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Negative Spaces: (Re-)Imagining Race and Blackness in Post-2000 South African Urban Narratives
No full textThis study seeks to establish how black identity can be understood through post-2000 black authored South African city narratives. What motivates this inquiry is the understanding that black identity has been defined through negative perceptions since colonialism. The end of colonialism and apartheid marked a turning point in the South Africa history and literature as black people, began to re-define their identities. The study argues that, from colonialism and apartheid eras to the post-colonial period, blackness still poses as a negative space as it is consciously or unconsciously established around similar negative images that were formulated by the colonialists. My study is interested in inquiring whether, with the demise of apartheid, urban narratives have moved beyond colonial perspectives of representing black identity. As such, my focus is on how these black authored urban narratives present black urban dwellers and the city spaces that they occupy. The relations between black dwellers in urban spaces form a crucial point of departure considering how the meaning as it was constructed during apartheid has been sidelined to pave way for multiple meanings of that identity in post-apartheid South Africa. The study analyses blackness and South African cities as negative spaces that share consanguinity on the backdrop of murders, corruption, robberies, drug and alcohol abuse, and patriarchal oppression among others. Through such representations, the study argues that these spaces have become more precarious than during apartheid and the survival of most black people is not always guaranteed. Therefore, the study engages blackness through post-apartheid urban ambiguities, un-inhabitable city spaces, struggles to attain black entitlement within a country that is still defined by racism, urban negations and toxic masculinities that are constantly performed by post-apartheid young people
Dissemination of disaster early warning messages for floods in Vosloorus Township
No full textThe implementation of early warning systems by municipalities affects how communities cope with disasters such as floods. Although the technical aspects of the collection of weather and climate data have improved over the years, the dissemination of effective early warning messages to semi-urban communities remains a challenge. The main aim of this study was to investigate how the City of Ekurhuleni disseminated early warning messages to the community of Vosloorus Township during the 2019 floods from the perspective of the community. Most of the respondents stated that they did not receive early warning alerts from the municipality pertaining to these floods. Furthermore, the community’s perception is that the mechanisms used by the City of Ekurhuleni to dissemine early warning messages are not effective enough to enable community members to save lives and their properties from impending disasters. The objective of this study also included investigation of the methods and procedures used by the city to communicate early warning messages to the community of Vosloorus Township. An investigation was undertaken of disaster management policies and strategies that underpin the communication of disaster information to communities in informal settlements within Vosloorus Township. In addition, coping mechanisms implemented by the affected communities to lessen the impacts of floods were also assessed in this study. Begg, De Ramon & Lese (2021) argue that government entities must pay attention to both climatic and non-climatic information when building resilience against disaster impacts within communities. This study was conducted using mixed methods. Mixed method is defined as the implementation of two methods used to investigate a singular phenomena in a study.(Abro et al., 2015). This study used both qualitative and quantitative research methods to analyse data but also deal with the social components of early warning systems in the City of Ekurhuleni. The results of the study showed that the community of Vosloorus Township preferred the formation of community flood management committees as a measure to mitigate challenges relating to the dissemination of effective early warning messages to the community. The City of Ekurhuleni should consider implementing some improvements in the existing early warning systems to bridge the gap between the collection of weather data and ensuring that the disseminated disaster alerts reach the targeted communities
Tantalizing aromatic observance: a sensory boutique of historical significance on Changuu Island, Zanzibar
No full textIslamic culture is rooted deep within the heart of Zanzibar. This picturesque Island has become a cultural commemoration of the past and a religious celebration of the present. The significance of fragrances in the Islamic culture becomes evident when one explores the traditions and heritage of the culture. It incorporates the use of aromas/fragrances on a weekly and even daily basis - as a means of evoking emotion or expressing gratitude when presenting an individual with a gift. The most pivotal characteristic of fragrances is that they can associate with or portray groups, races, genders, classes, ethnicities, and nationalities. Fragrances, therefore, play an intricate role in who we are and becomes an expression of identity. The essence of the project provokes the historical and cultural qualities associated with the significance of fragrances within the Islamic culture. By integrating the historical and mythological use of Islamic architecture and through the spiritual qualities associated with fragrances, a new introduction to the architectural approach within Zanzibar arises. One that arouses the sensory organs and allures the dweller to take part in the narrative. The proposed design will thus focus on underpinning fragrances, in the development of a sensory boutique, where the user will learn to understand and reminisce in the quality and meaning of aromatics. The dissertation questions the significance of the role that fragrances play within the Islamic culture - as a means of portraying the quality of an intrinsic, sensory ex¬perience. It also develops a distinct understanding of the historical use of fragrances. The Changuu Fragrance Boutique will allow the outside world to experience the sensory quality of the Islamic culture. This experiential narrative will further act as a method of preserving the culture for the Islamic community and will also allow the visitor to create and preserve memories and connections established through sensory interplay
Accuracy of lutetium-177 SPECT activity quantification and patient-specific dosimetry: a Monte Carlo study
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Medical Physics))--University of the Free State, 2021The goal of radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) is to deliver the maximum dose to cancerous tumours while sparing healthy tissue. Ideally, the radiopharmaceutical should accumulate in the tumorous tissue and the radiation entirely absorbed for tissue destruction; however, this is not the case. Dosimetry strives to balance the efficacy of delivering the maximum dose to the tumour cells with minimal toxicity to the healthy tissue. Patient-specific dosimetry offers the potential for RPT to reach its full potential as a powerful precision-based treatment. Efforts for patient-specific dosimetry remain a challenge due to the steps involved in the clinical dosimetry workflow. SPECT/CT imaging allows the estimation of the bio-kinetic distribution of the radiopharmaceuticals with good precision, which is required for accurate dosimetry. Different dosimetry software is available (commercial and non-commercial), but these should be benchmarked before being used. Optimising the imaging process for activity quantification and dosimetry in the NM discipline is essential, and Monte Carlo (MC) techniques have been used successfully in this endeavour. Furthermore, full MC dosimetry gained wide acceptance as the gold standard and the most accurate means for patient-specific dosimetry. MC simulations offer the advantage of having a gold standard against which the dosimetry can be benchmarked, and the dosimetry accuracy evaluated. Therefore this thesis aimed to assess the accuracy of 177Lu SPECT activity quantification and patient-specific dosimetry using MC simulations. The focus was on the bio-distribution of 177Lu- DOTATATE due to its clinical relevance in RPT of patients with metastasised neuroendocrine tumours. The kidneys are the dose-limiting organs for RPT with 177Lu-DOTATATE. Studies have shown kidney doses to vary significantly between patients. Given the relation between tumour absorbed dose and tumour reduction, for a complete efficacy evaluation, absorbed doses should be determined not only for the kidneys but, where possible, extended to the tumours.
This study incorporated voxel-based phantoms generated from phantom and patient CT data to perform virtual image-based activity quantification and dosimetry using MC simulations. The voxel-based phantoms were modified to include spherical structures mimicking tumours. The first objective of this study was to validate a model of the Siemens Symbia T16 dual-head SPECT/CT gamma camera available in our clinic using the SIMIND MC program for 177Lu imaging. The validation was achieved by comparing experimental and simulated gamma camera performance planar and SPECT criteria tests. The results were in good agreement and provided adequate confidence that SIMIND could emulate the Symbia T16 successfully and be used for further investigations of 177Lu SPECT/CT image quantification. The second objective investigated the effect of sphere and cylinder calibration factor (CF) geometries and their corresponding recovery coefficients (RCs) on the quantification accuracy of 177Lu SPECT images using MC simulations. The investigations were performed using geometries of a cylindrical, an anthropomorphic torso, and patient-specific phantoms. The quantification accuracy was evaluated for tumours and the kidneys. The results demonstrated that 177Lu SPECT quantification accuracies compared favourably for sphere-based and cylinder-based CF and RC combinations when all SPECT corrections were applied. The absolute quantification accuracy of ≤ 3.5% compared well to literature findings and complied with the 5% requirements for accurate dosimetry. The third objective of the thesis aimed to compare the accuracy of the absorbed doses computed with the software LundADose and OLINDA/EXM 1.0 using three patient-specific voxel-based phantoms. The dosimetry accuracy was assessed by comparing the computed doses to the “true” activity images combined with full MC dosimetry to define the gold standard. The accuracy between LundADose (6.6%) and OLINDA/EXM 1.0 (8.1%) was comparable. The ≤ 10% dosimetry accuracy suggested that the software platforms approximated the true dose estimates and advocated for the dosimetry accuracy to be reliable.
