UNAM Open Access Journal University of Namibia
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Distribution of Gamma-Emitting Radionuclides in the Soils of the Neudamm Campus of the University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
Get PDFThe concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides40K,232Th and238U in soil samplestaken from the Neudamm campus of the University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia have beendetermined and used to calculate a mean annual effective dose for the campus. The concen-trations were measured using a sensitive gamma-ray spectroscopic system consisting of a highpurity germanium detector and associated equipment.40K was found to have the highest specificconcentration varying between 229.1±13.5 Bq kg−1and 499.0±16.5 Bq kg−1with a meanvalue of 364.5±79.3 Bq kg−1while the concentration of232T hvaries between 10.4±2.8 Bqkg−1and 38.5±3.8 Bq kg−1with a mean value of 28.0±9.2 Bq kg−1and the concentration of238U varies between 11.7±1.3 Bq kg−1and 24.7±2.1 Bq kg−1with a mean value of 18.5±4.8Bq kg−1. The value of 0.05±0.01 mSv y−1obtained for the mean annual effective dose is wellbelow the limit of 1 mSv y−1recommended for the public by the International Commission onRadiological Protection. This result indicates that radiation hazard is negligible on the campu
Relationship between Dissolved Oxygen and the Vertical and Longitudinal Distribution of Zooplankton off the Namibian coast
Get PDFZooplankton play an important role in the marine food web and are abundant on the Namibian coast, which is part of the highly productive Benguela upwelling system. In the Benguela system zooplankton populations are dominated by copepods and euphausiids. The abundance and distribution of zooplankton are affected by various environmental factors such as temperature, light intensity and dissolved oxygen (DO). This study investigated the relationship between DO and the diversity of zooplankton at different depths in the water column on the continental shelf off the Namibian coast. There was a positive correlation between DO and diversity of zooplankton offshore (Pearson’s r =0.83), while there exists a very weak positive correlation between DO and zooplankton diversity onshore (r= 0.196). Diversity of zooplankton does not differ significantly with depth at both onshore and offshore stations (Shannon’s Index H0 < 1). However, Divesity of zooplankton between offshore (H0=2.8 to 3.6) and onshore (H0=0.8 to 0.9) stations differs significanty (p = 0:0271;d f = 4) in the top 90m, but is not significantly different below 90m (p = 0:406;d f = 4). Nevertheless, the onshore stations had higher species richness compared to the offshore stations. Dissolved oxygen does not have a direct effect on the diversity of zooplankton, but an indirect effect and it is the interplay and interaction between several biological and environmental factors that affects zooplankton assemblage composition
Loop Space Homology of Some Homogeneous Spaces
Get PDFLet X be a simply-connected compact oriented manifold of dimension m. We show that the Gerstenhaber structure of the loop space homology H (map(S1;X);Q) can be computed in terms of derivations on the minimal Sullivan model of X. The technique is applied to compute brackets in the loop space homology of homogeneous spaces.loop space homology
Host specificity, prevalence and intensity of infestation of fleas (Order Siphonaptera) of small mammals atselected sites in the city of Windhoek, Namibia.
