11613 research outputs found
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The hepatoprotective effects of against antiretroviral-induced cytotoxicity in HepG₂ cells
No full textDissertation (M.Med.Sc.(Physiology))--University of the Free State, 2023: The untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a lentivirus species that attacks immune cells, causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV/AIDS is managed by Antiretroviral therapy (ART). The ART regimen contains nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) associated with oxidative stress. Medicinal plants are often combined with ART to diminish the side effects of ART use. The (MO) tree extracts have been shown to contain bioactive compounds with antioxidant effects.
: This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of an NRTI (tenofovir) and its potential amelioration by MO leaf extract.
: HepG₂ cells were exposed to tenofovir, MO, and combination (tenofovir and MO) treatment groups for 24 and 120 hours. MO aqueous leaf extract was prepared, and cytotoxicity was assessed. Markers for oxidative stress and antioxidant response were assessed using spectrophotometry, luminometry, ELISA, qPCR, and western blotting experimental techniques.
: At 24 hours, tenofovir decreased MDA 2, 2, mRNA, and NRF2, SOD2, and CAT protein expression. It then increased GSH, mRNA and p-NRF2 protein expression. MO decreased GSH levels, NRF2, , and 2 mRNA expression and increased mRNA, as well as NRF2, p-NRF2, SOD2, and CAT protein expression. At 120 hours, tenofovir increased MDA, NRF2 mRNA, NRF2, p-NRF2, and SOD2 protein expression. It then decreased GSH levels, , 2, mRNA and CAT protein expression. MO decreased MDA and GSH levels, NRF2 and CAT protein expression. It then increased 2, , 2, mRNA, p-NRF2, and SOD2 protein expression. The combination treatment group downregulated MDA and upregulated the expression of NRF2, , 2, mRNA and NRF2, p-NRF2, SOD2, and CAT proteins.
: Adding MO to tenofovir downregulates reactive oxygen species by upregulating the NRF2-antioxidant pathway to reduce oxidative stress. Therefore, MO has the potential to ameliorate toxicity induced by tenofovir
Spectral flesh remembrance: an inverted monument and foundry embedded in the decommissioned Pelindaba nuclear weapons site
No full textDissertation (M.Arch.(Architecture))--University of the Free State, 2023The Angola-South African War left extensive scars and remains a raw place in the lives of many South Africans. Yet it has become a kind of suppressed memory that is hard to grapple with in the post-democratic reality, and the majority of South Africans choose to conveniently overlook the consequences of this conflict. The memory and memorialisation of the war has become a shrouded spectre. One of the most obscured facets of the war was the fact that South Africa managed to construct nuclear weapons, and (even more astoundingly) became the first nation to voluntarily decommission their nuclear arsenal. In the wake of ghost-like memories of the past, the question arises: ? Those in power, too, choose to forget the haunting effects in the hearts of those conscripted into the war and the suffering enforced by it. The manifestation of this amnesia-like state comes in the form of the nuclear weapons site, rusting and forgotten. Through a symbolic repurposing of decommissioned firearms in a foundry and the remembrance of spectres from the site in an inverted monument, a design is proposed as a means to reveal the forgotten and censored. The exposure of restricted historical documentation is part of the outcome of this research; to find what is still prevailing of something that no longer officially exists and document the remaining structures. Regarding placing architecture and conflict in context, special care is taken in analysing precedent studies of the built form as well as structural theory of ‘the form in conflict’ with a morphology responding to place as much as process. The proposed architecture of structure, relating to spectral remembrances of the flesh, attempts to explore the role architecture can play as a mediator and reminder of forgotten conflicts
Review of the under-utilised indigenous Portulacaria aura (spekboom) as a sustainable edible food source
No full textAbstract
Southern Africa faces numerous challenges, such as increasing biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Additionally, poor and vulnerable communities suffer from undernourishment and are food insecure. Therefore, Southern Africa must adopt inclusive, sustainable food systems that support food security, even under harsh climatic conditions. Wild edible plants can potentially strengthen South African communities’ diets, as they are nutritious, freely available and adapted to survive in marginal conditions. Portulacaria afra, colloquially known as spekboom, is an indigenous succulent to South Africa. This edible plant is resilient even when exposed to weather extremes and is exceptionally easy to grow. Spekboom can potentially contribute to food security since food-insecure communities can access the plant in a socially acceptable way. However, spekboom awaits culinary development to increase its consumption. This review presents the current knowledge of spekboom. As there is limited published research, the review aims to stimulate research in food science and nutrition on this undervalued plant and introduce it as a new food and ingredient.Publisher's versio
