From imperialism to radical hospitality: propositions for reconfiguring social work towards a justice-to-come
- Bozalek, Vivienne, Holscher, Dorothee
- Authors: Bozalek, Vivienne , Holscher, Dorothee
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426904 , vital:72399 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.25159/2708-9355/8889"
- Description: The focus of the article is on injustices towards South African families in postcolonial and neocolonial contexts, our understanding of which has been greatly enlarged by Nancy Fraser’s conceptualisations of expropriation and imperialism and Jacques Derrida’s notions of hostility and hospitality. We used Walter Benjamin’s and Karen Barad’s montage methods of fragmentary writing to diffractively read expropriation, imperialism, hostility and hospitality through one another in the context of injustices done to South African families. A diffractive methodology entails a close and attentive reading of concepts or pieces of text through one another, to arrive at new insights with regard to a particular issue. The new insights we arrive at in the article are five propositions for ethically engaging in a justice-to-come for social work – that of attentiveness, rendering each other capable, responsibility, response-ability and radical hospitality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Bozalek, Vivienne , Holscher, Dorothee
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426904 , vital:72399 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.25159/2708-9355/8889"
- Description: The focus of the article is on injustices towards South African families in postcolonial and neocolonial contexts, our understanding of which has been greatly enlarged by Nancy Fraser’s conceptualisations of expropriation and imperialism and Jacques Derrida’s notions of hostility and hospitality. We used Walter Benjamin’s and Karen Barad’s montage methods of fragmentary writing to diffractively read expropriation, imperialism, hostility and hospitality through one another in the context of injustices done to South African families. A diffractive methodology entails a close and attentive reading of concepts or pieces of text through one another, to arrive at new insights with regard to a particular issue. The new insights we arrive at in the article are five propositions for ethically engaging in a justice-to-come for social work – that of attentiveness, rendering each other capable, responsibility, response-ability and radical hospitality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Fuelwood in South Africa Revisited: Widespread Use in a Policy Vacuum
- Shackleton, Charlie M, Sinasson, Gisele, Adeyemi, Opeyemi, Martins, Vusumzi
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Sinasson, Gisele , Adeyemi, Opeyemi , Martins, Vusumzi
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402275 , vital:69837 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/su141711018"
- Description: South Africa has experienced massive urbanisation and socioeconomic development over the past two decades. Concomitantly, the national energy policy focuses on the provision of modern fuels, notably electricity, for domestic use. Given this policy environment and socioeconomic development, we examine pertinent literature and policies from South Africa on fuelwood use, value, and sustainability to understand how it might have changed in tandem with the national shifts in urbanisation and socioeconomic development over the last 20 years. Recent literature shows that fuelwood is still used to some extent by 96% of rural households and 69% of low-income urban ones. We also estimate that the use of fuelwood by rural households alone is valued at approximately ZAR 10.5 billion (approx. USD 700 million) annually, with the probability of an equally high value to low-income urban households. However, despite the extensive use and high value, our analysis of cognate national policies related to energy, forestry, environment, and social development, show that fuelwood and its use is hardly considered, indicating a policy vacuum. This policy vacuum means that there is no strategic or apposite support or interventions in any localised areas where fuelwood demand might exceed supply, thereby undermining the livelihoods and energy security of affected citizens, most notably the poor.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Sinasson, Gisele , Adeyemi, Opeyemi , Martins, Vusumzi
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402275 , vital:69837 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/su141711018"
- Description: South Africa has experienced massive urbanisation and socioeconomic development over the past two decades. Concomitantly, the national energy policy focuses on the provision of modern fuels, notably electricity, for domestic use. Given this policy environment and socioeconomic development, we examine pertinent literature and policies from South Africa on fuelwood use, value, and sustainability to understand how it might have changed in tandem with the national shifts in urbanisation and socioeconomic development over the last 20 years. Recent literature shows that fuelwood is still used to some extent by 96% of rural households and 69% of low-income urban ones. We also estimate that the use of fuelwood by rural households alone is valued at approximately ZAR 10.5 billion (approx. USD 700 million) annually, with the probability of an equally high value to low-income urban households. However, despite the extensive use and high value, our analysis of cognate national policies related to energy, forestry, environment, and social development, show that fuelwood and its use is hardly considered, indicating a policy vacuum. This policy vacuum means that there is no strategic or apposite support or interventions in any localised areas where fuelwood demand might exceed supply, thereby undermining the livelihoods and energy security of affected citizens, most notably the poor.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Fuelwood Production and Carbon Sequestration in Public Urban Green Spaces in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
- Ngulani, Thembelihle, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Ngulani, Thembelihle , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438757 , vital:73497 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050741"
