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Derivatives of pyrazole-based compounds as prospective cancer agents
No full textFive pyrazole-based compounds, 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole, L1; 3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole, L2; 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole, L3; 3-(trifluoromethyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole, L4; and 3,5-ditert-butyl-1H-pyrazole, L5 were synthesized from a typical condensation reaction of β-diketone derivatives with hydrazine hydrate reagent and characterized using various spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, UV-vis, 1H and 13C NMR, and LC-MS spectroscopy. L1 was further analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and the N1-N1′ bond distance was found to be 1.361(3) Å and correlated well with other pyrazole-based compounds. The short-term cytotoxicity of 10 μM pyrazole compounds (L1-L5) was evaluated against pancreatic (CFPAC-1 and PANC-1), breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7), and cervical (CaSki and HeLa) cancer cell lines using the MTT cell viability assay. Cisplatin and gemcitabine were included as positive control drugs followed by the determination of the half-maximal effective concentrations of prospective compounds. L2 and L3, respectively, displayed moderate cytotoxicity against CFPAC-1 (61.7 ± 4.9 μM) and MCF-7 (81.48 ± 0.89 μM) cell lines
Linguistic landscapes and dominant language constellations: the multilingual behaviour of minoritised migrant populations in Lusaka, Zambia
No full textWithin the broader theoretical and methodological contexts of linguistic landscapes, where language(s) displayed and used in public spaces serve as analytic lenses, this paper draws on the public spaces of Bauleni township, a peri-urban community of Lusaka, Zambia (South-Central Africa) to describe the multilingual behaviour of migrant populations. Focusing on the presence (and visibility) of Mambwe-Namwanga, two minoritised language groups in Zambia’s sociolinguistic mix, the article shows that as people migrate, it is not always the case that they lose their language(s) for they carry with them their linguistic repertoire which they blend with those found in the new space. To this end, the article uses the outlook of the linguistic landscape and connects it to the dominant language constellations of the Mambwe-Namwanga migrant populations. It argues that while adopting the languages found and used in Bauleni, Mambwe-Namwanga actors simultaneously imprint their presence on the linguistic landscape. These imprints serve as cultural expressions, markers of self-assertion, and symbols of identity, reflecting the dynamic interplay of language and migration in the construction of multilingual spaces
Promotion of gender equality - a case study of the City of Cape Town
No full textThe Constitution of SA 1996 (Act 108 of 1996) establishes the need for equality, and opportunity or access to government services and enshrines local government as one of the three spheres of government which is mandated to uphold and ensure adherence to sensitive gender dynamics. In terms of the above, the study aims to investigate the increasing awareness for the need for representativeness in local government in recent years in the context of the draft gender policy of the City of Cape Town (CCT). The emphasis on gender, rather on women, implies the need to develop effective linkages between gender and other forms of inequality through concerted policy efforts. Since coming to office in 1994, the Government of South Africa (SA) has made strong and legal binding commitments to uphold and promote gender equality and has established comprehensive national machinery to implement and monitor these commitments. The study of national policy focuses on the national/local machinery which was instituted by government to give guidance and to monitor the implementation of gender equality
Examining self-employment policies for persons with disabilities in South Africa: perspectives from policy actors
No full textBackground Despite robust global and national efforts to promote inclusive development, a significant gap persists in countries such as South Africa’s self-employment policies for persons with disabilities. The existing legislative framework, although well-intentioned, lacks clear and comprehensive guidance on self-employment as a viable placement option for persons with disabilities. Consequently, this ambiguity hinders effective policy implementation, limiting economic empowerment and social inclusion. This research aimed to explore the existence of self-employment-specific policies for persons with disabilities and policy actors’ involved in South Africa. Methods The participants (n=47) had an average of 10 years of experience in self-employment for persons with disabilities, holding qualifications ranging from