Get PDFSmall mammals host diverse communities of parasites including fleas. There is considerable research interest in effects of parasites on their hosts. Host specificity, prevalence and intensity of infestation of fleas on small mammals were studied at selected sites in the city of Windhoek, Namibia from April to July 2005. Small mammals were live-trapped using Sherman traps and autopsied before collection of fleas. Fleas were processed using standard parasitological procedures and were mounted permanently onto slides using Canada balsam. Small mammal hosts and fleas were identified to species level. A total of sixty one (61) small mammals belonging to four rodent species, i.e. bushveld gerbil Gerbilliscus leucogaster, hairy-footed gerbil Gerbillurus paeba, black-tailed tree rat Thallomys nigricauda and the four-stripped mouse Rhabdomys pumilio and one insectivore, bushveld sengi Elephantulus intufi, were captured. One hundred and thirty six (136) fleas belonging to eight species, i.e. Xenopsylla brasiliensis, Xenopsylla cheopis, Xenopsylla hirsuta, Xenopsylla trispinis, Dinopsyllus ellobius, Dinopsyllus zuluensis, Epirimia aganipes and Listropsylla aricinae were collected from infested hosts. Dinopsyllus ellobius and X. trispinis and L. aricinae were host specific, being collected only from G. leucogaster and G. paeba, respectively. No fleas were collected from E. intifi and R. pumilio. The prevalence of fleas ranged from zero in E. entufi and R. pumilio through 50 % in T. nigricauda, 55.1% in G. leucogaster to 61.1% in G. paeba. High species richness of fleas was recorded in G. leucogaster (seven out of eight flea species) and in G. paeba (six out of eight flea species). The overall prevalence of fleas was higher in male (54.3%) than in female (34.6%) hosts. There was no association between the body mass of small mammal hosts and the intensity of flea infestation. The intensity of infestation of fleas did not vary significantly by host species and sex of hosts
Views and preferences of parents, teachers and principals on the implementation of the language policy in primary schools in Namibia
Get PDFThe language policy of schools in Namibia states that from grade 1 to grade 3, learners should receive education in their mother tongues. The mother tongue becomes a subject from grade 4 onwards while English takes over as the medium of instruction. This paper presents the views of parents, teachers and principals and parents on how this policy is implemented in three schools studied in the Khomas region. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews from one urban school, one peri-urban school and one rural school. The fi ndings of the study refl ect diff erent language preferences between parents and teachers, the latter favouring English and the former advocating the mother tongue a
Social Work students’ attitudes towards gender equality in Namibia: Results from an exploratory study
Get PDFThis manuscript explores the attitudes towards gender equality of students studying social work in Namibia. While previous published research has explored social work students’ attitudes toward sexism and gender equality, no published research presents the perspectives of students in a Southern African context. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) was used as the main data collection tool. This 22-item instrument measures levels of benevolent and hostile sexism and is supported with firm psychometric evidence, including established validity in international settings and in multiple languages. Results presented are based on a sample of 154 undergraduate social work students in an accredited social work degree programme at a Namibian public university. Overall, the results indicate above average levels of sexism, with higher scores for benevolent sexism than hostile sexism. Using bivariate analyses, the findings indicate that older students, married students, and those in the advanced stages of the degree programme (years 3-4) hold more positive attitudes related to gender equality, and thus hold less sexist views. Suggestions for addressing negative beliefs about gender equality in terms of curricular integration and increasing opportunities for student exposure to positive imagery are discussed
Causes and risk factors of maternal deaths in Namibia
Get PDFThe main purpose of this paper was to identify causes of maternal deaths in all districts and referral hospitals, and to assess risk factors and determine underlying contributory factors to maternal deaths in Namibia. The study proposed strategies for midwifery practice in order to prevent maternal deaths. A retrospective audit of maternal records was conducted with detailed analysis of the 154 maternal deaths recorded during the period 2008-2012. Of the 154 maternal deaths reviewed, 58.4% were from direct maternal deaths and 41.6% were from indirect maternal deaths. Hemorrhage (37.8%), eclampsia (24.4%) and puerperal sepsis (23.3%) were the leading causes for direct maternal deaths. About 65% of the hemorrhage cases; 64% of the eclampsia cases and 53% of the puerperal sepsis occurred to women who lived in rural areas. The predominant recognizable indirect causes were HIV (45.3%); pneumonia (23.4%) and Tuberculosis (17.2%). Women who live in rural areas were more likely to experience a maternal death due to pneumonia (60%) as compared to those in urban areas. Most women who died due to HIV were aged between 30-39 years (75.9%) while maternal deaths due to eclampsia were most common among the younger women (15-29 years). Maternal deaths are less likely to occur to women living together with their partner than those who are not living together (OR = 0.53). This descriptive study identified a range of socio demographic, clinical and health system factors as possible contributors to maternal deaths in Namibi
Lead pollution: A growing concern along the Namibian coastal waters
