Film production incentives, employment transformation and domestic expenditure in South Africa: visualizing subsidy effectiveness
- Collins, Alan, Ishizaka, Alessio, Snowball, Jeanette D
- Authors: Collins, Alan , Ishizaka, Alessio , Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67456 , vital:29094 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2016.1255206
- Description: Publisher version , In 2004 the South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) introduced a Film and Television Production Rebate Programme. In order to qualify for the rebate, certain criteria have to be met including success in job creation and skills development within the industry, alongside a particular focus on the percentage of ‘historically disadvantaged individuals’ employed. This study sets out the issues associated with evaluating success in meeting these various criteria and is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study to apply multi-criteria visualization techniques to inform the evaluation of public subsidy effectiveness. The ‘PROMETHEE’ method is applied and apart from presenting project performance in a visually intuitive manner, the approach helps to clarify patterns of relative success, show where policy objectives are competing, and to identify project exemplars for more efficiently guiding future public support in the sector.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Collins, Alan , Ishizaka, Alessio , Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67456 , vital:29094 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2016.1255206
- Description: Publisher version , In 2004 the South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) introduced a Film and Television Production Rebate Programme. In order to qualify for the rebate, certain criteria have to be met including success in job creation and skills development within the industry, alongside a particular focus on the percentage of ‘historically disadvantaged individuals’ employed. This study sets out the issues associated with evaluating success in meeting these various criteria and is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study to apply multi-criteria visualization techniques to inform the evaluation of public subsidy effectiveness. The ‘PROMETHEE’ method is applied and apart from presenting project performance in a visually intuitive manner, the approach helps to clarify patterns of relative success, show where policy objectives are competing, and to identify project exemplars for more efficiently guiding future public support in the sector.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Fluorescence behavior of nanoconjugates of graphene quantum dots and zinc phthalocyanines
- Achadu, Ojodomo John, Uddin, Imran, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Achadu, Ojodomo John , Uddin, Imran , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188777 , vital:44784 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2015.11.006"
- Description: Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and zinc phthalocyanines interactions in different modes (covalent and non-covalent) are reported in this study. GQDs were covalently attached to the following complexes: zinc tetraamino phthalocyanine (ZnTAPc) via amide coupling, zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy Pc (ZnTCPPc) (π–π interaction) and cationic zinc tetrapyridiloxy Pc (ZnTmPyPc) (ionic interaction). GQDs fluorescence was quenched in the presence of the ZnPc derivatives. The nanoensembles of GQDs–ZnPcs showed stimulated emissions of the ZnPcs. The suggested quenching mechanism is through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). These novel nanoensembles hold promise for various optical and luminescence based applications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Achadu, Ojodomo John , Uddin, Imran , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188777 , vital:44784 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2015.11.006"
- Description: Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and zinc phthalocyanines interactions in different modes (covalent and non-covalent) are reported in this study. GQDs were covalently attached to the following complexes: zinc tetraamino phthalocyanine (ZnTAPc) via amide coupling, zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy Pc (ZnTCPPc) (π–π interaction) and cationic zinc tetrapyridiloxy Pc (ZnTmPyPc) (ionic interaction). GQDs fluorescence was quenched in the presence of the ZnPc derivatives. The nanoensembles of GQDs–ZnPcs showed stimulated emissions of the ZnPcs. The suggested quenching mechanism is through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). These novel nanoensembles hold promise for various optical and luminescence based applications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Fluorescence properties of alloyed ZnSeS quantum dots overcoated with ZnTe and ZnTe/ZnS shells
- Adegoke, Oluwasesan, Mashazi, Philani N, Nyokong, Tebello, Forbes, Patricia B C
- Authors: Adegoke, Oluwasesan , Mashazi, Philani N , Nyokong, Tebello , Forbes, Patricia B C
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/240754 , vital:50868 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2016.02.024"
- Description: Fluorescent alloyed ternary ZnSeS quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized via the pyrolysis of organometallic precursors. The effects of passivation of ZnTe and ZnTe/ZnS shells on the optical properties of the ternary alloyed ZnSeS core have been studied. A ligand exchange reaction using L-cysteine as a capping ligand was used to obtain water-soluble nanocrystals. The nanocrystals were each characterized by UV/vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) of alloyed ZnSeS QDs was 14% and this value increased to 27% when ZnTe was overcoated around the surface but further coating with a ZnS shell decreased the PL QY slightly to 24%. This implies that ZnTe shell suppressed non-radiative recombination exciton states in the alloyed core while further layering with a ZnS shell offered no further improvement in suppressing the defect states. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of the first shell layering but showed a weakened intensity signal of S (2p) and Se (3d) for the ZnSeS/ZnTe/ZnS QDs. Our work demonstrates for the first time that shell passivation of alloyed Zn-based QDs can offer improved optical properties. We hope the optical information presented in this work will be useful in the selection of alloyed Zn-based QDs appropriate for the intended application.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Adegoke, Oluwasesan , Mashazi, Philani N , Nyokong, Tebello , Forbes, Patricia B C
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/240754 , vital:50868 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2016.02.024"
- Description: Fluorescent alloyed ternary ZnSeS quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized via the pyrolysis of organometallic precursors. The effects of passivation of ZnTe and ZnTe/ZnS shells on the optical properties of the ternary alloyed ZnSeS core have been studied. A ligand exchange reaction using L-cysteine as a capping ligand was used to obtain water-soluble nanocrystals. The nanocrystals were each characterized by UV/vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) of alloyed ZnSeS QDs was 14% and this value increased to 27% when ZnTe was overcoated around the surface but further coating with a ZnS shell decreased the PL QY slightly to 24%. This implies that ZnTe shell suppressed non-radiative recombination exciton states in the alloyed core while further layering with a ZnS shell offered no further improvement in suppressing the defect states. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of the first shell layering but showed a weakened intensity signal of S (2p) and Se (3d) for the ZnSeS/ZnTe/ZnS QDs. Our work demonstrates for the first time that shell passivation of alloyed Zn-based QDs can offer improved optical properties. We hope the optical information presented in this work will be useful in the selection of alloyed Zn-based QDs appropriate for the intended application.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Food waste generation and potential interventions at Rhodes University, South Africa
- Painter, Kathleen, Thondhlana, Gladman, Kua, Harn W
- Authors: Painter, Kathleen , Thondhlana, Gladman , Kua, Harn W
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67733 , vital:29135 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.07.013