- Description: Understanding tree species autecology and population structure supports effective conservation actions. Of particular importance are multipurpose trees that provide non-timber forest products (NTFPs). We assessed the population structures and morphologies of two species of NTFP trees in the genus Mimusops across bioclimatic zones in Benin by sampling 288 plots within 11 forests. Structural characteristics were compared between species, forests and zones. Correlations were also observed between Mimusops tree regeneration density, tree features and ecological characteristics. The density of trees ≥5 cm and of regeneration and mean tree height were higher for M. andongensis (within more protected forest) than M. kummel (in forests with access to people), while the highest mean diameter was observed for M. kummel. Tree and regeneration densities and mean height were greatest in the humid zone of Benin, whilst the largest mean diameter was obtained in the sub-humid zone. The results showed significant correlations between regeneration density and soil properties for M. andongensis but not for M. kummel. The correlations between tree morphology and soil characteristics were weak for both species. Ecological characteristics, along with the species’ functional traits and pressures, are important factors related to the observed differences between the species. All diameter classes were represented, and the population seemed more stable in the more protected forest relative to other forests. Mimusops trees with a diameter of 5–15 cm represented more than 30% of this species in most forests; this suggests, for M. kummel, whose trees flower when quite small (≥6 cm dbh), that there are sufficient reproductive trees. Thus, as a long-lived species, its populations could be maintained even with low/episodic recruitment. However, we found no regeneration in many forests and climate change could threaten populations. Therefore, it is important to investigate regeneration growth and dynamics, seed production and germination of the species in relation to the biophysical conditions and disturbances experienced by Mimusops stands.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Ngulani, Thembelihle , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438757 , vital:73497 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050741"
- Description: Understanding tree species autecology and population structure supports effective conservation actions. Of particular importance are multipurpose trees that provide non-timber forest products (NTFPs). We assessed the population structures and morphologies of two species of NTFP trees in the genus Mimusops across bioclimatic zones in Benin by sampling 288 plots within 11 forests. Structural characteristics were compared between species, forests and zones. Correlations were also observed between Mimusops tree regeneration density, tree features and ecological characteristics. The density of trees ≥5 cm and of regeneration and mean tree height were higher for M. andongensis (within more protected forest) than M. kummel (in forests with access to people), while the highest mean diameter was observed for M. kummel. Tree and regeneration densities and mean height were greatest in the humid zone of Benin, whilst the largest mean diameter was obtained in the sub-humid zone. The results showed significant correlations between regeneration density and soil properties for M. andongensis but not for M. kummel. The correlations between tree morphology and soil characteristics were weak for both species. Ecological characteristics, along with the species’ functional traits and pressures, are important factors related to the observed differences between the species. All diameter classes were represented, and the population seemed more stable in the more protected forest relative to other forests. Mimusops trees with a diameter of 5–15 cm represented more than 30% of this species in most forests; this suggests, for M. kummel, whose trees flower when quite small (≥6 cm dbh), that there are sufficient reproductive trees. Thus, as a long-lived species, its populations could be maintained even with low/episodic recruitment. However, we found no regeneration in many forests and climate change could threaten populations. Therefore, it is important to investigate regeneration growth and dynamics, seed production and germination of the species in relation to the biophysical conditions and disturbances experienced by Mimusops stands.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Ga III triarylcorroles with push–pull substitutions
- Niu, Yingjie, Wang, Lin, Guo, Yingxin, Zhu, Weihua, Soy, Rodah C, Babu, Balaji, Mack, John, Nyokong, Tebello, Xu, Haijun, Liang, Xu
- Authors: Niu, Yingjie , Wang, Lin , Guo, Yingxin , Zhu, Weihua , Soy, Rodah C , Babu, Balaji , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello , Xu, Haijun , Liang, Xu
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/300079 , vital:57890 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/D2DT01262F"
- Description: Two A2B type H3corroles and two GaIIItriarylcorroles with carbazole substitutions at 10-positions were synthesized and characterized. An analysis of structure–property relationships of the corroles has been carried out by investigating the optical spectroscopy of the dyes to trends predicted in DFT and TD-DFT calculations. Interestingly, the photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) activity properties of the GaIIItriarylcorroles were determined against the MCF-7 breast cancer line, and Staphyloccocus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), respectively. The cationic G-2Q species exhibited the most favorable properties with an IC50 value of 7.8 μM against MCF-7 cells, and Log reduction values of 7.78 and 3.26 against planktonic S. aureus and E. coli at 0.5 and 10 μM, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Niu, Yingjie , Wang, Lin , Guo, Yingxin , Zhu, Weihua , Soy, Rodah C , Babu, Balaji , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello , Xu, Haijun , Liang, Xu
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/300079 , vital:57890 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/D2DT01262F"
- Description: Two A2B type H3corroles and two GaIIItriarylcorroles with carbazole substitutions at 10-positions were synthesized and characterized. An analysis of structure–property relationships of the corroles has been carried out by investigating the optical spectroscopy of the dyes to trends predicted in DFT and TD-DFT calculations. Interestingly, the photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) activity properties of the GaIIItriarylcorroles were determined against the MCF-7 breast cancer line, and Staphyloccocus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), respectively. The cationic G-2Q species exhibited the most favorable properties with an IC50 value of 7.8 μM against MCF-7 cells, and Log reduction values of 7.78 and 3.26 against planktonic S. aureus and E. coli at 0.5 and 10 μM, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Goat browsing does not induce physical defences but reduces leaf size in Vachellia trees
