7 research outputs found
The effect of phytonanotherapy on diabetic rats
No full text>Magister Scientiae - MScDiabetes Mellitus is a major global health issue, affecting over 463 million adults in the world.
Metformin is the standard drug administered to most people suffering fromdiabetes; however, this
medication is contraindicated in many individuals, like most of the medicines developed to combat
diabetes. Many diabetic patients turn to herbal medicines due to their renowned traditional use and
fewer side effects.While the beneficial effects of phytotherapy are very evident, separation of nontoxic
from toxic phytochemicals is still a challenge. Phytonanotherapy is a branch in
nanotechnology that seeks to find the middle ground between the fast-acting mechanism of
conventional drugs which also present with long lasting or severe toxic side effects, and the slowacting
mechanism of phytotherapy which presents with less severe side effects. As such, the aim
of this study was to pioneer the investigation of gold nanoparticles biosynthesized using the
Carprobrotus edulis fruit aqueous extract (CeFe-AuNPs) as potential treatment for diabetes
mellitus.
Previously optimized conditions were used to synthesize CeFe-AuNPs which were concurrently
characterized using UV-Vis, dynamic light scattering, High Resolution – Transmission Electron
Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy techniques. The physichochemical
stability of CeFe-AuNPs in phosphate buffer saline, 0.5 % bovine serum albumin, water and 10 %
NaCl was also investigated. The effect of CeFe and CeFe-AuNPs on glucose uptake by yeast cells
was investigated using 5, 10 and 25 mM glucose reactions. Acute toxicity of CeFe and CeFe-
AuNPs was conducted in female Wistar rats (n = 20) and major organs were analyzed through the
haematoxylin-eosin stain. The anti-diabetic effects of the CeFe (200 and 400 mg/kg) and CeFe-
AuNPs (100 and 200 mg/kg) were investigated in male Wistar rats divided into seven group (n =
6). Histopathology of the pancreas, and the serum insulin were determined
The impact of IFRS 17 transition mechanisms legislated by tax authorities on the GloBE effective tax rate of South Africa headquartered insurers
No full textDuring 2021 the Organization for Economic and Cooperative Development (‘OECD') released the Global Anti-Base Erosion Rules (‘GloBE Rules') as part of a two-pillar solution to address the challenges identified regarding the digitization of the economy. This significant development was preceded by the release of IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts in the same year and is issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. IFRS 17 is the culmination of a multi-year two phase project aimed at developing what is considered the first truly international insurance contract standard. The combination of the implementation of these two key developments and the practical impact of them on long-term insurers has not yet been fully ascertained. The research conducted seeks to determine the extent to which the transition mechanism legislated by tax authorities in response to and in preparation for the transition to IFRS 17 may impact the effective tax rate computed under the GloBE Rules. In addressing the research problem a two-pronged approach was taken, the first being a comparative analysis between the transition mechanisms opted for by tax authorities in South Africa and the United Kingdom, and the second being a case study using Discovery Limited, a South Africa headquartered MNE Group as the subject to illustrate the potential impact of the former, on the effective tax rate in the jurisdictions it operates in. The research indicated that the tax transition approach may have a significant impact on the effective tax rate of long-term insurers headquartered in South Africa resulting in the liability for top-up taxes
Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Requirements Engineering: A Systematic Mapping Study Dataset
No full textWe conducted a systematic mapping study to address and survey the issues of using Natural Language Processing (NLP) in the domain of Requirements Engineering (RE), as a new sub-field of RE research known as NLP4RE studies. The attached datasets represent the references and metadata for the 404 selected and included NLP4RE studies, and a separate document to list all of the unique venues for publishing these studies. For citing the full paper, please use the reference below: @article{zhao2020natural, title={Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Requirements Engineering: A Systematic Mapping Study}, author={Liping Zhao and Waad Alhoshan and Alessio Ferrari and Keletso J. Letsholo and Muideen A. Ajagbe and Erol-Valeriu Chioasca and Riza T. Batista-Navarro}, year={2020}, journal = {ACM Computing Surveys} } Liping Zhao, Waad Alhoshan, Ferrari Alessio, Keletso Letsholo, Muideen Ajagbe, Erol-Valeriu Chioasca, and Riza Batista-Navarro. Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Requirements Engineering: A Systematic Mapping Study. ACM Computing Surveys, 2020
Catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and methylene blue by biogenic gold nanoparticles synthesized using Carpobrotus edulis fruit (sour fig) extract