- Description: Publisher version , Estimation of food waste generation represents the first step when considering efforts to reduce waste generation and monitor food waste reduction against set targets. This study reports on an estimation of food waste generated in university dining halls at Rhodes University, South Africa. Daily food waste generation was estimated at about 555 g per student or 2 tonnes across all sample dining halls, translating to about 450 tonnes per year. The results show that food waste is influenced by an array of contextual factors, including distance to dining hall, gender composition of hall and meal times and meal options. It is estimated that the university could save up to US$ 80 000 annually for every 10% reduction in the current rate of food waste generation. Possible educational, technical and administrative interventions for food waste reduction are discussed.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Painter, Kathleen , Thondhlana, Gladman , Kua, Harn W
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67733 , vital:29135 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.07.013
- Description: Publisher version , Estimation of food waste generation represents the first step when considering efforts to reduce waste generation and monitor food waste reduction against set targets. This study reports on an estimation of food waste generated in university dining halls at Rhodes University, South Africa. Daily food waste generation was estimated at about 555 g per student or 2 tonnes across all sample dining halls, translating to about 450 tonnes per year. The results show that food waste is influenced by an array of contextual factors, including distance to dining hall, gender composition of hall and meal times and meal options. It is estimated that the university could save up to US$ 80 000 annually for every 10% reduction in the current rate of food waste generation. Possible educational, technical and administrative interventions for food waste reduction are discussed.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
From global to regional and back again: common climate stressors of marine ecosystems relevant for adaptation across five ocean warming hotspots
- Popova, Ekaterina, Yool, Andrew, Byfield, Valborg, Cochrane, Kevern, Coward, Andrew C, Salim, Shyam S, Gasalla, Maria A, Henson, S.A, Hobday, Alistair J, Pecl, Gretta T, Sauer, Warwick H H, Roberts, Michael J
- Authors: Popova, Ekaterina , Yool, Andrew , Byfield, Valborg , Cochrane, Kevern , Coward, Andrew C , Salim, Shyam S , Gasalla, Maria A , Henson, S.A , Hobday, Alistair J , Pecl, Gretta T , Sauer, Warwick H H , Roberts, Michael J
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124514 , vital:35623 , https://doi.10.1111/gcb.13247
- Description: Ocean warming ‘hotspots’ are regions characterized by above-average temperature increases over recent years, for which there are significant consequences for both living marine resources and the societies that depend on them. As such, they represent early warning systems for understanding the impacts of marine climate change, and test-beds for developing adaptation options for coping with those impacts. Here, we examine five hotspots off the coasts of eastern Australia, South Africa, Madagascar, India and Brazil. These particular hotspots have underpinned a large international partnership that is working towards improving community adaptation by characterizing, assessing and projecting the likely future of coastal-marine food resources through the provision and sharing of knowledge. To inform this effort, we employ a high-resolution global ocean model forced by Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 and simulated to year 2099. In addition to the sea surface temperature, we analyse projected stratification, nutrient supply, primary production, anthropogenic CO2-driven ocean acidification, deoxygenation and ocean circulation. Our simulation finds that the temperature-defined hotspots studied here will continue to experience warming but, with the exception of eastern Australia, may not remain the fastest warming ocean areas over the next century as the strongest warming is projected to occur in the subpolar and polar areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Additionally, we find that recent rapid change in SST is not necessarily an indicator that these areas are also hotspots of the other climatic stressors examined. However, a consistent facet of the hotspots studied here is that they are all strongly influenced by ocean circulation, which has already shown changes in the recent past and is projected to undergo further strong change into the future. In addition to the fast warming, change in local ocean circulation represents a distinct feature of present and future climate change impacting marine ecosystems in these areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Popova, Ekaterina , Yool, Andrew , Byfield, Valborg , Cochrane, Kevern , Coward, Andrew C , Salim, Shyam S , Gasalla, Maria A , Henson, S.A , Hobday, Alistair J , Pecl, Gretta T , Sauer, Warwick H H , Roberts, Michael J
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124514 , vital:35623 , https://doi.10.1111/gcb.13247
- Description: Ocean warming ‘hotspots’ are regions characterized by above-average temperature increases over recent years, for which there are significant consequences for both living marine resources and the societies that depend on them. As such, they represent early warning systems for understanding the impacts of marine climate change, and test-beds for developing adaptation options for coping with those impacts. Here, we examine five hotspots off the coasts of eastern Australia, South Africa, Madagascar, India and Brazil. These particular hotspots have underpinned a large international partnership that is working towards improving community adaptation by characterizing, assessing and projecting the likely future of coastal-marine food resources through the provision and sharing of knowledge. To inform this effort, we employ a high-resolution global ocean model forced by Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 and simulated to year 2099. In addition to the sea surface temperature, we analyse projected stratification, nutrient supply, primary production, anthropogenic CO2-driven ocean acidification, deoxygenation and ocean circulation. Our simulation finds that the temperature-defined hotspots studied here will continue to experience warming but, with the exception of eastern Australia, may not remain the fastest warming ocean areas over the next century as the strongest warming is projected to occur in the subpolar and polar areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Additionally, we find that recent rapid change in SST is not necessarily an indicator that these areas are also hotspots of the other climatic stressors examined. However, a consistent facet of the hotspots studied here is that they are all strongly influenced by ocean circulation, which has already shown changes in the recent past and is projected to undergo further strong change into the future. In addition to the fast warming, change in local ocean circulation represents a distinct feature of present and future climate change impacting marine ecosystems in these areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Geospatial technologies and indigenous Knowledge Systems:
- Authors: Aswani, Shankar
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145448 , vital:38439 , ISBN 9781315181523 , https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781315181523/chapters/10.1201/9781315181523-18
- Description: During the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, pressure on coastal ecosystems has amplified and resulted in the widespread degradation of adjacent marine and terrestrial habitats globally (Burke et al., 2001). The ecosystem services provided by coastal habitats, including coastal protection and food procurement, have been heavily compromised by anthropogenic disturbance such as overfishing, pollution, sedimentation and alteration of coastal vegetation (Costanza et al., 1997; Agardy et al., 2009). In the context of small islands, this continued degradation in tandem with the ongoing effects of climate change is putting the livelihoods of coastal peoples at risk (e.g. Bell et al., 2009). While international efforts at curtailing these negative trends are ongoing, many researchers are working directly with coastal local/ indigenous communities to seek more effective management of coastal terrestrial and marine resources. Among various approaches, researchers are increasingly incorporating local knowledge systems for designing resource management and conservation plans (e.g. Gadgil et al., 1993).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Aswani, Shankar
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145448 , vital:38439 , ISBN 9781315181523 , https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781315181523/chapters/10.1201/9781315181523-18
