8 research outputs found
Maverick : an architecture of refuge from the margins, in anticipation of a disastrous event in a hostile South African context
No full textMini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2016.Survival is bound to conditions of safety (now) and preservation (future). The places that marginal people inhabit are either permanent familiar places, or temporary unfamiliar places. These places however are also bound to time. When circumstances are unpredictable survival instincts are heightened, and when circumstances are predictable survival instincts are at a neutral level (or in in a state of homeostasis). If a place is undergoing change such as societal and political change, the change in mental state of a person occurs as this affects the survival of that person.
The dissertation explores ideas of identity (valued, strong, useful), perception (how other people see the marginal) and marginalisation of specific groups of people. This will be investigated in terms of the preservation of the marginalised people through programmatic devices and activities (what can the marginal offer). The proposed programme (and supporting programmes) allow for the development of marginalised people in a hostile society in which survival and refuge are the first instincts.
The intent of the architecture seeks to explore the relationship between a marginal person and place on a conceptual and physical level. Moreover the architecture seeks to negotiate the margins that society has placed between those who are approved within society (the norm) and those who are different than the norm. A consciousness of this difference or 'margin area' exists throughout the investigation which allows for an alternative approach to create thought-provoking architecture rather than an aesthetically pleasing architecture.
It is the belief of the author that even though something might be 'broken', it remains more useful and is more valuable than something that was perfect in the first place. The project moves beyond monotony and strives for unity in difference (the marginal unite). Difference as a strength creates an opportunity to emphasise those who are different and finds a way to strengthen the alternative identities in a future spatial condition. The proposed programme facilitates the development of these identities to become stronger in time in order to withstand struggle and unpredictability.ArchitectureMArch (Prof)Unrestricte
Indonesian biogas market: an opportunity alongside B100 program
No full textWith the continued growth of the palm oil industry in Indonesia, the Government of Indonesia has been triggered to set up the national targets for new and renewable energy through biodiesel blend mandatory (B100 program). As more solid and liquid wastes will be generated as a result of biodiesel production, it can be convertered to renewable energy using biogas plants. Along with the B100 program, the POME-based biogas development seems could be more notable. However, the biogas technology market in Indonesia is still in a nascent state. This study aims to attempt the macro-environmental factors analysis of the Indonesian biogas industry using PESTEL analysis. With the existence of cross-sectional stakeholders, overlapping, and conflicting interests whose policies and actions may cause obstacles that influence the industry, this paper aims to capture the macro picture of the biogas maket and identify its challenges alongside de B100 program. It is concluded that barriers for deployment of biogas come term of wage, environment, and risks for indigenous people, lack of experts and success case to prove new technology implementation, and weak and inconsistency of the law enforcement.Instituto de Ingeniería RuralFil: Rianawati, Elisabeth. Resilience Development Initiative; IndonesiaFil: Sagala, Saut. Resilience Development Initiative; Indonesia. Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB). Planning and Policy Development; IndonesiaFil: Dwiputra, Andreas. Resilience Development Initiative; IndonesiaFil: Anhorn, Johannes. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); EtiopíaFil: Hilbert, Jorge Antonio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Ingeniería Rural; ArgentinaFil: Rosslee, Dwight. Selectra Farm Tech. SudáfricaFil: Mohammed, Mutala. Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Solutions (ISEES); GhanaFil: Salie, Yaseen. GreenCape; SudáfricaFil: Colmorgen, Felix. WIP Renewable Energies; AlemaniaFil: Wlcek, Bernhard. Austrian Energy Agency. Service Point Renewable Gases; AustriaFil: Decorte, Mieke. European Biogas Association (EBA); BélgicaFil: Stummer, Benhard. Austrian Energy Agency; AustriaFil: Zacepins, Aleksejs. Latvia University. Life Sciences and Technologies; LatviaFil: Hofmann, Frank. German Biogas Association; AlemaniaFil: Khaira, Tara. Energi Andalas; IndonesiaFil: Mulyasari, Shinta. Ecody; IndonesiaPranindita, Nadiya. Resilience Development Initiative; IndonesiaFil: Hananta, Michael. Resilience Development Initiative; IndonesiaFil: Bogale, Wondwossen. Iceaddis; Etiopí
The potential of Biogas in Energy Transition in Indonesia