No full textAlong with the increasing requirement for efficient organic conversions using green chemistry, there is a need to develop highly efficient and eco-friendly catalytic reaction systems. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-based nanocatalysts are promising candidates for the reduction of environmental pollutants, such as nitroaromatics and dyes. This study reports on the green synthesis of AuNPs using Carpobrotus edulis (C. edulis) fruit aqueous extract (CeFE) and their catalytic activities. The CeFE induced rapid reduction of gold (III) salt to form monodispersed and spherical AuNPs, with a core and hydrodynamic sizes of 40 and 108.7 nm, respectively. CeFE alone had no effect on 4-nitrophenol, whereas incubation with methylene blue (MB) caused reduction of the peak at 665 nm. Addition of CeFE-AuNPs in the presence of NaBH4, caused the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-AP, and MB to leucoMB within 10 min. These reactions followed the pseudo first-order kinetics. Therefore, biogenic CeFE-AuNPs could be used for the elimination of noxious environmental pollutants
Nas dobras do tempo: imagens do tempo africano na obra de Uanhenga Xitu
No full textABSTRACT
This research consists of a reflection on African time and how its stereotypical concept can be linked to the colonization process and the concepts of race and civilization, negatively interfering in the construction of a Modern Africa. The works Vozes na Sanzala (1974), Maka na Sanzala (1979), and Cultos Especiais (1997) by Uanhenga Xitu are analyzed, highlighting the presence of multiple temporal structures and calendar systems that differ from the Western way of understanding time. Uanhenga Xitu, an Angolan writer, stood out in the 1970s, presenting prose committed to reviving tradition. His narratives, highlighted here, reveal the Angolan man displaced in his own environment, due to the imposition of another's culture. His texts are marked by both Western and African times, showing the border field in which the author lives. The proposal developed is to discuss the colonization of time and give new meaning to the concept of African time, contributing to a better understanding of the work of Uanhenga Xitu, investigating how the temporal element is fundamental to understanding the Angolan world and how it contributes as an alternative way of establishing duration. Through anthropological/cultural history approaches as in Joseph Adjaye; social/political history as in Keletso Atkins and also philosophical/theological as in John Mbiti, among others, reflections were made to evaluate how the West, implementing a unique notion of time, created ideological discourses capable of dominating and above all eliminating other alternative cultures of time, establishing a temporal hierarchy and transforming time into an instrument of power. This research also includes a brief commentary on the development of Angolan literature, the life and work of Uanhenga Xitu and how African people perceive time, based on studies by Onyeacha (2010), Fu Kiau (1994), Hampaté Bá (2003), Mbiti (1991), Adjaye (1994), among others.
Keywords: Uanhenga Xitu; African Time; Colonization of Time; African Studies.Resumo: A presente pesquisa consiste numa reflexão sobre o tempo africano e como seu conceito estereotipado pode estar ligado ao processo de colonização e aos conceitos de raça e civilização, interferindo negativamente na construção de uma África Moderna. São analisadas as obras Vozes na Sanzala (1974), Maka na Sanzala (1979), e Cultos Especiais (1997) de Uanhenga Xitu, destacando a presença de múltiplas estruturas temporais e de sistemas de calendário que diferem da maneira do ocidente apreender o tempo. Uanhenga Xitu, escritor angolano, teve destaque na década de 1970, apresentando uma prosa comprometida com o resgate da tradição. Suas narrativas, aqui destacadas, revelam o homem angolano deslocado em seu próprio meio, devido à imposição da cultura do outro. Seus textos são marcados tanto pelo tempo ocidental, quanto pelo africano, mostrando o campo fronteiriço em que vive o autor. A proposta desenvolvida é discutir sobre a colonização do tempo e ressignificar o conceito de tempo africano, contribuindo para uma melhor compreensão da obra de Uanhenga Xitu, investigando- se como o elemento temporal é fundamental para a compreensão do mundo angolano e de que modo este colabora como uma maneira alternativa de estabelecer a duração. Por meio de abordagens histórica antropológica/cultural como em Joseph Adjaye; histórica social/política como em Keletso Atkins e ainda, filosófica/teológica como em John Mbiti, entre outros, foram feitas reflexões para avaliar como o ocidente, implantando uma noção única de tempo, criou discursos ideológicos capazes de dominar e sobretudo eliminar outras culturas alternativas de tempo, estabelecendo uma hierarquia temporal e transformando o tempo em um instrumento de poder. Esta pesquisa inclui também um breve comentário sobre o desenvolvimento da literatura angolana, a vida e obra de Uanhenga Xitu e como o homem africano percebe o tempo, baseado nos estudos de Onyeacha (2010), Fu Kiau (1994), Hampaté Bá (2003), Mbiti (1991), Adjaye (1994), entre outros.