___________________________________________________________________Die doel van radiofarmaseutiese terapie (RFT) is om kankergewasse met die maksimum dosis te behandel terwyl gesonde weefsel gespaar word. Ideaal-gesproke moet die radiofarmaseutiese middel in die tumorweefsel ophoop en die bestraling heeltemal geabsorbeer word vir weefselvernietiging; dit is egter nie die geval nie. Dosimetrie streef daarna om die doeltreffendheid van die lewering van die maksimum dosis aan die tumorselle te balanseer met minimale toksisiteit vir die gesonde weefsel. Pasiënt-spesifieke dosimetrie bied die potensiaal vir RFT om sy volle potensiaal te bereik as 'n kragtige presisie-gebaseerde behandeling. Pogings vir pasiënt-spesifieke dosimetrie bly 'n uitdaging as gevolg van die stappe betrokke by die kliniese dosimetrie-werkvloei. EFERT/RT-beelding laat die beraming van die bio-kinetiese verspreiding van die radiofarmaseutiese middels met goeie presisie toe, wat nodig is vir akkurate dosimetrie. Verskillende dosimetrie-sagteware is beskikbaar (kommersieel en nie-kommersieel), maar dit moet vergelyk word voordat dit gebruik word. Die optimalisering van die beeldingsproses vir aktiwiteitskwantifisering en dosimetrie in die NM-dissipline is noodsaaklik, en Monte Carlo (MC) tegnieke is suksesvol in hierdie poging gebruik. Verder geniet volledige MC-dosimetrie wye aanvaarding as die goue standaard en die mees akkurate middel vir pasiënt-spesifieke dosimetrie. MC-simulasies bied die voordeel om 'n goue standaard te hê waarmee die dosimetrie vergelyk kan word, en die dosimetrie-akkuraatheid geëvalueer kan word. Daarom het hierdie tesis gepoog om die akkuraatheid van 177Lu EFERT-aktiwiteitskwantifisering en pasiënt-spesifieke dosimetrie met behulp van MC-simulasies te assesseer. Die fokus was op die bio-verspreiding van 177Lu-DOTA-TAAT as gevolg van die kliniese relevansie daarvan in RFT van pasiënte met gemetastaseerde neuro-endokriene gewasse. Die niere is die dosisbeperkende organe vir RFT met 177Lu-DOTA-TAAT. Studies het getoon dat nierdosisse aansienlik verskil tussen pasiënte.
Gegewe die verband tussen tumor-geabsorbeerde dosis en tumorvermindering, vir 'n volledige doeltreffendheidsevaluering, moet geabsorbeerde dosisse nie net vir die niere bepaal word nie, maar, waar moontlik, na die gewasse uitgebrei word. Hierdie studie het voxel-gebaseerde fantome geïnkorporeer wat gegenereer is vanaf fantoom- en pasiënt-RT-data om virtuele beeldgebaseerde aktiwiteitskwantifisering en -dosimetrie uit te voer deur gebruik te maak van MC-simulasies. Die voxel-gebaseerde fantome is aangepas om sferiese strukture in te sluit wat gewasse naboots. Die eerste doelwit van hierdie studie was om 'n model van die Siemens Symbia T16-dubbelkop EFERT/RT-gammakamera wat in ons kliniek beskikbaar is, te bekragtig deur die SIMIND MC-program vir 177Lu-beelding te gebruik. Die bekragtiging is bereik deur eksperimentele en gesimuleerde gammakamera prestasieplanêre en EFERT-kriteriatoetse te vergelyk. Die resultate stem goed ooreen en het voldoende vertroue verskaf dat SIMIND die Symbia T16 suksesvol kan naboots en gebruik kan word vir verdere ondersoeke van 177Lu EFERT/RT beeldkwantifisering. Die tweede doelwit het die effek van sfeer- en silinder-kalibrasiefaktor (KF) geometrieë en hul ooreenstemmende herstelkoëffisiënte (HKs) op die kwantifiseringsakkuraatheid van 177Lu EFERT-beelde ondersoek deur gebruik te maak van MC-simulasies. Die ondersoeke is uitgevoer met behulp van geometrieë van 'n silindriese, 'n antropomorfiese torso en pasiënt-spesifieke fantome. Die kwantifikasie akkuraatheid is geëvalueer vir gewasse en die niere. Die resultate het getoon dat 177Lu EFERT-kwantifikasie-akkuraathede gunstig vergelyk vir bol-gebaseerde en silinder-gebaseerde KF- en RT-kombinasies wanneer alle EFERT korreksies toegepas is. Die absolute kwantifikasie akkuraatheid van ≤ 3.5% het goed vergelyk met literatuurbevindinge en voldoen aan die 5%-vereistes vir akkurate dosimetrie. Die derde doelwit van die tesis was daarop gemik om die akkuraatheid van die geabsorbeerde dosisse wat met die sagteware LundADose en OLINDA/EXM 1.0 bereken is, te vergelyk deur drie pasiëntspesifieke voxel-gebaseerde fantome te gebruik. Die dosimetrie-akkuraatheid is beoordeel deur die berekende dosisse te vergelyk met die "ware" aktiwiteitsbeelde, gekombineer met volle MC-dosimetrie om die goue standaard te definieer. Die akkuraatheid tussen LundADose (6.6%) en OLINDA/EXM 1.0 (8.1%) was vergelykbaar. Die ≤ 10% dosimetrie-akkuraatheid het voorgestel dat die sagteware-platforms die ware dosisskattings beraam het en bepaal dat die dosimetrie-akkuraatheid betroubaar is.
