16918 research outputs found
Sort by
For slow teaching: courageous and compassionate pedagogy in times of change
No full textSlow teaching is a nascent movement forwarded by scholars who seek to imbue their teaching with attentiveness, deliberation, thoughtfulness, and open-ended inquiry. This paper presents findings from a Teaching Advancements at Universities (TAU) Fellowship project in which slow teaching practices were applied within a first year GES111 Introduction to Human Geography at the University of the Western Cape. Focusing on ‘Slow’ teaching not in terms of velocity but rather in terms of measured, deliberate, and reflexive methods, the experiment with slow practices attempted to not leave others behind at the expense of progress. Methodologically, the project was built upon reflective practice from the author as module coordinator and lecturer, a fellow lecturer, graduate lecturing assistant, a team of tutors, and registered GES111 students in 2023. Findings suggest that Slow teaching practices fostered epistemic justice by valuing everyday student knowledge, imagination and practice. This is where courage and compassion on the part of both teaching staff and students together can impact on pedagogy. The study’s findings offer practical insights for the application of Slow teaching practices that foster epistemic access and justice through the valuing of everyday student knowledge, imagination and practice in teaching & learning
Effects of ZnO nanoparticles concentration on the morphology and textural properties of ZnO/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite
No full textThe aim of this study is to synthesize and characterize ZnO and NiFe2O4 nanoparticles via green route and co-precipitation of ZnO/NiFe2O4. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data show no extra diffraction peaks belonging to other phases except wurtzite. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images showed that the average interplanar distance of wurtzite phase at 3, 5, and 7 % dopant concentration were about 0.28, 0.44 and 0.33 nm respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show difference in binding energies of the elements present in different concentration of the dopants. Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) spectra show similarities in the shape of Zn, Fe and Ni from zero loss, low loss and core loss region with a little shift in energy. All the elements exhibit multiple oxidation state; +2 and +3 for Fe and +1 and +2 for Zn and Ni. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) plot shows that ZnO belongs to the type II isotherm curve while NiFe2O4 and 3, 5 and 7 % ZnO/NiFe2O4 all belong to type IV isotherm curve indicating ZnO as macroporous while NiFe2O4 and different dopant concentration of ZnO/NiFe2O4 are mesoporous. The study shows the complete synthesis of ternary ZnO/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites using green synthesis and sol-gel approach. • Green synthesis of ZnO and NiFe2O4 using leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale • Co-precipitation method at different concentration of ZnO and NiFe2O4 for the synthesis of ZnO/NiFe2O4. • Nanocomposites was characterized using different analytical tool
Finding radio transients with anomaly detection and active learning based on volunteer classifications
No full textIn this work, we explore the applicability of unsupervised machine learning algorithms to finding radio transients. Facilities such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will provide huge volumes of data in which to detect rare transients; the challenge for astronomers is how to find them. We demonstrate the effectiveness of anomaly detection algorithms using 1.3 GHz light curves from the SKA precursor MeerKAT. We make use of three sets of descriptive parameters ('feature sets') as applied to two anomaly detection techniques in the astronomaly package and analyse our performance by comparison with citizen science labels on the same data set. Using transients found by volunteers as our ground truth, we demonstrate that anomaly detection techniques can recall over half of the radio transients in the 10 per cent of the data with the highest anomaly scores. We find that the choice of anomaly detection algorithm makes a minor difference, but that feature set choice is crucial, especially when considering available resources for human inspection and/or follow-up. Active learning, where human labels are given for just 2 per cent of the data, improves recall by up to 20 percentage points, depending on the combination of features and model used. The best-performing results produce a factor of 5 times fewer sources requiring vetting by experts. This is the first effort to apply anomaly detection techniques to finding radio transients and shows great promise for application to other data sets, and as a real-Time transient detection system for upcoming large surveys
Beliefs of pentecostal pastors on the use of antiretroviral treatment among pentecostal christians living with HIV in a suburb of Cape Town-South Africa: a community health systems lens
No full textThe global public health community accepts antiretroviral therapy (ART) for controlling and managing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, within some communities, claims of faith or miraculous healing of HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by Pentecostal pastors continue to spark controversies. This paper reports on an exploratory qualitative study to explore the beliefs held by Pentecostal pastors regarding the use of ART among Pentecostal Christians who are living with HIV. Twenty (20) purposively selected Pentecostal pastors from two informal settlements in Cape Town, South Africa, participated in the study. Open-ended, semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted on their religious beliefs concerning ART adherence. Interviews were conducted in English, audiotaped and transcribed verbatim before being imported into the Atlas.ti 2023 software program for thematic data analysis. Since our study was guided by the relational community health system model a hybrid deductive–inductive thematic analysis was used. Two contrasting themes about the influence of the religious beliefs of Pentecostal pastors were identified. The first theme and its associated subthemes highlight the lack of basic HIV and ART knowledge among pastors. Consequently, these pastors tend to nudge their Christians to rely more on faith and spiritual healing at the expense of adherence to ART. The second theme and its related sub-themes suggest that some pastors possess some basic HIV knowledge and understand the role of ART and how it works. This group of pastors advise their congregants to use ART and other healthcare services in tandem with spiritual rituals, faith and prayers. Our findings highlight the need for functional community-based structures, such as community health committees and health facility management committees, in settings where complex interaction within the belief systems, practices and norms of some stakeholders can influence people’s health-seeking behaviours such as adherence to chronic medications like ART
Extraposition and optionality: an investigation of information packaging in Paarl-Kaaps
No full textPresently, (Paarl-) Kaaps is an under-documented linguistic system. This applies to all levels of language, including syntax, which is the focus of this study. In particular, this dissertation aims to investigate the phenomenon of extraposition, which is the displacement of constituents from their canonical position in the middle of the clause, to the right of the verb. Importantly, extraposition represents one area in which grammar seems to permit some optionality, as both extraposed and non-extraposed structures are frequently grammatical. Grammatical and information packaging properties are considered as factors conditioning extraposition. A major strength of this dissertation is that it considers actual cases of extraposition in a spoken corpus of Paarl-Kaaps, as well as cases where extraposition was (im-)possible. In other words, a three-way distinction is made between actual cases of extraposition, cases in which extraposition would still yield a grammatical expression, and cases in which extraposition would have resulted in ungrammaticality. Viewing the data in this way highlights the optionality in grammar. Furthermore, this dissertation also aims to determine how extraposition can be used by speakers as a variable to construct their identity depending on the nature of their relationship with the interlocutor
Irrational medicine use and its associated factors in conflict-affected areas in Mali: a cross-sectional study
No full textBackground: Rational use of essential medicines is a critical step towards prevention and treatment of many illnesses. However, it represents a significant challenge worldwide, and particularly for under-resourced health systems in conflict-affected areas. Objective: To assess barriers to rational use of essential medicines at primary healthcare level in conflict-affected areas of Mali. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in twenty randomly selected community health centres (CHCs) in four health districts, by applying the World Health Organisation and International Network on Rational Use of Drugs core forms for the rational use of medicines. Seven hundred eighty-nine (789) prescriptions were retrospectively selected and analysed; four hundred forty-three (443) patients were interviewed: and health facility-related indicators were collected prospectively from the 20 CHCs. Results: The average number of medicines per prescription was 3.89 ± 1.83; out of these, 94.0% were prescribed by generic name, and 91.0% belonged to Mali’s National List of Essential Medicines. Overall, 68% of the assessed prescriptions included antibiotics; 58% included injectables; and 75.79% were characterized by polypharmacy, i.e. more than two medicines per prescription
