1,699 research outputs found
Cyclacanthia mzimayiensis Samaai, Govender & Kelly, 2004, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Cyclacanthia mzimayiensis</i> sp. nov. <p>(Figs. 2 G, H, 3C, D, 4C, F, 4D, G, 5C, D, E, F)</p> <p> <b>Holotype material.</b> SAM H­ 5082: Mzimayi reef, Sizela, south of Durban, east coast of South Africa, 30° 37 137 'S, 31° 16 112 'E, 29 m, collected by T. Samaai and C. Lawrence, EKZN, 16 October 2003.</p> <p> <b>Paratype material.</b> SAM H­ 5081: Umkomaas, Aliwal Shoal, east coast of South Africa, 30° 26 202 'S, 32° 0 2 558 'E, 18 m, collected by T. Samaai, 4 September 2003. <b>Description</b>. Thinly encrusting sponge, 2–3 mm thick, forming a patch c. 28 mm x 35 mm diameter, incorporating sand, pebbles, barnacles, and other foreign material (Fig. 3 C, D). Surface smooth, with low volcano shape oscules, 3 mm high x 2 mm wide at base, 1 mm at apex, and a few nodular truncate areolate porefields, 2 mm high x 2 mm wide. Texture is incompressible and crumbly due to incorporation of substrate. Ectosome readily separable from the underlying choanosome. Colour in life lime green, in preservative dark green.</p> <p> <b>Spicules. Megascleres—</b> Styles: Smooth, straight, occasionally wavy, occasionally centrally thickened, narrow proximal region, fusiform: 268 (182–363) x 5 µm (Fig. 4 D, G). Paratype (SAM H­ 5081) style length; 276 (315–200) x 5 µm (Fig 4 C, F). <b>Micro­scleres—</b> isospinodiscorhabds: The apical whorl has 3 groups of 3 spines radiating obliquely from the shaft away from the median whorl, each with several additional spines. The apex is armoured with a single irregular spike that may be irregularly spined. The manubrium is identical to the apical whorl, the apex is also armoured with a single irregular spike that may be irregularly spined. The median whorl is equidistant from both apical whorl and manubrium; 4 groups of 2 spines are directed horizontally from the shaft: 39 (30–48) µm (Holotype) (Fig. 2 G), 35 (30–44) µm (Paratype) (Fig. 2 H).</p> <p> <b>Skeleton</b>. Thick tracts 196–245 µm emanate from the deep choanosome and diverge towards the surface forming plumose tracts 274–392 µm wide The upper choanosome has an irregular polygonal­meshed reticulation formed by wispy tracts of smooth styles (Fig. 5 E, C). Interstitial megascleres and microscleres are abundant, as are sand particles and other foreign materials. The ectosome is a thin paratangential layer of megascleres, c. 98 µm thick, and is aligned with an irregular palisade of isospinodiscorhabds (Fig. 5 F, D).</p> <p> <b>Ecology</b>. The holotype was collected at Mzimayi reef, on a flat rocky ledge at the edge of the vertical section of the reef, at 29 m depth. This species is cryptic, accounting for its apparent rarity, and appears to grow where there is strong current flow. The paratype was found at Aliwal Shoal, on the southern edge of the reef complex, in a small crevice on a boulder, at 17 m depth. The sponge was barely visible, being covered with sand, and only the areolate porefields were visible.</p> <p> <b>Etymology</b>. Named after the type locality, Mzimayi Reef, south of Durban</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> <i>C. mzimayiensis</i> sp. nov. is clearly differentiated from <i>C. bellae</i> (Samaai & Kelly) and <i>C. cloverlyae</i> sp. nov. in habit; the sponge is very thinly encrusting over sandy pebbles, and it incorporates much foreign material. <i>C. mzimayiensis</i> sp. nov. is also lime green, as unusual colour for any latrunculiid sponge, and it is hard, and incompressible, while <i>C. cloverlyae</i> sp. nov. is relatively fleshy. The morphology of the microscleres further differentiates these species; the microscleres of <i>C. mzimayiensis</i> sp. nov. are more irregularly ornamented, compared to those of <i>C. cloverlyae</i> sp. nov., in particular, and they are medium in overall dimensions compared to those of both species (Table 1). <i>C. cloverlyae</i> sp. nov and <i>C. mzimayiensis</i> sp. nov. are separated by habitat, the former is found in a turbid, sandy reef environment and the latter in deeper waters on a rocky platforms associated with hard coral and algae.</p>Published as part of <i>Samaai, Toufiek, Govender, Vasha & Kelly, Michelle, 2004, Cyclacanthia n. g. (Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida: Latrunculiidae incertea sedis), a new genus of marine sponges from South African waters, and description of two new species, pp. 1-18 in Zootaxa 725</i> on pages 12-13, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/169508">10.5281/zenodo.169508</a>
Negotiating gender and sexual diversity in English language teaching : 'critical'-oriented educational materials designed by pre-service English teachers at a South African university
No full textChapter 7, by Navan N. Govender, considers how the author used a critical literacy course in a South African university to engage Bachelor of Education students in issues related to sex, gender, sexuality, and the conflations inherent. It further argues that confronting controversial topics in the classroom requires that both teachers and learners enter risky spaces in order to deconstruct, disrupt, and reconstruct relations of power in context. The pre-service English teachers were required to produce educational materials that used critical literacy to teach about gender and sexual diversity. The author begins by discussing what it means to do critical literacy before analysing the materials. His analysis unpacks the kinds of risks students were prepared to take and the slippery landscapes that come with confronting real and uncomfortable conversations, identities, and ideologies
From the Individual to the Collective: Acts of Resistance for Social Transformation in Pregs Govender\u27s Love and Courage.
