UWCScholar

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

Recent Submissions

Revealing cosmological fluctuations in 21 cm intensity maps with MeerKLASS: from maps to power spectra
(Springer Science and Business Media BV, 2026) Fonseca, José; Santos, Mario G.; Spinelli, Marta; Wang, Jingying
Mapping the integrated 21 cm emission line from dark matter-tracing neutral hydrogen gas is the primary science goal for MeerKLASS (MeerKAT’s Large Area Synoptic Survey). Prior to the arrival of MeerKAT, this intensity mapping technique had only been tested on a couple of pre-existing single-dish radio telescopes with a handful of observational hours with which to make early pioneering detections. The 64-dish MeerKAT array, precursor to the SKA Observatory (SKAO), can scan the sky in auto-correlation (or single-dish) mode and perform intensity mapping across large sky areas, presenting the exciting potential for a wide area (≳10,000deg2) spectroscopic survey across redshift 0.4
White tea aqueous extract counteracts cumene hydroperoxide-induced oxidative damage in human sperm: a comparative study with L-ascorbic acid
(MRE Press, 2026) Takalani, Ndivhuho B; Monsees, Thomas K; Henkel, Ralf; Opuwari, Chinyerum S
Background: Oxidative stress (OS) damages sperm by overwhelming antioxidant defences with excess free radicals, damaging seminal parameters and contributing to male infertility. Antioxidants from Camellia sinensis (white tea) are known to scavenge excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby protecting seminal parameters. Measuring OS using oxidative stress markers after antioxidant treatment is crucial for determining the redox state in biological samples and establishing an effective dosage. Methods: This study investigated the effect of white tea aqueous (0.465, 4.65, 46.5, 465 µg/mL) extract on normozoospermic samples following the induction of OS. Oxidative stress was induced using sperm wash media supplemented with 100 µM of cumene hydroperoxide at 37◦C for 60–120 minutes on motility and viability, as well as for 60 minutes on oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and sperm-DNA-fragmentation (SDF) and acrosome reaction. Results: Cumene hydroperoxide-induced OS significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the integrity of the measured seminal parameters. The aqueous extract of white tea demonstrated protective effects on normozoospermic samples following the induction of OS, reducing DNA fragmentation, ORP, and ROS production while increasing intact MMP, vitality and motility (p < 0.05). Ascorbic acid had positive effects at a lower concentration, increasing acrosome reaction and lowering ORP (p < 0.05). At a higher concentration, it increased motility and sperm viability but also reduced acrosome reaction, MMP, and increased SDF (p < 0.05) with no significance for ROS (p > 0.05). Conclusions: White tea extract has a similar positive effect on sperm parameters as ascorbic acid, suggesting its potential in treating male infertility caused by OS.
Nilpotent locally compact groups with small topological entropy
(Springer Science and Business Media BV, 2026) Russo, Francesco G; Waka, Olwethu
We characterize the finiteness of the topological entropy of continuous automorphisms of locally compact nilpotent p-groups (p prime) via the notion of p-rank. Considering upper unitriangular matrices over the p-adic integers and p-adic rationals, we present an algorithmic criterion in order to produce nilpotent locally compact p-groups of large nilpotency class and with continuous automorphisms of finite topological entropy. The procedure allows us to generalize the construction of large families of totally disconnected locally compact Heisenberg p-groups. It should be also mentioned that alternative arguments have been proposed, in order to avoid the use of the p-rank for the finiteness of the topological entropy of the continuous automorphisms, but these arguments involve the notion of topologically capable group, which wasn't explored for locally compact groups (except for the discrete case).
Midwives’ competence and confidence in Kenya: a sequential explanatory study design
(BioMed Central Ltd, 2026) Kaura, Doreen; Tallam, Edna; Mash, Bob
Background: The competence and confidence of midwives are pivotal in delivering essential care during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum for women and their newborns. This study explored midwifery competency gaps in Kenya to recommend evidence-based policies, aiming to enhance maternal and neonatal health outcomes and inform future interventions. Methods: This study utilised a sequential explanatory study design which includes integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches of data collection, analysis, and synthesis. The quantitative phase involved a cross-sectional survey assessing midwives’ competence and confidence based on the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) domains. 2019. The qualitative phase consisted of interviews with midwives and stakeholders to further explore and elucidate the quantitative findings. Sampling, interpretation, and reporting were integrated throughout the design. Data collection occurred in two distinct phases: an initial quantitative survey followed by qualitative interviews using a qualitative descriptive explanatory design with selected midwives and stakeholders. Qualitative data was coded and analyzed using Atlas ti 9 software. Thematic analysis, based on the Colaizzi framework, was conducted to capture emerging meanings while preserving the essence presented by the informants. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, with descriptive statistics and statistical significance tested using Pearson’s Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed separately and then connected to explain the results, ensuring triangulation and complementarity for comprehensive insights. Results: Direct-entry diploma midwives (KRM) and those working in tertiary hospitals reported higher competence and confidence (P = 0.019, p < 0.001, Kruskal-Wallis). KRMs were more confident in the ICM labour and birth domain (p = 0.017). Qualitative analysis revealed four themes: qualifications, enabling environment, work experience, and optimizing midwifery. Findings suggest that direct entry midwifery programs’ duration and education significantly impact midwives’ skill development. Mentorship and clinical supervision enhanced midwives’ confidence in labour and delivery domains.
Heuweltjies as within-paddock indicators of veld condition in the Succulent Karoo: vegetation contrasts between mound and intermound habitats
(Elsevier B V, 2026) Samuels, Igshaan; Gallant, Luke; Inman, Emilia N.
Heuweltjies (microtopographic earthen mounds) are conspicuous across South Africa's semi-arid, winter-rainfall rangelands, yet their value as field-ready indicators of veld condition is under-tested. This study examines the suitability of heuweltjies as indicators of veld condition within paddocks in the semi-arid Succulent Karoo. We utilized a spatially explicit paired sampling design, comparing vegetation attributes on 16 mounds with adjacent intermound plots (the matrix), in the Ebenhaeser communal rangelands. We focused on operational diagnostics, which are repeatable, management-sensitive metrics derived from life-form balances, growth-form structure, and palatability-weighted abundance. Statistical comparisons utilized Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) to ensure robust inference by accounting for the non-independence inherent in the paired plot design. Mound habitats consistently showed a strong utilization signal, characterized by significantly higher counts of palatable individuals, as well as high herb richness and Shannon diversity. This confirms the ecological function of heuweltjies as resource islands that concentrate desirable forage. Annual plants exhibited significantly higher abundance and cover on mounds, reflecting their sensitivity to the localized nutrient enrichment and disturbance inherent in these resource islands. Succulent shrubs (a key forage group) were significantly larger on mounds, yet grasses were more abundant on the intermound matrix, highlighting a competitive trade-off possibly driven by higher mound alkalinity or shrub competition. These results validate the inherent mound–intermound contrast as a robust, low-cost indicator framework. Formalizing metrics such as palatable plant count difference and annual proportion provides local managers with repeatable, management-relevant signals necessary for setting accurate utilization thresholds, thus improving the performance of broader veld condition assessments.