No full textIndonesia is an agrarian country that has a rich bioenergy potency in liquid (biodiesel, bioethanol). The Government of Indonesia (GoI) has set the target to achieve 23% of renewable energy utilization into the national energy mix by 2025. In addition, the GoI also aims to increase the production of biofuel to 7.21 million kilolitres by 2019. Theoretically, biogas technology will be a strategic measure in achieving the target, however, at the moment the biogas technology market in Indonesia is still in a nascent state, especially for the direct utilization of biogas for electricity production. Alternatively, biogas provides Indonesia with a promising source of energy, which can be injected directly into natural gas grids and hitchhike existing distribution infrastructure, resulting in reduced costs along the production-distribution pipeline. For this reason, biomethane has been the focus of some developing countries (e.g Argentina, Republic of South Africa) in moving toward energy transition. This paper examines the state of the biogas market in Indonesia using literature review. The status of natural gas is mapped out through its available potential and the existing initiation of national programs related to biogas. Finally, the study provides recommendations on how biogas technology could accelerate the energy transition in Indonesia.Instituto de Ingeniería RuralFil: Rianawati, Elisabeth. Resilience Developement Initiative; IndonesiaFil: Sagala, Saut. Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB); IndonesiaFil: Hafiz, Ichsan. Resilience Developement Initiative; IndonesiaFil: Anhorn, Johannes. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit; AlemaniaFil: Alemu, Sinshaw. Iceaddis; EtiopíaFil: Hilbert, Jorge Antonio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Ingeniería Rural; ArgentinaFil: Rosslee, Dwight. Selectra; SudáfricaFil: Mohammed, Mutala. Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Solutions; GhanaFil: Salie, Yaseen. Green Cape; SudáfricaFil: Rutz, Dominik. WIP Renewable Energies; AlemaniaFil: Rohrer, Michael. Austrian Energy Agency; AustriaFil: Sainz, Angela. European Biogas Association; BélgicaFil: Kirchmeyr, Franz. Austrian Compost and Biogas Association. Kompost und Biogasverband Österreich; AustriaFil: Zacepins, Aleksejs. Latvijas Lauksaimniecibas Universitate; LatviaFil: Frank Hofmann, Frank. Fachverband Biogas; Alemani
Evaluation of Minor Groove Binders (MGBs) as novel anti-mycobacterial agents, and the effect of using non-ionic surfactant vesicles as a delivery system to improve their efficacy
No full textObjectives: The slow development of major advances in drug discovery for the treatment of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection have led to a compelling need for evaluation of
more effective drug therapies against tuberculosis. New classes of drugs are constantly being evaluated for anti-mycobacterial activity with currently a very limited number of new drugs approved for TB treatment. Minor Groove Binders (MGBs) have previously revealed promising anti-microbial activity against various infectious agents; however have not yet been screened against Mtb.
Methods: Mycobactericidal activity of MGB compounds against Mtb was determined using H37Rv-GFP microplate assay. MGB hits were screened for their intracellular mycobactericidal efficacy against clinical Beijing Mtb strain HN878 in bone marrow-derived
macrophages using standard colony-forming unit counting. Cell viability was assessed by
CellTiter-Blue assays. Selected MGB were encapsulated into non-ionic surfactant vesicles
(NIVs) for drug delivery system evaluation.
Results: H37Rv-GFP screening yielded a hitlist of 7 compounds at an MIC99 between 0.39
and 1.56 μM. MGB-362 and MGB-364 displayed intracellular mycobactericidal activity
against Mtb HN878 at MIC50 of 4.09 μM and 4.19 μM respectively, whilst being non-toxic.
Subsequent encapsulation into NIVs demonstrated a 1.6 and 2.1-fold increased intracellular
mycobacterial activity, similar to that of rifampicin when compared to MGB alone formulation
Conclusions: MGBs anti-mycobacterial activities together with non-toxic properties indicate
that MGB compounds constitute an important new class of drug/chemical entity, which holds
promise in future anti-TB therapy. Furthermore, NIVs ability to better deliver entrapped MGB
compounds to an intracellular Mtb infection has provided merit for further preclinical
evaluation
An evaluation of Minor Groove Binders as anti-fungal and anti-mycobacterial therapeutics
No full textThis study details the synthesis and biological evaluation of a collection of 19 structurally related Minor Groove Binders (MGBs), derived from the natural product distamycin, which were designed to probe antifungal and antimycobacterial activity. From this initial set, we report several MGBs that are worth more detailed investigation and optimisation. MGB-4, MGB-317 and MGB-325 have promising MIC80s of 2, 4 and 0.25 μg/mL, respectively, against the fungus C. neoformans.MGB-353 and MGB-354 have MIC99s of 3.1 μM against the mycobacterium M. tuberculosis. The selectivity and activity of these compounds is related to their physicochemical properties and the cell wall/membrane characteristics of the infective agents
Changing character and waning impact of COVID-19 at a tertiary centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
No full textBACKGROUND: The emergence of genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 was associated with changing epidemiological characteristics throughout coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in population-based studies. Individual-level data on the clinical characteristics of infection with different SARS-CoV-2 variants in African countries is less well documented. OBJECTIVES: To describe the evolving clinical differences observed with the various SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and compare the Omicron-driven wave in infections to the previous Delta-driven wave. METHOD: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study among patients admitted to a South African referral hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were stratified by epidemiological wave period, and in a subset, the variants associated with each wave were confirmed by genomic sequencing. Outcomes were analysed by Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: We included 1689 patients were included, representing infection waves driven predominantly by ancestral, Beta, Delta