Agro-ecological rangeland condition assessment of extensive land-reform pastoral farming sites in the Bloemfontein magisterial area post two wet seasons preceded by drought
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Sustainable Agriculture))--University of the Free State, 2023The study aimed to provide holistic guidance for future sustainable livestock production in the semi-arid rangelands of the Bloemfontein magisterial area for extensive land reform livestock farmers. It aimed to compare rangeland condition per land reform farm and between land reform farms, and to establish correlations between rangeland condition, soil chemical properties and managerial inputs on sampled land reform farms. The study also aimed to use land reform livestock farmers’ decisions on livestock stocking rates to establish their production efficiency and to establish correlations between rangeland condition and soil carbon. Nine extensive land-reform livestock farms out of a total of twenty-nine land-reform farms which participated in the stocking rate study during the 2018/2019 drought were sampled using a non-probability snowball sampling procedure. A multi-methodological approach, namely, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, was employed to investigate the research topic. Structured questionnaires were used to determine profiles of rangeland managers, farm management information, and sound sustainable livestock management information, including current stocking rates on all nine sampled farms. The rangeland degradation gradient method for the semi-arid rangelands of the central Free State province region was used to determine rangelands condition scores together with the wheel point apparatus tool on two camps of each sampled farm. Soil samples were taken from each camp at the beginning of the rangeland condition assessment transect line, in the middle and end, at 20 cm depth, using the soil auger tool. The descriptive statistics, average scores, and standard deviations were calculated using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and t-tests to compare the average values. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 28 was used to analyse quantitative data. Metabolic body weights were used to calculate large stock units. The study recorded a significant relationship (p60% when compared to a poor rangeland condition score of 0.05) was found between other soil chemical properties and rangeland condition, except for the positive trends recorded on soil phosphorus (P) and soil pH levels and a significant relationship between soil carbon (C) and rangeland condition. On the other hand, no relationship (p> 0.05) was found between rangeland condition scores and other variables. The highest average rangeland condition score was 77%, and the minimum average rangeland condition score recorded amongst farms was 21%. Thus, the study concludes that the implementation of science-based knowledge on both stocking rates and rangeland management for extensive land-reform livestock farmers in the Bloemfontein magisterial area is paramount and valuable for climate change impacts mitigation and sustainable livestock productivity. Furthermore, the study recommends investigating carbon market participation as an incentive for farmers to implement sustainable ecological practices and the practicality of incorporating variable stocking rates into extensive livestock management systems
The influence of LGBTQ celebrities on school youth’s perceptions of gender and sexual diversity
No full textDissertation (M.Ed.(Psychology of Education))--University of the Free State, 2023In recent times, South Africans have started to acknowledge and support counter-normative celebrities; celebrated Gay Pride Parades in cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town; watched same-sex relationships on popular soap operas such as “Generations”; listened to music from counter-normative performers within the music industry and elected gay and lesbian members in the South African parliament. Role models such as celebrities, parents, teachers, and peers influence the attitudes and behaviours of teenagers and school youth. This can determine what kind of person they become, including their appearance, attitudes, gender and sexual diversity, and goals in life. A key aspect of identity development is the media, specifically social media, and television; hence, there is increasing concern that the youth learn more about gender and sexual diversity outside schools than in the formal curriculum. It is not surprising that the school youth are bound to look at LGBTQ celebrities in the media, in order to form their perceptions based on gender and sexual diversity.