No full textAbstract: Realizing that true courage and convictions are needed to create an egalitarian environment for the former colonized within a neo-colonial nation-state, Pregs Govender, the author of Love and Courage: A Story of Insubordination (2008) learns not only to speak truth to power, but also to stand up against hetero-patriarchal social and political power structures for transformation. Davis Francis Fanning argues that the phenomenon of autobiographical self-displacement in the literature of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) subverts political hegemony: “Republican autobiographies subvert autobiographical conventions by shifting the focus of the text from the author to the community with the text becoming a critique of national and conventional historiographical ideologues” (2003). In this paper, I will argue that a similar phenomenon exists in Govender’s “communography” (when the individuality of the author is subsumed within the community, Fanning) where her role as educator, activist, researcher and writer working for social justice and fundamental human rights for all South Africans moves from the bourgeois individual to the collective. Writers, such as Govender “refuse to accept the alleged split between the individual and society, and subvert the genre of autobiography in ways which create a community which exists in cooperation with the individual at the same time as they comment upon it” (Fanning 2003)
The Author Figured in Film
No full textFor all the critical attention paid to the author in literary theory and criticism, there has been no study of the film medium’s fascination with authors and authorship. Every year, Hollywood produces numerous films about poets, playwrights, novelists, and screenwriters. This thesis explores the narrative and cinematic potential of the author. In broad terms, it is an exercise in genre criticism, establishing the defining characteristics of films characterising authors. It is also a very specific type of genre criticism, taking a cognitivist approach that defines the author as a set of historically and socially established expectations and characteristics against which the characters in these films are measured. After establishing the phenomenological parameters and critical value of the cognitivist approach in Chapter 1,1 then take up Andrew Bennett’s outline of the author as a cultural concept, discussing its utility in dealing with films figuring authors and authorship. Chapters 3 to 8 explore a selection of the sub-genres of films containing authors, starting with characterisations of the author as a detective, then moving to films using and depicting writer’s.block, horrific characterisations of the author, characterisations of female authors, the biopic, and films characterising screenwriters in Hollywood. The work concludes with an analysis of Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze’s Adaptation (2002), whose broad exploration of authorship traverses more of these sub-genres than any other film, offering an opportunity to bring together the findings of Chapters 1 to 8. I focus on English language, feature length, narrative films released between 1927 and 2007. Rather than taking a chronological approach and tracing the history of the medium’s treatment of the author, I select films from various periods, identifying in them the defining characteristics of the genre. But more than this, the genre and its characteristics represent the persistent interpretive function of the author in face of the critical trend away from biographically based interpretation towards textual and semiotic analysis
Helically counter-poised monopole antenna
No full textA novel method of reducing the size of a conventional dipole antenna is introduced by means of replacing one of the dipole arms with a helical element. The result of this asymmetrical arrangement is an antenna that presents an omnidirectional pattern with a modest reduction in gain and bandwidth, in comparison to a symmetrical dipole antenna. The structure is effectively represented as a helically counter-poised monopole. It is shown that the counter-poised helix for the monopole, effectively replaces the ground plane of a conventional monopole antenna, or alternatively by using this method the antennas size can be significantly reduced from a full dipole. The principle is validated through measurement of return loss, antenna gain and cross-polarization level.D. Govender, J. Magarelli, A. Caldow, C. Fumeau
Eucyon khoikhoi Valenciano & Morales & Govender 2022, SP. NOV.