- Nzimande, Amanda, Mgqatsa, Nokubonga, Kraai, Unathi M, Tsvuura, Zivanai, Kraai, Manqhai
- Authors: Nzimande, Amanda , Mgqatsa, Nokubonga , Kraai, Unathi M , Tsvuura, Zivanai , Kraai, Manqhai
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462624 , vital:76320 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2022.103818"
- Description: One aspect of plant-herbivore interactions in African savannas is the browsing impact of mammalian herbivores on plants, which may result in induced physical defences (spines) and changes in leaf morphology in trees experiencing intensive browsing. In these savannas, spinescence is considered to have evolved in response to herbivore pressure from large mammals. We assessed the impact of free-ranging domesticated goats on the spines and leaves of Vachellia karroo, V. nilotica and V. tortilis in Msinga, South Africa. We predicted that there would be fewer and smaller leaves, and longer spines occurring below compared to above 1.5 m for all tree species. We further predicted that the outer parts of the tree canopy would have smaller and fewer leaves, as well as more and longer spines compared to the inner part of the canopy. To determine the response of these trees to goat herbivory, 35 trees of each Vachellia species were selected, the number of leaves and spines found on two randomly selected branches below 1.5 m and one above 1.5 m were measured. We found that leaves were fewer and smaller below compared to above 1.5 m. Interestingly, we found the reduced leaf size to be equal to the size of spines below 1.5 m. We also found that V. karroo had more spines below 1.5 m compared to V. tortilis and V. nilotica. Along the branch segments, we found that spines were longer in the most accessible parts of the branch, the outer canopy. This study showed that browsing by goats, unlike wild herbivores, do not induce plant physical defences but rather limit available foliage. We also showed that physical defences (spine density) of Vachellia trees vary. This has implications for management and ecology of rangelands browsed by domestic mammals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Nzimande, Amanda , Mgqatsa, Nokubonga , Kraai, Unathi M , Tsvuura, Zivanai , Kraai, Manqhai
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462624 , vital:76320 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2022.103818"
- Description: One aspect of plant-herbivore interactions in African savannas is the browsing impact of mammalian herbivores on plants, which may result in induced physical defences (spines) and changes in leaf morphology in trees experiencing intensive browsing. In these savannas, spinescence is considered to have evolved in response to herbivore pressure from large mammals. We assessed the impact of free-ranging domesticated goats on the spines and leaves of Vachellia karroo, V. nilotica and V. tortilis in Msinga, South Africa. We predicted that there would be fewer and smaller leaves, and longer spines occurring below compared to above 1.5 m for all tree species. We further predicted that the outer parts of the tree canopy would have smaller and fewer leaves, as well as more and longer spines compared to the inner part of the canopy. To determine the response of these trees to goat herbivory, 35 trees of each Vachellia species were selected, the number of leaves and spines found on two randomly selected branches below 1.5 m and one above 1.5 m were measured. We found that leaves were fewer and smaller below compared to above 1.5 m. Interestingly, we found the reduced leaf size to be equal to the size of spines below 1.5 m. We also found that V. karroo had more spines below 1.5 m compared to V. tortilis and V. nilotica. Along the branch segments, we found that spines were longer in the most accessible parts of the branch, the outer canopy. This study showed that browsing by goats, unlike wild herbivores, do not induce plant physical defences but rather limit available foliage. We also showed that physical defences (spine density) of Vachellia trees vary. This has implications for management and ecology of rangelands browsed by domestic mammals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Golf Swing Sequencing Using Computer Vision
- Marais, Marc, Bradshaw, Karen
- Authors: Marais, Marc , Bradshaw, Karen
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464129 , vital:76479 , xlink:href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-04881-4_28"
- Description: Analysis of golf swing events is a valuable tool to aid all golfers in im-proving their swing. Image processing and machine learning enable an automated system to perform golf swing sequencing using images. The majority of swing sequencing systems implemented involve using ex-pensive camera equipment or a motion capture suit. An image-based swing classification system is proposed and evaluated on the GolfDB dataset. The system implements an automated golfer detector com-bined with traditional machine learning algorithms and a CNN to classify swing events. The best performing classifier, the LinearSVM, achieved a recall score of 88.3% on the entire GolfDB dataset when combined with the golfer detector. However, without golfer detection, the pruned VGGNet achieved a recall score of 87.9%, significantly better (>10.7%) than the traditional machine learning models. The results are promising as the proposed system outperformed a Bi-LSTM deep learning ap-proach to achieve swing sequencing, which achieved a recall score of 76.1% on the same GolfDB dataset. Overall, the results were promising and worked towards a system that can assist all golfers in swing se-quencing without expensive equipment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Marais, Marc , Bradshaw, Karen
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464129 , vital:76479 , xlink:href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-04881-4_28"