This research study explores the influence of LGBTQ celebrities on school youth’s perceptions of gender and sexual diversity. Using a case study methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven Grade 10 high-school learners studying at a co-ed high school in the Free State province of South Africa. Findings reveal that exposure to LGBTQ celebrities does influence their perceptions of gender and sexual diversity; the high-school learners expressed a need to be taught about gender and sexual diversity for their peers and teachers to have a better understanding; they revealed that they educate themselves on social media and learn more about gender and sexual diversity outside the schoolyard rather than in the formal curriculum; religion, culture and their parents also played a role in their perceptions of gender and sexual diversity.
While the data is clear evidence of the influence of LGBTQ celebrities on their perceptions of gender and sexual diversity, it also revealed that the school youth realised the importance of being taught about gender and sexual diversity in the school system and they expressed a need to be taught for a better understanding.
I conclude by calling on UMALUSI; the Department of Education; the Independent Examinations Board, and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute officials and inspectors of schools to pay regular visits to schools to ensure that the codes of conduct and policies are implemented thoroughly according to the South African Schools Act of 1996, the South African Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
___________________________________________________________________Onlangs het Suid-Afrikaners begin om teen-normatiewe bekendes te erken en te ondersteun; het Gay Pride-parades in stede soos Johannesburg en Kaapstad gevier; selfdegeslagverhoudings op gewilde sepies soos “Generations” gekyk; na musiek van teen-normatiewe kunstenaars in die musiekbedryf geluister en gay en lesbiese lede in die Suid-Afrikaanse parlement verkies. Rolmodelle soos bekendes, ouers, onderwysers en maats beïnvloed die houdings en gedrag van tieners en skooljeug. Dit kan bepaal watter mens hulle word, insluitend hul voorkoms, houdings, geslag en seksuele diversiteit en doelwitte in die lewe. ‘n Sleutelaspek van identiteitsontwikkeling is die media, spesifiek sosiale media, en televisie. Daarom is daar toenemende kommer dat die jeug meer oor geslag en seksuele diversiteit buite skole leer as in die formele kurrikulum. Dit is nie verbasend dat die skooljeug verplig is om na LGBTQ-bekendes in die media te kyk om hul persepsies op grond van geslag en seksuele diversiteit te vorm nie.
Hierdie navorsingstudie ondersoek die invloed van LGBTQ-bekendes op skooljeug se persepsies van geslag en seksuele diversiteit. Deur gebruik te maak van ‘n gevallestudie metodologie, is semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude gevoer met sewe Graad 10 hoërskoolleerders wat aan ‘n gemengde hoërskool in die Vrystaatse provinsie van Suid-Afrika studeer. Bevindinge toon dat blootstelling aan LGBTQ-bekendes wel ‘n invloed het op hul persepsies van geslag en seksuele diversiteit; die hoërskoolleerders het ‘n behoefte uitgespreek om oor geslag en seksuele diversiteit geleer te word sodat hul maats en onderwysers ‘n beter begrip kan hê; hulle het onthul dat hulle hulself op sosiale media opvoed en meer leer oor geslag en seksuele diversiteit buite die skoolterrein as in die formele kurrikulum; godsdiens, kultuur en hul ouers het ook ‘n rol gespeel in hul persepsies van geslag en seksuele diversiteit.
Terwyl die data duidelike bewyse toon van die invloed van LGBTQ-bekendes op hul persepsies van geslag en seksuele diversiteit, het dit ook aan die lig gebring dat die skooljeug besef het hoe belangrik dit is om oor geslag en seksuele diversiteit in die skoolkurrikulum geleer te word en hulle het ‘n behoefte uitgespreek om meer daaroor te leer vir beter begrip.