___________________________________________________________________Sepheo sa radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) ke ho fetisa mothamo o lekaneng ho fihla boemong ba ho hlasela dihlahala tsa mofetshe kapa kankere, e le ho baballa setho se phetseng hantle. Hangata masedi a radiopharmaceutical a lokela ho bokellana ho setho seo se hlasetsweng ke mofetshe mme masedinyana ana a amohelwe ka botlalo e le ho bolaya tlhaselo eo; leha ho le jwalo, mona ha ho jwalo. Tekanyetso ya mothamo e thusa ho lekanya bohlwahlwa ba phethiso ya mothamo oo o feletseng ho ya ho disele tsa tlhaselo eo ya hlahala tse nang le tjhefu hanyenyane ho se fihle sethong se phetseng hantle. Mothamo o lokiseditsweng mokudi ka ho qolleha o fana ka bokgoni ba hore RPT e fihlelle bokgoni ba yona bo feletseng jwaloka pheko e matla e theilweng hodima nako e nepahetseng. Mekutu bakeng sa mothamo o loketseng mokudi ke phephetso e kgolo ho ya ka dikgato tse amehang bakeng sa tshebetso ya tleliniki malebana le tekanyo ya mothamo. Ditshwantsho tsa SPECT/CT di dumella tekanyo ya kabo ya bio-kinetic ya radiopharmaceuticals tse nang le tekanyo e nepahetseng, e leng e loketseng tekanyo ya mothamo. Mefuta e fapaneng ya softewere ya tekanyetso e a fumaneha (ya kgwebo le eo eseng ya kgwebo), empa e lokela ho bapiswa le e meng pele e ka sebediswa. Ho sebedisa tshebetso ya ditshwantsho ka botlalo bakeng sa tekanyo ya mosebetsi le mothamo ka hare ho thuto ya NM, ke ntho ya bohlokwa, mme mekgwa ya Monte Carlo (MC) e sebedisitswe ka katleho bakeng sa boiteko bona. Ho feta mona, mothamo o feletseng wa tekanyetso ya MC o amohetswe ke ba bangata e le boemo bo amohelehileng ka ho fetisisa ba boemo ba kgauta ebile e le mokgwa o nepahetseng ka ho fetisisa wa tekanyo ya mothamo bakeng sa mothamo o lokiseditsweng mokudi ka ho qolleha wa patient-specific dosimetry. MC simulations di fana ka monyetla wa ho ba le boemo ba kgauta oo ka ona ho ka bapiswang mothamo bakeng sa ho hlahlojwa. Ka hona diphuputso tsena di reretswe ho hlahloba ho lekanya ka nepo ha 177Lu SPECT le mothamo o lokiseditsweng mokudi ka ho qolleha ka ho sebedisa MC simulations. Taba ya sehlooho e ne e le ho totobatsa kabo ho ya ka mmele ya 177LuDOTATATE ho ya ka ho tshwaneleha ha yona ho bakudi ba RPT ba nang le dihlahala tsa metastasised neuroendocrine. Diphiyo tse ditho tse kginang mothamo bakeng sa RPT le 177Lu-DOTATATE. Diphuputso di bontshitse hore methamo bakeng sa diphiyo e fapana haholo pakeng tsa bakudi. Ha o tadima kamano pakeng tsa mothamo o nkilweng bakeng sa hlahala le mothamo wa phokotso ya hlahala, bakeng sa tekolo e phethahetseng ya bohlwahlwa kapa matla, methamo e amohetsweng e lokela ho lekanywa eseng feela bakeng sa diphiyo empa, haeba ho kgoneha, esita le ho dihlahala.