No full textEUCYON KHOIKHOI SP. NOV. <p>(FIGS 1–8)</p> <p> 1974 Canidae <i>incerta sedis</i> Hendey: 67.</p> <p> 1981a <i>gen. and sp. not det</i>.? aff. ‘ <i>Canis</i> ’ <i>brevirostris</i> Hendey: 50.</p> <p> 1981a <i>Vulpes</i> sp. Hendey: 50.</p> <p> 1993? <i>Eucyon</i> sp. Rook: 45.</p> <p> 2008 cf. <i>Eucyon</i> García: 589.</p> <p> 2009 <i>Eucyon</i> sp. Rook: 741.</p> <p> 2009 <i>Eucyon</i> sp. Montoya, Morales & Abella: 719.</p> <p> 2010 <i>Eucyon</i> sp. Werdelin & Peigné: 609, fig. 33.2A.</p> <p> 2016 <i>Eucyon</i> sp. Hartstone-Rose <i>et al</i>: 2, fig. 1A.</p> <p> <i>Zoobank registration:</i> urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: EFC6184C-759D-4AEC-B0DB-CEA578D79898</p> <p> <i>Diagnosis: Eucyon</i> of similar size to that of the type species of the genus <i>E. davisi</i> of North America. Upper premolars (P2–P3) relatively short and robust, separated by a small diastema. P4 robust, with strong protocone. Robust and large M2, with respect to M1. Short and tall lower premolars. p3 with small distal accessory cuspid. Robust p4 with stronger and more extended distal accessory cuspid, and presence of a second distal accessory cuspid, comprising a small talonid. Robust m1, with high protoconid, talonid without transverse cristid between the entoconid and the hypoconid. m2 relatively long compared with m1, with a complete trigonid and a narrow talonid.</p> <p> <i>Differential diagnosis:</i> Differs from <i>E. davisi</i> from North America (Tedford <i>et al.</i>, 2009) in a more robust lower dentition (p4–m1 and m2), with a longer m 2 in relation to the m1. In relation to the former character, the M2 long and more robust. The P4 is also more robust. The m1 has a better developed hypoconulid shelfhypoconulid shelf, comprising a markedly higher m1 protoconid. Most of these differences between <i>E. khoikhoi</i> and <i>E. davisi</i> are observed in the individuals of <i>E. davisi</i> from different localities in China (Tedford & Qiu, 1996). The Chinese sample has more robust premolars, especially P4 and p4, and more robust second molars (M2 and m2) than those of the North America populations. Therefore, they are more like <i>E. khoikhoi.</i> The Chinese <i>E. davisi</i> maintain small M2 and m2 lengths in relation to the first molars, which clearly distinguish them from <i>E. khoikhoi</i>. The difference in the length of the second molars with respect to the length of the m1 also allows the new Langebaanweg species to be distinguish from other <i>Eucyon</i> spp., which preserve comparable molar dentition: <i>Eucyon debonisi</i>, <i>E. odessanus</i>, <i>E. wokari</i> García, 2008 and <i>E. zhoui</i>. It differs from <i>E. debonisi</i> by the greater gracileness of the lower dentition in the Spanish species, particularly in the premolars and the carnassial teeth (P4 and m1). It differs from <i>E. wokari</i> in the anomaly of the alveolus in the maxilla for an M3, in the morphology of the m1 talonid, which in the Ethiopian species has transverse cristids that connect the hypoconid to the entoconid (Garcia, 2008). <i>Eucyon marinae</i> Spassov & Rook, 2006 differs from <i>E. khoikhoi</i> in the advanced morphology of the lower premolars and m1, which, although it lacks the transverse cristid between the hypoconid and the entoconid, the hypoconid is extremely large with respect to the entoconid, a trait that could indicate that this species moved away from the most common morphotypes of the <i>Eucyon</i> species. <i>Eucyon kuta</i> differs from <i>E. khoikhoi</i> in the robustness of the p2–3, unknown in other species of the genus, as the authors of the species point out. <i>Eucyon monticinensis</i> (Rook, 1992) possesses, despite the limited sample, a notable intraspecific variability, which, like <i>E. debonisi</i>, could be interpreted as sexual dimorphism (Montoya <i>et al.</i>, 2009). The M1 are at the maximum of robustness of the group, different from <i>E. khoikhoi</i>, and correspond with the size and proportions of the m1 of the type (Rook, 1992). It also differs from <i>E. khoikhoi</i> in the greater gracileness and size of the m2, traits that are common in both Italian and Spanish species. It differs from <i>Eucyon intrepidus</i> in its larger size and more robust M1 and m1. This species has the smallest M1 recorded in the Upper Miocene of Africa, close to the smallest specimens of <i>E. debonisi</i> and <i>E. khoikhoi</i>.</p> <p> <i>Etymology:</i> Named after the Khoikhoi (KhoeKhoen) people, formally a nomadic pastoralist indigenous population of southern Africa who thrived for over 1000 years in various regions of South Africa including the Western Cape, where this species was discovered. We honour Khoi heritage and ancestry.