- Description: Analysis of golf swing events is a valuable tool to aid all golfers in im-proving their swing. Image processing and machine learning enable an automated system to perform golf swing sequencing using images. The majority of swing sequencing systems implemented involve using ex-pensive camera equipment or a motion capture suit. An image-based swing classification system is proposed and evaluated on the GolfDB dataset. The system implements an automated golfer detector com-bined with traditional machine learning algorithms and a CNN to classify swing events. The best performing classifier, the LinearSVM, achieved a recall score of 88.3% on the entire GolfDB dataset when combined with the golfer detector. However, without golfer detection, the pruned VGGNet achieved a recall score of 87.9%, significantly better (>10.7%) than the traditional machine learning models. The results are promising as the proposed system outperformed a Bi-LSTM deep learning ap-proach to achieve swing sequencing, which achieved a recall score of 76.1% on the same GolfDB dataset. Overall, the results were promising and worked towards a system that can assist all golfers in swing se-quencing without expensive equipment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Hand painted portrait of Dr. Brigalia Bam, with a blue and yellow background
- Date: 2022 , 2022-09-23
- Subjects: Bam, Brigalia , Bam, Brigalia -- Portraits
- Language: English
- Type: Portraits , realia
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/56575 , vital:56865
- Description: Hand painted portrait of Dr. Brigalia Bam, with a blue and yellow background. , Donated/gifted to Nelson Mandela University Archives , Forms part of: Brigalia Bam collection
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022
- Date: 2022 , 2022-09-23
- Subjects: Bam, Brigalia , Bam, Brigalia -- Portraits
- Language: English
- Type: Portraits , realia
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/56575 , vital:56865
- Description: Hand painted portrait of Dr. Brigalia Bam, with a blue and yellow background. , Donated/gifted to Nelson Mandela University Archives , Forms part of: Brigalia Bam collection
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022
Hand-lettered praise citation with blue and yellow painted background
- Date: 2022 , 2022-10-11
- Subjects: Bam, Brigalia
- Language: English
- Type: painting , realia
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57115 , vital:57323
- Description: Hand-lettered praise citation with blue and yellow painted background, in a wooden frame and cream mount board. This was a gift to Dr. Brigalia Bam from the Christiam Women's Movement. , Dr. Brigalia Bam was honored as heroic daughter of Africa, with deep respect and sisterly appreciation of her outstanding achievement for God, for Women and for Africa. Dr. Brigalia Bam was also honored for her enthusiastic and dynamic contribution to society, youth, human rights, Christian Unity, justice and reconciliation. , Donated/gifted to Nelson Mandela University Archives , Forms part of: Brigalia Bam collection
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022
- Date: 2022 , 2022-10-11
- Subjects: Bam, Brigalia
- Language: English
- Type: painting , realia
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57115 , vital:57323
- Description: Hand-lettered praise citation with blue and yellow painted background, in a wooden frame and cream mount board. This was a gift to Dr. Brigalia Bam from the Christiam Women's Movement. , Dr. Brigalia Bam was honored as heroic daughter of Africa, with deep respect and sisterly appreciation of her outstanding achievement for God, for Women and for Africa. Dr. Brigalia Bam was also honored for her enthusiastic and dynamic contribution to society, youth, human rights, Christian Unity, justice and reconciliation. , Donated/gifted to Nelson Mandela University Archives , Forms part of: Brigalia Bam collection
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022
Household dietary patterns and food security challenges in Peri-Urban South Africa: A reflection of high unemployment in the wake of rising food prices
- Authors: Chakona, Gamuchirai
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/433943 , vital:73013 , ISBN 978-3-030-93072-1 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93072-1_11
- Description: Urbanization is one of the major social changes sweeping the globe, with rapid growth of the urban population and stagnating growth of the rural population, especially in developing regions (UN-Habitat, 2020). In subSaharan Africa, rapid urbanization and poverty are the major fundamental development challenges that are perpetuating and deepening the crisis of food and nutrition insecurity in urban areas (Battersby, 2012). Many people living in urban areas face under-nutrition, mainly due to their lack of income rather than to a lack of capacity to produce food (Satterthwaite et al., 2010). The health and nutritional status of urban populations with very low incomes are at risk from rising prices in staple foods. This became evident with the rising hunger among urban populations after the food price rises in 2007 and the first half of 2008 (Cohen and Garrett, 2009). In South Africa, poverty, unemployment and high food prices are dominant and influence dietary change, which subsequently increases urban food insecurity and malnutrition (Battersby, 2012).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Chakona, Gamuchirai
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/433943 , vital:73013 , ISBN 978-3-030-93072-1 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93072-1_11
- Description: Urbanization is one of the major social changes sweeping the globe, with rapid growth of the urban population and stagnating growth of the rural population, especially in developing regions (UN-Habitat, 2020). In subSaharan Africa, rapid urbanization and poverty are the major fundamental development challenges that are perpetuating and deepening the crisis of food and nutrition insecurity in urban areas (Battersby, 2012). Many people living in urban areas face under-nutrition, mainly due to their lack of income rather than to a lack of capacity to produce food (Satterthwaite et al., 2010). The health and nutritional status of urban populations with very low incomes are at risk from rising prices in staple foods. This became evident with the rising hunger among urban populations after the food price rises in 2007 and the first half of 2008 (Cohen and Garrett, 2009). In South Africa, poverty, unemployment and high food prices are dominant and influence dietary change, which subsequently increases urban food insecurity and malnutrition (Battersby, 2012).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
How many people globally actually use non-timber forest products?
