provide evidence of the existence of microscale distribution of ammonium in the ocean. We further show that ammonium is never homogeneously distributed, even under very high conditions of turbulence. Instead, turbulence intensity appears to control nutrient patchiness, with a more homogeneous or a more heterogeneous distribution observed under high and low turbulence intensities, respectively, under the same concentration in nutrient. Based on a modelling procedure taking into account the stochastic properties of intermittent nutrient distributions and observations carried out on natural phytoplankton communities, we introduce and verify the hypothesis that under nutrient limitation, the “turbulent history” of phytoplankton cells, i.e., the turbulent conditions they experienced in their natural environments, conditions their efficiency to uptake ephemeral inorganic nitrogen patches of different concentrations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Schapira, Mathilde , Seuront, Laurent
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149774 , vital:38883 , https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids5020080
- Description: Despite ample evidence of micro- and small-scale (i.e., millimeter- to meter-scale) phytoplankton and zooplankton patchiness in the ocean, direct observations of nutrient distributions and the ecological importance of this phenomenon are still relatively scarce. In this context, we first describe a simple procedure to continuously sample nutrients in surface waters, and subsequently provide evidence of the existence of microscale distribution of ammonium in the ocean. We further show that ammonium is never homogeneously distributed, even under very high conditions of turbulence. Instead, turbulence intensity appears to control nutrient patchiness, with a more homogeneous or a more heterogeneous distribution observed under high and low turbulence intensities, respectively, under the same concentration in nutrient. Based on a modelling procedure taking into account the stochastic properties of intermittent nutrient distributions and observations carried out on natural phytoplankton communities, we introduce and verify the hypothesis that under nutrient limitation, the “turbulent history” of phytoplankton cells, i.e., the turbulent conditions they experienced in their natural environments, conditions their efficiency to uptake ephemeral inorganic nitrogen patches of different concentrations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Nuruddin Farah: variations on the theme of return
- Authors: Naicker, Kamil
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149643 , vital:38871 , https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tvl/article/view/196356
- Description: This article explores the role of the returnee protagonist in selected works of Nuruddin Farah. Nadine Gordimer described Farah as “one of the real interpreters” of Africa and this article argues that Farah’s returnees operate as interpreters themselves, their liminality working to mediate between international readers and “local” subject matter. However, it also observes that Farah, who spent decades in exile, is often as preoccupied with writing non-belonging as he is with rendering Somalia itself. Farah’s returnee narratives are, broadly, novels of redress, in which characters enact their return in an attempt to seek out the missing, rebuild the lost or reclaim the stolen, with imperfect results. In exploring these variations on homecoming, the paper investigates the ways in which Farah’s body of work reflects shifts in identity politics over time, and the unique pressures these shifts exert on the homecoming arc.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Naicker, Kamil
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149643 , vital:38871 , https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tvl/article/view/196356
- Description: This article explores the role of the returnee protagonist in selected works of Nuruddin Farah. Nadine Gordimer described Farah as “one of the real interpreters” of Africa and this article argues that Farah’s returnees operate as interpreters themselves, their liminality working to mediate between international readers and “local” subject matter. However, it also observes that Farah, who spent decades in exile, is often as preoccupied with writing non-belonging as he is with rendering Somalia itself. Farah’s returnee narratives are, broadly, novels of redress, in which characters enact their return in an attempt to seek out the missing, rebuild the lost or reclaim the stolen, with imperfect results. In exploring these variations on homecoming, the paper investigates the ways in which Farah’s body of work reflects shifts in identity politics over time, and the unique pressures these shifts exert on the homecoming arc.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Low-frequency observations of the giant radio galaxy NGC 6251:
