2149 research outputs found
Sort by
Low seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis in communal areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa.
No full textBrucellosis is caused by Gram-negative coccobacilli of the Brucella genus, with cattle mainly infected with Brucella abortus. The disease burden is a threat to socioeconomic development (agriculture/tourism) as well as to animal health, biodiversity and to human health due to the zoonotic nature of this pathogen. In South Africa (S.A), the prevalence of the disease in cattle and livestock in general is mostly unknown in communal farms. A cross-sectional study with a multistage sampling strategy was applied in communal areas from three district municipalities, i.e., Mopani, Capricorn and Sekhukhune of Limpopo province, South Africa. Sera (n = 1133) were collected and screened for antibodies against the
Brucella species using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and confirmation of positive reactors with a Complement Fixation Test (CFT). The brucellosis seroprevalence was found to be 0.79% (95% CI: 0.38–1.45) by a CFT. Univariate analysis indicated that only the frequency of birth was significantly associated with CFT positivity (OR = 20; 95% Cl: 1.61–247.99; p = 0.039). The multivariable logistic regression model revealed that the frequency of birth, age, breed, gender, municipality and district were not statistically significant predictors at 0.05 level. However, some variables like cattle aged more than five years, had higher odds of CFT positivity compared to those younger than five years (OR = 5.66; 95% CI: 0.36–87.97), although the association was not statistically significant (p = 0.215). All positive reactors detected originated from the Mopani district municipality. Overall, the findings reveal a much lower seroprevalence of brucellosis in the communal farms of Limpopo province than previously assumed. We are of the opinion that the low seroprevalence is attributed to effective control strategies implemented by the Limpopo provincial veterinary services and hence provide important information to assist the regulatory bodies in the control and eradication of the disease
Emission of brominated flame-retarding compounds from polymeric textile materials used in firefighter protective garment during thermal exposure.
No full textFirefighters wear bunker gear for protection against thermal hazards during firefighting. Bunker gear are fabricated from superior-performance fibers and enhanced by chemical flame retardants to increase fire resistance. However, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which are widely used, have been associated with health and environmental toxicity risks. Despite the concerns, toxic BFRs continue to find application in consumer products, including in firefighter bunker gear. This study investigated the possibility of volatilization of BFRs from firefighter bunker gear during thermal exposure. Five different bunker gear samples were subjected to 3–8 kW/m2 thermal conditions in a cone calorimeter, and polyurethane foam disks were used to capture the volatilizing effluents. The samples were analyzed for brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) congeners (-28, -47, -99, -100, -154, and -209) using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. BDE-28, -47, and -99 were detected in all five samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 0.1 ng/g, 0.03 to 0.34 ng/g and 0.18 to 0.86 ng/g, respectively. BDE-100 and -154 were detected in 80% and -209 was below the limit of detection. BDE-99 was the most abundant congener detected, followed by BDE-47. The results confirm the volatilization of BFRs from bunker gear during firefighting, which can expose firefighters to toxic flame retardants
Effects of deficit irrigation and intercropping of dry beans with two African leafy vegetable crops on growth and yield.
No full textThe instability between water demand and availability is making it challenging to cultivate viable, sustainable crops. To address this, improved irrigation scheduling regimes need to be adopted, focusing on full crop water requirements to determine optimal water allocation. This study aimed to identify suitable intercropping combinations of leguminous dry bean plants with indigenous African leafy vegetables (specifically cleome gynandra and cucumis myriocarpus) that could enhance interactions with regulated deficit irrigation. The experiment was designed in 3 (irrigation levels: 100%, 75%, and 50%) × 5 (three monocrops and two intercrops) split plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated three times across four growth stages. The study was designed to rigorously assess the effectiveness of two intercrops compared to three monocrops, each cultivated under varying irrigation levels of 100%, 75%, and 50%. There was an increase in selected gaseous parameters, such as stomatal conductance and photosynthesis rates when dry beans were intercropped with cucumis myriocarpus and subjected to 75% deficit irrigation during the mid-pod stage of the dry bean. In contrast, decreased gaseous parameters were noted under a 50% deficit irrigation across all dry bean growth stages, which also negatively affected the growth of African leafy crops. Regarding yield, an inverse relationship was observed between the crops. The yield of dry beans significantly increased under 75% irrigation during the mid-pod stage. Meanwhile, yields of cucumis myriocarpus increased under both 75% and 100% irrigation levels during the early-pod stage of the dry beans, which corresponded to the vegetative stage of the two African leafy crops. In conclusion, regulating irrigation under 75% deficit irrigation during the mid-growth stage is recommended as an ideal irrigation level for intercropping dry beans with cucumis myriocarpus, and this can potentially save 25% of water
Per-and Polyfluorinated alkyl substances in different water matrices: Nontargeted analysis, suspect screening, and targeted analysis.