Diphuputso tsena di kenyeleditse voxel-based phantoms tse tswang ho phantom le patient CT data e le ho phethahatsa virtual image-based activity quantification le methamo ka ho sebedisa MC simulations. Voxel-based phantoms di fetotswe ho kenyeletsa dipopeho tse etsisang dihlahala. Sepheo sa pele sa diphuputso tsena e bile ho nnetefatsa mokgwa wa Siemens Symbia T16 dual-head SPECT/CT gamma camera e fumanehang tleliniking ya rona ka ho sebedisa lenaneo la SIMIND MC bakeng sa setshwantsho sa 177Lu. Nnetefatso ena e fihleletswe ka ho bapisa mokgwa wa teko le simulated gamma camera iii performance planar le diteko tsa mokgwa wa SPECT. Diphetho di ne di dumellana hantle mme di fane ka kgothatso e lekaneng ya hore SIMIND e ka etsisa Symbia T16 ka katleho mme ebe e sebediswa bakeng sa diphuputso tse ding tse tlang tsa 177Lu SPECT/CT image quantification. Sepheo sa bobedi se entse diphuputso tsa ditlamorao tsa sphere and cylinder calibration factor (CF) geometries esita le tse amanang le tsona e leng recovery coefficients (RCs) bakeng sa nepahalo ya 177Lu SPECT images ka ho sebedisa MC simulations. Dipatlisiso di entswe ka ho sebedisa geometries of a cylindrical, an anthropomorphic torso, le patient-specific phantoms. Tekanyetso ya bongata e nepahetseng e ile ya hlahlojwa bakeng sa dihlahala le diphiyo. Diphetho di bontshitse hore 177Lu SPECT quantification accuracies di kgema ka ho lekana ka katleho le sphere-based and cylinder-based CF le RC combinations moo ditokiso tsohle tsa SPECT di entsweng. Tekanyo e ikgethang ka nepo ya ≤ 3.5% e kgema ka ho tshwana le diphihlello tsa dingolwa mme e loketse ditshwanelo tsa 5% bakeng sa mothamo o lekaneng ka nepo. Sepheo sa boraro sa diphuputso se reretswe ho bapisa nepahalo ya methamo e amohetsweng e ngodisitsweng ka softewere ya LundADose and OLINDA/EXM 1.0 ka ho sebedisa three patient-specific voxel-based phantoms. Nepahalo kapa tekanyo e nepahetseng ya mothamo e ile ya hlahlojwa ka ho bapisa methamo e ngodisitsweng ho ditshwantsho tsa “nnete” tsa mesebetsi e kopantsweng le tekanyetso ya MC e feletseng e le ho hlalosa boemo ba kgauta. Tekanyo e nepahetseng pakeng tsa LundADose (6.6%) le OLINDA/EXM 1.0 (8.1%) e ne e ka bapiswa. Tekanyo e nepahetseng ya ≤ 10% e bontshitse hore dipolatefomo tsa softewere di batla di atametse ho ditekanyetso tsa nnete tsa mothamo mme di kgothaletsa hore tekanyo e nepahetseng ya mothamo e ka tshetjwa ka botlalo.
___________________________________________________________________Umgomo we-radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) uwukuletha umthamo omkhulu kumathumba anomdlavuza kuyilapho usindisa izicubu ezinempilo. Ngokufanelekile, i-radiopharmaceutical kufanele inqwabelane esicutshini esinamathumba futhi imisebe imuncwe ngokuphelele ukuze kubhujiswe izicubu; nokho, akunjalo. I-Dosimetry ilwela ukulinganisa ukusebenza kahle kokuletha umthamo omkhulu kumaseli esimila anobuthi obuncane esicutshini esinempilo. I-dosimetry eqondene nesiguli inikeza amandla okuthi i-RPT ifinyelelise amandla ayo aphelele njengokwelashwa okusekelwe ngokunemba okunamandla. Imizamo ye-dosimetry eqondene nesiguli ihlala iyinselele ngenxa yezinyathelo ezihlelekile ekuhambeni komsebenzi we-dosimetry yomtholampilo. I-SPECT/CT imaging ivumela ukulinganiswa kokusatshalaliswa kwe-bio-kinetic kwemithi ye-radiopharmaceuticals ngokunemba okuhle, okudingekayo ku-dosimetry enembile. Isofthiwe ye-dosimetry ehlukene iyatholakala (eyokuthengisa futhi engeyona eyentengiso), kodwa lezi kufanele zibekwe uphawu ngaphambi kokuthi zisetshenziswe. Ukuthuthukisa inqubo yokucabanga yokulinganisa umsebenzi kanye ne-dosimetry kumkhakha we-NM kubalulekile, futhi amasu e-Monte Carlo (MC) asetshenziswe ngempumelelo kulo mzamo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, i-dosimetry ye-MC ephelele yazuza ukwamukelwa okubanzi njengezinga legolide kanye nezindlela ezinembe kakhulu ze-dosimetry eqondene nesiguli. Ukulingisa kwe-MC kunikeza inzuzo yokuba nezinga legolide lapho i-dosimetry ingalinganiswa khona, futhi kuhlolwe ukunemba kwe-dosimetry. Ngakho-ke lo mqulu uhlose ukuhlola ukunemba komthamo womsebenzi we-177Lu SPECT kanye ne-dosimetry eqondene nesiguli kusetshenziswa ukulingisa kwe-MC. Bekugxilwe ekusatshalalisweni kwe-bio ye-177LuDOTATATE ngenxa yokufaneleka kwayo emtholampilo ku-RPT yeziguli ezinezimila ze-neuroendocrine ze-metastasised. Izinso yizitho ezinciphisa umthamo we-RPT ene-177Lu-DOTATATE. Ucwaningo lubonise imithamo yezinso ukuthi ihluke kakhulu phakathi kweziguli. Uma kubhekwa ukuhlobana phakathi kwethamo elimuncwa isimila kanye nokunciphisa isimila, ukuze kuhlolwe ukusebenza kahle okuphelele, imithamo emuncwayo akufanele inqunyelwe izinso kuphela kodwa, lapho kungenzeka khona, inwetshelwe ezimila.