- Description: During the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, pressure on coastal ecosystems has amplified and resulted in the widespread degradation of adjacent marine and terrestrial habitats globally (Burke et al., 2001). The ecosystem services provided by coastal habitats, including coastal protection and food procurement, have been heavily compromised by anthropogenic disturbance such as overfishing, pollution, sedimentation and alteration of coastal vegetation (Costanza et al., 1997; Agardy et al., 2009). In the context of small islands, this continued degradation in tandem with the ongoing effects of climate change is putting the livelihoods of coastal peoples at risk (e.g. Bell et al., 2009). While international efforts at curtailing these negative trends are ongoing, many researchers are working directly with coastal local/ indigenous communities to seek more effective management of coastal terrestrial and marine resources. Among various approaches, researchers are increasingly incorporating local knowledge systems for designing resource management and conservation plans (e.g. Gadgil et al., 1993).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Global proliferation of cephalopods
- Doubleday, Zoë A, Prowse, Thomas A A, Arkhipkin, Alexander, Pierce, Graham J, Semmens, Jayson, Steer, Michael, Leporati, Stephen C, Lourenço, Sílvia, Quetglas, Antoni, Sauer, Warwick H H, Gillanders, Bronwyn M
- Authors: Doubleday, Zoë A , Prowse, Thomas A A , Arkhipkin, Alexander , Pierce, Graham J , Semmens, Jayson , Steer, Michael , Leporati, Stephen C , Lourenço, Sílvia , Quetglas, Antoni , Sauer, Warwick H H , Gillanders, Bronwyn M
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124560 , vital:35628 , https://doi.10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.002
- Description: Human activities have substantially changed the world’s oceans in recent decades, altering marine food webs, habitats and biogeochemical processes [1]. Cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish and octopuses) have a unique set of biological traits, including rapid growth, short lifespans and strong life-history plasticity, allowing them to adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions [2–4]. There has been growing speculation that cephalopod populations are proliferating in response to a changing environment, a perception fuelled by increasing trends in cephalopod fisheries catch [4,5]. To investigate long-term trends in cephalopod abundance, we assembled global time-series of cephalopod catch rates (catch per unit of fishing or sampling effort). We show that cephalopod populations have increased over the last six decades, a result that was remarkably consistent across a highly diverse set of cephalopod taxa. Positive trends were also evident for both fisheries-dependent and fisheries independent time-series, suggesting that trends are not solely due to factors associated with developing fisheries. Our results suggest that large-scale, directional processes, common to a range of coastal and oceanic environments, are responsible. This study presents the first evidence that cephalopod populations have increased globally, indicating that these ecologically and commercially important invertebrates may have benefited from a changing ocean environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Doubleday, Zoë A , Prowse, Thomas A A , Arkhipkin, Alexander , Pierce, Graham J , Semmens, Jayson , Steer, Michael , Leporati, Stephen C , Lourenço, Sílvia , Quetglas, Antoni , Sauer, Warwick H H , Gillanders, Bronwyn M
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124560 , vital:35628 , https://doi.10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.002
- Description: Human activities have substantially changed the world’s oceans in recent decades, altering marine food webs, habitats and biogeochemical processes [1]. Cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish and octopuses) have a unique set of biological traits, including rapid growth, short lifespans and strong life-history plasticity, allowing them to adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions [2–4]. There has been growing speculation that cephalopod populations are proliferating in response to a changing environment, a perception fuelled by increasing trends in cephalopod fisheries catch [4,5]. To investigate long-term trends in cephalopod abundance, we assembled global time-series of cephalopod catch rates (catch per unit of fishing or sampling effort). We show that cephalopod populations have increased over the last six decades, a result that was remarkably consistent across a highly diverse set of cephalopod taxa. Positive trends were also evident for both fisheries-dependent and fisheries independent time-series, suggesting that trends are not solely due to factors associated with developing fisheries. Our results suggest that large-scale, directional processes, common to a range of coastal and oceanic environments, are responsible. This study presents the first evidence that cephalopod populations have increased globally, indicating that these ecologically and commercially important invertebrates may have benefited from a changing ocean environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Gradient high performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous analysis of efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir
- Authors: Koekemoer, Sonya Mariana
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54679 , vital:26599
- Description: In 2014, approximately 6.8 million people in South Africa were HIV-positive, and the majority of those affected are aged 15 or older. A fixed-dose combination (FDC) antiretroviral (ARV) dosage form containing one non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (efavirenz) and two nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (emtricitabine and tenofovir) was licensed in South Africa in April 2013. New consolidated guidelines for HIV management and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) were published by the South African Department of Health in December 2014 and the FDC is now the recommended first-line treatment for HIV-positive patients. According to these guidelines all such people aged 15 and older, and weighing more than 40 kg, with a CD4 count of ≤ 500/ μl will be eligible for antiretroviral therapy (ART) using the FDC. In addition every pregnant and breastfeeding woman is eligible for lifelong ART regardless of CD4 count and EFV can be used as first-line treatment for pregnant women regardless of the length of gestation state of the pregnancy at that time. The use of this simplified regime is likely to promote much needed and improved adherence to therapy. An investigation into the development of a stability-indicating reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the simultaneous quantitation of EFV, FTC and TNF was undertaken. Isocratic HPLC analysis was found to be unsuitable due to the highly polar FTC molecule eluting in the void. Therefore a gradient HPLC method was developed and validated. The method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonisation, now known as International Council for Harmonization (ICH). Correlation coefficients > 0.999 were obtained for each assessment of linearity and FTC, TNF and EFV are linear in the range 0.4-40 μg/ml, 0.6-60 μg/ml and 1.2-120 μg/ml. The equation of the best-fit least squares regression lines for FTC, TNF and EFV were y = 0.0191x+0.0007, y = 0.0163x+0.0116 and y = 0.01x+0.016, respectively. The method is accurate as the y-intercept was < 2% of the detector response for all ARV, and the method is precise in terms of intra- and inter-assay precision as all % RSD < 2%. The stability-indicating nature of the method was demonstrated under acidic, alkaline and oxidative stress in addition to UV exposure and elevated temperatures, and the individual chromatograms were overlaid using Empower® 3 Software to establish whether there was interference with the peaks of interest. The forced degradation studies demonstrated the selectivity of the method for the ARV compounds. The method was applied to assay and in vitro dissolution studies of commercially available tablets. The amount of each active ingredient released from Atripla® was determined and compared to the amount of each drug released from Aspen Efavirenz® and Truvada® (a combination of FTC and TNF). The percent FTC released from Atripla® and Truvada® was similar based on the acceptance criteria for immediate-release BCS class 1 compounds. Statistical analysis was undertaken to compare the dissolution profiles of FTC, TNF and EFV. The percent of these compounds released in these studies indicate that bioequivalence testing would be required to declare these products interchangeable. The validated RP-HPLC and in vitro dissolution test method are suitable for routine quality control testing of solid oral dosage forms containing EFV, FTC and TNF, and as the dissolution method can discriminate between different formulations of the same molecule, these tools can also be used for analysis during formulation development studies. The method is not suitable for the analysis of the ARV plasma due to lack of sensitivity and an inability to quantitate the compounds at the required concentration levels. The use of HPLC with mass spectroscopy for quantitation would enhance the sensitivity of the method and may eliminate the quantitation of the molecules in the presence of interference that was observed when using UV detection. Fixed dose combination tablets are convenient for patient therapy and it is likely that in the future more molecules will be formulated into such dosage forms. However formulations such as these can pose significant difficulties when developing and using analytical methods for the quantitation of all compounds in the dosage form at the same time, in particular when the compounds have vastly different physico-chemical properties that impact the quality of a separation and therefore the analysis. Therefore when embarking on the development of FDC product cognisance of the difficulties of developing single methods for the analyses is required and approaches to overcome these difficulties should be considered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Koekemoer, Sonya Mariana