- Cantwell, T M, Bray, J D, Croston, J H, Scaife, A M M, Mulcahy, D D, Best, P N, Brüggen, M, Brunetti, G, Callingham, J R, Clarke, A O, Hardcastle, M J, Harwood, J J, Heald, G, Heesen, V, Iacobelli, M, Jamrozy, M, Morganti, R, Orru, E, O’Sullivan, S P, Riseley, C J, Röttgering, H J A, Shulevski, A, Sridhar, S S, Tasse, C, Van Eck, C L
- Authors: Cantwell, T M , Bray, J D , Croston, J H , Scaife, A M M , Mulcahy, D D , Best, P N , Brüggen, M , Brunetti, G , Callingham, J R , Clarke, A O , Hardcastle, M J , Harwood, J J , Heald, G , Heesen, V , Iacobelli, M , Jamrozy, M , Morganti, R , Orru, E , O’Sullivan, S P , Riseley, C J , Röttgering, H J A , Shulevski, A , Sridhar, S S , Tasse, C , Van Eck, C L
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149931 , vital:38913 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1093/mnras/staa1160
- Description: We present LOFAR observations at 150 MHz of the borderline FRI/FRII giant radio galaxy NGC 6251. This paper presents the most sensitive and highest resolution images of NGC 6251 at these frequencies to date, revealing for the first time a low-surface-brightness extension to the northern lobe, and a possible backflow associated with the southern lobe. The integrated spectra of components of NGC 6251 are consistent with previous measurements at higher frequencies, similar to results from other LOFAR studies of nearby radio galaxies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Cantwell, T M , Bray, J D , Croston, J H , Scaife, A M M , Mulcahy, D D , Best, P N , Brüggen, M , Brunetti, G , Callingham, J R , Clarke, A O , Hardcastle, M J , Harwood, J J , Heald, G , Heesen, V , Iacobelli, M , Jamrozy, M , Morganti, R , Orru, E , O’Sullivan, S P , Riseley, C J , Röttgering, H J A , Shulevski, A , Sridhar, S S , Tasse, C , Van Eck, C L
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149931 , vital:38913 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1093/mnras/staa1160
- Description: We present LOFAR observations at 150 MHz of the borderline FRI/FRII giant radio galaxy NGC 6251. This paper presents the most sensitive and highest resolution images of NGC 6251 at these frequencies to date, revealing for the first time a low-surface-brightness extension to the northern lobe, and a possible backflow associated with the southern lobe. The integrated spectra of components of NGC 6251 are consistent with previous measurements at higher frequencies, similar to results from other LOFAR studies of nearby radio galaxies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Increasing temperatures increase the risk of reproductive failure in a near threatened alpine groundnesting bird, the Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus:
- Oswald, Krista N, Diener, Elizabeth F, Diener, John P, Cunningham, Susan J, Smit, Ben, Lee, Alan T K
- Authors: Oswald, Krista N , Diener, Elizabeth F , Diener, John P , Cunningham, Susan J , Smit, Ben , Lee, Alan T K
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149324 , vital:38825 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1111/ibi.12846
- Description: A major cause of reproductive failure in birds is nest predation. Predation risk depends on predator type, as predators vary in their ecology and sensory modalities (e.g. visual vs. olfactory). Snakes (generally olfactory predators) are a major nest predator for small birds, with predation strongly associated with higher temperatures. We investigated nest survival in a ground‐nesting alpine species, the Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus , endemic to alpine fynbos in southwestern South Africa. We collected 3 years of nest data, testing whether nest survival was related to (1) habitat stage (early post‐fire vs. late post‐fire habitat, ≤ 3 and > 3 years since fire respectively), (2) nest concealment and (3) temperature. We found that nests had better survival at lower temperatures, with snake predation (our main source of predation) increasing in higher temperatures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Oswald, Krista N , Diener, Elizabeth F , Diener, John P , Cunningham, Susan J , Smit, Ben , Lee, Alan T K
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149324 , vital:38825 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1111/ibi.12846
- Description: A major cause of reproductive failure in birds is nest predation. Predation risk depends on predator type, as predators vary in their ecology and sensory modalities (e.g. visual vs. olfactory). Snakes (generally olfactory predators) are a major nest predator for small birds, with predation strongly associated with higher temperatures. We investigated nest survival in a ground‐nesting alpine species, the Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus , endemic to alpine fynbos in southwestern South Africa. We collected 3 years of nest data, testing whether nest survival was related to (1) habitat stage (early post‐fire vs. late post‐fire habitat, ≤ 3 and > 3 years since fire respectively), (2) nest concealment and (3) temperature. We found that nests had better survival at lower temperatures, with snake predation (our main source of predation) increasing in higher temperatures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Implementing prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD in a context of ongoing adversity: a clinical case study
