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Ameliorating poverty in South Africa through natural resource commercialisation : how can NGO's make a difference?

- Shackleton, Sheona E

Authors: Shackleton, Sheona E
Date: 2009
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6615 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016222
Description: [From Introduction] Some of the poorest rural people in South Africa are turning to the natural resource base for income generation. Using traditional skills they are converting a variety of wild resources into commodities that are sold in the market place. Wood and woven craft, medicines, fresh and processed wild foods, alcoholic beverages, building materials, fuelwood, dried mopane worms, cultural artefacts and brooms are just some examples of the array of natural resource products increasingly seen for sale in local and external markets. Many of the participants in this trade have minimal education, few assets to draw on, and little access to alternative sources of income or jobs. A significant proportion are women, with more than half heading their own households. Many come from households devastated by HIV/AIDS. The cash earned from selling natural resource products, however modest, is of critical importance to the households involved, preventing them from slipping deeper into poverty. “Since I have been making brooms my children no longer go to bed crying of hunger” observed one broom producer. NGOs, particularly those involved in rural development, can play an important role in assisting producers overcome some of the obstacles they face and in enhancing the opportunities to grow this informal sector. , This policy brief is based on the original brief made available for a workshop in August 2006. It draws on, amongst other sources, the results of several case studies of natural resource commercialisation undertaken across South Africa. The project was funded by the South Africa-Netherlands Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD), BP South Africa and the National Research Foundation (NRF). The Center for International Forestry Research, with support from SIDA, provided the funding to share these findings with key stakeholders including government policy and decision makers.
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Date Issued: 2009

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An analysis of automatically scaled F1 layer data over Grahamstown, South Africa

- Jacobs, Linda, Poole, Allon W V, McKinnell, Lee-Anne

Authors: Jacobs, Linda , Poole, Allon W V , McKinnell, Lee-Anne
Date: 2004
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:6808 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004194
Description: This paper describes an analysis of automatically scaled F1 layer data over Grahamstown, South Africa (33.3°S, 26.5°E). An application for real time raytracing through the South African ionosphere was identified, and for this application real time evaluation of the electron density profile is essential. Raw real time virtual height data are provided by a Lowell Digisonde (DPS), which employs the automatic scaling software, ARTIST whose output includes the virtual-to-real height data conversion. Experience has shown that there are times when the raytracing performance is degraded because of difficulties surrounding the real time characterisation of the F1 region by ARTIST. The purpose of this investigation is to establish the extent of the problem, the times and conditions under which it occurs, with a view to formulating remedial alternative strategies, such as predictive modelling.
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Date Issued: 2004

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An empirical formula for estimating the water use of Scaevola plumieri

- Peter, Craig I, Ripley, Bradley S

Authors: Peter, Craig I , Ripley, Bradley S
Date: 2000
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6530 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005971
Description: Transpirational water loss of Scaevola plumieri (L) Vahl. (= Scaevola thunbergii Eckl. & Zeyh.) (Goodeniaceae), a dune pioneer plant along the eastern and southern coasts of South Africa, was measured over a wide range of atmospheric conditions and related to the atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD). A plot of leaf transpiration rate (E) against VPD yielded a curvilinear relationship (r[sup 2] = 0.88, P = 0.000). As both leaf and canopy E were found to be closely coupled to atmospheric conditions, this correlation was used to calculate canopy E for entire days. The bulk volumes of water transpired per day were related to the mean daily temperature as recorded at a nearby weather station and were strongly related (r2 = 0.71, P = 0.0037). This correlation allowed the bulk volume of water transpired by one square metre of a S. plumieri-covered dune to be calculated on a daily basis for an entire year. Transpirational losses (566 litres) in 1997 were then compared with rainfall (539 litres), indicating that rainfall was perhaps insufficient to support the plants that year. Similar deficits were calculated for 1996, suggesting that plants were possibly reliant on water stored in the sand or taped ground water. This species showed an unusual positive response of increasing leaf conductance to increasing VPD over the range 0-3 kPa.
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Date Issued: 2000

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An estimation of the standing stock and population structure of Upogebia africana (Crustacea: Thalassinidae) in the Knysna Estuary

