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Isolation of lessertiosides A and B and other metabolites from lessertia frutescens and their neuroprotection activity
No full textLessertia frutescens (synonym Sutherlandia frutescens) is an important South African medicinal plant used traditionally to treat different human pathologies and is considered an adaptogenic plant. This study sought to isolate compounds from the plant and determine their protective potentials using SH-SY5Y cells and MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium) to mimic Parkinson’s disease. The phytochemical analysis of a 70% aqueous methanolic extract of L. frutescens leaves resulted in the isolation and identification of 11 pure compounds (1–11), among which compounds 1 and 2 were identified as new metabolites. The new compounds were characterised using IR, UV, NMR, and HRESIMS and were given the trivial names lessertiosides A (1) and B (2). Additionally, the flavonoids 8-methoxyvestitol (7) and mucronulatol (8) were isolated for the first time from the plant. The biological actions show that the isolated compounds had negligible toxicity on SH-SY5Y cells and improved cell viability in the cells exposed to MPP+. Furthermore, as a mechanism of action, the compounds could sustain cellular ATP generation and prevent MPP+-induced apoptotic cell death. Our findings provide evidence for the neuroprotective properties of compounds isolated from L. frutescens in MPP+-induced neuronal damage for the first time and create an avenue for these compounds to be further investigated to elucidate their molecular targets
Elicitation of security threats and vulnerabilities in Insurance chatbots using STRIDE
No full textAlthough chatbots are used a lot for customer relationship management (CRM), there needs to be more data security and privacy control strategies in chatbots, which has become a security concern for financial services institutions. Chatbots gain access to large amounts of vital company information and clients’ personal information, which makes them a target of security attacks. The loss of data stored in chatbots can cause major harm to companies and customers. In this study, STRIDE (viz. Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information disclosure, Denial of service, Elevation of privilege) modelling was applied to identify the data security vulnerabilities and threats that pertain to chatbots used in the insurance industry. To do this, we conducted a case study of a South African insurance organisation. The adopted methodology involved data collection from stakeholders in the insurance organisation to identify chatbot use cases and understand chatbot operations. After that, we conducted a STRIDE-based analysis of the chatbot use cases to elicit security threats and vulnerabilities in the insurance chatbots in the organisation. The results reveal that security vulnerabilities associated with Spoofing, Denial of Service, and Elevation of privilege are more relevant to insurance chatbots. The most security threats stem from Tampering, Elevation of privilege, and Spoofing. The study extends the discussion on chatbot security. It fosters an understanding of security threats and vulnerabilities that pertain to insurance chatbots, which is beneficial for security researchers and practitioners working on the security of chatbots and the insurance industry
Optimizing sustainability offshore hybrid tidal-wind energy storage systems for an off-grid coastal city in South Africa
No full textSouth Africa’s extensive marine energy resources present a unique opportunity for advancing sustainable energy solutions. This study focuses on developing a sustainable hybrid power generation system that combines offshore wind and tidal current energy to provide a stable, renewable energy supply for off-grid coastal communities. By addressing the challenges of intermittency and unpredictability in renewable energy sources, the proposed system integrates wind and tidal energy with energy storage and diesel backup to ensure reliability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing the environmental footprint. The system is optimized for sustainability, with a configuration of one wind turbine, five tidal turbines, and a diesel generator demonstrated to be the most effective in increasing the renewable energy fraction and lowering the net present cost. Simulations conducted using HOMER Pro version 3.20 software underscore the potential of this hybrid system to support South Africa’s transition to a more sustainable energy future, aligning with national and global sustainability goals. The results emphasize the environmental benefits of combining these renewable energy sources, offering a blueprint for achieving energy security and sustainable development in coastal regions
Using UAV multispectral photography to discriminate plant species in a seep wetland of the Fynbos Biome
No full textWetlands harbour a wide range of vital ecosystems. Hence, mapping wetlands is essential to conserving the ecosystems that depend on them. However, the physical nature of wetlands makes fieldwork difficult and potentially erroneous. This study used multispectral UAV aerial photography to map ten wetland plant species in the Fynbos Biome in the Steenbras Nature Reserve. We developed a methodology that used K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF) machine learning algorithms to classify ten wetland plant species using the preselected bands and spectral indices. The study identified Normalized green red difference index (NGRDI), Red Green (RG) index, Green, Log Red Edge (LogRE), Normalized Difference Red-Edge (NDRE), Chlorophyll Index Red-Edge (CIRE), Green Ratio Vegetation Index (GRVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI) and Red as pertinent bands and indices for classifying wetland plant species in the Proteaceae, Iridaceae, Restionaceae, Ericaceae, Asteraceae and Cyperaceae families. The classification had an overall accuracy of 87.4% and kappa accuracy of 0.85. Thus, the findings are pertinent to understanding the spectral characteristics of these endemic species. The study demonstrates the potential for UAV-based remote sensing of these endemic species