Lolu cwaningo luhlanganise ama-phantom asuselwa ku-voxel akhiqizwe ku-phantom nedatha ye-CT yesiguli ukuze enze ukulinganisa komsebenzi okususelwe ezithombeni kanye ne-dosimetry kusetshenziswa ukulingisa kwe-MC. Ama-phantom asuselwa ku-voxel ashintshiwe ukuze afake izakhiwo eziyindilinga ezilingisa amathumba. Injongo yokuqala yalolu cwaningo bekuwukuqinisekisa imodeli yekhamera ye-Siemens Symbia T16 enekhanda elikabili SPECT/CT etholakala emtholampilo wethu kusetshenziswa uhlelo lwe-SIMIND MC lwe-177Lu imaging. Ukuqinisekisa kufinyelelwe ngokuqhathanisa iplani yokusebenza yekhamera ye-gamma yokuhlola nefanisiwe kanye nokuhlolwa kwemibandela ye-SPECT. Imiphumela yayivumelana kahle futhi yanikeza ukuzethemba okwanele kokuthi i-SIMIND ingakwazi ukulingisa i-Symbia T16 ngempumelelo futhi isetshenziselwe uphenyo oluqhubekayo lwe-177Lu SPECT/CT yokulinganisa isithombe. Umgomo wesibili uphenye umthelela we-sphere kanye ne-cylinder calibration factor (CF) geometries kanye nama-coefficients awo okubuyisela ahambisanayo (RCs) ekunembeni kokulinganisa kwezithombe ezingu-177Lu SPECT kusetshenziswa ukulingisa kwe-MC. Uphenyo lwenziwa kusetshenziswa i-geometries ye-cylindrical, i-anthropomorphic torso, kanye nama-phantom aqondene nesiguli. Ukunemba kwe-quantification kwahlolelwa izimila nezinso. Imiphumela yabonisa ukuthi ukunemba komthamo okungu-177Lu SPECT kuqhathaniswe kahle nezinhlanganisela ze-CF ne-RC ezisekelwe kusilinda ezisuselwe kusilinda lapho zonke izilungiso ze-SPECT zisetshenziswa. Ukunemba okuphelele komthamo okungu-≤ 3.5% kuqhathaniswa kahle nokutholwe ezincwadini futhi kuthobelane nezimfuneko ezingu-5% ze-dosimetry enembile. Injongo yesithathu yomqulu ihlose ukuqhathanisa ukunemba kwemithamo emunyiwe ehlanganiswe nesofthiwe ye-LundADose kanye ne-OLINDA/EXM 1.0 kusetshenziswa ama-phantom amathathu asekelwe ku-voxel yesiguli. Ukunemba kwe-dosimetry kwahlolwa ngokuqhathanisa imithamo ebaliwe nezithombe zomsebenzi “zeqiniso” ezihlanganiswe ne-dosimetry egcwele ye-MC ukuze kuchazwe izinga legolide. Ukunemba phakathi kwe-LundADose (6.6%) ne-OLINDA/EXM 1.0 (8.1%) kuye kwaqhathaniswa. ≤ Ukunemba okungu-10% kwe-dosimetry kuphakamise ukuthi izinkundla zesofthiwe zilinganisele izilinganiso zomthamo wangempela futhi zakhuthaza ukunemba kwe-dosimetry ukuthi kwethembeke.
