1834 research outputs found
Sort by
A practice-led exploration of the aesthetics of household waste in selected South African visual artworks
No full textIn this practice-led exploration, I investigate the aesthetic potential of household waste. With household waste as the object of investigation, I explore the cultural signification of waste in terms of the role it plays in art practice. I look into the found object, bricoleur culture and the sculptural process of assemblage. By considering how assemblage allows for the inclusion of waste materials, the lowly status of household waste leads my art practice to a do-it-yourself approach. This approach of incorporating waste materials into artworks shifts the focus from the physical state to the conceptual meaning of waste. The shift that occurs when the waste object is displaced into art is central to this research study, owing to the capacity of these objects to connote meaning. I refer to this capacity as the social agency of waste materials. My investigation pertains to how art practice may alter or enhance the meaning of household waste. The physical cycle of waste, the constant change in use value that is promoted by consumer society and the process of conceptual adaptation instil a nomadic quality in household waste. I view the nomadic quality of waste as a means to activate viewer participation. I investigate, in particular case studies, how the interrelationship of installation art, site-specificity and community-based art may contribute to an experiential mode of viewing. I apply the lens of phenomenology and contemporary environmental aesthetics to interpret how viewers engage with art installations. My investigation of confrontational art installations has informed the approach of my own creative research. To convey the nomadic quality of waste, I have developed a series of quasi-functional sculptural artworks that act as mechanical modes of movement to signify an industrial influence of consumerism. Through community art practice as an interrelated field of research, the community members of Rietondale, particularly the school learners from workshops I presented, influenced my approach to my own art practice as I had sought to influence theirs. This mini-dissertation serves as a reflection on the coinciding thought process, material journey and collaborative initiative of a practice-led exploration of the aesthetics of household waste.National Research Foundatio
HySA: infrastructure hydrogen South Africa
No full textThis video highlights the different technologies at HySA Infrastructure and provides a basic background for HySA Infrastructure.DST via HySA Infrastructure public awareness programm
Wild and domestic animals as reservoirs of antibiotic resistant escherichia coli in South Africa
No full textNational Research Foundatio
Sex and species specific isotopic niche specialisation increases with trophic complexity: evidence from an ephemeral pond ecosystem
No full textIt is generally accepted that organisms that naturally exploit an ecosystem facilitate coexistence, at
least partially, through resource partitioning. Resource availability is, however, highly variable in space
and time and as such the extent of resource partitioning must be somewhat dependent on availability.
Here we test aspects of resource partitioning at the inter- and intra-specific level, in relation to resource
availability in an atypical aquatic environment using an isotope approach. Using closely related key
organisms from an ephemeral pond, we test for differences in isotopic signatures between two species
of copepod and between sexes within each species, in relation to heterogeneity of basal food resources
over the course of the ponds hydroperiod. We show that basal food resource heterogeneity increases
over time initially, and then decreases towards the end of the hydroperiod, reflective of the expected
evolution of trophic complexity for these systems. Resource partitioning also varied between species
and sexes, over the hydroperiod with intra- and inter-specific specialisation relating to resource
availability. Intra-specific specialisation was particularly evident in the omnivorous copepod species.
Our findings imply that trophic specialisation at both the intra- and inter-specific level is partly driven by
basal food resource availabilit
The identification of key vulnerability components within Solomon islands coastal communities
No full textThe impacts of climate change are disproportionally felt across the planet, with small island
developing states some of the countries most at risk. Furthermore, climate change may
compound existing problems such as over harvested resources, leading to knock-on effects on
national economies. Both direct and indirect stressors may impact communities differently
based on their level of exposure to stressors, their intrinsic sensitivity to these stressors, and
their ability to adapt to stressors.
This study aims to answer the primary research question: Why are some communities more
vulnerable than others? A vulnerability assessment is used to identify both vulnerable and
non-vulnerable attributes of Solomon Islands’ communities. Surveys comprised a
comprehensive questionnaire to draw inference on each vulnerability category; sensitivity,
exposure and adaptive capacity, along with their various components and subcomponents. An
analysis of household and community livelihood strategies was conducted to compliment
vulnerability scores and provide a deeper understanding of livelihood practises.
As is expected of small island states, exposure presents the biggest threat to coastal
communities. Within this category, environmental changes and personal exposure from
shoreline erosion and safety at sea provide evidence of high vulnerability. Within the
sensitivity category, the cultural importance of fishing, as well as attachment to place and
fishing, renders communities more vulnerable. Simultaneously, local ecological knowledge
and economic dependence on resources other than fishing proved to be resilient attributes by
decreasing vulnerability. Low vulnerability scores for the adaptive capacity category were
achieved by communities where physical capital, such as community infrastructure, was
evident. A lack of both institutional support and bridging of social capital were attributes
which contributed to community vulnerability.