- Booysen, Duane D, Kagee, Ashraf
- Authors: Booysen, Duane D , Kagee, Ashraf
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149275 , vital:38821 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1177/1534650120925918
- Description: Obstacles regarding the implementation of empirically supported treatments (ESTs) for mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) still require further investigation. One notable obstacle is whether persons in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) residing in a context of ongoing adversity would benefit from an EST for PTSD. We reflect on the utility of a brief prolonged exposure intervention at a primary care community-counseling center in South Africa. “Sam,” a 45-year-old, female was assessed at baseline, during treatment, postassessment, and at 3-month follow-up. At the beginning of treatment, Sam had a positive diagnosis for PTSD (PSSI-5 = 55, and cutoff is 23) and at the end of treatment (PSSI-5 = 17), and 3-month follow-up (PSSI-5 = 21), she had a negative diagnosis for PTSD. We reflect on the mediating effects that contextual factors such as gang violence had on the treatment process and the feasibility of implementing ESTs for PTSD in LMICs under conditions of ongoing adversity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Booysen, Duane D , Kagee, Ashraf
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149275 , vital:38821 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1177/1534650120925918
- Description: Obstacles regarding the implementation of empirically supported treatments (ESTs) for mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) still require further investigation. One notable obstacle is whether persons in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) residing in a context of ongoing adversity would benefit from an EST for PTSD. We reflect on the utility of a brief prolonged exposure intervention at a primary care community-counseling center in South Africa. “Sam,” a 45-year-old, female was assessed at baseline, during treatment, postassessment, and at 3-month follow-up. At the beginning of treatment, Sam had a positive diagnosis for PTSD (PSSI-5 = 55, and cutoff is 23) and at the end of treatment (PSSI-5 = 17), and 3-month follow-up (PSSI-5 = 21), she had a negative diagnosis for PTSD. We reflect on the mediating effects that contextual factors such as gang violence had on the treatment process and the feasibility of implementing ESTs for PTSD in LMICs under conditions of ongoing adversity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Identification of Selective Novel Hits against Plasmodium falciparum Prolyl tRNA Synthetase Active Site and a Predicted Allosteric Site Using in silico Approaches:
- Nyamai, Dorothy Wavinya, Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Authors: Nyamai, Dorothy Wavinya , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149229 , vital:38817 , https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21113803
- Description: Recently, there has been increased interest in aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) as potential malarial drug targets. These enzymes play a key role in protein translation by the addition of amino acids to their cognate tRNA. The aaRSs are present in all Plasmodium life cycle stages, and thus present an attractive malarial drug target. Prolyl tRNA synthetase is a class II aaRS that functions in charging tRNA with proline. Various inhibitors against Plasmodium falciparum ProRS (PfProRS) active site have been designed. However, none have gone through clinical trials as they have been found to be highly toxic to human cells. Recently, a possible allosteric site was reported in PfProRS with two possible allosteric modulators: glyburide and TCMDC-124506. In this study, we sought to identify novel selective inhibitors targeting PfProRS active site and possible novel allosteric modulators of this enzyme. To achieve this, virtual screening of South African natural compounds against PfProRS and the human homologue was carried out using AutoDock Vina. The modulation of protein motions by ligand binding was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) using the GROningen MAchine for Chemical Simulations (GROMACS) tool. To further analyse the protein global motions and energetic changes upon ligand binding, principal component analysis (PCA), and free energy landscape (FEL) calculations were performed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Nyamai, Dorothy Wavinya , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149229 , vital:38817 , https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21113803