Ek sluit af deur ‘n beroep op UMALUSI te doen; die Departement van Onderwys; die Onafhanklike Eksamenraad en die Suid-Afrikaanse Omvattende Assesseringsinstituut amptenare en inspekteurs van skole om gereelde besoeke aan skole te bring om te verseker dat die gedragskode en beleidsdokumente deeglik geïmplementeer word volgens die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet van 1996; die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet en die Handves van Menseregte.
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Self-compassion as a mechanism to facilitate the adjustment of first-year students to university environments
No full textDespite high enrolment rates at higher education institutions, a perturbing number of first-year university students discontinue their studies. As first-year students constitute a vulnerable group, it is important to investigate ways in which to facilitate their adjustment to university. Extant research within student populations, including first-year students, deems self-compassion to be a robust protective factor in adjustment to university. However, studies rely largely on quantitative research designs, overlooking the voices and everyday experiences of first-year students. Accordingly, this study aimed to qualitatively explore experiences and practices of self-compassion amongst first-year students when faced with the challenges of adjusting to university. To capture in-depth, rich, thick contextual data, 12 South African first-year students participated in semi-structured interviews in their first semester, while follow-up interviews were conducted with 9 participants in the second semester. Themes generated through reflexive thematic analysis highlighted the yin and yang of self-compassion as a valuable conceptual tool to understand and promote first-year students’ experiences and practices of self-compassion. Further, students’ experiences of self-compassion are more nuanced and contradictory than previous research has indicated. Lastly, receiving social support and being self-compassionate constitute reciprocal processes that students engage with in distinct ways, affecting both the depth and breadth of their experiences. Based on this research, self-compassion is vital for strengths-based mental health programmes amongst first-year students. Programmes should promote the practice of the yin and the yang of self-compassion, foster an accepting approach to experiences, and recognise the nuanced, potentially contradictory nature of self-compassion.Publisher's versio
Combining ability estimates for quality and non-quality protein maize inbred lines for grain yield, agronomic, and quality traits
No full textIntroduction: Biofortified maize varieties could contribute to the fight against hunger and malnutrition of the increasing human population and help meet the high demand of maize for human consumption, industrial use and feed for animal and poultry. The understanding of the genetic mechanisms conditioning the inheritance of grain yield and other agronomic and quality traits is essential in the development of superior maize genotypes. The main objective of this study was to determine the combining ability for grain yield and other agronomic traits of QPM and non-QPM inbred lines crossed with two QPM and two non-QPM testers.
Materials and methods: A total of 130 hybrids were obtained by crossing 10 non-QPM and 23 QPM lines with four elite testers (two QPM and two non-QPM). The 130 single cross hybrids were evaluated at 13 sites in 2018 and 2019.
Results and discussion: The results showed significant general combining ability (GCA) for lines and testers as well as significant specific combining ability (SCA) for hybrids for most of the measured traits. Non-additive gene action controlled the inheritance of grain yield while agronomic and quality traits were controlled by additive gene action. QPM lines 11, 14 and 28 and non-QPM tester CML444 showed desirable GCA effects for grain yield, indicating that these lines in combination with tester CML444 should be considered when targeting development of superior maize genotypes with QPM traits.