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54679 , vital:26599
- Description: In 2014, approximately 6.8 million people in South Africa were HIV-positive, and the majority of those affected are aged 15 or older. A fixed-dose combination (FDC) antiretroviral (ARV) dosage form containing one non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (efavirenz) and two nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (emtricitabine and tenofovir) was licensed in South Africa in April 2013. New consolidated guidelines for HIV management and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) were published by the South African Department of Health in December 2014 and the FDC is now the recommended first-line treatment for HIV-positive patients. According to these guidelines all such people aged 15 and older, and weighing more than 40 kg, with a CD4 count of ≤ 500/ μl will be eligible for antiretroviral therapy (ART) using the FDC. In addition every pregnant and breastfeeding woman is eligible for lifelong ART regardless of CD4 count and EFV can be used as first-line treatment for pregnant women regardless of the length of gestation state of the pregnancy at that time. The use of this simplified regime is likely to promote much needed and improved adherence to therapy. An investigation into the development of a stability-indicating reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the simultaneous quantitation of EFV, FTC and TNF was undertaken. Isocratic HPLC analysis was found to be unsuitable due to the highly polar FTC molecule eluting in the void. Therefore a gradient HPLC method was developed and validated. The method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonisation, now known as International Council for Harmonization (ICH). Correlation coefficients > 0.999 were obtained for each assessment of linearity and FTC, TNF and EFV are linear in the range 0.4-40 μg/ml, 0.6-60 μg/ml and 1.2-120 μg/ml. The equation of the best-fit least squares regression lines for FTC, TNF and EFV were y = 0.0191x+0.0007, y = 0.0163x+0.0116 and y = 0.01x+0.016, respectively. The method is accurate as the y-intercept was < 2% of the detector response for all ARV, and the method is precise in terms of intra- and inter-assay precision as all % RSD < 2%. The stability-indicating nature of the method was demonstrated under acidic, alkaline and oxidative stress in addition to UV exposure and elevated temperatures, and the individual chromatograms were overlaid using Empower® 3 Software to establish whether there was interference with the peaks of interest. The forced degradation studies demonstrated the selectivity of the method for the ARV compounds. The method was applied to assay and in vitro dissolution studies of commercially available tablets. The amount of each active ingredient released from Atripla® was determined and compared to the amount of each drug released from Aspen Efavirenz® and Truvada® (a combination of FTC and TNF). The percent FTC released from Atripla® and Truvada® was similar based on the acceptance criteria for immediate-release BCS class 1 compounds. Statistical analysis was undertaken to compare the dissolution profiles of FTC, TNF and EFV. The percent of these compounds released in these studies indicate that bioequivalence testing would be required to declare these products interchangeable. The validated RP-HPLC and in vitro dissolution test method are suitable for routine quality control testing of solid oral dosage forms containing EFV, FTC and TNF, and as the dissolution method can discriminate between different formulations of the same molecule, these tools can also be used for analysis during formulation development studies. The method is not suitable for the analysis of the ARV plasma due to lack of sensitivity and an inability to quantitate the compounds at the required concentration levels. The use of HPLC with mass spectroscopy for quantitation would enhance the sensitivity of the method and may eliminate the quantitation of the molecules in the presence of interference that was observed when using UV detection. Fixed dose combination tablets are convenient for patient therapy and it is likely that in the future more molecules will be formulated into such dosage forms. However formulations such as these can pose significant difficulties when developing and using analytical methods for the quantitation of all compounds in the dosage form at the same time, in particular when the compounds have vastly different physico-chemical properties that impact the quality of a separation and therefore the analysis. Therefore when embarking on the development of FDC product cognisance of the difficulties of developing single methods for the analyses is required and approaches to overcome these difficulties should be considered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Graphene quantum dots functionalized with 4-amino-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxide as fluorescence “turn-on” nanosensors
- Achadu, Ojodomo J, Britton, Jonathan, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Achadu, Ojodomo J , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/239854 , vital:50773 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-016-1916-y"
- Description: In this study, we report on the fabrication of simple and rapid graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-based fluorescence “turn-ON” nanoprobes for sensitive and selective detection of ascorbic acid (AA). Pristine GQDs and S and N co-doped-GQDs (SN-GQDs) were functionalized with 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxide (4-amino-TEMPO, a nitroxide free radical). The nitroxide free radicals efficiently quenched the fluorescence of the GQDs and upon interaction of the nanoconjugates with ascorbic acid, the quenched fluorescence was restored. The linear ranges recorded were 0.5–5.7 μM and 0.1–5.5 μM for GQDs-4-amino-TEMPO and SN-GQDs-4amino-TEMPO nanoprobes, respectively. Limits of detection were found to be 60 nM and 84 nM for SN-GQDS-4-amino-TEMPO and GQDs-4-amino-TEMPO for AA detection, respectively. This novel fluorescence “turn-ON” technique showed to be highly rapid and selective towards AA detection.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Achadu, Ojodomo J , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/239854 , vital:50773 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-016-1916-y"
- Description: In this study, we report on the fabrication of simple and rapid graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-based fluorescence “turn-ON” nanoprobes for sensitive and selective detection of ascorbic acid (AA). Pristine GQDs and S and N co-doped-GQDs (SN-GQDs) were functionalized with 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxide (4-amino-TEMPO, a nitroxide free radical). The nitroxide free radicals efficiently quenched the fluorescence of the GQDs and upon interaction of the nanoconjugates with ascorbic acid, the quenched fluorescence was restored. The linear ranges recorded were 0.5–5.7 μM and 0.1–5.5 μM for GQDs-4-amino-TEMPO and SN-GQDs-4amino-TEMPO nanoprobes, respectively. Limits of detection were found to be 60 nM and 84 nM for SN-GQDS-4-amino-TEMPO and GQDs-4-amino-TEMPO for AA detection, respectively. This novel fluorescence “turn-ON” technique showed to be highly rapid and selective towards AA detection.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Health factors associated with traditional circumcision of adolescent males in Alice, Raymond Mhlaba local municipality, Eastern Cape
- Mpateni, Aphiwe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6823-9179