- Description: Recently, there has been increased interest in aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) as potential malarial drug targets. These enzymes play a key role in protein translation by the addition of amino acids to their cognate tRNA. The aaRSs are present in all Plasmodium life cycle stages, and thus present an attractive malarial drug target. Prolyl tRNA synthetase is a class II aaRS that functions in charging tRNA with proline. Various inhibitors against Plasmodium falciparum ProRS (PfProRS) active site have been designed. However, none have gone through clinical trials as they have been found to be highly toxic to human cells. Recently, a possible allosteric site was reported in PfProRS with two possible allosteric modulators: glyburide and TCMDC-124506. In this study, we sought to identify novel selective inhibitors targeting PfProRS active site and possible novel allosteric modulators of this enzyme. To achieve this, virtual screening of South African natural compounds against PfProRS and the human homologue was carried out using AutoDock Vina. The modulation of protein motions by ligand binding was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) using the GROningen MAchine for Chemical Simulations (GROMACS) tool. To further analyse the protein global motions and energetic changes upon ligand binding, principal component analysis (PCA), and free energy landscape (FEL) calculations were performed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Holistic nursing in practice: mindfulness-based yoga as an intervention to manage stress and burnout
- Hilcove, Kelly, Marceau, Catherine, Thekdi, Prachi, Larkey, Linda, Brewer, Melanie A, Jones, Kerry
- Authors: Hilcove, Kelly , Marceau, Catherine , Thekdi, Prachi , Larkey, Linda , Brewer, Melanie A , Jones, Kerry
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149336 , vital:38826 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1177/0898010120921587
- Description: Effects of a mindfulness-based (MB) yoga practice on stress, burnout, and indicators of well-being among nurses and health care professionals (HCPs).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Holistic nursing in practice: mindfulness-based yoga as an intervention to manage stress and burnout
- Authors: Hilcove, Kelly , Marceau, Catherine , Thekdi, Prachi , Larkey, Linda , Brewer, Melanie A , Jones, Kerry
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149336 , vital:38826 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1177/0898010120921587
- Description: Effects of a mindfulness-based (MB) yoga practice on stress, burnout, and indicators of well-being among nurses and health care professionals (HCPs).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Habitat requirements affect genetic variation in three species of mayfly (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) from South Africa:
- Taylor, Chantal L, Barker, Nigel P, Barber-James, Helen M, Villet, Martin H, Pereira-da-Conceicoa, Lyndall L
- Authors: Taylor, Chantal L , Barker, Nigel P , Barber-James, Helen M , Villet, Martin H , Pereira-da-Conceicoa, Lyndall L
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149314 , vital:38824 , https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.936.38587
- Description: This study investigates genetic diversity in three species of Ephemeroptera, one eurytopic and therefore widespread (Afroptilum sudafricanum) and two stenotopic and thus endemic (Demoreptus natalensis and Demoreptus capensis) species, all of which co-occur in the southern Great Escarpment, South Africa. Mitochondrial DNA was analysed to compare the genetic diversity between the habitat generalist and the two habitat specialists. Afroptilum sudafricanum showed no indication of population genetic structure due to geographic location, while both Demoreptus species revealed clear genetic differentiation between geographic localities and catchments, evident from phylogenetic analyses and high FST values from AMOVA.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Taylor, Chantal L , Barker, Nigel P , Barber-James, Helen M , Villet, Martin H , Pereira-da-Conceicoa, Lyndall L
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149314 , vital:38824 , https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.936.38587
- Description: This study investigates genetic diversity in three species of Ephemeroptera, one eurytopic and therefore widespread (Afroptilum sudafricanum) and two stenotopic and thus endemic (Demoreptus natalensis and Demoreptus capensis) species, all of which co-occur in the southern Great Escarpment, South Africa. Mitochondrial DNA was analysed to compare the genetic diversity between the habitat generalist and the two habitat specialists. Afroptilum sudafricanum showed no indication of population genetic structure due to geographic location, while both Demoreptus species revealed clear genetic differentiation between geographic localities and catchments, evident from phylogenetic analyses and high FST values from AMOVA.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Growth of centimeter scale carbon wires using in-liquid AC arc discharge:
- Jankowski, Krzysztof, Ostafin, Agnes, Tomasik, Mikolaj, Nyokong, Tebello, Britton, Jonathan
- Authors: Jankowski, Krzysztof , Ostafin, Agnes , Tomasik, Mikolaj , Nyokong, Tebello , Britton, Jonathan
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149956 , vital:38914 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1007/s42452-020-2881-2
- Description: A novel observation of the formation of carbon wire in a carbon-based liquid solvent, using in liquid high voltage AC arc discharge is described. The authors describe the observed phenomenon, technical equipment needed to achieve the effect and preliminary qualitative results of obtained material. The wire consisted of well packed layers of carbon elements. The arc-discharge method is a simple, low cost method for the production of three dimensional carbon structures. A further research is needed to get a thorough understanding of the phenomenon.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Jankowski, Krzysztof , Ostafin, Agnes , Tomasik, Mikolaj , Nyokong, Tebello , Britton, Jonathan
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149956 , vital:38914 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1007/s42452-020-2881-2
- Description: A novel observation of the formation of carbon wire in a carbon-based liquid solvent, using in liquid high voltage AC arc discharge is described. The authors describe the observed phenomenon, technical equipment needed to achieve the effect and preliminary qualitative results of obtained material. The wire consisted of well packed layers of carbon elements. The arc-discharge method is a simple, low cost method for the production of three dimensional carbon structures. A further research is needed to get a thorough understanding of the phenomenon.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Evaluating Feruloyl Esterase—Xylanase Synergism for Hydroxycinnamic Acid and Xylo-Oligosaccharide Production from Untreated, Hydrothermally Pre-Treated and Dilute-Acid Pre-Treated Corn Cobs:
- Mkabayi, Lithalethu, Malgas, Samkelo, Wilhelmi, Brendan S, Pletschke, Brett I
- Authors: Mkabayi, Lithalethu , Malgas, Samkelo , Wilhelmi, Brendan S , Pletschke, Brett I
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149240 , vital:38818 , https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050688
- Description: Agricultural residues are considered the most promising option as a renewable feedstock for biofuel and high valued-added chemical production due to their availability and low cost. The efficient enzymatic hydrolysis of agricultural residues into value-added products such as sugars and hydroxycinnamic acids is a challenge because of the recalcitrant properties of the native biomass. Development of synergistic enzyme cocktails is required to overcome biomass residue recalcitrance, and achieve high yields of potential value-added products. In this study, the synergistic action of two termite metagenome-derived feruloyl esterases (FAE5 and FAE6), and an endo-xylanase (Xyn11) from Thermomyces lanuginosus, was optimized using 0.5% (w/v) insoluble wheat arabinoxylan (a model substrate) and then applied to 1% (w/v) corn cobs for the efficient production of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and hydroxycinnamic acids.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mkabayi, Lithalethu , Malgas, Samkelo , Wilhelmi, Brendan S , Pletschke, Brett I
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149240 , vital:38818 , https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050688
- Description: Agricultural residues are considered the most promising option as a renewable feedstock for biofuel and high valued-added chemical production due to their availability and low cost. The efficient enzymatic hydrolysis of agricultural residues into value-added products such as sugars and hydroxycinnamic acids is a challenge because of the recalcitrant properties of the native biomass. Development of synergistic enzyme cocktails is required to overcome biomass residue recalcitrance, and achieve high yields of potential value-added products. In this study, the synergistic action of two termite metagenome-derived feruloyl esterases (FAE5 and FAE6), and an endo-xylanase (Xyn11) from Thermomyces lanuginosus, was optimized using 0.5% (w/v) insoluble wheat arabinoxylan (a model substrate) and then applied to 1% (w/v) corn cobs for the efficient production of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and hydroxycinnamic acids.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020