No full textThis study investigated the presence of unknown and known PFAS in wastewater treatment plants, drinking water treatment plants, bottled water, tap water, and surface water using both high-resolution and tandem mass spectrometry. The sources of PFAS in these matrices were elucidated via a multivariate statistical analysis. A total of 70 PFAS features were identified using nontargeted analysis at varying confidence levels. For the first time in South Africa, and probably on the African continent, novel PFAS (MeFOSA, EtFOSA, 6:2 FTUCA, 8:2 FTUCA, 6:2 FTCA, 8:2 FTCA, 10:2 FTCA, PFHxI, PFOI, 8:2 FTAC, 6:2 FTMAC, and 8:2 FTMAC) and emerging PFAS (PFMOPrA, PFPrOPrA, PFO2HxA, PFO3OA, and PFO4DA) were detected and reported in various water sources. The sum of ∑21 PFAS concentrations in bottled water, tap water, surface water, DWTP, and WWTP samples ranged from <LOD-126, <LOD-363, <LOD-716, <LOD-1056, and <LOD-2304 ng/L, respectively. The average concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and PFHxS in drinking tap water exceeded their respective US EPA maximum contaminant levels. PFO2HxA, PFO4DA, and PFO3OA were reported for the first time in drinking water, with PFAS displaying potential similarities in sources. This study underscores the importance of PFAS regulation in drinking water in South Africa to safeguard public health
Challenges of zero equivalence in the development of Tshivenḓa financial terms from English.
No full textThis article explores the challenges of zero equivalence in the development of Tshivenḓa financial terms from English, particularly within the broader context of African languages striving for recognition in specialised fields such as finance.
The study examines the implications of zero equivalence, where no direct terminology exists for certain financial terms, leading to potential misunderstandings and inconsistencies in financial communication. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through face-to-face structured interviews with ten (10) participants who were working as terminologists, as there are no trained Tshivenḓa terminologists. The findings reveal that these terminologists are aware of the challenges posed by zero equivalence and struggle with specific English financial terms that lack direct Tshivenḓa counterparts. To address these challenges, the study recommends minimising borrowing as a solution and instead suggests alternatives such as paraphrasing and compounding. These strategies help ensure more precise and culturally relevant development of terms, reducing the risk of misinterpretation in financial discourse. By investigating zero equivalence in the development of financial terminology, this research contributes to the growing field of Term Creation Studies and supports Tshivenḓa terminologists in developing effective strategies for creating technical terminology, particularly in finance and other specialised domains. The findings also imply that addressing zero equivalence is not only crucial for linguistic accuracy but is essential for empowering indigenous language communities to participate fully and confidently in formal economic systems
Financial conditions in South African municipalities: Analysis of irregular, unauthorized, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure.
No full textThis study analyzes the financial conditions pertaining to South African municipalities that have given rise to disclosures of irregular, unauthorized, fruitless, and wasteful expenditures for the financial periods from 2011/2012 to 2020/2021. The study employed the Poisson regression model to compare annual government expenditure on irregular, unauthorized, fruitless, and wasteful expenditures, based on a content analysis of the National Treasury’s expenditure reports for metropolitan municipalities over a ten–year period. The results highlight a p–value < 0.05 for government expenditure in all eight metropolitan municipalities. The financial year 2013/14 (R3.4 billion) had the highest fruitless and wasteful expenditure total, followed by the financial year 2014/15 (R1.9 billion). Irregular expenditures for the financial years 2016/17 and 2018/19 recorded R12.46 billion and R12.54 billion, respectively. The financial year 2019/20 had the highest unauthorized expenditure (R5.3 billion), as compared to other financial years. The municipalities in South Africa continue to pursue irregular, unauthorized, fruitless, and wasteful expenditures each year, without any apparent indications of
valid efforts to end or prevent ongoing occurrences. The seriousness of fruitless and wasteful expenditure totals indicates the magnitude of financial benefits foregone by municipalities, and that can be avoided with proper oversight
Phytochemical profiling and chemotypic variation study of Lobostemon fruticosus (L.) H.Buek.
No full textLobostemon fruticosus (L.) H.Buek belonging to Boraginaceae family, is an evergreen and woody shrub that grows in the Cape region of South Africa. The twigs and leaves of the plant have been traditionally used by the Khoisan to treat various ailments. A tea prepared from the leaves is consumed in the morning to treat ringworm. Other preparations are made to treat several dermatological conditions including burns, wounds, ulcers, syphilis, ringworm, erysipelas and eczema. Although biological activities have been reported for the plant, there are limited studies on the phytochemical profiling and chemotypic variation of the plants collected from different locations, which may have an effect on the efficacy of the plant. The aim of this study was to perform phytochemical profiling of L. fruticosus from different populations and determine chemotypic variation using a chemometrics approach. Aqueous methanolic extracts (80 %) of the aerial parts of L. fruticosus were prepared from 24 samples collected from eight locations in the Western Cape Province. Chemical profiles were determined using high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS). SIMCA-P 14+® was used to perform chemometric modelling, including principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). High-performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) profiles of L. fruticosus from various locations exhibited a high level of similarity. However, the band intensities exhibited variation between samples, indicating that some of the compounds differed quantitatively. Eight compounds were tentatively identified as globoidnan B, rutin, rabdosiin, rosmarinic acid, globoidnan A, sagerinic acid, 3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[5‑hydroxy-2-(4‑hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3‑methoxy-4-oxochromen-7-yl] oxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid and isolariciresinol 9-O-β-d-glucoside. Chemometric analysis of the UPLC-MS data revealed quantitative chemotypic variation among L. fruticosus samples that was location specific, and three chemotypes. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids were found to be present in all the populations at a concentration range of 53–169 mg/kg and this raises a potential hepatoxicity concern for oral preparations. In line with the traditional uses of L. fruticosus, future research should focus on permeability studies and establishing safety limits for topical and oral preparations
Assessment of workplace violence and its effects on employee performance in the Department of Military veterans.