This study has identified key attributes that have both positive and negative effects on the
vulnerability of Solomon Islands communities. Having done this, I have also attempted to
determine the drivers that render some attributes more vulnerable than others. It is
acknowledged that the drivers of all key attributes of vulnerability is required to determine
areas where adaptation plans will be most effective. Importantly, drivers of high vulnerability
should not be considered as the primary focus of adaptation planning, but also the drivers of
low vulnerability, such as community cohesion, which provide resilience within
communities.National Research Foundatio
The role of leisure engagement in the relationship between coping and psychological well-being among adolescents
No full textAdolescence is a dynamic life phase, universally accepted as a transitional period hallmarked by rapid physical development, as well as dramatic cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial changes. Moreover, South African adolescents are still faced with various obstacles due to an uncertain and diverse post-apartheid society. Given the vast amounts of stressors that South African adolescents encounter daily, it is necessary to explore whether these adolescents might benefit from engaging in leisure activities that may aid in coping as well as contribute towards higher levels of psychological well-being. Furthermore, there is a paucity of research regarding the use of leisure as a coping strategy within the South African adolescent population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to further our understanding of the role of leisure in coping and adolescent psychological well-being. The current study thus aimed to determine if leisure engagement, particularly as a coping strategy, could moderate the relationship between coping and psychological well-being amongst adolescents in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
In order to achieve the goal of this study, a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional research design was employed. Permission was granted by the Northern Cape Department of Education to conduct the data collection at schools within the Northern Cape Province. Participants were selected from three schools in the province by means of non-probability, convenience sampling and consisted of 228 learners (112 males and 116 females) from Grades 10 to 12. Participating adolescents were between the ages of 14 and 19 years, with a mean age of 16.26. A self-report battery consisting of a biographical questionnaire, the Brief Coping Orientations to the Problem Experienced Questionnaire (Brief COPE), the Leisure Coping Strategy Scale, and Ryff’s Scale of Psychological Well-Being was used to obtain valuable data.
This study endeavoured to supplement existing research in positive psychology by aiming to demonstrate the specific representation of the constructs of coping, leisure, and psychological well-being in the lives of the South African adolescent population.
For this purpose, these positive psychology constructs were measured amongst a sample of South African adolescents. The Pearson product-moment correlation, hierarchical multiple regressions, as well as moderated multiple regressions were run to measure these constructs and subsequently answer the research questions. The study confirmed statistically significant relationships between three coping strategy categories and adolescent psychological well-being, as well as between leisure as a coping strategy and adolescent psychological well-being. Gender, and leisure engagement, however, were not found to be statistically significant moderators in the relationship between coping and adolescent psychological well-being.
The current findings underscore the importance of leisure engagement, particularly leisure as a coping strategy, during the crucial life phase of adolescence. Further evidence has also been provided to suggest that positive leisure experiences and specific types of leisure activities not only help adolescents to cope with various stresses, but also contribute towards higher levels of psychological well-being. Finally, these findings highlight the importance of examining coping, leisure, and psychological well-being as multidimensional constructs within the South African context.National Research Foundatio
Evaluating the role of hyaluronic acid products in the treatment of Infertility
No full textHyaluronic acid is (HA) a naturally existing macromolecule and present in several HA based
products aiming to improve the outcomes of assisted reproduction. Hyaluronic acid is produced
by the human cumulus cells and is therefore naturally present in the female reproductive tract.
During physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI®), spermatozoa that are able to
bind to solid-state HA, have a chromatin structure with high DNA chain integrity associated with
fertilization competence and normal chromosomal constitution. The addition of HA into transfer
media is based on several properties that characterize it as an implantation-enhancing molecule.
Its viscosity is believed to facilitate the integration of the embryos into the fluid secretions of the
intrauterine environment as it has been shown to increase cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix adhesion.
The presence of the CD44 receptor for HA, expressed on both the embryo and the supporting
network of the human endometrium, suggests the action of HA during the process of
implantation.
The aim of the study was to evaluate retrospectively the role of hyaluronic acid in the PICSI®
procedure and prospectively also its use in embryo transfer medium.
The retrospective study involved the review of 388 patients whose treatment involved the
fertilization of their ova by either physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI®) or
traditional intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In vitro fertilization (IVF) was used as a control
group. PICSI® involves the use of a specialised culture dish that has three gel-like microdots of
HA attached to the bottom surface of its interior. These HA dots provide an additional parameter
whereby spermatozoa with a normal chromosome composition can be selected for injection.
Strict exclusion criteria were applied to eliminate variables other than the fertilization method that
could have influenced treatment outcomes. The comparison showed no statistically significant
improvement in ART outcome, at Drs Aevitas Fertility Clinic (Vincent Pallotti Hospital, Pinelands,
South Africa), when PICSI® dishes were used to select spermatozoa for injection. Outcomes
measured included; fertilization rate, embryo quality, pregnancy and miscarriage rates.
The prospective study evaluated the treatment outcomes of patients who underwent embryo
transfer with specialized embryo transfer medium, EmbryoGlue® (EG) in comparison with a
historically similar patient population who underwent embryo transfer with traditionally employed
culture media at the same clinic (Drs Aevitas Fertility Clinic). The HA contained in EG acts as a
specialised adherence compound supporting the implantation of a transferred embryo in the
endometrium. The comparison showed no statistically significant improvement in clinical
pregnancy, ongoing clinical pregnancy nor in miscarriage rates when adjustments were made for
confounding factors.
The results of the study have produced valuable information that will inform future use of HA
products in the treatment of patients attending Drs Aevitas Fertility Clinic.National Research Foundatio
Trophic isotopic carbon variation increases with pond’s hydroperiod: evidence from an Austral ephemeral ecosystem
No full textTrophic variation in food web structure occurs among and within ecosystems. The magnitude of
variation, however, difers from system to system. In ephemeral pond ecosystems, temporal dynamics
are relatively more important than in many systems given that hydroperiod is the ultimate factor
determining the presence of an aquatic state. Here, using stable isotopes we tested for changes in
trophic chain length and shape over time in these dynamic aquatic ecosystems. We found that lower
and intermediate trophic level structure increased over time. We discuss these fndings within the
context of temporal environmental stability. The dynamic nature of these ephemeral systems seems to
be conducive to greater levels of intermediate and lower trophic level diversity, with omnivorous traits
likely being advantageous