African entrepreneurial ecosystem resource constraints: a covid-19 perspective
No full textOrdinarily, African countries suffer severe resource constraints. Resource constraints refer to insufficient means to meet sustainable economic growth demands. Regarding entrepreneurial activities, a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem is needed for the large uptake of and sustained interest in entrepreneurship. It is on record that African countries’ dilapidated infrastructure and maladministration, including weak institutions, are reasons sustainable entrepreneurial activities have been less than optimal. The recent COVID-19 pandemic no doubt extended the challenge of entrepreneurship on the continent. Using Pickering and Byrne’s (2014) systematic quantitative assessment technique, we identified, assessed and interpreted available research evidence that assisted us in exploring the impact of resource constraints on African entrepreneurial ecosystem formation, development and growth. We noted that COVID-19 added complexities to perennial questions about making African entrepreneurship ecosystems fit for supporting entrepreneurship development. Although African economies were already constrained in many ways, including their business environment, we conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges and opportunities for business management and entrepreneurship. While businesses could adapt in many cases, several aspects—such as government regulations, consumer behaviour shifts and global supply chain disruptions—were beyond their control. Navigating these uncertainties required agility, resilience and an ability to innovate, but it also highlighted the vulnerabilities and risks inherent in the modern globalised economy
Usungulo lwenkqubo yeziqulatho zevidiyo nemixholo yesifundo sekhemistri ngolwimi lwesiXhosa
No full textEyona njongo iphambili yolu phando kukusungulwa kwenkqubo yeziqulatho zesifundo seKhemistri ngolwimi lwesiXhosa. Ekwenzeni njalo, olu phando luzakwenza uguqulolwimi lweziqulatho zevidiyo kwanemixholo yesifundo seKhemistri ukusukela kulwimi lwesiNgesi ukuya kulwimi lwesiXhosa ngeenjongo zokuzenza zifumaneke kubafundi abantetho yabo isisiXhosa, bezifumana ngolwimi lwabo lwemveli. Ngelilungiselela ungqamanongqo (ulingano) kuguqulolwimi, iifankshinalisti ezifana noVemeer (1996) kwingcingane yakhe ye‘Skopos’ ziphakamisa uluvo lokuba, ‘uguqulolwimi ngalunye lunenjongo elifuna ukuyiphumeza, kwaye ngesizathu sokuba iilwimi ezi zinendima ebalulekileyo ezithi ziyidlale kwiinkcubeko zazo, uguqulolwimi kufaneleke ngoko ukuba lubonwe okanye luthathwe njengoku- “tshintshiselana ngeenkcubeko’.
Olu phando, ngokukhokelwa sisihloko kwaneenjongo zalo luqhutywe ngokusebenzisa izixhobo eziquka ulwazi olutsha, olube ludliwanondlebe kumakhasi omoya phakathi komphandi kunye neengcali ezingabahlohli kwisiza seKhemistri nesebe leInformation Systems zeYunivesithi yaseNtshona Koloni. Umphandi ngokwakhe, ‘ubesesinye sezixhobo ezibalulekileyo ekucholacholeni ulwazi’, Miles noHuberman (1940: 40). Uphando lusebenzise nolwazi olusele lukhona (uphando lwaseDesikeni). NgokukaSimelane (2014: 29) ulwazi olusele lukhona, ‘lulwazi olusele luqokelelwe lwadityaniswa lwaze lwashicilelwa ngalo naluphi na uhlobobo loncwadi’. Imithombo yolu phando kolu hlobo lolwazi ibe yiManyuwali yesifundo seKhemistri (iKhemistri 114/116), iziqulatho zevidiyo ezingemixholo yesi sifundo sonyaka wokuqala kwiYunivesithi yaseNtshona Koloni, iiJenali kwaneeNcwadi zoguqulolwimi Ukuze kube kanti iinjongo zolu phando ziyazaliseka, indlela yophando enobungqina obuxabisekileyo (khwalitheyithivu) yeyona isetyenzisiweyo kolu phando. NgokukaLeedy (1993) ecatshulwa nguSimelane (2014: 27), ‘indlela yokwenza uphando enobungqina obuxabisekileyo kufanele ngalo lonke ixesha xa uphando olo lugxile ebantwini isetyenziswe, ingakumbi xa luchaphazela unxibelelwano phakathi kwabo, iindlela abanika iintsingiselo ngazo kwizinto ezibangqongileyo, imigaqo nemiqathango elawula ubomi bomntu, iimvakalelo, ukholo, kwaneengcinga zabo’. Olu phando lufumanise ukuba akukho ndlela nankqubo iyodwa isekiweyo ilungele zonke iintlobo zenguqulo, koko uguqulolwimi ngalunye luxhomekeke kwiinjongo, umyalelelo kwakunye nomguquli.
Kwakhona olu phando ekufuneni kwalo ungqamanongqo kuguqulolwimi lunyathele ezinye zezona ngcingane zoguqulolwimi ezisematheni, iforeyinazeyishini kunye nedomestikheyishini. NgokukaVenuti (1995); noMunday (2016) ngokucatshulwa nguAjtony (2017: 93), iforeyinazeyishini yazisa kangangoko ngenkcubeko yetekisi yentsusa abo umyalezo ujoliswe kubo, ibonakalisa oko kungaqhelekanga, logama idomestikheyishini yona isondeza iilwimi ezimbini kunye neenkcubeko ezimbini (nangaphezulu), icutha ukungaqheleki kwitekisi yabo umyalezo ujoliswe kubo, ithobela imigaqo nemiqathango yenkcubeko yelo qela umyalezo ujoliswe kulo, ngokwenza njalo yenza oko kungaqhelekanga kube nokufikeleleka’.