No full textSubmitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree, Master of Management Sciences in Human Resources Management in the Department of People Management and Development, Faculty of Management Sciences at the Tshwane University of Technology.Violence against Department of Military Veterans’ employees has become a widespread phenomenon that significantly impacts the employees’ performance.
Workplace violence has garnered significant interest from South African researchers, sociologists, and human resource professionals. Thus, it is imperative
that government departments acknowledge this violent epidemic and work to end such actions. As a result, the research investigates the types of workplace violence at the DMV. As most of the research to date has been qualitative, this study aimed to investigate participant experiences using a quantitative, descriptive research design and approach. Also, as part of the study, a convenience sample was employed to gather information via self-report questionnaires. The literature review was conducted better to define workplace violence and employee performance and its dimensions. This empirical study, therefore, explored the relationship between workplace violence and employee performance. A further intention of the study was to determine the significant differences in demographic groups between workplace violence and employee performance. Additionally, the study aimed to offer recommendations for improvement to ensure a favourable workplace setting that improves employee well-being and performance to abate workplace violence. The research findings found that employees encounter a variety of forms or types of violence. The impact of workplace violence within the department was attested to by the employees who had either witnessed or experienced it in the previous 12 months. The results show that 73.60% of the participants have either been intimidated or seen intimidation occur. Specifically, 73.08% of respondents experienced bullying and victimisation 63.16% of the time, and 58.27% of the participants reported having encountered verbal abuse at work. The best interventions to eradicate workplace violence for all department employees were identified. These interventions will hopefully decrease the tolerance for such inappropriate behaviour. By providing staff training, employees will be safer and happier in their work, providing better service to the public and, thus, increasing performance
Investigating the disproportionate impacts of air pollution on vulnerable populations in South Africa: A systematic review.
No full textBackground:
Knowledge of how different social groups in South Africa are affected by air quality is important for informing air quality regulations and determining the integrated social–environmental approach to adopt. This systematic review evaluates the impact of air pollution on these groups, investigates socio-economic factors that increase exposure, and assesses mitigation measures.
Methods:
The review followed the PRISMA guidelines and analyzed quantitative studies conducted in South Africa, which were published between 2014 and 2024. The studies’ sources included databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. Data from 47 eligible studies were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results:
Results show that women, children, and low-income communities tend to bear the brunt of poor air quality. Children are the most affected by poor air quality, with significant respiratory issues. Pregnant women are vulnerable to adverse birth outcomes. The results indicate that of the 47 studies reviewed, 51% focused on the effects of air pollution on children, whilst fewer studies (26%) focused on women. This may point to a gap in research on the specific impacts of air pollution on women. Lowincome communities face increased exposure due to proximity to pollutant sources and substandard housing. The results further indicated that of the health impacts experienced by vulnerable populations, general health issues (96%) and respiratory health issues (89%) are the most prominent health impacts. Conclusions: The study underscores the need for stricter air quality regulations, public education, and an integrated social–environmental approach to mitigate exposure in vulnerable populations
Maximizing photosynthesis and plant growth in african legumes through rhizobial partnerships: The road behind and ahead.
No full textThe interplay between soil rhizobial bacteria and leguminous plants, particularly in Africa, has a profound impact on photosynthetic efficiency and overall crop productivity. This review explores the critical role of rhizobia in enhancing photosynthesis through nitrogen fixation, a process crucial for sustainable agriculture. Rhizobial bacteria residing in root nodules provide legumes with symbiotic nitrogen that significantly boosts plant growth and photosynthetic capacity. Recent advances in molecular genomics have elucidated the genetic frameworks underlying this symbiosis, identifying key genes involved in root nodule formation and nitrogen fixation. Comparative genomics of Bradyrhizobium species have revealed seven distinct lineages, with diverse traits linked to nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and photosynthesis. Field studies across Africa demonstrate that rhizobial inoculation can markedly increase nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and grain yields, though outcomes vary depending on local soil conditions and legume species. Notable findings include enhanced nutrient uptake and photosynthetic rates in inoculated legumes compared with nitrate-fed plants. This review highlights the potential of utilizing indigenous rhizobia to improve photosynthesis and crop resilience. Future prospects involve leveraging genomic insights to optimize rhizobial inoculants and enhance legume productivity in water-limited environments. As climate change intensifies, integrating these advancements into agricultural practices could play a crucial role in improving food security and sustainable soil health in Africa