- Hodgson, Alan N, Allanson, Brian R, Cretchley, Robyn

Authors: Hodgson, Alan N , Allanson, Brian R , Cretchley, Robyn
Date: 2000
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6923 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011907
Description: Within the Knysna Estuary Upogebia africana has an extensive distribution from north of Leisure Isle to the Red Bridge, occupying 62% of the available intertidal zone. Six sites were surveyed within the above distributional range. U. africana was found from the high-water level (Spartina zone) to the shallow subtidal zone (to about 1.5 m depth). The density, biomass and population structure of the mud prawns were found to be highly variable within the estuary. Only small animals (carapace length –× = 10.9 mm) were found in the upper estuary at the Red Bridge. Although large animals were present, the Invertebrate Reserve had a low density and biomass of U. africana (– × = 11.7 m–2; 3.9 g.m–2 dry weight). By contrast a relatively inaccessible centre mud bank (Oyster Bank) in the middle reaches of the estuary had much larger populations (–× = 176.5 m–2; 65.3 g.m–2 dry weight). This site is, therefore, a natural mud prawn reserve. Within the intertidal zone, mud prawn density (74–76 m–2) and biomass (26–27 g.m–2 dry weight) was usually greatest in the Spartina and lower Zostera zones. Sex ratios throughout the estuary did not deviate significantly from 1:1.
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Date Issued: 2000

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An evaluation of different methods of preparation of quartz grains for study of their surface features by scanning electron microscopy

- Lewis, Colin A, Armstrong, Glynis A S

Authors: Lewis, Colin A , Armstrong, Glynis A S
Date: 1994
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6705 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006741
Description: Sediments from periglacial and glacial environments were subjected to initial preparation and portions were subsequently further prepared using either the dichromate or the hydrogen peroxide method before being examined by scanning electron microscopy. Statistically significant differences did not occur in the results obtained for samples subjected only to initial or to initial and either of the two further preparations: it is concluded that initial preparation is satisfactory and further preparation unnecessary.
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Date Issued: 1994

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An exploration of marketing tactics for turbulent environments

- Mason, Roger B, Staude, Gavin E

Authors: Mason, Roger B , Staude, Gavin E
Date: 2009
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6062 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006120 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02635570910930082 , ISSN 0263-5577
Description: The purpose of this paper is to propose that the choice of marketing tactics is influenced by the company's external environment. It aims to illustrate the marketing tactics suggested for a complex, turbulent environment, when marketing and the environment are viewed through a complexity lens. Design/methodology/approach - A marketing mix model, derived from complexity literature, was assessed via a multiple case study to identify the type of marketing mix suggested for a complex, turbulent environment. The study was exploratory, using in-depth interviews with two companies in the IT industry. Findings - The results tentatively confirmed that the more successful company used a destabilizing marketing mix, and suggest that using complexity theory to develop marketing tactics could be helpful in turbulent environments. Research limitations/implications - The findings are limited by the study's exploratory, qualitative nature and the small sample. Generalizing should be done with care and therefore further research with larger samples and in different environments is recommended. Practical implications - The paper will benefit marketers by emphasizing a new way to consider future marketing activities of their companies. The model can assist marketers to identify the tactics to use, dependent on the nature of their environment. Originality/value - Most work on complexity in marketing has concentrated on strategy, with little emphasis on tactics and the marketing mix. Therefore, the paper is an important contribution to the understanding of marketing mix choices, of interest to both practising marketers and marketing academics.
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Date Issued: 2009

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An in-service development programme for potential information services staff in the Rhodes Library

- Shepherd, Eileen

Authors: Shepherd, Eileen
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6986 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011602
Description: This paper discusses the need for continuing professional development for librarians in academic libraries in general and at Rhodes University Library, South Africa in particular. It describes the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of a staff-development and training pilot programme for professional librarians at Rhodes Library. A group of 15 librarians, drawn from the library staff complement, participated in an 8-session training course developed by Information Services librarians. The course, which covered basic information-finding skills using a variety of research databases and offered an introduction to concepts in 21st century academic librarianship, was presented using course management software in a face-to-face environment and required homework exercises and the completion of a 2-hour final test. The results of the project demonstrated the urgent need for such development programmes for professional library staff. 80% of the participants completed the course. The final test results indicated below average database search skills and an inability to think laterally. An unexpected finding was a lack of IT competencies. Important lessons were learned with regard to course-construction, content and timing.
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Date Issued: 2010

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An indirect method to assess the energy expenditure of manual labourers in situ

- Scott, Patricia A, Christie, Candice J

Authors: Scott, Patricia A , Christie, Candice J
Date: 2004
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6742 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008390
Description: The aim of ergonomics is to identify any incompatibility between worker capabilities and the demands of their job. It is therefore desirable that in a developing country such as South Africa we have some basic, yet valid and usable means of measuring worker responses to physically demanding manual tasks. Extensive ergonomic research has been conducted in the controlled environment of laboratories around the globe, but only a limited number of investigations have been conducted in the workplace. This is due to the impossibility of controlling the extraneous factors such as the environment and changing workloads while assessing worker responses, plus the impracticality of using hi-tech equipment under difficult conditions on unsophisticated workers. The likelihood of obtaining ‘natural’ responses thereby is low. The focus of this study was to establish a less invasive means of assessing the physiological responses (specifically energy expenditure) of manual labourers working in the field. Twenty-three forestry stackers were assessed. Heart-rate responses were recorded during a full shift, after which the workers participated in a submaximal incremental step test. Subjects were fitted with a gas analyser, and heart rate and oxygen consumption responses were measured throughout the 12-min test. These data were used to establish a regression equation based on the relationship between heart rate and oxygen consumption (r² = 0.49; r = 0.69). Using this equation (y=0.26x – 6.42), one can measure heart rate in the field and predict the energy cost of manual tasks.
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Date Issued: 2004