- Authors: Mpateni, Aphiwe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6823-9179
- Date: 2016-06
- Subjects: Circumcision , Penis -- Surgery http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85099485
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19726 , vital:43183
- Description: This research explored the health challenges associated with male adolescents during traditional male circumcision in Alice,Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in Eastern Cape. This researcher used the views, attitudes and perceptions of the male adolescents who recently underwent traditional male circumcision, the parents of the male adolescents, health practitioners, community leaders, traditional nurses, traditional surgeons and a member of Association of Ingcibi Namakhankatha. The research study aimed at achieving the following specific objectives: 1. to interrogate the attitudes and views of people on the health factors associated with male adolescents who undergo traditional male circumcision 2; to establish the psychological, social, emotional and behavioural impacts of health challenges experienced by male adolescents undergoing male traditional circumcision; and 3. to document the health hazards experienced by male adolescents undergoing during traditional male circumcision. This researcher espoused a qualitative research method. The study was conducted through qualitative research instruments such as in-depth interviews, focus groups interviews and key informants in collecting the data. The study utilized socio cultural theory. The smaple in this study was made up of 25 participants: five (5) traditionally circumcised youth, ten (10) health practitioners, five (5) parents, one (1) traditional surgeon, two (2) traditional nurses, one (1) community leader and one (1) member of Association of Ingcibi Namakhankatha. Non probability sampling methodology was used, specifically purposive sampling to select the participants because of their knowledge and experiences about traditional male circumcision. Data was analysed thematically. The study came with the following findings: An array of health hazard experienced associated with circumcision rite; Horror emanating from the deaths of the initiates; Possible contraction and transmission of diseases during the rite; Cultural custodians disregarding health ethos and sanitation; Traditional male circumcision becoming a forum of learning immoral behaviours; Tightening of the bandages was believed to expedite healing; Amputation of penis due to complications; Psychological and emotional state of the initiates who suffer clinical hazards; Incompetence of traditional surgeons and untrained traditional nurses compromising the health of the initiates; Parental ignorance leading to their sons falling victims of the clinical health hazards; and subjugation of women in cultural practices. The research study made the following recommendations: strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of traditional practitioners; Community engagements by training boys to prepare for traditional male circumcision; Emphasizing the role of culture as stated by section 31 of the South African constitution; bolstering the selection criteria of traditional nurses.The traditional male circumcision practice to enlist the role of women as important stakeholders because they are the mothers; and imposing strict penalties against cultural custodians operating illegal schools This researcher, therefore, hopes that all the health hazards associated with male adolescents during traditional male circumcision can be addressed and that the government and the communities need to engage one another inorder to come with ways and strategies of managing cultures. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2016
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016-06
- Authors: Mpateni, Aphiwe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6823-9179
- Date: 2016-06
- Subjects: Circumcision , Penis -- Surgery http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85099485
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19726 , vital:43183
- Description: This research explored the health challenges associated with male adolescents during traditional male circumcision in Alice,Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in Eastern Cape. This researcher used the views, attitudes and perceptions of the male adolescents who recently underwent traditional male circumcision, the parents of the male adolescents, health practitioners, community leaders, traditional nurses, traditional surgeons and a member of Association of Ingcibi Namakhankatha. The research study aimed at achieving the following specific objectives: 1. to interrogate the attitudes and views of people on the health factors associated with male adolescents who undergo traditional male circumcision 2; to establish the psychological, social, emotional and behavioural impacts of health challenges experienced by male adolescents undergoing male traditional circumcision; and 3. to document the health hazards experienced by male adolescents undergoing during traditional male circumcision. This researcher espoused a qualitative research method. The study was conducted through qualitative research instruments such as in-depth interviews, focus groups interviews and key informants in collecting the data. The study utilized socio cultural theory. The smaple in this study was made up of 25 participants: five (5) traditionally circumcised youth, ten (10) health practitioners, five (5) parents, one (1) traditional surgeon, two (2) traditional nurses, one (1) community leader and one (1) member of Association of Ingcibi Namakhankatha. Non probability sampling methodology was used, specifically purposive sampling to select the participants because of their knowledge and experiences about traditional male circumcision. Data was analysed thematically. The study came with the following findings: An array of health hazard experienced associated with circumcision rite; Horror emanating from the deaths of the initiates; Possible contraction and transmission of diseases during the rite; Cultural custodians disregarding health ethos and sanitation; Traditional male circumcision becoming a forum of learning immoral behaviours; Tightening of the bandages was believed to expedite healing; Amputation of penis due to complications; Psychological and emotional state of the initiates who suffer clinical hazards; Incompetence of traditional surgeons and untrained traditional nurses compromising the health of the initiates; Parental ignorance leading to their sons falling victims of the clinical health hazards; and subjugation of women in cultural practices. The research study made the following recommendations: strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of traditional practitioners; Community engagements by training boys to prepare for traditional male circumcision; Emphasizing the role of culture as stated by section 31 of the South African constitution; bolstering the selection criteria of traditional nurses.The traditional male circumcision practice to enlist the role of women as important stakeholders because they are the mothers; and imposing strict penalties against cultural custodians operating illegal schools This researcher, therefore, hopes that all the health hazards associated with male adolescents during traditional male circumcision can be addressed and that the government and the communities need to engage one another inorder to come with ways and strategies of managing cultures. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2016
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016-06
HealthMessenger: an e-Health service to support ICT deployments in poor areas
- Gremu, Chikumbutso, Terzoli, Alfredo, Tsietsi, Mosiuoa
- Authors: Gremu, Chikumbutso , Terzoli, Alfredo , Tsietsi, Mosiuoa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430609 , vital:72703 , 10.1109/ISTAFRICA.2016.7530632
- Description: Development and implementation of appropriate e-services as well as revenue generation are key to deploying and sustaining ICT installa-tions in poor areas in developing countries. The area of e-Health is a promising area for e-Services that are important to populations in poor areas and health service organisations that are already spending mon-ey on different health initiatives in these areas. This paper discusses an e-Health service that facilitates dissemination of health information to people living in poor areas and that is subsequently used to generate revenue to support deployment and development of ICT in the areas. The tool was developed within the context of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), a multi-stakeholder operation that promotes ICT for Development in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Creation of health con-tent for the e-health service and its subsequent consumption happen in two different environments from a technological and social point of view. To enable this to happen, the e-service comprises two component applications that run in a peer-to-peer fashion. The component that is used to disseminate content for end-user consumption is called the HealthMessenger. The HealthMessenger is hosted on an environment called TeleWeaver, an application integration platform developed within the SLL to host software applications targeting people living in poor ar-eas. The platform is customised to support services with a revenue generation component.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Gremu, Chikumbutso , Terzoli, Alfredo , Tsietsi, Mosiuoa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430609 , vital:72703 , 10.1109/ISTAFRICA.2016.7530632