</p> <p> <i>Holotype:</i> SAM-PQL-31272, comprising the skull, two hemi-mandibles, two fragmentary humerii, two radii, including a right complete and a left fragmentary one, and five cervical vertebrae, including the atlas, axis and cervical 3–5.</p> <p> <i>Paratype:</i> SAM-PQL-72215, right maxillary including M1–M2.</p> <p> <i>Referred specimens:</i> SAM-PQL-40041, old and pathological individual comprising the fragmentary left hemi-mandible with p1, broken p4 and m1–3, the fragmentary right hemi-mandible with p1–m2, the right proximal epiphysis of the scapula, the right proximal epiphysis of the humerus, the right proximal epiphysis of the ulna, the left distal epiphysis of the radius, the complete right metacarpals II–V (Mc IV, broken), the left both pyramidal and magnum, the right ectocuneiform, eight sesamoids, four first phalanges, three second phalanges, one ungual phalanx and one caudal vertebra (fourth caudal); SAM-PQL-24976B, right I3; SAM-PQL-24976B, left Cx; SAM-PQL-15526B, left P2; SAM-PQL-15184B, left P4; SAM-PQL-72203, right fragment of P4, including the protocone; SAM-PQL-72204, left fragment of P4, including the protocone; SAM-PQL-72205, left fragment of P4, including the protocone; SAM-PQL-72207, left fragmentary P4; SAM-PQL-72208, right M1; SAM-PQL-69621B, left maxillary, including M1–2; SAM-PQL-15588 B/C, right M1; SAM-PQL-50497, left M1; SAM-PQL-15219B, left M1; SAM-PQL-15705A, left M2; SAM-PQL-72217, right M2; SAM-PQL-72206, left M2; SAM-PQL-72218, indeterminate root; SAM-PQL-40308, fragmentary left hemi-mandible with m1–3 alveoli, two fragmented tibiae and eight fragments of vertebrae; SAM-PQL-72228, right cx; SAM-PQL-50112, left cx; SAM-PQL-72221, fragmentary right cx; SAM-PQL-72222, fragmentary right cx; SAM-PQL-69621d, fragmentary right cx; SAM-PQL-72223, left fragmentary hemimandible with m2-3 alveoli; SAM-PQL-50111, right fragmentary hemi-mandible with m2–3 alveoli; SAM-PQL-722219, right fragmentary hemi-mandible with complete p1, p3–4 and a broken p3 at the base crown; SAM-PQL-72220, left fragmentary hemi-mandible with broken p3-p4 and mesial part of m1 at the base of the crown, plus distal root of m1; SAM-PQL-69621A, fragmentary right hemi-mandible with broken p3– m2 at the crown base and with m3 alveolus; SAM-PQL-50110, left fragment of hemi-mandible with c and p1 alveoli and a fragmentary p2; SAM-PQL-50497A, left fragmentary hemi-mandible with both m1 and m3 alveolus and a complete m2; SAM-PQL-15381 A/1, left p2; SAM-PQL-72216, left m1; SAM-PQL-72166, left fragment of the m1 trigonid; SAM-PQL-50113A, distal fragment of a right m1, including protoconid, metaconid and talonid; SAM-PQL-50113B, right m2; SAM-PQL-72225, right m1 talonid; SAM-PQL-72212, left m2; SAM-PQL-72211, fragmentary left m2; SAM-PQL-16120A, right m3; SAM-PQL-72213, right m3; SAM-PQL-72209, right Dp2; SAM-PQL-72210, left dp4; SAM-PQL-72214, fragmentary talonid of a left dp4; SAM-PQL-72226A, left fragment of dp3; SAM-PQL-72226B, left dp4; SAM-PQL-20424, right fragmentary humerus with most of the shaft and the distal epiphysis; SAM-PQL-23331, right radius; SAM-PQL-15323, atlas; SAM-PQL-15174, axis; SAM-PQL-15160, third cervical vertebra.</p> <p> <i>Type locality:</i> Langebaanweg ‘E’ Quarry, Western Cape, South Africa.</p> <p> <i>Age:</i> Langebaanweg ‘E’ Quarry spans the Middle Miocene (Langhian, 16–12 Mya) to the Early Pliocene (Zanclean, 5.2 Mya) (Tankard & Rogers, 1978; Hendey, 1989; Roberts, 2006a,b; Roberts <i>et al.</i>, 2011). The bone bed occurs at the base of the MPPM within the channel fill of the LQSM (Roberts <i>et al.</i>, 2011). The specimens of <i>Eucyon khoikhoi</i> are recovered from the MPPM and LQSM which dates to Early Pliocene, 5.2 Mya (see Roberts <i>et al.</i>, 2011).</p> <p> <i>Description</i></p> <p> <i>Skull and upper dentition:</i> The type skull SAM-PQL-31272 is well preserved, without deformation (Fig. 1; Tables 1, 2). Portions of the palatine, and both pterygoid and the basisphenoids, are missing. The cranial sutures and the absence of wear of the dentition, suggests it is a young adult. Dorsally, the overall morphology is reminiscent to <i>C. aureus</i>. It has long nasal bones, with the muzzle similar to that of <i>V. chama</i>, <i>C. aureus</i> and <i>C. latrans</i> and relatively shorter compared to <i>L. mesomelas</i>. A small infraorbital foramen is located above P3. It has a big and round orbital bone. It has a frontal sinus invading the base of the postorbital process, but a minor dorsal depression is present on the process, being less marked to those the one of the African vulpini <i>V. chama</i> and <i>O. megalotis</i>.