Kwanjengoko olu iluphando lweakhademikhi, iziphumo kwanoguqulolwimi olwenziweyo luzakufumaneka kwiZiko iSisanda Technical High School, kwiSebe leKhemistri nakwiSebe leInformation Systems kwiYunivesithi yaseNtshona Koloni, ngeenjongo zokufumana inkcazelo malunga nokusebenziseka, ukuchaneka kwanokwamkeleka kwalo msebenzi. Olu phando ngoko ke, luneenjongo zokwenza ukuba abafundi beKhemistri abantetho isisiXhosa babenokuyiqonda nangakumbi imixholo yeKhemistri kwananjengoko bezakube beyifumana ngolwimi lwabo lweenkobe
Investigating the potential of the Chinese herbal remedy SS-1 for the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome via the interleukin-17 signaling axis
No full textBackground: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a prevalent autoimmune disease characterized by dry mouth and dry eyes, which significantly impact patients' quality of life. Chinese medicine has been widely utilized to alleviate SS symptoms. SS-1 has shown efficacy in treating SS through evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials. Methods: The TCM remedy SS-1 was extracted into a powder. Phytochemicals in SS-1 were identified by using LC‒MS/MS. The Schrödinger platform was utilized as the primary computational tool to evaluate the potential therapeutic targets of IL-17 for SS. The bioactive components and reference compounds were subjected to ADMET prediction, docking analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation to assess the stability of the receptor‒ligand complex and analyze fluctuations and conformational changes during protein‒ligand interactions. Results: Ninety phytochemical compounds in SS-1 were identified by LC‒MS/MS. Molecular docking studies revealed that two selected compounds within the SS-1 powdered extract exhibited higher glide scores and MMGBSA values than reference ligands at specific residues. These compounds also showed a strong binding affinity to specific residues, displaying potential pharmacokinetic potency and appropriate drug-like properties. Furthermore, the results from the molecular dynamics simulation demonstrated the greater stability of the ligands and receptors than of the reference ligands. ADMET analysis indicated that the selected ligands exhibited drug-like suitability for further investigation in new drug development. Conclusion: The SS-1 remedy and its variety of phytoconstituents have the potential to be medicinally significant for the management of Sjögren's syndrome, which has prompted additional research into its possible therapeutic benefits
Exploring V2O5 nanostructures for enhanced supercapacitor performance with Na2SO4 hydrogel electrolyte
No full textThe present study investigates vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanostructures combined with Na2SO4-based gel electrolytes to improve the efficiency and energy storage capability of next-generation supercapacitors. V2O5 with nanorod (NR-I) and nanoflower (NF-II) morphologies were synthesised via hydrothermal methods and characterized using XRD, XPS, SEM, UV–vis, FTIR, AFM, RAMAN and BET techniques. To address leakage and mechanical challenges, self-supporting hydrogel films were fabricated from PVA polymer in a neutral Na2SO4 electrolyte at room temperature without chemical crosslinking agents. The electrochemical study revealed superior specific capacitance for NR-I compared to NF-II in single-electrode configurations with aqueous Na2SO4 electrolyte. Therefore, symmetric supercapacitor devices (NR-I // NR-I) were assembled using PVA-Na2SO4 hydrogel and aqueous Na2SO4 electrolytes. The hydrogel-based device demonstrated superior performance, achieving a specific energy of 29 Wh kg−1 and a specific power of 0.79 kW kg−1 at 1 A g−1 within a 1.6 V operating window. Additionally, it retained over 95.2 % of its original capacitance at 8 A g−1 after 2000 cycles and exhibited excellent cyclability, maintaining stable performance up to 5000 cycles. The present research offers a novel approach to enhancing supercapacitor performance by integrating V2O5 nanostructures with PVA-Na2SO4 hydrogel electrolytes, utilizing self-supporting films to address leakage and improve device efficiency. [Display omitted] •1-D and 3-D morphologies using Hydrothermal approach.•A self-supporting hydrogel-based symmetric device was fabricated.•Symmetric device (V2O5//V2O5) delivers a high energy density of 29 Wh kg−1.•The device retains 95.2 % capacitive retention after 2000 cycles