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Influence of specific abiotic stress factors on durum wheat gluten proteins and their relation with pasta quality
No full textIn recent years, breeding for high quality durum wheat has become an important research focus
due to an increase in demand for good quality products. Wheat storage proteins, termed gluten,
have a major influence on dough quality characteristics, such as visco-elasticity. The gluten proteins are strongly influenced by genotype, environment and genotype by environment interaction. This may consequently cause variation in quality. Limited information is available on the impact of genotype, environment and their interaction on durum wheat gluten proteins. Most research has focused on the effects of environmental conditions on bread wheat quality. In order to improve durum wheat quality, it is important to understand the impact of environmental conditions on durum wheat gluten proteins. In this study, six durum wheat cultivars were planted in Mexico under six environmental conditions: optimum, flood irrigation, moderate heat, severe heat, moderate drought and severe drought. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heat and drought stress on protein quantity and quality, using size exclusion-high performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC), reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RPHPLC) and proteomics techniques. Flour protein content was significantly increased by all stress treatments. High flour protein content was observed under severe heat and drought stress
conditions. There were significant differences between genotypes for protein fractions separated
by SE-HPLC. All stress treatments caused a significant reduction in extractable and unextractable albumin/globulin protein fractions, as well as in extractable and unextractable low molecular weight (LMW) gluten proteins. Severe drought stress caused an increase in large SDSunextractable polymeric proteins. Moderate and severe heat stress significantly increased SDSextractable gliadin. Genotype effect was large for extractable LMW for all environments except for severe drought. The SDS-unextractable LMW correlated significantly with alveograph strength (alvW) and mixograph peak time (MPT). RP-HPLC indicated a significant reduction in LMW glutenins and γ-gliadin, and an increase in α- gliadins for all stress treatments. Genotype affected α-gliadins more than environment and genotype by environment interaction, indicating a strong genetic influence on the expression of these gliadins. The γ-gliadins showed positive significant correlations with alvW, alvP and MPT for most treatments. The ω- and α-gliadins had a negative relationship with alveograph parameters. Proteomic analysis revealed 330 protein spots differentially expressed in cultivar AtilC2000, with the largest number of spots (14.24%) up-regulated by all stress conditions. In Mexicali75, 205 spots were differentially expressed and most protein spots (35.12%) increased due to moderate drought stress conditions. Highly up-regulated protein spots were analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) followed by database searching. Of these, some were HMW-GS, gliadins, serpins, and β-amylase involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Drought and heat significantly altered the gluten protein composition, by upregulating HMW and gliadin proteins in the two cultivars. Generally, cultivars differed in terms of their reaction to stress conditions. This suggests that the effects of stress cannot be generalised in durum wheat.National Research Foundation (NRF
Genetic characterisation of South African and Mozambican bovine rotaviruses reveals a typical bovine-like artiodactyl constellation derived through multiple reassortment events
No full textThis study presents whole genomes of seven bovine rotavirus strains from South Africa and Mozambique. Double-stranded RNA, extracted from stool samples without prior adaptation to cell culture, was used to synthesise cDNA using a self-annealing anchor primer ligated to dsRNA and random hexamers. The cDNA was subsequently sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform without prior genome amplification. All strains exhibited bovine-like artiodactyl genome constellations (G10/G6-P[11]/P[5]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3/A11/A13-N2-T6-E2-H3). Phylogenetic analysis revealed relatively homogenous strains, which were mostly related to other South African animal strains or to each other. It appears that these study strains represent a specific bovine rotavirus population endemic to Southern Africa that was derived through multiple reassortment events. While one Mozambican strain, MPT307, was similar to the South African strains, the second strain, MPT93, was divergent from the other study strains, exhibiting evidence of interspecies transmission of the VP1 and NSP2 genes. The data presented in this study not only contribute to the knowledge of circulating African bovine rotavirus strains, but also emphasise the need for expanded surveillance of animal rotaviruses in African countries in order to improve our understanding of rotavirus strain diversity.Publisher's versio
The Litterateur’s Citadel: fostering literary appreciation in-between the realms of reality-space and fantasy-place
No full textThe term “literature” is often approached as purely educational or academic. However, its origin as stories and tales illuminates a much more significant role of literature. Carried over from generation to generation, literature has the capacity to form a community identity and even an identity of self. Due to this social and cultural significance, literature is undoubtedly worthy of appreciation. The concept of literary appreciation, as well as the role of architecture within this act of appreciation, is investigated. Literature is appreciated when the reader – or writer - is able to experience a part of their own reality within the world of fantasy and fiction in literature. As a result, a place for the appreciation of literature is dependent on both the reality of people and the fantasy of the literary world: a place in-between. In the development of a place for literary appreciation, The Litterateur’s Citadel, the architecture relies on this in-betweenness in order to foster a feeling of appreciation. Due to the similarities between literature and architecture, the Citadel as an in-between realm is predominantly informed by literature itself: the structuring of stories according to The Hero’s Journey is used as a model for literary appreciation through architecture; works of literature are investigated as precedents for the reality-fantasy relationship and the creation of the in-between realm; the act of writing and reading is translated into the notion of creating place. The architecture essentially becomes a piece of literature, a narrative created according to the structure of The Hero’s Journey, a journey through a realm in-between reality and fantasy, a Citadel for the appreciation of Literature
International diplomacy and big business in Namibia: the case of the Rossing Uranium mine
No full textIn the 1970s, Rio Tinto Zinc’s Rössing Uranium mine became a symbol of injustice for Namibian nationalists and international opponents of South African rule. Yet, counter-intuitively, the mine survived decolonisation in Namibia virtually unscathed and was re-imagined as part of modern, independent Namibia. How did this come about? This dissertation answers this central question by exploring the development of the Rössing Uranium mine during the colonial and early post-colonial period. The aim of the study is to present a detailed understanding of the strategies adopted by big business in response to changes in the political and economic environment in Namibia. It does so through a case study of big business and diplomacy in the establishment and operations of the Rössing Uranium mine under colonial rule and decolonisation. The study begins with a discussion on the pioneering stage in the history of uranium production in Namibia, which culminated in the transfer of the mining rights from the entrepreneurial prospectors to the British multinational corporation RTZ. The study concludes with an examination of Rössing Uranium’s public relations exercise which was adopted in anticipation of the impending political change in the territory. Keywords: Big Business, Diplomacy, Namibia, Rössing, Uranium
Eliciting risk preferences experimentally versus using a general risk question. Does financial literacy bridge the gap?