- Description: Development and implementation of appropriate e-services as well as revenue generation are key to deploying and sustaining ICT installa-tions in poor areas in developing countries. The area of e-Health is a promising area for e-Services that are important to populations in poor areas and health service organisations that are already spending mon-ey on different health initiatives in these areas. This paper discusses an e-Health service that facilitates dissemination of health information to people living in poor areas and that is subsequently used to generate revenue to support deployment and development of ICT in the areas. The tool was developed within the context of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), a multi-stakeholder operation that promotes ICT for Development in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Creation of health con-tent for the e-health service and its subsequent consumption happen in two different environments from a technological and social point of view. To enable this to happen, the e-service comprises two component applications that run in a peer-to-peer fashion. The component that is used to disseminate content for end-user consumption is called the HealthMessenger. The HealthMessenger is hosted on an environment called TeleWeaver, an application integration platform developed within the SLL to host software applications targeting people living in poor ar-eas. The platform is customised to support services with a revenue generation component.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Heat shock protein inhibitors: success stories
- McAlpine, Shelli R, Edkins, Adrienne L
- Authors: McAlpine, Shelli R , Edkins, Adrienne L
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66359 , vital:28940 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32607-8
- Description: publisher version , Introduction: Medicinal chemistry is both science and art. The science of medicinal chemistry offers mankind one of its best hopes for improving the quality of life. The art of medicinal chemistry continues to challenge its practitioners with the need for both intuition and experience to discover new drugs. Hence sharing the experience of drug research is uniquely beneficial to the field of medicinal chemistry. Drug research requires interdisciplinary team-work at the interface between chemistry, biology and medicine. Therefore, the topic-related series Topics in Medicinal Chemistry covers all relevant aspects of drug research, e.g. pathobiochemistry of diseases, identification and validation of (emerging) drug targets, structural biology, drugability of targets, drug design approaches, chemogenomics, synthetic chemistry including combinatorial methods, bioorganic chemistry, natural compounds, high-throughput screening, pharmacological in vitro and in vivo investigations, drug-receptor interactions on the molecular level, structure-activity relationships, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, toxicology and pharmacogenomics. In general, special volumes are edited by well known guest editors. , This work is based on the research supported by the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant No 98566), the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Medical Research Council South Africa (MRC-SA) and Rhodes University. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the DST, NRF, CANSA, MRC-SA or Rhodes University. We apologize if we have inadvertently missed any important contributions to the field.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: McAlpine, Shelli R , Edkins, Adrienne L
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66359 , vital:28940 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32607-8
- Description: publisher version , Introduction: Medicinal chemistry is both science and art. The science of medicinal chemistry offers mankind one of its best hopes for improving the quality of life. The art of medicinal chemistry continues to challenge its practitioners with the need for both intuition and experience to discover new drugs. Hence sharing the experience of drug research is uniquely beneficial to the field of medicinal chemistry. Drug research requires interdisciplinary team-work at the interface between chemistry, biology and medicine. Therefore, the topic-related series Topics in Medicinal Chemistry covers all relevant aspects of drug research, e.g. pathobiochemistry of diseases, identification and validation of (emerging) drug targets, structural biology, drugability of targets, drug design approaches, chemogenomics, synthetic chemistry including combinatorial methods, bioorganic chemistry, natural compounds, high-throughput screening, pharmacological in vitro and in vivo investigations, drug-receptor interactions on the molecular level, structure-activity relationships, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, toxicology and pharmacogenomics. In general, special volumes are edited by well known guest editors. , This work is based on the research supported by the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant No 98566), the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Medical Research Council South Africa (MRC-SA) and Rhodes University. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the DST, NRF, CANSA, MRC-SA or Rhodes University. We apologize if we have inadvertently missed any important contributions to the field.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Heterogeneity in virulence relationships between Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus isolates and geographically distinct host populations: Lessons from codling moth resistance to CpGV-M
- Opoku-Debrah, John K, Hill, Martin P, Knox, Caroline M, Moore, Sean D
- Authors: Opoku-Debrah, John K , Hill, Martin P , Knox, Caroline M , Moore, Sean D
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417998 , vital:71500 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-016-9728-1"
- Description: In South Africa, the baculovirus Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV) is used to control the citrus pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). However, the risk associated with continuous application of a single active ingredient is resistance. In order to manage resistance should it occur in field populations of T. leucotreta in South Africa, five new CrleGV genotypes from geographically distinct insect populations which were shown to exhibit some degree of phenotypic variation were recovered and genetically characterized. In droplet bioassays using seven CrleGV isolates against five T. leucotreta populations, some isolates were found to show higher virulence to some host populations than others. There were marked differences in the LD50 values of isolates and the number of occlusion bodies required per larva ranged between 0.79 and 3.12. The significance of these findings with respect to the application of CrleGV biopesticides and the management of resistance is discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Opoku-Debrah, John K , Hill, Martin P , Knox, Caroline M , Moore, Sean D
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417998 , vital:71500 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-016-9728-1"
- Description: In South Africa, the baculovirus Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV) is used to control the citrus pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). However, the risk associated with continuous application of a single active ingredient is resistance. In order to manage resistance should it occur in field populations of T. leucotreta in South Africa, five new CrleGV genotypes from geographically distinct insect populations which were shown to exhibit some degree of phenotypic variation were recovered and genetically characterized. In droplet bioassays using seven CrleGV isolates against five T. leucotreta populations, some isolates were found to show higher virulence to some host populations than others. There were marked differences in the LD50 values of isolates and the number of occlusion bodies required per larva ranged between 0.79 and 3.12. The significance of these findings with respect to the application of CrleGV biopesticides and the management of resistance is discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Hoofletter K Kleurling - 'n besonderse Suid-Afrikaanse