- Shackleton, Charlie M, de Vos, Alta
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , de Vos, Alta
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403200 , vital:69933 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102659"
- Description: Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are widely used wild, biological products harvested from rural and urban landscapes for household subsistence, income and culture, thereby contributing to human wellbeing. Estimates of the numbers of people making use of, or being dependent on, NTFPs vary widely, and global estimates to date have excluded urban populations and also NTFP users in the Global North. Additionally, most global or continental estimates are two or more decades old, and hence do not account for significant worldwide changes in societies, cultures, economies and landscapes since the estimates were made. Here we collate more recent empirical studies reporting the number of NTFP users at fine scales that we extrapolate up for three broad regions, viz. rural areas of the Global South, urban areas of the Global South, and the Global North, as the basis for estimating the number of NTFP users globally. We calculate the lower and upper bounds, as well a median estimate. We find the lowest and median approximations to be 3.5 billion and 5.76 billion users globally, respectively, based on conservative approaches. This is more than double and triple, respectively, the oft cited and dated figure of 1.6 billion. Moreover, we find that only half of the global NTFP users are located in rural regions of the Global South, and that the other half are in urban areas and the Global North, showing that NTFPs are of importance across socio-economic and geographic regions, not just in remote and underdeveloped villages of the Global South. With such large numbers of users around the world, it is imperative that the supply, management, conservation and safeguarding of the values of NTFPs take a more central place in sectoral and development policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , de Vos, Alta
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403200 , vital:69933 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102659"
- Description: Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are widely used wild, biological products harvested from rural and urban landscapes for household subsistence, income and culture, thereby contributing to human wellbeing. Estimates of the numbers of people making use of, or being dependent on, NTFPs vary widely, and global estimates to date have excluded urban populations and also NTFP users in the Global North. Additionally, most global or continental estimates are two or more decades old, and hence do not account for significant worldwide changes in societies, cultures, economies and landscapes since the estimates were made. Here we collate more recent empirical studies reporting the number of NTFP users at fine scales that we extrapolate up for three broad regions, viz. rural areas of the Global South, urban areas of the Global South, and the Global North, as the basis for estimating the number of NTFP users globally. We calculate the lower and upper bounds, as well a median estimate. We find the lowest and median approximations to be 3.5 billion and 5.76 billion users globally, respectively, based on conservative approaches. This is more than double and triple, respectively, the oft cited and dated figure of 1.6 billion. Moreover, we find that only half of the global NTFP users are located in rural regions of the Global South, and that the other half are in urban areas and the Global North, showing that NTFPs are of importance across socio-economic and geographic regions, not just in remote and underdeveloped villages of the Global South. With such large numbers of users around the world, it is imperative that the supply, management, conservation and safeguarding of the values of NTFPs take a more central place in sectoral and development policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
How the Teaching Development Grant was used (and the problem of common-sense understandings of teaching and learning)
- Moyo, Temwa, McKenna, Sioux, Ndebele, Clever
- Authors: Moyo, Temwa , McKenna, Sioux , Ndebele, Clever
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426917 , vital:72400 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2520-9868/i86a07"
- Description: Teachers at primary and secondary education levels are required to hold a professional qualification but, at the higher education level, all that is required is content expertise. This may well contribute to South Africa's low university throughput and retention rates, in response to which, since 2004, the state has provided ZAR5.5 billion in the form of the Teaching Development Grant (now the University Capacity Development Grant) to address poor completion rates. We present an analysis of the use of the grant across the sector using a social realist framework. Every academic and student has themselves been taught and so have developed untheorised assumptions about curriculum and pedagogy. Such common-sense assumptions about teaching and learning often serve to reinforce the status quo, which is particularly problematic in a sector with poor and racially differentiated throughput and success rates. Many initiatives funded through the grant evidenced a reliance on common-sense assumptions rather than on theorised accounts. In particular, student development often took the form of remedial, add-on initiatives that left the mainstream curriculum untouched-and staff development was often generic and short term. We also found that expertise in academic development, which could potentially challenge common-sense assumptions, was unevenly distributed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Moyo, Temwa , McKenna, Sioux , Ndebele, Clever
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426917 , vital:72400 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2520-9868/i86a07"
- Description: Teachers at primary and secondary education levels are required to hold a professional qualification but, at the higher education level, all that is required is content expertise. This may well contribute to South Africa's low university throughput and retention rates, in response to which, since 2004, the state has provided ZAR5.5 billion in the form of the Teaching Development Grant (now the University Capacity Development Grant) to address poor completion rates. We present an analysis of the use of the grant across the sector using a social realist framework. Every academic and student has themselves been taught and so have developed untheorised assumptions about curriculum and pedagogy. Such common-sense assumptions about teaching and learning often serve to reinforce the status quo, which is particularly problematic in a sector with poor and racially differentiated throughput and success rates. Many initiatives funded through the grant evidenced a reliance on common-sense assumptions rather than on theorised accounts. In particular, student development often took the form of remedial, add-on initiatives that left the mainstream curriculum untouched-and staff development was often generic and short term. We also found that expertise in academic development, which could potentially challenge common-sense assumptions, was unevenly distributed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Hybrid approaches to teaching: Re-imagining the teaching of a foundational science course during a global pandemic
- Parker, Daniel M, Vorster, Jo-Anne E, Quinn, Lynn, Blackie, Margaret A L
- Authors: Parker, Daniel M , Vorster, Jo-Anne E , Quinn, Lynn , Blackie, Margaret A L
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426662 , vital:72377 , xlink:href="https://www.ajol.info/index.php/cristal/article/view/240803"
- Description: Access to scientific knowledge, and teaching in the sciences, is believed to be about training because scientific knowledge is, generally, specialised. However, for students to gain full epistemological access in the sciences, they also need to be inducted as scientists and learners of science. We use Bernstein’s regulative and instructional discourse to engage with the notion of epistemological access and effectiveness of a foundational science course. We examine how the course can cultivate scientific identities amongst first year students at a recently established South African university. Our analysis assesses the impact of the forced shift from contact teaching to Emergency Remote Teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We demonstrate that the course was able to begin to facilitate the cultivation of different kinds of knowers in science. However, several gaps remain. Thus, we argue that foundational science lecturers should focus on hybrid teaching approaches to promote enhanced learning amongst students.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Parker, Daniel M , Vorster, Jo-Anne E , Quinn, Lynn , Blackie, Margaret A L
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426662 , vital:72377 , xlink:href="https://www.ajol.info/index.php/cristal/article/view/240803"
- Description: Access to scientific knowledge, and teaching in the sciences, is believed to be about training because scientific knowledge is, generally, specialised. However, for students to gain full epistemological access in the sciences, they also need to be inducted as scientists and learners of science. We use Bernstein’s regulative and instructional discourse to engage with the notion of epistemological access and effectiveness of a foundational science course. We examine how the course can cultivate scientific identities amongst first year students at a recently established South African university. Our analysis assesses the impact of the forced shift from contact teaching to Emergency Remote Teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We demonstrate that the course was able to begin to facilitate the cultivation of different kinds of knowers in science. However, several gaps remain. Thus, we argue that foundational science lecturers should focus on hybrid teaching approaches to promote enhanced learning amongst students.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
IFRS and FPI nexus: does the quality of the institutional framework matter for African countries?