</p> <p> The forehead is not as high as in <i>C. lupus</i>, resembling those of the jackals <i>C. aureus</i> and <i>L. mesomelas</i>, the coyote (<i>C. latrans</i>) and vulpini. On the right, the sharper and robust frontal process of zygomatic is preserved in the zygomatic arch.</p> <p> A thick and broad sagittal crest is present in the parietal area. The occipital protuberance extends beyond the occipital area, and connects with the prominent nuchal crests, which are more laterally expanded than those of living jackals and <i>V. chama</i> and <i>O. megalotis</i>. The cranium is lateromedially wide at the temporal level. In ventral view, the palatine fissure is large but broken.</p> <p> The palatine sulcus is not preserved. The major palatine foramen is situated between P4 and M1, as in <i>C. aureus</i> and <i>V. chama</i>, and in a more caudal position than <i>L. mesomelas</i>. Neither the pterygoid bones nor hamulus processes are preserved, but both left oval and caudal foramina are preserved. The bulla is large and swollen. The right one has the ectotympanic bone missing, the petrosal bone and the bullar septum are partially preserved. The rostroventral area of the right one is broken. A large foramen lacerum and a small musculotubal canal are located in the most rostral area of the bulla. It has a round external acoustic meatus and a round and smaller stylomastoid foramen, similar to that of <i>L. mesomelas</i> and much smaller than the analysed vulpini. In the distal part of the bulla, the tympano-occipital fissure is large and oval. A small hypoglossal canal is located distally to the fissure. The paroccipital process is ventrally projected. It is well developed and extends over the bulla, displaying a strong bone bar. Both mastoid and paroccipital processes are similar to those of <i>C. latrans</i>, <i>C. aureus</i>, <i>L. mesomelas</i> and unlike <i>V. chama</i> and <i>O. megaloti</i>. In caudal view, the nuchal area is triangular, comprising a complete occipital condyle.</p> <p>The incisors are set in a parabolic row.I3 is larger than I2. There is a diastema between the I3–C and between the P1 and P2. The I3 is tall with a single cusp, lingually curved. There is a small distolingual cingulum (Fig. 2A, B). The C is oval, showing a marginal lateromedial compression. Its crown is high and thin. In distal view it is slightly sigmoidal (Fig. 2C). P1 single rooted. P2 and P3 relatively short, without mesial accessory cusps. P2 with residual accessory cusp associated with the distal crista. P3 with well-developed distal accessory cusp (Fig. 2) and P4 has no parastyle. It has a carnassial notch. The protocone is low, conical and located in line with the mesial border of the paracone. The fragmentary specimen SAM-PQL-72205 has the protocone more mesially projected. An inflection is present between the protocone and the mesial border of the paracone in all the P4s (Fig. 2E–H). There is a weak lingual and mesial cingulum (Fig. 2E). There is a wide variability in the measures and morphology in the recovered sample of the first upper molar (Fig. 2). Most of the M1s are worn or broken, except SAM-PQL-31272 and SAM-PQL-50497 (Fig. 2A, M). It is subquadrangular in occlusal view, with a rectilinear mesial wall and the distal one with an inflexion below the metacone. It has a strong parastyle with a welldeveloped buccal cingulum. Paracone and metacone are subequal in height. The paraconule is small, but well preserved in the specimen SAM-PQL-50497 (Fig. 2M). The protocone is tall and mesially located. It has a large metaconule which connects to the metastyle and the buccal cingula by a tall crista. It has a deep trigone valley. There is a well-developed mesial cingulum, connecting the parastyle with the lingual wall of the protocone. It possesses a tall and bevelled hypocone.