Get PDFThe accumulation of lead within specific strata of the Namibian coastal waters during the winter and summer months (2012) of the Southern Hemisphere was investigated using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The black mussel, Choromytilus meridionalis was used as indicator organism to ascertain levels of bioaccumulation. Accumulation levels in collected sediments and the water column were used as indicators for the partitioning of lead within the coastal water ecosystem. For this investigation, the Central Namibian coastline was demarcated into four sampling stations (Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Henties Bay and Cape Cross). Results obtained indicated significantly higher levels of lead in sediment samples collected from the Walvis Bay harbour compared to the other sampling stations (p < 0:05), with Cape Cross and Henties Bay relatively in a more pristine stage in terms of lead pollution. Although not significant (p > 0:05), worrisome levels were observed in C. meridionalis tissues collected from Walvis Bay harbour. Maximum mean values of lead detected in sampled C. meridionalis collected from the Walvis Bay harbour was 0.70 mg/Kg of sample dry weight during the summer months. The mean values within the sediments ranged from 79.30 to 0.30 mg/Kg detected from the Walvis Bay harbour to Cape Cross respectively. Though C. meridionalis farmed in and around Walvis Bay harbour could be regarded safe for human consumption as observed lead levels did not exceed permissible WHO limits. However, industrial activities involving discharges of untreated effluent into the harbour could pose health concerns over the long term if these practices are not checked. The major outcome of this investigation is the need for continued monitoring of activities in and around the Walvis Bay harbour that could aggravate increased lead pollution to avoid human risks and irreversible ecosystem destruction
A synopsis of the polyvalent qualities of zeolite-clinoptilolite and the proposed uses within the Namibian medical, pharmaceutical, industrial and economical sectors: A proposal for an integrated research.
Get PDFZeolites are crystalline hydrated aluminosilicates of the alkaline and alkaline-earthmetals with unique properties in cation exchange, adsorption and catalysis. Due to these properties they have been increasingly used in a wide range of applications in industry, environmental protection, agriculture, animal production, veterinary- and human medicine. Their increasing integration in the health sector worldwide with recognized efficacy based on scientific researches, clinical trials and personnel experience of many therapists encouraged the author to write this review. Clinoptilolite, one of the natural zeolites, offers a variety of well documented appliances as medical drug for internal and external use in addition to its utilization as growth promoter in animal feed, potent binder of heavy metals and radionuclides along with ammonium exploited in industries, and the use in filter systems for waste water clearance and building and construction material. Since Namibia provides the climate and geological conditions for deposits containing abundant zeolite, it is worth to look at the options for an efficient exploitation. This could open new markets for the national as well as the international trade.The utilization of zeolites within the fields described in this article would offer inexpensive alternatives to cover some shortfalls in the domains of agriculture, building and construction, environment protection and public health. One objective of this literature study is to explore interdisciplinary cooperative efforts to integrate various available information and reports regarding this multipurpose zeolite material in the activities of Namibian educational and research institutions. Several starting points are addressed particularly in the fields of agriculture, animal sciences, pharmacy and human medicine, how natural zeolites could be incorporated into or combined with existing concepts respectively would contribute to develop new strategies, emphasizing the health sector
International joint MSC Programme: University of Namibia and Humboldt University, Germany
Get PDFThe MSc Biodiversity Management and Research Programme is a full time interdisciplinary and international postgraduate programme jointly run by the University of Namibia (Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science) and Humboldt-Universitt zu Berlin, Germany. The main goal of the program is to build capacity to increase the number of postgraduate local and regional experts in the field of Biodiversity Management and Research. This program was designed to ”Build capacity to manage biodiversity and sustainable development in Namibia” as incorporated in Namibia governments ten-year strategic plan of action for sustainable development through biodiversity conservation (National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2001-2010). During the programme, students gain in-depth knowledge of natural-spatial features and biological diversity in Southern Africa with emphasis on Namibia, understand ecosystem functioning and human-induced impacts and the economic values and importance of biodiversity. Students also acquire skills that will enable them to design and undertake research to solve practical, relevant problems to society, using scientific methods and techniques. Graduates of the programme are employable in any biodiversity conservation and related fields including but not limited to lecturing, working for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (National Parks, Scientific Services, Tourism), ecotourism, curators of various taxa at Natural History museums, and community based organizations. Our graduates contribute to management of natural resources, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and also contribute to poverty reduction through use of natural resources to improve livelihoods of local people