- Simbi, Chipo, Arendse, Jacqueline A, Khumalo, Sibanisezwe A
- Authors: Simbi, Chipo , Arendse, Jacqueline A , Khumalo, Sibanisezwe A
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426448 , vital:72354 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-10-2021-0319"
- Description: The institutional framework of an African country may influence the effectiveness of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on foreign investment inflows. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the quality of a country's institutional framework impacts the effectiveness of IFRS to an adopting country and ultimately influences the levels of Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Simbi, Chipo , Arendse, Jacqueline A , Khumalo, Sibanisezwe A
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426448 , vital:72354 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-10-2021-0319"
- Description: The institutional framework of an African country may influence the effectiveness of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on foreign investment inflows. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the quality of a country's institutional framework impacts the effectiveness of IFRS to an adopting country and ultimately influences the levels of Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Impedimetric aptasensor for HER2 biomarker using graphene quantum dots, polypyrrole and cobalt phthalocyanine modified electrodes
- Centane, Sixolile, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Centane, Sixolile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/230960 , vital:49836 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbsr.2021.100467"
- Description: A method is presented for the electrochemical detection of the breast cancer biomarker human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). A glassy carbon electrode was modified using two techniques known as sequential adsorption and electro-polymerization, and the results are compared. The highly conductive polypyrrole (PPy) is used, in the presence of sulfur/nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (SNGQDs) and a known cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc). The different nanomaterials were used as an immobilization platform for the HER2 specific HB5 aptamer via amide linkage. The nanomaterials were arranged in various ways on the glassy carbon electrode, to investigate the effect of the electrode interface on the operational characteristics of a biosensor. The immobilized aptamer selectively recognizes HER2 on the electrode interface, and this leads to an increased charge transfer resistance (Rct) of the electrode when using ferricyanide as the electrochemical probe. The developed immunosensors showed high sensitivity with the best detection limit of 0.00141 ng/mL. The results showed that the method is simple and sensitive enough for the determination of HER2 in serum samples with good reproducibility and accuracy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Centane, Sixolile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/230960 , vital:49836 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbsr.2021.100467"
- Description: A method is presented for the electrochemical detection of the breast cancer biomarker human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). A glassy carbon electrode was modified using two techniques known as sequential adsorption and electro-polymerization, and the results are compared. The highly conductive polypyrrole (PPy) is used, in the presence of sulfur/nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (SNGQDs) and a known cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc). The different nanomaterials were used as an immobilization platform for the HER2 specific HB5 aptamer via amide linkage. The nanomaterials were arranged in various ways on the glassy carbon electrode, to investigate the effect of the electrode interface on the operational characteristics of a biosensor. The immobilized aptamer selectively recognizes HER2 on the electrode interface, and this leads to an increased charge transfer resistance (Rct) of the electrode when using ferricyanide as the electrochemical probe. The developed immunosensors showed high sensitivity with the best detection limit of 0.00141 ng/mL. The results showed that the method is simple and sensitive enough for the determination of HER2 in serum samples with good reproducibility and accuracy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Improving licence plate detection using generative adversarial networks
- Authors: Boby, Alden , Brown, Dane L
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464145 , vital:76480 , xlink:href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-04881-4_47"
- Description: The information on a licence plate is used for traffic law enforcement, access control, surveillance and parking lot management. Existing li-cence plate recognition systems work with clear images taken under controlled conditions. In real-world licence plate recognition scenarios, images are not as straightforward as the ‘toy’ datasets used to bench-mark existing systems. Real-world data is often noisy as it may contain occlusion and poor lighting, obscuring the information on a licence plate. Cleaning input data before using it for licence plate recognition is a complex problem, and existing literature addressing the issue is still limited. This paper uses two deep learning techniques to improve li-cence plate visibility towards more accurate licence plate recognition. A one-stage object detector popularly known as YOLO is implemented for locating licence plates under challenging situations. Super-resolution generative adversarial networks are considered for image upscaling and reconstruction to improve the clarity of low-quality input. The main focus involves training these systems on datasets that include difficult to detect licence plates, enabling better performance in unfavourable conditions and environments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Boby, Alden , Brown, Dane L
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464145 , vital:76480 , xlink:href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-04881-4_47"
- Description: The information on a licence plate is used for traffic law enforcement, access control, surveillance and parking lot management. Existing li-cence plate recognition systems work with clear images taken under controlled conditions. In real-world licence plate recognition scenarios, images are not as straightforward as the ‘toy’ datasets used to bench-mark existing systems. Real-world data is often noisy as it may contain occlusion and poor lighting, obscuring the information on a licence plate. Cleaning input data before using it for licence plate recognition is a complex problem, and existing literature addressing the issue is still limited. This paper uses two deep learning techniques to improve li-cence plate visibility towards more accurate licence plate recognition. A one-stage object detector popularly known as YOLO is implemented for locating licence plates under challenging situations. Super-resolution generative adversarial networks are considered for image upscaling and reconstruction to improve the clarity of low-quality input. The main focus involves training these systems on datasets that include difficult to detect licence plates, enabling better performance in unfavourable conditions and environments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Improving signer-independence using pose estimation and transfer learning for sign language recognition
- Marais, Marc, Brown, Dane L, Connan, James, Boby, Alden
- Authors: Marais, Marc , Brown, Dane L , Connan, James , Boby, Alden
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463406 , vital:76406 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35644-5"
- Description: Automated Sign Language Recognition (SLR) aims to bridge the com-munication gap between the hearing and the hearing disabled. Com-puter vision and deep learning lie at the forefront in working toward these systems. Most SLR research focuses on signer-dependent SLR and fails to account for variations in varying signers who gesticulate naturally. This paper investigates signer-independent SLR on the LSA64 dataset, focusing on different feature extraction approaches. Two approaches are proposed an InceptionV3-GRU architecture, which uses raw images as input, and a pose estimation LSTM architecture. MediaPipe Holistic is implemented to extract pose estimation landmark coordinates. A final third model applies augmentation and transfer learning using the pose estimation LSTM model. The research found that the pose estimation LSTM approach achieved the best perfor-mance with an accuracy of 80.22%. MediaPipe Holistic struggled with the augmentations introduced in the final experiment. Thus, looking into introducing more subtle augmentations may improve the model. Over-all, the system shows significant promise toward addressing the real-world signer-independence issue in SLR.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Marais, Marc , Brown, Dane L , Connan, James , Boby, Alden
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463406 , vital:76406 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35644-5"
- Description: Automated Sign Language Recognition (SLR) aims to bridge the com-munication gap between the hearing and the hearing disabled. Com-puter vision and deep learning lie at the forefront in working toward these systems. Most SLR research focuses on signer-dependent SLR and fails to account for variations in varying signers who gesticulate naturally. This paper investigates signer-independent SLR on the LSA64 dataset, focusing on different feature extraction approaches. Two approaches are proposed an InceptionV3-GRU architecture, which uses raw images as input, and a pose estimation LSTM architecture. MediaPipe Holistic is implemented to extract pose estimation landmark coordinates. A final third model applies augmentation and transfer learning using the pose estimation LSTM model. The research found that the pose estimation LSTM approach achieved the best perfor-mance with an accuracy of 80.22%. MediaPipe Holistic struggled with the augmentations introduced in the final experiment. Thus, looking into introducing more subtle augmentations may improve the model. Over-all, the system shows significant promise toward addressing the real-world signer-independence issue in SLR.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Improving the mental health of women intimate partner violence survivors: Findings from a realist review of psychosocial interventions
- Paphitis, Sharli A, Bentley, Abigail, Asher, Laura, Osrin, David, Oram, Sian
- Authors: Paphitis, Sharli A , Bentley, Abigail , Asher, Laura , Osrin, David , Oram, Sian
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426453 , vital:72355 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264845"
- Description: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent and is associated with a range of mental health problems. A broad range of psychosocial interventions have been developed to support the recovery of women survivors of IPV, but their mechanisms of action remain unclear.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Paphitis, Sharli A , Bentley, Abigail , Asher, Laura , Osrin, David , Oram, Sian
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426453 , vital:72355 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264845"
- Description: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent and is associated with a range of mental health problems. A broad range of psychosocial interventions have been developed to support the recovery of women survivors of IPV, but their mechanisms of action remain unclear.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
In Silico analysis of Spermidine, Spermine and Putrescine interaction with selected heat shock proteins from Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 towards malaria drug development
- Authors: Godlo, Sesethu
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: Heat shock proteins , Malaria vaccine , Plasmodium falciparum
- Language: English
- Type: Master'stheses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27709 , vital:69395
- Description: Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that affects around half of the world's population. It is one of the most common parasite infections that endangers human life. One of the most serious issues in malaria therapy is the emergence and spread of antimalarial drug-resistant Plasmodium parasites. This is due to the Plasmodium parasite's constant evolution and development of new methods of surviving medication toxicity. Studies of antimalarial drug development have been focused on polyamine biosynthesis by targeting precursors such as ornithine decarboxylase, adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, and spermidine synthase and protein-protein interactions between Plasmodium falciparum chaperones spotting out Hsp90, Hsp70, and Hsp40 as potential targets with little attention being paid to the interaction between polyamines and molecular chaperones. Therefore, this study seeks to identify interactions between polyamines and molecular chaperones present in the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. The identification of these interactions might lead to the design of effective drugs to treat and eliminate malaria. Using computational analysis, this study aims to find interactions between polyamines and molecular chaperones found in the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. The sequences of the selected heat proteins retrieved, and the 3D structures predicted and validated. These structures were docked with polyamines retrieved from PubChem and MD simulations on the docked interactions were performed. Docking revealed common amino acid residues with hydrogen bonds and salt bridges between all receptors and ligands, with glutamine and aspartic acid standing out. MD simulations revealed that when HSP20 and HSP40 transport the ligands, they pop up or are released too quickly. However, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 provide optimism since the ligands remain attached to the proteins for a specific amount of time. To further understand and confirm these interactions wet laboratory studies may be carried out in future. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Godlo, Sesethu
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: Heat shock proteins , Malaria vaccine , Plasmodium falciparum
- Language: English
- Type: Master'stheses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27709 , vital:69395