- Authors: Thomas, Cornelius
- Date: 2016
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: book chapter , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59771 , vital:27647 , http://naledi.online/product/ons-kom-van-ver/
- Description: Hoofletter K Kleurling.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Thomas, Cornelius
- Date: 2016
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: book chapter , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59771 , vital:27647 , http://naledi.online/product/ons-kom-van-ver/
- Description: Hoofletter K Kleurling.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Hsp40 Co-chaperones as drug targets: towards the development of specific inhibitors
- Pesce, Eva-Rachele, Blatch, Gregory L, Edkins, Adrienne L
- Authors: Pesce, Eva-Rachele , Blatch, Gregory L , Edkins, Adrienne L
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66335 , vital:28937 , https://doi.org/10.1007/7355_2015_92
- Description: publisher version , The heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40/DNAJ) family of co-chaperones modulates the activity of the major molecular chaperone heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) protein group. Hsp40 stimulates the basal ATPase activity of Hsp70 and hence regulates the affinity of Hsp70 for substrate proteins. The number of Hsp40 genes in most organisms is substantially greater than the number of Hsp70 genes. Therefore, different Hsp40 family members may regulate different activities of the same Hsp70. This fact, along with increasing knowledge of the function of Hsp40 in diseases, has led to certain Hsp40 isoforms being considered promising drug targets. Here we review the role of Hsp40 in human disease and recent developments towards the creation of Hsp40-specific inhibitors.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Pesce, Eva-Rachele , Blatch, Gregory L , Edkins, Adrienne L
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66335 , vital:28937 , https://doi.org/10.1007/7355_2015_92
- Description: publisher version , The heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40/DNAJ) family of co-chaperones modulates the activity of the major molecular chaperone heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) protein group. Hsp40 stimulates the basal ATPase activity of Hsp70 and hence regulates the affinity of Hsp70 for substrate proteins. The number of Hsp40 genes in most organisms is substantially greater than the number of Hsp70 genes. Therefore, different Hsp40 family members may regulate different activities of the same Hsp70. This fact, along with increasing knowledge of the function of Hsp40 in diseases, has led to certain Hsp40 isoforms being considered promising drug targets. Here we review the role of Hsp40 in human disease and recent developments towards the creation of Hsp40-specific inhibitors.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Hsp90 co-chaperones as drug targets in cancer: current perspectives
- Authors: Edkins, Adrienne L
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66347 , vital:28938 , https://doi.org/10.1007/7355_2015_99
- Description: publisher version , Hsp90 is a molecular chaperone that regulates the function of numerous oncogenic transcription factors and signalling intermediates in the cell. Inhibition of Hsp90 is sufficient to induce the proteosomal degradation of many of these proteins, and as such, the Hsp90 chaperone has been regarded as a promising drug target. The appropriate functioning of the Hsp90 chaperone is dependent on its ATPase activity and interactions with a cohort of non-substrate accessory proteins known as co-chaperones. Co-chaperones associate with Hsp90 at all stages of the chaperone cycle and regulate a range of Hsp90 functions, including ATP hydrolysis and client protein binding and release. Given the ability of co-chaperones to organise the function of the Hsp90 molecular machine, these proteins are now regarded as potential drug targets. Herein the role of selected Hsp90 co-chaperones Hop, Cdc37, p23 and Aha1 as possible drug targets is discussed with a focus on cancer. , This work is based on the research supported by the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant No 98566), the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Medical Research Council South Africa (MRC-SA) and Rhodes University. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the DST, NRF, CANSA, MRC-SA or Rhodes University. We apologize if we have inadvertently missed any important contributions to the field.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Edkins, Adrienne L
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66347 , vital:28938 , https://doi.org/10.1007/7355_2015_99
- Description: publisher version , Hsp90 is a molecular chaperone that regulates the function of numerous oncogenic transcription factors and signalling intermediates in the cell. Inhibition of Hsp90 is sufficient to induce the proteosomal degradation of many of these proteins, and as such, the Hsp90 chaperone has been regarded as a promising drug target. The appropriate functioning of the Hsp90 chaperone is dependent on its ATPase activity and interactions with a cohort of non-substrate accessory proteins known as co-chaperones. Co-chaperones associate with Hsp90 at all stages of the chaperone cycle and regulate a range of Hsp90 functions, including ATP hydrolysis and client protein binding and release. Given the ability of co-chaperones to organise the function of the Hsp90 molecular machine, these proteins are now regarded as potential drug targets. Herein the role of selected Hsp90 co-chaperones Hop, Cdc37, p23 and Aha1 as possible drug targets is discussed with a focus on cancer. , This work is based on the research supported by the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant No 98566), the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Medical Research Council South Africa (MRC-SA) and Rhodes University. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the DST, NRF, CANSA, MRC-SA or Rhodes University. We apologize if we have inadvertently missed any important contributions to the field.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Ideas of poetic form: aspects of the Romantic-Symbolist tradition
- Authors: Oldert, David
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54554 , vital:26587
- Description: The subject of the work is some of the formal and technical developments of modern poetry in the Romantic-Symbolist tradition. These developments were stimulated partly by the ideas of the non-intellectual Symbol inherited from the Romantics and the idea that poetry could be a musical medium inherited from some of the French Symbolists. Their combined influence led to a number of technical problems in the structuring of imagery and the handling of syntax. The work begins, therefore, by tracing the philosophical assumptions behind the ideas of the Symbol and of the musical analogy. I then go on to examine two of the difficulties that these ideas produced. One is the tension between the analogical structure of a poem’s imagery and its metaphorical texture: quite simply, the more compressed and complex a poet’s metaphors become, the more they tend to disrupt the poem’s structure of imagery. The other problem is obscurity, which is caused by insufficient objectification of private images in a symbolic structure, and by fused metaphor, which is essentially a metaphor with an obscured ground of resemblance. Finally, I show how these difficulties were solved by poets outside the tradition who used a more articulate kind of syntax, yet who also managed to combine that syntax with the ideal of symbolic form. The implicit argument, then, is that the Romantic-Symbolist ideas of form, and the New Critics’ theories of form which were largely based on them, are able to elucidate an essentially different kind of poetry, and thus have some degree of truth and use beyond the tradition that generated them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Oldert, David
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54554 , vital:26587