No full textThe study investigates the stability of financial risk preference choices elicited from subjects
by way of two methods, namely: experimentally elicited incentivized revealed risk preferences
(IRRP) and (self-reported) perceived willingness to take a financial risk (PWTFR). The research
further examines whether financial literacy (a human capital aspect) helps in reducing the gap
between IRRP and PWTFR choices made by subjects. A total of 193 university students (where 53%
were female) participated in the study. The subjects completed IRRP choices from four multiple price
list (MPL) risk preference tasks and a financial literacy questionnaire. There is a tendency to anchor
at extremes of risk-seeking behavior when subjects self-report their PWTFR choices. A paired t-test
analysis of the two methods shows that the average responses from the two methods are significantly
different. A random effect (RE) panel regression shows that an increase in financial literacy narrows
the gap between IRRP and PWTFR choices. The study’s findings show that responses by subjects
from a PWTFR general risk question (GRQ) and IRRP experiment are unstable and inconsistent. What
people say in a survey does not always translate into what they do when faced with a risk preference
choice dilemma. Financial literacy helps individuals to predict their risk attitudes more precisely.Publisher's versio
Health literacy of Sesotho-speaking patients diagnosed with chronic conditions: Setsoto, Free State province
No full textHealth literacy plays an integral role in ensuring positive patient outcomes, because it makes the processing and understanding of health information possible. Assessing the health literacy of patients diagnosed with chronic conditions in their home language is essential for improving their health outcomes. This study was conducted in Setsoto, Free State province, and the Sesotho Health Literacy Test (SHLT) was used to measure the health literacy level of Sesotho home-language speakers. The study aimed to assess the health literacy of Sesotho-speaking patients diagnosed with chronic conditions in Setsoto, Free-State province. The objective was to establish the associations between the socio-demographics of chronic patients attending public health facilities in Setsoto subdistrict, and items on the SHLT that reflect appraisal and understanding. The research design applied in the study was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design. The population consisted of patients diagnosed with a chronic condition and attending a primary healthcare (PHC) facility (n=12) in the Setsoto subdistrict. The respondents (n=264) were conveniently sampled from the PHC facilities in the subdistrict. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, namely the 10-item SHLT questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, namely frequencies and percentages for categorical data, and medians and percentiles for numerical data, were calculated per group. The groups were compared by means of the Chi-square test for categorical data and KruskalWallis test for numerical data. The researcher studied 264 respondents from 12 public health facilities, of whom more were female respondents (82.6%) than were male respondents (17.4%). The median age of the respondents was 43 years. The majority (56.8%) of the respondents indicated Grades 9–12 as the highest grade passed, and 53.4% of the respondents indicated they had a problem reading due to poor eyesight. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was the most common chronic condition (62.1%) the respondents had been diagnosed with. The findings indicate that 35,6% (n=94) of respondents could be classified as possessing a high health literacy level; 43.6% (n=115) achieved moderate health literacy scores, and 20.8% (n=55) had low health literacy scores on the SHLT. No association (p=0.143) was found between health literacy level and gender distribution, or between health literacy levels and the respondents’ inability to read due to poor eyesight (p=0.209). Associations (p=0.001) were established between a high health literacy level and age; a high health literacy level and respondents with Grades 9–12 (p=0.001), and between a high health literacy level and items in the SHLT reflecting appraisal and understanding of health information. The implementation of the SHLT and developing a guideline for PHC facilities will assist healthcare providers to develop a comprehensive treatment management plan for patients diagnosed with chronic conditions. This will also assist the Free State Department of Health to alleviate pressure on the healthcare system