- Description: Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that affects around half of the world's population. It is one of the most common parasite infections that endangers human life. One of the most serious issues in malaria therapy is the emergence and spread of antimalarial drug-resistant Plasmodium parasites. This is due to the Plasmodium parasite's constant evolution and development of new methods of surviving medication toxicity. Studies of antimalarial drug development have been focused on polyamine biosynthesis by targeting precursors such as ornithine decarboxylase, adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, and spermidine synthase and protein-protein interactions between Plasmodium falciparum chaperones spotting out Hsp90, Hsp70, and Hsp40 as potential targets with little attention being paid to the interaction between polyamines and molecular chaperones. Therefore, this study seeks to identify interactions between polyamines and molecular chaperones present in the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. The identification of these interactions might lead to the design of effective drugs to treat and eliminate malaria. Using computational analysis, this study aims to find interactions between polyamines and molecular chaperones found in the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. The sequences of the selected heat proteins retrieved, and the 3D structures predicted and validated. These structures were docked with polyamines retrieved from PubChem and MD simulations on the docked interactions were performed. Docking revealed common amino acid residues with hydrogen bonds and salt bridges between all receptors and ligands, with glutamine and aspartic acid standing out. MD simulations revealed that when HSP20 and HSP40 transport the ligands, they pop up or are released too quickly. However, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 provide optimism since the ligands remain attached to the proteins for a specific amount of time. To further understand and confirm these interactions wet laboratory studies may be carried out in future. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
In vitro photoinactivation of S. aureus and photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline by novel phthalocyanine-graphene quantum dots nano-assemblies
- Openda, Yolande Ikala, Mgidlana, Sithi, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Openda, Yolande Ikala , Mgidlana, Sithi , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/229895 , vital:49721 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2022.118863"
- Description: A novel asymmetrical zinc (II) phthalocyanine (Pc) 4 bearing three dimethoxy groups and one carboxyl group was linked to glutathione capped graphene quantum dots (GQDs) by the reaction of carboxylic acid substituent on Pc 4 with the amino group on the GQDs. On the other side, the symmetrical Pc analog 3 was linked to the same nanoparticles through π-π interactions. The as-formed nano-photosensitizers were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and their photophysicochemical properties were investigated as well. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy was performed on the planktonic cells of S. aureus strain. And the results show that these nano assemblies were able to completely inhibit the metabolic activity of the resistant bacteria strain S. aureus with a 10.26 log reduction in the viable count. Again, asymmetrical Pc showed higher photocatalytic activity compared to the symmetrical complex with higher kobs and fast initial rates for the former. The photocatalysis obeyed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model. The target conjugates showed all the advantages of two different groups existing on a single entity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Openda, Yolande Ikala , Mgidlana, Sithi , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/229895 , vital:49721 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2022.118863"
- Description: A novel asymmetrical zinc (II) phthalocyanine (Pc) 4 bearing three dimethoxy groups and one carboxyl group was linked to glutathione capped graphene quantum dots (GQDs) by the reaction of carboxylic acid substituent on Pc 4 with the amino group on the GQDs. On the other side, the symmetrical Pc analog 3 was linked to the same nanoparticles through π-π interactions. The as-formed nano-photosensitizers were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and their photophysicochemical properties were investigated as well. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy was performed on the planktonic cells of S. aureus strain. And the results show that these nano assemblies were able to completely inhibit the metabolic activity of the resistant bacteria strain S. aureus with a 10.26 log reduction in the viable count. Again, asymmetrical Pc showed higher photocatalytic activity compared to the symmetrical complex with higher kobs and fast initial rates for the former. The photocatalysis obeyed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model. The target conjugates showed all the advantages of two different groups existing on a single entity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Indifference and Epistemic Injustice: Phenomenological Reflections
- Roos,R
- Authors: Roos,R
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: Epistemic logic , Virtue epistemology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27150 , vital:66324
- Description: The proposed research seeks to address salient questions concerning the relation of indifference and epistemic injustice. This involves questions dealing with the necessary and sufficient conditions for indifference; how it arises through our conditions of lived experience and how it extends to the production, maintenance and engagement with knowledge. In short, to what extent does indifference play a role in epistemic injustice? Conversely, to what extent does epistemic injustice relate to indifference? The proposed research will explore major concepts of the relation between indifference and epistemic injustice. The research will settle on a phenomenological approach. Its claim is that major contemporary concepts of indifference and injustice can be critically informed by a phenomenological analysis of these concepts. Thus, it will attempt to analyse the relation of indifference and injustice from within the context of our lived conditions of experience. Ultimately, this research will try to locate the similarities between the experience of indifference and the act of epistemic injustice. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
- Authors: Roos,R
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: Epistemic logic , Virtue epistemology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27150 , vital:66324
- Description: The proposed research seeks to address salient questions concerning the relation of indifference and epistemic injustice. This involves questions dealing with the necessary and sufficient conditions for indifference; how it arises through our conditions of lived experience and how it extends to the production, maintenance and engagement with knowledge. In short, to what extent does indifference play a role in epistemic injustice? Conversely, to what extent does epistemic injustice relate to indifference? The proposed research will explore major concepts of the relation between indifference and epistemic injustice. The research will settle on a phenomenological approach. Its claim is that major contemporary concepts of indifference and injustice can be critically informed by a phenomenological analysis of these concepts. Thus, it will attempt to analyse the relation of indifference and injustice from within the context of our lived conditions of experience. Ultimately, this research will try to locate the similarities between the experience of indifference and the act of epistemic injustice. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022