</p> <p> The M2s show a wide intraspecific variability with some specimens having broader talons (Fig. 2J, K) and others reduced ones (Fig. 2P, Q). SAM-PQL-72206, has the biggest M2 of <i>E. khoikhoi</i> recovered, with a slightly different morphology and no worn cusps. The M2s have a kidney-shaped occlusal, with a highly developed paracone compared to the metacone, a protocone located in a more central position to those of the M1 and with a strong labial cingulum (Fig. 2M). <i>Mandible and lower dentition:</i> The overall morphology of the mandibles of <i>E. khoikhoi</i> (Fig. 3; Tables 1, 3) are similar to those of the living jackals of the genera <i>Canis</i> and <i>Lupulella</i>, being easily distinguish from the African vulpini. SAM-PQL-40041 shows a worn dentition and several dental and bone pathologies. The most complete mandible belongs to the type SAM-PQL-31272. It has a relatively tall coronoid process and a deep masseteric fossa. The articular process is in line with the tooth row and the angular is well developed similar to the canini. The mandibular corpus is low. There are two main foramina on the mandibular corpus, below p1 and p3. There are diastemata between c and p1, and p1–p4. The c is short and robust at the base of the crown. It is distally curved and possesses a lingual keel. Premolars are without mesial accessory cuspid, relatively short and with high main cuspid. There are small diastemata between c–p1, p2–p3, and longer between p2–p1. The p1 is uniradiculate and unicuspidated. The p2 is longer than the p1, double rooted and has no accessory cuspids. The distal area has a small keel. The p3 has a small distal accessory cuspid and a high distal cingulum.</p> <p>The p4 is robust, comprising stronger and more extended distal accessory cuspid. There is a second accessory cuspid behind the previous one, which is double in the left hemi-mandible of the specimen SAM-PQL-31272, but single in SAM-PQL-72220 (Figs 3, 4D). There is a high distal cingulum. The m1 is robust with a low paraconid compared to the protoconid, which is relatively high in relation to the length of the molar. There is a strong metaconid extending slightly beyond the distal wall of the protoconid. Its talonid has a strong hypoconid with the highly developed mesial cristid. The entoconid, although smaller in size than the hypoconid, is strong and extends mesially with a small pre-entoconid, and internally develops a small cristid (Figs 3, 4). However, both hypoconid and entoconid are well separated. The talonid valley is divided into two parts, the mesial one is deep and the distal one is shorter, which is closed by a bifurcated hypoconulid in a distocentral position (Figs 3, 4). The m2 is also robust. It is oval, with a complete trigonid and a highly developed buccal cingulum (Figs 3, 4H–J).</p> <p>The paraconid is small and is attached to the protoconid and continues in a high mesial cingulum that connects with the base of the metaconid, which has an additional cuspid in mesial position, enclosing a small trigonid valley. The metaconid is taller and larger than the protoconid. Buccally, the base of the protoconid is clearly expanded. The talonid is narrower than the trigonid. The hypoconid is the most developed cuspid and is mesially continued by the oblique cristid. The entoconid is bifurcated. The m3 is reduced and has one root. It is round with low cuspids. The largest cuspids are the protoconid and metaconid (Figs 3A1–3, 4K, L).</p> <p> <i>Deciduous dentition:</i> The deciduous dentition of this new taxon represents the first non-definitive teeth of <i>Eucyon</i> recovered. It is similar to that of the living <i>L. mesomelas</i>, although several differences distinguish both canids (Fig. 5). It shows a wide range of variability in terms of size and shape, especially in the lower deciduous carnassial (dp4). The DP2 (SAM-PQL-72209, Fig. 5A) is a slender and long simple tooth, without accessory cusps. Distally a high cingulum is present.</p> <p>The dp3 recovered is a fragmentary distal portion of the tooth, comprising a noticeable distal cingulum (Fig. 5B). There is a great variability in size in the dp4s founds (Fig. 5C–E). Among them SAM-PQL-72214 is much smaller and narrower to that of SAM-PQL-72210 and SAM-PQL-72226B. The dp4 has a well-developed metaconid, with a more distal position than in the m1. The talonid is wide and simple. It comprises a developed hypoconid and smaller entoconid. An additional hypoconulid is located between both cuspids in the most distal part of the tooth in the specimens SAM-PQL-72226B and SAM-PQL-72214 (Fig. 5C, E).</p> <p> <i>Postcranial remains:</i> The cervical vertebrae (C1– C5) belong to two individuals (Fig. 6; Supporting Information, Table S2). Morphologically it is similar to <i>Lupulella</i>. The transverse foramen of the atlas is smaller to that of the jackal. The caudal articular process of the axis is robust. Although there is no noticeable evidence for the presence or absence of a nuchal ligament <i>sensu</i> Wang <i>et al.