and Omicron BA1/BA2 & BA4/BA5 variants. Crude 28-day mortality was 25.8% (34/133) in the Omicron wave period versus 37.1% (138/374) in the Delta wave period (hazard ratio [HR] 0.68 [95% CI 0.47-1.00] p = 0.049); this effect persisted after adjustment for age, gender, HIV status and presence of cardiovascular disease (adjusted HR [aHR] 0.43 [95% CI 0.28-0.67] p < 0.001). Hospital-wide SARS-CoV-2 admissions and deaths were highest during the Delta wave period, with a decoupling of SARS-CoV-2 deaths and overall deaths thereafter. CONCLUSION: There was lower in-hospital mortality during Omicron-driven waves compared with the prior Delta wave, despite patients admitted during the Omicron wave being at higher risk. CONTRIBUTION: This study summarises clinical characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 variants during the COVID-19 pandemic at a South African tertiary hospital, demonstrating a waning impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services over time despite epidemic waves driven by new variants. Findings suggest the absence of increasing virulence from later variants and protection from population and individual-level immunity
Changing character and waning impact of COVID-19 at a tertiary centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
No full textBACKGROUND: The emergence of genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 was associated with changing epidemiological characteristics throughout coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in population-based studies. Individual-level data on the clinical characteristics of infection with different SARS-CoV-2 variants in African countries is less well documented. OBJECTIVES: To describe the evolving clinical differences observed with the various SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and compare the Omicron-driven wave in infections to the previous Delta-driven wave. METHOD: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study among patients admitted to a South African referral hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were stratified by epidemiological wave period, and in a subset, the variants associated with each wave were confirmed by genomic sequencing. Outcomes were analysed by Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: We included 1689 patients were included, representing infection waves driven predominantly by ancestral, Beta, Delta and Omicron BA1/BA2 & BA4/BA5 variants. Crude 28-day mortality was 25.8% (34/133) in the Omicron wave period versus 37.1% (138/374) in the Delta wave period (hazard ratio [HR] 0.68 [95% CI 0.47-1.00] p = 0.049); this effect persisted after adjustment for age, gender, HIV status and presence of cardiovascular disease (adjusted HR [aHR] 0.43 [95% CI 0.28-0.67] p < 0.001). Hospital-wide SARS-CoV-2 admissions and deaths were highest during the Delta wave period, with a decoupling of SARS-CoV-2 deaths and overall deaths thereafter. CONCLUSION: There was lower in-hospital mortality during Omicron-driven waves compared with the prior Delta wave, despite patients admitted during the Omicron wave being at higher risk. CONTRIBUTION: This study summarises clinical characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 variants during the COVID-19 pandemic at a South African tertiary hospital, demonstrating a waning impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services over time despite epidemic waves driven by new variants. Findings suggest the absence of increasing virulence from later variants and protection from population and individual-level immunity
Clinical features and outcomes of COVID-19 admissions in a population with a high prevalence of HIV and tuberculosis: a multicentre cohort study
No full textBACKGROUND: There is still a paucity of evidence on the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) and those co-infected with tuberculosis (TB), particularly in areas where these conditions are common. We describe the clinical features, laboratory findings and outcome of hospitalised PWH and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected COVID-19 patients as well as those co-infected with tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: We conducted a multicentre cohort study across three hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa. All adults requiring hospitalisation with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia from March to July 2020 were analysed. RESULTS: PWH comprised 270 (19%) of 1434 admissions. There were 47 patients with active tuberculosis (3.3%), of whom 29 (62%) were PWH. Three-hundred and seventy-three patients (26%) died. The mortality in PWH (n = 71, 26%) and HIV-uninfected patients (n = 296, 25%) was comparable. In patients with TB, PWH had a higher mortality than HIV-uninfected patients (n = 11, 38% vs n = 3, 20%; p = 0.001). In multivariable survival analysis a higher risk of death was associated with older age (Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) 1.03 95%CI 1.02–1.03, p < 0.001), male sex (AHR1.38 (95%CI 1.12–1.72, p = 0.003) and being “overweight or obese” (AHR 1.30 95%CI 1.03–1.61 p = 0.024). HIV (AHR 1.28 95%CI 0.95–1.72, p 0.11) and active TB (AHR 1.50 95%CI 0.84–2.67, p = 0.17) were not independently associated with increased risk of COVID-19 death. Risk factors for inpatient mortality in PWH included CD4 cell count < 200 cells/mm(3), higher admission oxygen requirements, absolute white cell counts, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios, C-reactive protein, and creatinine levels. CONCLUSION: In a population with high prevalence of HIV and TB, being overweight/obese was associated with increased risk of mortality in COVID-19 hospital admissions, emphasising the need for public health interventions in this patient population