- Description: The subject of the work is some of the formal and technical developments of modern poetry in the Romantic-Symbolist tradition. These developments were stimulated partly by the ideas of the non-intellectual Symbol inherited from the Romantics and the idea that poetry could be a musical medium inherited from some of the French Symbolists. Their combined influence led to a number of technical problems in the structuring of imagery and the handling of syntax. The work begins, therefore, by tracing the philosophical assumptions behind the ideas of the Symbol and of the musical analogy. I then go on to examine two of the difficulties that these ideas produced. One is the tension between the analogical structure of a poem’s imagery and its metaphorical texture: quite simply, the more compressed and complex a poet’s metaphors become, the more they tend to disrupt the poem’s structure of imagery. The other problem is obscurity, which is caused by insufficient objectification of private images in a symbolic structure, and by fused metaphor, which is essentially a metaphor with an obscured ground of resemblance. Finally, I show how these difficulties were solved by poets outside the tradition who used a more articulate kind of syntax, yet who also managed to combine that syntax with the ideal of symbolic form. The implicit argument, then, is that the Romantic-Symbolist ideas of form, and the New Critics’ theories of form which were largely based on them, are able to elucidate an essentially different kind of poetry, and thus have some degree of truth and use beyond the tradition that generated them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Identification of potential novel roles for Hsp70/Hsp90 organising protein (Hop) using proteomic analysis in human cells
- Authors: Wingate, Ianthe
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64758 , vital:28598
- Description: Expected release date-May 2018
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Wingate, Ianthe
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64758 , vital:28598
- Description: Expected release date-May 2018
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Impacts of HIV/AIDS on food consumption and wild food use in rural South Africa
- Ncube, Keitometsi, Shackleton, Charlie M, Swallow, Brent M, Dassanayake, Wijaya
- Authors: Ncube, Keitometsi , Shackleton, Charlie M , Swallow, Brent M , Dassanayake, Wijaya
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180412 , vital:43385 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-016-0624-4"
- Description: HIV/AIDS can affect household food consumption in many ways, including through reductions in availability and quality of labour, reductions in earned income, and increased expenditure on medications. In rural South Africa, these negative effects can be buffered by social safety net programs provided by government and collection of wild foods. Despite some acknowledgement of the potential safety net role of wild foods, however, their contribution relative to other food sources in the context of HIV/AIDS remains underexplored. Here we report empirical findings from two rural communities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to characterise food sources, intake and calories from 68 HIV/AIDS afflicted households and 87 non-afflicted households every quarter over 12 months. Results show that diets were moderately well-balanced though limited in variety, with cereal items contributing 52 % to total calorie intake. The bulk of food consumed by households was purchased, with supplementation from own production, collected wild vegetables and collected wild fruits. Up to 20 % of respondents from both HIV/ AIDS afflicted and non-afflicted households had insufficient daily caloric intake. Multivariate analyses show that, all else equal, individuals living in households afflicted by HIV/AIDS consumed fewer calories, had less diverse diets, and were more dependent on wild foods than those living in non-afflicted households. Given the detrimental effects of HIV/AIDS on income and home production, wild foods represent a free and readily available food source for vulnerable households.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ncube, Keitometsi , Shackleton, Charlie M , Swallow, Brent M , Dassanayake, Wijaya
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180412 , vital:43385 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-016-0624-4"
- Description: HIV/AIDS can affect household food consumption in many ways, including through reductions in availability and quality of labour, reductions in earned income, and increased expenditure on medications. In rural South Africa, these negative effects can be buffered by social safety net programs provided by government and collection of wild foods. Despite some acknowledgement of the potential safety net role of wild foods, however, their contribution relative to other food sources in the context of HIV/AIDS remains underexplored. Here we report empirical findings from two rural communities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to characterise food sources, intake and calories from 68 HIV/AIDS afflicted households and 87 non-afflicted households every quarter over 12 months. Results show that diets were moderately well-balanced though limited in variety, with cereal items contributing 52 % to total calorie intake. The bulk of food consumed by households was purchased, with supplementation from own production, collected wild vegetables and collected wild fruits. Up to 20 % of respondents from both HIV/ AIDS afflicted and non-afflicted households had insufficient daily caloric intake. Multivariate analyses show that, all else equal, individuals living in households afflicted by HIV/AIDS consumed fewer calories, had less diverse diets, and were more dependent on wild foods than those living in non-afflicted households. Given the detrimental effects of HIV/AIDS on income and home production, wild foods represent a free and readily available food source for vulnerable households.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Improvement of nonlinear optical properties of phthalocyanine bearing diethyleneglycole chains
- Britton, Jonathan, Martynov, Alexander G, Oluwole, David O, Gorbunova, Yulia G, Tsivadze, Yulia G, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Britton, Jonathan , Martynov, Alexander G , Oluwole, David O , Gorbunova, Yulia G , Tsivadze, Yulia G , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/239812 , vital:50769 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424616501042"
- Description: This paper reports the successful synthesis of the low symmetry phthalocyanines: metal-free 2,3-bis[2′-(2′′-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]-9,10,16,17,23,24-hexa-nn-butoxyphthalocyanine 1H22 and its zinc complex 1Zn along with their nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior in solution and in thin films. 1H NMR investigations evidenced of higher dissymmetry of electronic density in 1H22 in comparison with 1Zn. This dissymmetry is responsible for unusually higher values of Im[χ(3)χ(3)]/αα, βeffβeff, and γγ for 1H22in contrast to 1Zn, where the notable effect of heavy-metal enhancement of ISC was expected. Both compounds showed Im[χ(3)χ(3)]/αα values of the order of 10−11−11 in chloroform which are higher in comparison to the symmetrical octabutoxyphthalocyanine H2[(BuO)8Pc]. NLO properties of 1H22 were improved via its incorporation into polycarbonate polymeric matrix together with CdSe@CdS-TOPO quantum dots. In such composite the value of Im[χ(3)χ(3)]/αα was almost three times higher in comparison with 1H22 solution in chloroform. The obtained composites are expected to be perspective components of optical materials, capable of protection against strong light irradiation
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Britton, Jonathan , Martynov, Alexander G , Oluwole, David O , Gorbunova, Yulia G , Tsivadze, Yulia G , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/239812 , vital:50769 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424616501042"
- Description: This paper reports the successful synthesis of the low symmetry phthalocyanines: metal-free 2,3-bis[2′-(2′′-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]-9,10,16,17,23,24-hexa-nn-butoxyphthalocyanine 1H22 and its zinc complex 1Zn along with their nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior in solution and in thin films. 1H NMR investigations evidenced of higher dissymmetry of electronic density in 1H22 in comparison with 1Zn. This dissymmetry is responsible for unusually higher values of Im[χ(3)χ(3)]/αα, βeffβeff, and γγ for 1H22in contrast to 1Zn, where the notable effect of heavy-metal enhancement of ISC was expected. Both compounds showed Im[χ(3)χ(3)]/αα values of the order of 10−11−11 in chloroform which are higher in comparison to the symmetrical octabutoxyphthalocyanine H2[(BuO)8Pc]. NLO properties of 1H22 were improved via its incorporation into polycarbonate polymeric matrix together with CdSe@CdS-TOPO quantum dots. In such composite the value of Im[χ(3)χ(3)]/αα was almost three times higher in comparison with 1H22 solution in chloroform. The obtained composites are expected to be perspective components of optical materials, capable of protection against strong light irradiation
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016