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An interdisciplinary cruise dedicated to understanding ocean eddies upstream of the Prince Edward Islands

- Ansorge, Isabelle J, Froneman, P William, Lutjeharms, Johan R E, Bernard, Kim S, Lange, Louise, Lukáč, D, Backburg, B, Blake, Justin, Bland, S, Burls, N, Davies-Coleman, Michael T, Gerber, R, Gildenhuys, S, Hayes-Foley, P, Ludford, A, Manzoni, T, Robertson, E, Southey, D, Swart, S, Van Rensburg, D, Wynne, S

Authors: Ansorge, Isabelle J , Froneman, P William , Lutjeharms, Johan R E , Bernard, Kim S , Lange, Louise , Lukáč, D , Backburg, B , Blake, Justin , Bland, S , Burls, N , Davies-Coleman, Michael T , Gerber, R , Gildenhuys, S , Hayes-Foley, P , Ludford, A , Manzoni, T , Robertson, E , Southey, D , Swart, S , Van Rensburg, D , Wynne, S
Date: 2004
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6830 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007566
Description: A detailed hydrographic and biological survey was carried out in the region of the South-West Indian Ridge during April 2004. Altimetry and hydrographic data have identified this region as an area of high flow variability. Hydrographic data revealed that here the Subantarctic Polar Front (SAF) and Antarctic Polar Front (APF) converge to form a highly intense frontal system. Water masses identified during the survey showed a distinct separation in properties between the northwestern and southeastern corners. In the north-west, water masses were distinctly Subantarctic (>8.5°C, salinity >34.2), suggesting that the SAF lay extremely far to the south. In the southeast corner water masses were typical of the Antarctic zone, showing a distinct subsurface temperature minimum of <2.5°C. Total integrated chl-a concentration during the survey ranged from 4.15 to 22.81 mg chl-a m[superscript (-2)], with the highest concentrations recorded at stations occupied in the frontal region. These data suggest that the region of the South-West Indian Ridge represents not only an area of elevated biological activity but also acts as a strong biogeographic barrier to the spatial distribution of zooplankton.
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Date Issued: 2004

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An ion-imprinted polymer for the selective extraction of mercury(II) ions in aqueous media

- Batlokwa, Bareki Shima, Chimuka, Luke, Tshentu, Zenixole, Cukrowska, Ewa, Torto, Nelson

Authors: Batlokwa, Bareki Shima , Chimuka, Luke , Tshentu, Zenixole , Cukrowska, Ewa , Torto, Nelson
Date: 2012
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6566 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004125
Description: A double-imprinted polymer exhibiting high sensitivity for mercury(II) in aqueous solution is presented. Polymer particles imprinted with mercury(II) were synthesised by copolymerising the functional and cross-linking monomers, N’–[3– (Trimethoxysilyl)–propyl]diethylenetriamine (TPET) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS). A double-imprinting procedure employing hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), as a second template to improve the efficiency of the polymer, was adopted. The imprinted polymer was characterised by FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the average size determined by screen analysis using standard test sieves. Relative selective coefficients (k`) of the imprinted polymer evaluated from selective binding studies between Hg2+ and Cu2+ or Hg2+ and Cd2+ were 10 588 and 3 147, respectively. These values indicated highly-favoured Hg2+ extractions over the 2 competing ions. The results of spiked and real water samples showed high extraction efficiencies of Hg2+ ions, (over 84%) as evaluated from the detected unextracted Hg2+ ions by ICP-OES. The method exhibited a dynamic response concentration range for Hg2+ between 0.01 and 20 μg/mℓ, with a detection limit (LOD, 3σ) of 0.000036 μg/mℓ (36 ng/ℓ) that meets the monitoring requirements for the USA EPA of 2 000 ng/ℓ for Hg2+ in drinking water. Generally, the data (n=10) had percentage relative standard deviations (%RSD) of less than 4%. Satisfactory results were also obtained when the prepared sorbent was applied for the pre-concentration of Hg2+ from an aqueous certified reference material. These findings indicate that the double-imprinted polymer has potential to be used as an efficient extraction material for the selective pre–concentration of mercury(II) ions in aqueous environments.
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Date Issued: 2012