Conclusions: Based on the SCA values, crosses 120, 108, 105, 99, 85, and 41 were identified as the best hybrids across the locations. It is recommended that maize breeding programs targeting the development of high yielding QPM hybrids should exploit QPM lines with high GCA values for heterosis to be realized. In addition, the identified superior hybrids may be further evaluated and consequently promoted for commercial release which could increase incomes of farmers and help to alleviate poverty, hunger and malnutrition in southern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa at large.Publisher's versio
Pedagogical implications on curriculum support for learner progression: policy promises and outcomes
No full textPart of enabling progressed learners’ successes is provision of adequate curriculum support to bridge content gap. Learner progression was introduced as an intervention for retention and to minimise school dropout. Dynamics around education policy implementation gaps seems to be obstacle between progression policy promises and outcomes. This is visible through the national grade 12 results which continue to decline amid learner progression. Within debates of progression policy derailing quality education, Covid19 disruptions unleashed inequalities in the education sector. For instance, learning losses and in turn pedagogical implications for progressed learners’ extended learning opportunities. This paper reports on curriculum support provided to progressed learners reflecting on Covid19 disruptions using Bandura’ Social Learning Theoretical lens. The study adopted a qualitative research approach placed within interpretivism paradigm and employed exploratory case study design. Six teachers were purposively selected from three secondary school in one district of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Thus, two grade twelve teachers per school whose subjects were directly affected by progression policy because the study focuses on progression from grade eleven to twelve. Data were collected through document analysis and interviews. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Findings revealed limitations to reach out to progressed learners’ due catch-up plans because of lockdown and rotational models. This study concluded on a fair compliance on policy stipulations yet limited specific intervention strategies. The unique contribution of this study is the reflection on three implementation gaps which had implications for progression policy outcomes.Publisher's versio
Green synthesis of Iron oxide and Iron dioxide nanoparticles using Euphorbia tirucalli: characterization and antiproliferative evaluation against three breast cancer cell lines
No full textResearchers have become increasingly interested in nanoparticles made from plants because of their stability and large surface area. In the current study, iron oxide and iron dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized using aerial parts of the E. tirucalli as a reducing agent. The nanoparticles were analyzed using various techniques, including Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, Scanning electron Microscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The nanoparticles were then investigated for their antiproliferative effect against MCF-7, SK-BR-3, MDA-MB231, and Vero cell lines. The results confirmed the formation of FeO and FeO2 nanoparticles by color change and a UV absorbance peak between 220–390 nm. EDS analysis showed traces of Fe and O, while TEM confirmed the nanoparticle size of 100 nm. FTIR showed a peak at 514 nm. The FeO-RT NPs demonstrated over 80% antiproliferative activity against the MCF-7 cell line at a concentration of 10 μg/mL. while doxorubicin, FeO-RT NPs, and DCM extract showed similar activity against the MDA-MB231 cell line at 10 and 1 g/mL concentrations. However, Vero and SK-BR-3 cell lines showed decreased antiproliferative activity. This study highlights the environmentally friendly use and safe application of iron oxide NPs in cancer therapy.Publisher's versio
Reconstructing a perspective of time: a micro distillery mediating the balance between tradition and modernity in an effort to revive the whispers of Graaff-Reinet’s grapes
No full textDissertation (M.Arch.(Architecture))--University of the Free State, 2023Nestled within the vast expanse of the Karoo plain, Graaff-Reinet emerges as a fertile oasis, containing a rich historical context, and unveiling a captivating tapestry of stories and narratives etched into the urban fabric. Within this narrative lies a forgotten fragment of time, known as the Withond brandy. It stands as a relic from the era of Graaff-Reinet’s vineyards, a tangible link to the past. The unveiling of the forgotten narrative provides an opportunity to extend the narrative of Graaff-Reinet’s traditions, whilst introducing a new sense of modernity into the town’s enduring 19th-century framework. Considering exploration between traditional and present architecture poses the question: How can the re-engagement of the forgotten narrative of Withond capture the essence of Graaff-Reinet’s traditionality whilst contributing to contemporary and functional development? This project attempts to enter the epoch of the vineyards by reconstructing and tracing the origins and history of the Withond brandy. It aims to seamlessly extend the current narrative by mediating Graaff-Reinet’s traditionality while embracing modernity, and by interpreting the essence of the Cape Dutch vernacular architecture rather than imposing itself on the context. The micro-distillery, a tribute to Withond’s legacy, aims to weave together the polarities that exist within Graaff-Reinet - connecting the threads of its contextual attributes, historical narrative, functional experiences, and a contemporary touch of its architecture