</i> (2008), the morphology of the back of the axis, where the ligament would attach, is similar to that of living canids with this ligament (e.g. extant jackals <i>Lupulella mesomelas</i>). The axis SAM-PQL-15174 has several parallel bite marks over the spinous process, which, based on their morphology, can be interpreted as shark bites (Fig. 6G 1, G 2). Neither the transverse process nor spinous processes are preserved in the C3–C5 (Fig. 6C–E, H). A proximal fragment of a fourth caudal vertebra is present (Fig. 6I 1, I 2).</p> <p> The general morphology of the humerii and radii (Fig. 7; Supporting Information, Table S2) are similar to <i>L. mesomelas</i> than to those of African vulpini. The type SAM-PQL-31272 has bite marks of a terrestrial carnivoran on both epiphyses of these long bones. SAM-PQL-20424 is more robust and with an elongated humerus. The proximal epiphysis is known from SAM-PQL-40041 (Fig. 8) and the humeral head is round. The humeral diaphysis is straight, with the proximal part curved caudally and laterally compressed. It is rounded to triangular in cross-section distally. The deltoid crest is well developed (Fig. 7A 1, A 2, D 1) and the distal epiphysis is subrectangular in distal view (Fig. 7A 5, B). There are two uniform facets on the lateral epicondyle: one proximally for the origin of the extensors of the carpus and digits and one distal to the origin of the m. supinator (Munthe, 1989). There is a distinctive lateral epicondylar crest, where m. extensor carpi radialis originates (Munthe, 1989).</p> <p> The supratrochear foramen is also well developed. As in living canids, the medial epicondyle is small, where the m. pronator teres originates. The entepicondylar foramen is absent. The radii (Fig. 7C, E; Supporting individual of <i>L. mesomelas</i>: F1, b
Effects of repeated burning on woody vegetation structure and composition in a semi-arid southern African savanna
No full textThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of repeated dry season annual hot fires on woody plants in a semiarid southern African savanna in Zimbabwe. Parts of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) research fields in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe have been burnt annually in the dry season between 1994 and 2003 in order to control bush encroachment. The present study was carried out in both the burnt and unburnt sites of the NUST research fields consisting of Acacia karroo-Colophospermum mopane vegetation. The study adopted a randomised block design and woody vegetation data were collected from a total of 10 plots. Variables measured and recorded included woody plant height, density, number of stems per plant, proportion of multistemmed plants, proportion of dead stems, basal area, fire damage and number of species per plot. The study results indicate that there were significant differences (P 0.05) in density, number of species per plot and number of stems per plant in woody plants between the burnt and unburnt sites. The study results suggest that repeated dry season annual hot fires leads to thinner and shortstemmed plants in semiarid savanna ecosystems. Repeated burning also increased the proportion of multistemmed plants and proportion of dead stems in the burnt site. Despite burning sections of the study area annually, bush encroachment control has not been effectively achieved. The study findings points to the need of adaptive management strategies in the use of fires in managing vegetation in semiarid savanna ecosystem
Research protocol : Cisplatin-associated ototoxicity amongst patients receiving cancer chemotherapy and the feasibility of an audiological monitoring program
No full textCITATION: Paken, J., Govender, C. D. & Sewram, V. 2017. Research protocol : Cisplatin-associated ototoxicity amongst patients receiving cancer chemotherapy and the feasibility of an audiological monitoring program. BMC Women's Health, 17:129, doi:10.1186/s12905-017-0486-8.The original publication is available at https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.comAbstract
Background
Cisplatin is an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug classified as an alkylating agent. It is used for the treatment of a variety of cancers such as cervical, breast, stomach, prostate, bladder and oesophageal, to name a few. However due to its expansive toxicity profile, patients receiving cisplatin can experience high frequency hearing loss, a side effect known as ototoxicity. The dearth of information on the extent and severity of cisplatin-associated ototoxicity in South Africa prevents the implementation of a context-specific audiological monitoring programme.