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An LC-MS-MS method for the determination of cyclizine in human serum

- Mohammadi, Ali, Kanfer, Isadore, Sewram, V, Walker, Roderick B

Authors: Mohammadi, Ali , Kanfer, Isadore , Sewram, V , Walker, Roderick B
Date: 2005
Language: English
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6408 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006481
Description: Cyclizine is a piperazine derivative with anti-emetic activity that is useful in the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method is presented for the quantitation of cyclizine in serum. Sample pretreatment involved liquid-liquid extraction of 200 μl of serum with dichloromethane after the addition of 100 μl each of ammonium hydroxide and internal standard solutions. The extracts were analyzed by HPLC on a Luna ® C18 reversed-phase column and an ion-trap mass spectrometer with an electrospray interface. A limit of detection of 1 ng/ml was determined which allowed for the reliable measurement of cyclizine in the serum of human subjects. The method was found to be linear over the calibration range of 2.5-100 ng/ml. The applicability of this method was demonstrated by the analysis of serum obtained from a human volunteer following administration of a single 50 mg cyclizine hydrochloride tablet. The reported method was observed to have the necessary sensitivity, selectivity, precision and accuracy for monitoring cyclizine concentrations in human subjects following oral administration.
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Date Issued: 2005

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Analysis of chromameter results obtained from corticosteroid-induced skin blanching assay: comparison of visual and chromameter data

- Schwarb, Fabian P, Smith, Eric W, Haigh, John M, Surber, Christian

Authors: Schwarb, Fabian P , Smith, Eric W , Haigh, John M , Surber, Christian
Date: 1999
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:6426 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006562
Description: In a Guidance document, the American FDA recommends the use of a Minolta chromameter rather than the human eye for the quantitative assessment of the pharmacodynamic blanching response produced by topical application of corticosteroids. The purpose of this study was to compare the appropriateness of the human eye and two models of chromameter for the estimation of skin blanching, in terms of the quality of the data generated by each method. The corticosteroid-induced skin blanching from four different betamethasone 17-valerate cream formulations was compared in a typical human skin blanching trial. The optimized assay methodology routinely practised in our laboratories was utilized. The blanching responses were assessed visually by three trained, independent observers and recorded by two chromameters (Minolta model CR-200 and model CR-300). The topical availability of the four creams was determined using visual scoring and chromameter measurements. All data were manipulated in such a manner as to produce a blanching response versus time profile from which AUBC analysis could be performed. Good correlation was observed between the visual assessments made by three independent observers. In contrast, moderate correlation was determined between visual, CR-200 and CR-300 measurements. Surprisingly, no direct linear relationship between the AUBCs produced by the two chromameters was observed indicating that the quality of the data obtained from the two instruments may not be equal. This investigation also indicated that the use of the chromameter is not completely objective. Visual scoring and chromameter measurement produce data sets that differ in quality. Each procedure needs to be validated and investigators have to be trained for both visual assessment and the operation of the chromameter, particularly with regard to the manipulation of the measuring head of the instrument.
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Date Issued: 1999

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Analysis of chromameter results obtained from corticosteroid-induced skin blanching. I. Manipulation of data

- Smith, Eric W, Haigh, John M, Walker, Roderick B

Authors: Smith, Eric W , Haigh, John M , Walker, Roderick B
Date: 1998
Language: English
Type: text , Article
Identifier: vital:6424 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006559
Description: Purpose. One of the unresolved issues in the FDA Guidance document for topical corticosteroid bioequivalence testing is the method of manipulation suggested for the chromameter data. The purpose of this study was to manipulate the instrumental data from a typical blanching study in a number of ways to investigate the appropriateness of these procedures for comparison with the subjective visually-assessed results. Methods. The human skin blanching assay methodology routinely practiced in our laboratories was utilised and the vasoconstriction produced by two corticosteroid formulations of different potency was assessed visually and instrumentally by use of a Minolta chromameter. The instrumental data were corrected for zero-time and unmedicated site readings. In addition, Euclidean distances were calculated using all data generated by the instrument. Results. Individually the a-, b- and L-scale chromameter values are imprecise and there is negligible vasoconstriction response recorded for the moderately potent formulation. Arithmetical manipulation of the data as suggested by the FDA does not appear to improve the quality of the data in any way. Euclidean distance analysis more closely resembles the visual data and appears to have better precision. Conclusions. It is clear that mathematical correction of chromameter data is unnecessary, especially since the instrumental data are extremely imprecise. Furthermore, the assessment of each individual chromameter index does not adequately characterise the blanching response profile. It is therefore suggested that Euclidean distance may be a better measure on which to base an analysis of bioequivalence than the truncated data set methodology currently suggested by the FDA.
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Date Issued: 1998

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