no formal education to master’s degrees. This qualitative study ensured transparent and systematic reporting using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. Purposive and snowball sampling were utilised to recruit participants. Data were collected using a piloted question guide and analysed using the NVIVO software. Data was analysed thematically. Ethics clearance, relevant gatekeepers’ permission and informed written consent from participants were obtained. Results Two themes emerged, namely, theme one: The status quo on self-employment-specific policies for persons with disabilities. Participants reported on the absence of explicit policies on self-employment for persons with disabilities, the lack of effectiveness in inclusive South African legal frameworks and their lack of impact on promoting self-employment opportunities. Theme two: policy actors’ involvement in self-employment-specific policies for persons with disabilities. Participants reported on the roles and responsibilities of policy actors and strategies to promote self-employment opportunities for persons with disabilities through policy reforms
New constraints on the evolution of the mh i−m⋆ scaling relation combining chiles and mightee-h i data
No full textThe improved sensitivity of interferometric facilities to the 21 cm line of atomic hydrogen (H i) enables studies of its properties in galaxies beyond the local Universe. In this work, we perform a 21 cm line spectral stacking analysis combining the MeerKAT International GigaHertz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration and COSMOS H i Large Extra-galactic Survey surveys in the COSMOS field to derive a robust H i-stellar mass relation at z ≈ 0.36. In particular, by stacking thousands of star-forming galaxies subdivided into stellar mass bins, we optimize the signal-to-noise ratio of targets and derive mean H i masses in the different stellar mass intervals for the investigated galaxy population. We combine spectra from the two surveys, estimate H i masses, and derive the scaling relation log 10 M H I = ( 0.32 ± 0.04 ) log 10 M ⋆ + ( 6.65 ± 0.36 ) . Our findings indicate that galaxies at z ≈ 0.36 are H i richer than those at z ≈ 0 but H i poorer than those at z ≈ 1, with a slope consistent across redshift, suggesting that stellar mass does not significantly affect H i exchange mechanisms. We also observe a slower growth rate H i relative to the molecular gas, supporting the idea that the accretion of cold gas is slower than the rate of consumption of molecular gas to form stars. This study contributes to understanding the role of atomic gas in galaxy evolution and sets the stage for future development of the field in the upcoming Square Kilometre Array era
Buildings and construction
No full textA collection of digitised photographs taken at the University of the Western Cape in Bellville, South Africa
Investigation of the coordination chemistry, biomolecular interactions, and cytotoxicity of heterocyclic carboxamide manganese(II) complexes
No full textFor the past few decades, platinum-based compounds notably cisplatin have been the most commonly used in metal-based anti-cancer treatment.[1,2] Despite the success of cisplatin, it has several drawbacks such as side effects, poor solubility, and acquired drug resistance, thus limiting its efficacy. [3,4] These negative attributes of cisplatin have germinated research interests in the design and development of alternative nonplatinum metallo-drugs such as ruthenium, iridium, osmium, palladium, and manganese. [5–7] Compared to the extensive reports on noble metals such as ruthenium and palladium, there are few reports on these of manganese compounds as anticancer agents. [8
Cross-border solidarity: migrant-led associations as spaces of epistemic resistance and food security innovation in South Africa
No full textIn the midst of closure and securitization of border regimes, climate-change displacement, and entrenched inequalities, migrant communities are not just surviving but creating new sites of resistance, creativity, and adaptation to their worlds in crisis. This paper explores how migrant-solidarity organizations function as epistemic spaces of invention and resistance in South Africa among Zimbabwean, Pakistani, and Cameroonian migrant communities in Parow Valley, Summer Greens, and Kensington (Cape Town). Based on 250 household surveys and 12 qualitative in-depth interviews, the paper explores how migrant-led social movements become sites of agency, social resilience, and resistance to marginalization habitually employed by state policy and academic scholarship. These forms of solidarity networks, which are essentially national in scope, maintain food security at a household level, access to livelihood, and socio-emotional well-being. Group savings, mutual support, and rotating credit associations enable these networks to build adaptive capacities to deal with