Palavras-chave: Uanhenga Xitu; Tempo Africano; Colonização do Tempo; Estudos Africanos
Single surgeon case series of myelomeningocele repairs in a developing world setting: Challenges and lessons
No full textPurpose: Neural Tube Defects are the second most common group of birth malformations following congenital heart anomalies, with myelomeningoceles being the most severe manifestation (MMC). They require expedited surgical repair, preferably within 72 h of birth. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where resources are limited, timing to MMC repair is not optimal and leads to undesirable outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a proactive approach in a setting from a LMIC could achieve repair within 72 h. Methods: A concerted effort to expedite repair of all neonates referred with a MMC was undertaken from 01 January 2014 to 1 August 2015. A consensus was reached between neonatologists and neurosurgeons that neonates born or admitted with a MMC are referred immediately to surgeons and that repair will be performed within 72 h of birth. Hospital records of neonates who had MMC repaired during this period were reviewed for infant characteristics and hospital outcomes. Results: 24 patients with a MMC were operated upon by the senior author (CP) during the study period. Only 13 of these patients were born at the treating institution and 11 were referred from outside hospitals. Most MMCs were in the lumbosacral region and mean MMC surface area was 19.4 cm2. Mean time to repair for the entire series was 13.6 days. Patients born at the treating institution has a mean time to repair of 10.5 days and patients referred from outside had a mean time to repair of 17.3 days. Series wide, only 21% of neonates were operated upon in less than 72 h. Conclusion: Despite a pro-active commitment to repairing MMCs within 72 h for the duration of this series, satisfactory time to repair was not achieved. Late referral, referral from outside hospitals and operating theatre availability were the predominant factors leading to delay in MMC repair. Nevertheless, time to repair in our series was significantly shorter than that reported in MMC repair series based in similar environments. This suggests that even if the gold-standard of a 72-h window cannot be achieved, neonates benefit from much quicker repair when a concerted effort to minimise repair time is employed. This study also highlights the urgent need to address health care constraints in LMIC to improve outcomes for this vulnerable group
Human papillomavirus prevalence and risk factors among HIV-negative and HIV-positive women residing in rural Eastern Cape, South Africa
No full textObjectives: To investigate the prevalence of high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) and factors associated with HR-HPV infection among women from rural Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods: HPV prevalence was determined by Hybrid Capture 2 assay in cervical specimens from 417 women aged >= 30 years (median 46 years) recruited from the community health clinic in the Eastern Cape. Results: HR-HPV prevalence was 28.5% (119/417), and HIV-positive women had significantly higher HR-HPV prevalence than HIV-negative women (40.6%, 63/155 vs 21.4%, 56/262, respectively; p = 0.001). HIV-positive status (odds ratio (OR) 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.63-3.90), having >= 3 lifetime sexual partners (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.16-3.89), having >= 1 sexual partner in the last month (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.21-2.92), >= 4 times frequency of vaginal sex in the past 1 month (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.32-4.35), and having a vaginal discharge currently/in the previous week (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.18-3.85) increased the risk of HR-HPV infection. In the multivariate analysis, HIV positivity remained strongly associated with HR-HPV infection (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.17-3.22). Conclusions: Risk factors related to sexual behaviors play a significant role in HR-HPV infection in this population. This report will inform health policymakers on HPV prevalence and contribute to discussions on the use of HPV testing as the primary cervical cancer screening test in South Africa. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases