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers used for COVID-19 prevention in the informal settlements of Cape Town, South Africa
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases continue to threaten public health, particularly in densely populated informal settlements. Effective hand hygiene, supported by alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS), plays a critical role in preventing disease transmission. This study assessed the quality, safety, and compliance of ABHS used in informal settlements around Cape Town. A total of 78 samples were collected from spaza shops, with 72 analyzed using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The results showed that 76% of ethanol-based sanitizers met compliance standards, while 24% did not. Isopropanol compliance (≥70%) was only observed in 36% of samples, with 64% failing to meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Overall, 74% of hand sanitizers complied with recommended alcohol concentrations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC, while 26% posed a health risk due to non-compliance. These findings emphasize the urgent need for stricter regulation and public education to ensure effective hand sanitizers are used, thereby reducing infection risks in vulnerable populations. The study aims to inform public health policies and improve regulatory standards
Utility of waist-to-height ratio, waist circumference and body mass index in predicting clustered cardiometabolic risk factors and subclinical vascular phenotypes in children and adolescents: A pooled analysis of individual data from 14 countries
No full textAims:
The clinical utility of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in predicting cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) and subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease remains controversial. We aimed to compare the utility of WHtR with waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) in identifying children and adolescents (youths) at risk for cardiometabolic outcomes, including clustered CMRFs, high carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and arterial stiffness (assessed as high pulse wave velocity, PWV).
Methods:
We analyzed data from 34,224 youths (51.0 % boys, aged 6–18 years) with CMRFs, 5004 (49.5 % boys, aged 6–18 years) with cIMT measurement, and 3100 (56.4 % boys, aged 6–17 years) with PWV measurement from 20 pediatric samples across 14 countries.
Results:
WHtR, WC, and BMI z-scores had similar performance in discriminating youths with ≥3 CMRFs, with the area under the curve (AUC) (95 % confidence interval, CI)) ranging from 0.77 (0.75–0.78) to 0.78 (0.76–0.80) using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) definition, and from 0.77 (0.74–0.79) to 0.77 (0.74–0.80) using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition. Similarly, all three measures showed similar performance in discriminating youths with subclinical vascular outcomes, with AUC (95 % CI) ranging from 0.67 (0.64–0.71) to 0.70 (0.66–0.73) for high cIMT (≥P95 values) and from 0.60 (0.58–0.66) to 0.62 (0.58–0.66) for high PWV (≥P95 values).
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that WHtR, WC, and BMI are equally effective in identifying at-risk youths across diverse pediatric populations worldwide. Given its simplicity and ease of use, WHtR could be a preferable option for quickly screening youths with increased cardiometabolic risk in clinical settings
Enhancing community engagement initiatives through moderate communitarianism
No full textCommunity engagement initiatives, which include ideas of social change and collaboration, seek to value and use students’ knowledge in real-world situations. However, a lack of connection between academic learning and the community
environment may result in disengagement on the part of students. The article argues that, by including the philosophy
and practice of moderate communitarianism in CEI, it is possible to balance individual rights with community obligations, in this way bridging the existing divide between the two. Based on Kwame Gyekye’s thoughts, this article presents
a conceptual framework that highlights the importance of humanity in the African sense (Ubuntu), interdependence,
communalism, and respect and dignity concerning CEI. I argue that these four aspects have the potential to provide a
harmonious relationship between individual autonomy and society’s requirements and, in so doing, to improve educational outcomes and, in turn, the advancement of social equality
Wild lions in small, fenced reserves in South Africa conform to a meta-population
No full text1. Lions (Panthera leo) are declining across their range, mainly due to human-induced habitat fragmentation and prey depletion. However, the South African lion population continues to grow. Unlike other range states, South Africa actively manages wild lions across a continuum of landscapes and ecological constraints. Many of these lions are in small, fenced reserves where managers seek to mimic ecological processes in small landscapes. However, the effectiveness of this management approach has not been evaluated against meta-population criteria. 2. Given that meta-population dynamics allows species living in fragmented habitats to persist, we evaluated how South Africa's lion population complies with metapopulation criteria using national audit data between 2010 and 2019 from 49 fenced, wild lion reserves. 3. The small, fenced reserves holding wild lions fulfil the criteria for meta-population functionality. However, this functionality was achieved through haphazard and uncoordinated management actions and not through a coordinated approach. 4. Our main recommendation is to consider implementing a more coordinated metapopulation management approach. At the very least, meta-population management guidelines should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, regular audits should be conducted and periodic genetic evaluation of the meta-population (every 10 years) should be instituted. We recommend incentivising lion managers to enhance the conservation of lions in South Africa within a meta-population framework. We also recommend a focus on improving decision making and policy procedures that facilitates compliance with relevant legislation aimed at achieving high levels of lion conservation-governance efficiency. 5. South Africa's meta-population approach to wild lion management in small, fenced reserves is effective at conserving lions and contributing to lion conservation more broadly. In an increasingly fragmented landscape, the need for human management actions to ensure persistence of large carnivores is likely to increase. A managed meta-population approach of fenced (or unfenced, but geographically isolated) populations is a useful tool for conservationists to consider worldwide
Demystifying Lesotho, Rwandan and Nigerian educators’ viewpoints on smart technologies supporting AI in higher education
No full textGiven the deluge of technology flowing into African countries from the global north, it is not a hyperbole to make a point that developed nations are better equipped to practically integrate Smart Technologies supporting Artificial Intelligence (STAI) into higher education teaching methodologies. However, conversations regarding the application of AI in higher education have been spurred by attempts at its practical implementation in developing countries such as Lesotho, Rwanda, and Nigeria. Furthermore, a dearth of literature exists regarding STAI in higher education within the contexts of higher education in Lesotho, Rwanda, and Nigeria. This dearth points to a necessity for research to be conducted to include the three countries’ higher education contexts in order for researchers to be able to comprehend the perspectives of educators in these countries on their use of STAI in teaching and learning, as well as to identify the challenges associated with integrating STAI into higher education instructional practices. This study examines these three countries as case studies to gain insights into the perspectives of these educators on smart technologies which support AI in their higher education sectors. Vygotsky’s (1978) emphasis on ‘cultural tools’ and social interaction remains crucial in the knowledge-building process, and his social constructivist learning theory underpins the study. An online, semi-structured questionnaire was designed to address the question: What are e the viewpoints of a sampled group of higher education educators from Rwanda, Nigeria and Lesotho on Smart Technologies which support AI in Higher Education? The findings revealed participant from these countries to possess varied technological knowledge of the use of STAI to facilitate content comprehension and achievement of their teaching objectives. However, we argue in this paper that the participating educators’ varied understandings of the use of STAI in higher education needs to expand and to be swiftly accommodated if the three countries are to be on par with developed countries
Stimulatory effects of an exogenously applied seaweed extract on the morphological and physiological growth and yield in juvenile Amaryllis belladonna L. bulbs
No full textAmaryllis belladonna L. is a hysteranthous bulbous species indigenous to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. The species’ attractiveness, adaptability, and low-maintenance needs have drawn international interest to its desirable uses in ornamental and landscape applications constrained by the observably slow rate of natural multiplication to reach flowering. A 24-week study was performed to determine the stimulatory effects of a seaweed extract, Kelpak®, on the morphological and physiological responses of A. belladonna bulbs cultivated under greenhouse conditions. Juvenile bulbs from five successive age groups were used to evaluate the consistency of observed responses. Treatments consisted of a 0% untreated control and three Kelpak® concentration dilutions at 0.2%, 0.4%, and 1% (v/v) administered to five age groups of A. belladonna bulbs as a monthly soil drench. The results showed that even at low concentrations, Kelpak® treatments improved the phyto-stimulatory responses of both the bulb aerial and, more substantially, the below-ground storage organs in a concentration-dependent manner. While treatments enhanced the morpho-physiological responses, the consistency of bulb age differed. Higher morphological yields were associated with older bulbs; however, bulbs of A. belladonna in years 1 and 2 were deemed the most receptive in circumference, weight coefficients, and chlorophyll content. However, to maximize the efficacy and proliferation rate of the species in a reduced timeframe, a 1% Kelpak® dilution applied at an early developmental stage within the first two years is most beneficial and a priority to elicit rapid, uniform, and healthy bulb growth and development