uncertain migration status and socio-economic risk. They constitute resilient, informal social safety nets for food, income, and affective resources that go beyond what formal mechanisms can provide. By situating migrant practice and epistemologies, the paper challenges hegemonic discourses that position migrants as passive. Instead, it positions everyday solidarities at the site of politicized invention and resistance. It situates where these practices intersect with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (zero hunger), SDG 8 (decent work), and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). It establishes a decolonial, plural migration knowledge positioning migrants as co-producers, policy entrepreneurs, and change agents
Secondary prevention medications in 17 countries grouped by income level (pure): a prospective cohort study
No full textBackground: It is unclear whether global use of medications for secondary cardiovascular (CVD) prevention is improving over time. Objectives: This study across 17 high-, middle- and low-income countries described variations in secondary CVD prevention medication use over a median follow-up of 12 years. Methods: In the multinational PURE (Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology) cohort study, we conducted a repeated cross-sectional analysis to examine temporal variations in the use of secondary prevention medications in participants with CVD. In participants with coronary artery disease, we focused on antiplatelet agents, statins, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, and β-blockers. In participants with stroke, we focused on antiplatelet agents, statins, RAS inhibitors, and other blood pressure–lowering drugs. Medications were collected at baseline and on 4 subsequent follow-up visits. Results: The analysis included 7,409 participants with a diagnosis of CVD at the baseline visit, 8,792 at the second visit, 9,236 at the third visit, 11,082 at the fourth visit, and 11,677 at the last visit. The median age at baseline was 58.0 years, and 52.9% of the participants were female. The median follow-up was 12 years, with the median year of the baseline visit in 2007 and the fifth visit in 2019. Over this period, use of 1 or more classes of medications for secondary CVD prevention was 41.3% (95% CI: 40.2%-42.4%) at baseline, peaked at 43.1% (95% CI: 42.0%-44.1%), and then decreased to 31.3% (95% CI: 30.4%-32.1%) by the last study visit. In high-income countries, this use decreased from 88.8% (95% CI: 86.6%-91.0%) to 77.3% (95% CI: 74.9%-79.6%). In upper-middle-income countries, this use increased from 55.0% (95% CI: 52.8%-57.3%) to 61.1% (95% CI: 59.1%-63.1%). In lower-middle-income countries, use of at least 1 class of medications was 29.5% (95% CI: 28.1%-30.9%) at baseline, peaked at 31.7% (95% CI: 30.4%-33.1%), and then decreased to 13.4% (95% CI: 12.5%-14.2%) by the last visit. In low-income countries, use of at least 1 class of medications was 20.8% (95% CI: 18.1%-23.5%) at baseline, peaked at 47.3% (95% CI: 44.8%-49.9%), and then decreased to 27.5% (95% CI: 25.2%-29.9%) by the last study visit. Conclusions: Globally and in most country income-level groups, the use of medications for secondary CVD prevention has been low, with little improvement over time
MeerKLASS L-band deep-field intensity maps: entering the H I dominated regime
No full textWe present results from MeerKAT single-dish HI intensity maps, the final observations to be performed in L-band in the MeerKAT Large Area Synoptic Survey (MeerKLASS) campaign. The observations represent the deepest single-dish HI intensity maps to date, produced from 41 repeated scans over 236 deg2, providing 62 h of observational data for each of the 64 dishes before flagging. By introducing an iterative self-calibration process, the estimated thermal noise of the reconstructed maps is limited to ∼ 1.21 mK (1.2 × the theoretical noise level). This thermal noise will be subdominant relative to the HI fluctuations on large scales (k ≲ 0.15 h Mpc−1), which demands upgrades to power spectrum analysis techniques, particularly for covariance estimation. In this work, we present the improved MeerKLASS analysis pipeline, validating it on both a suite of mock simulations and a small sample of overlapping spectroscopic galaxies from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. Despite only overlapping with ∼ 25 per cent of the MeerKLASS deep field, and a conservative approach to covariance estimation, we still obtain a > 4 σ detection of the cross-power spectrum between the intensity maps and the 2269 galaxies at the narrow redshift range 0.39 < z < 0.46. We briefly discuss the HI autopower spectrum from these data, the detection of which will be the focus of follow-up work. For the first time with MeerKAT single-dish intensity maps, we also present evidence of HI emission from stacking the maps onto the positions of the GAMA galaxies