Methods
This study aims to determine the extent and severity of ototoxicity amongst patients with cervical cancer, receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy and hence the feasibility of an ototoxicity monitoring program in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A concurrent mixed methods design will be employed in the study. This longitudinal study will involve interviewing oncology nurses, oncologists, pharmacists and audiologists to assess the level of awareness to ototoxicity, as well as conducting diagnostic audiological evaluations at regular intervals on 78 patients with cervical cancer to ascertain the progression of hearing loss during and after chemotherapy. The feasibility of the monitoring program will be assessed as a parallel process to the audiological evaluations, where patient outcomes and cost implications to the patient and the health sector will be considered. Data will be subjected to statistical analyses so as to strengthen knowledge in the field and inform appropriate policies, and healthcare providers.
Discussion
This study is the first longitudinal study in South Africa to determine the ototoxic effects of cisplatin therapy on patients diagnosed with cervical cancer. Thus, the results generated from this study is likely to bring novel information to the fore using an evidence-based approach that will influence policy and clinical practice which can vastly improve the quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Mitigation of any further loss in the quality of life of affected patients is of paramount importance and the data generated from this project can lay the basis for further effective dialogue towards policy formulation on an ototoxic monitoring programme and the resultant strengthening of health systems in limited resource settings.https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-017-0486-8Publisher's versio
Influence of powder characteristics on the spreadability of pre-alloyed tungsten-carbide cobalt
No full textCITATION: Govender, P., Blaine, D. C. & Sacks, N. 2021. Influence of powder characteristics on the spreadability of pre-alloyed tungsten-carbide cobalt. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering November, 32(3):284-289, doi:10.7166/32-3-2664.The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.zaWith rising interest in additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, there is an increased focus on research that evaluates critical parameters that guide the selection of powders that are suitable for AM. One such parameter is a powder’s spreadability, described by metrics such as powder bed density and percentage coverage. This study focused on three spray-dried WC-Co powders (two 12 wt% and one 17 wt% Co) and evaluated the influence of typical powder characteristics, such as particle size and shape, apparent density, and flow rate, on their spreadability. It was found that particle size distribution influenced the powder spreadability. Larger particles hindered the even spreading of powder over the base plate, resulting in low powder bed density and percentage coverage. This also correlated with the powders’ apparent densities. The flow rate and angle of repose gave an indication of how cohesive the powders are. The more cohesive a powder, the poorer the spreadability, resulting in a lower powder bed density and percentage coverage.http://sajie.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/2664Publisher's versio
Age and growth of the estuarine-dependent sparid Acanthopagrus berda in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
No full textAges were estimated for the tropical sparid, Acanthopagrus berda, caught in northern KwaZulu-Natal estuaries. Whole otoliths were used in the age determination. Age estimates were validated by marginal increment analysis and oxytetracycline labelling, which indicated that opaque deposition occurs primarily from September to November each year. The reproducibility of age estimates was described by a coefficient of variation of 10%. The von Bertalanffy growth curve was found to best describe the growth of A. berda. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth curve indicated that A. berda in northern KwaZulu-Natal is a slow- growing species, capable of reaching at least 16 years of age. Longevity of the species, coupled with sex change, late maturation and estuarine dependency, give cause for concern for the continued sustainable utilization of this species
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