UWCScholar :: Browsing by Author "Dube, A."

Browsing by Author "Dube, A."

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Inconsistency in the implementation of the responsibility to protect during humanitarian crises: the case of Libya and Sudan.
(University of the Western Cape, 2014) Nkosi, Mfundo; Dube, A.; van der Poll, Letetia
The aim of this mini-thesis is to examine the inconsistency in the implementation of the responsibility to protect (RTP) principle during armed conflicts with specific focus on the case of Libya and Darfur. Furthermore the mini-thesis scrutinizes the criteria which are utilized universally and questions whether the principle is determined by factors such as economics, politics and location depending on each crisis. The significance of this minithesis derives from the need to make a contribution to the new interventionism debate and contribute to the growing literature on the doctrine of the RTP especially when it comes to the inconsistencies during its application which seems to be on the rise especially in the African continent. The mini-thesis was guided by the following assumption that there are inconsistencies when it comes to the application of the RTP under humanitarian law. The mini-thesis also embarks on an enquiry into the legal aspects of the RTP doctrine and the legal status of humanitarian intervention. It is worth noting that the RTP doctrine does not concentrate on every human rights violation or abuse of power, even when these are very serious as in the case of Sudan. It certainly does not empower or establish an obligation on the international community to respond by over-riding the offending state’s sovereignty. The initial intention of the RTP was aimed at preventing mass attacks or large scale violations involving genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. It is greatly disappointing to note that the international community at large tends to overlook the more severe crises which have more casualties and turn their eyes on less serious humanitarian crises. This raises concern about the extent of the inconsistency in the application of the RTP. The question that begs an answer therefore is why intervene in Libya and not Darfur? In conclusion to this mini-thesis I came to the realization that inconsistencies within the application of the RTP exist because humanitarian intervention under the RTP has a massive political element which affects implementation. The RTP is often used as a justification for states to act in conflicts when there is no domestic support for more direct political intervention. Thus, I believe that intervention can never be completely humanitarian driven until the five RTP precautionary principles are used as a guideline or criteria for interventions.
Inconsistency in the implementation of the responsibility to protect during humanitarian crises: the case of Libya and Sudan.
(University of the Western Cape, 2014) Nkosi, Mfundo; Dube, A.; van der Poll, Letetia
The aim of this mini-thesis is to examine the inconsistency in the implementation of the responsibility to protect (RTP) principle during armed conflicts with specific focus on the case of Libya and Darfur. Furthermore the mini-thesis scrutinizes the criteria which are utilized universally and questions whether the principle is determined by factors such as economics, politics and location depending on each crisis. The significance of this minithesis derives from the need to make a contribution to the new interventionism debate and contribute to the growing literature on the doctrine of the RTP especially when it comes to the inconsistencies during its application which seems to be on the rise especially in the African continent. The mini-thesis was guided by the following assumption that there are inconsistencies when it comes to the application of the RTP under humanitarian law. The mini-thesis also embarks on an enquiry into the legal aspects of the RTP doctrine and the legal status of humanitarian intervention. It is worth noting that the RTP doctrine does not concentrate on every human rights violation or abuse of power, even when these are very serious as in the case of Sudan. It certainly does not empower or establish an obligation on the international community to respond by over-riding the offending state’s sovereignty. The initial intention of the RTP was aimed at preventing mass attacks or large scale violations involving genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. It is greatly disappointing to note that the international community at large tends to overlook the more severe crises which have more casualties and turn their eyes on less serious humanitarian crises. This raises concern about the extent of the inconsistency in the application of the RTP. The question that begs an answer therefore is why intervene in Libya and not Darfur? In conclusion to this mini-thesis I came to the realization that inconsistencies within the application of the RTP exist because humanitarian intervention under the RTP has a massive political element which affects implementation. The RTP is often used as a justification for states to act in conflicts when there is no domestic support for more direct political intervention. Thus, I believe that intervention can never be completely humanitarian driven until the five RTP precautionary principles are used as a guideline or criteria for interventions.
Investigating the effect of particle size on the antibacterial activity of gold nanoparticles
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Maphasa, Retsepile Ephraim; Dube, A.; Meyer, M.
The increase of antibiotic- and/or multidrug-resistant bacteria has become a major global challenge. Killing of antibiotic-resistant bacteria requires a high dose of multiple, expensive drugs, which possess unfavourable side effects to the infected individuals. As a result, treatment of antibiotic resistant-bacteria is costly and more time is required to complete treatment. Therefore, novel substitutes are required to combat drug resistant infections while preventing further microbial resistance. Spherical gold Nanoparticles (sAuNPs) prepared using the citrate reduction method have been found to exert antibacterial activity against a number of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the role of size on the antibacterial activity of sAuNPs. The effect of exposure time on the antibacterial activity of sAuNPs is also still not well understood. In this study, it was hypothesized that AuNPs will show a size- and concentration-dependentantibacterial activity against selected gram positive (+) and gram negative (-) bacteria.
Investigating the effect of particle size on the antibacterial activity of gold nanoparticles
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Maphasa, Retsepile Ephraim; Dube, A.; Meyer, M.
The increase of antibiotic- and/or multidrug-resistant bacteria has become a major global challenge. Killing of antibiotic-resistant bacteria requires a high dose of multiple, expensive drugs, which possess unfavourable side effects to the infected individuals. As a result, treatment of antibiotic resistant-bacteria is costly and more time is required to complete treatment. Therefore, novel substitutes are required to combat drug resistant infections while preventing further microbial resistance. Spherical gold Nanoparticles (sAuNPs) prepared using the citrate reduction method have been found to exert antibacterial activity against a number of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the role of size on the antibacterial activity of sAuNPs. The effect of exposure time on the antibacterial activity of sAuNPs is also still not well understood. In this study, it was hypothesized that AuNPs will show a size- and concentration-dependentantibacterial activity against selected gram positive (+) and gram negative (-) bacteria.
Polymer Coating of an Optimized Nano Lipid Carrier System of Harpagophytum Procumbens Extract for Oral Delivery
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Almajdoub, Somaya Saleh; Dube, A.; Ebrahim, N.
Harpagophytum procumbens is a traditional medicinal plant widely used in South African traditional healthcare to treat a range of ailments like degenerative rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, kidney inflammation, heart disease, dyspepsia and loss of appetite. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Harpagophytum procumbens has been reported to decrease due to stomach acidity. In addition, dried plant extract is water soluble and has poor lipid solubility severely limiting its ability to pass across lipid-rich biological membranes. To overcome this, plant extract was incorporated into a nano lipid alginate coated bead. Harpagophytum procumbens freeze dried aqueous extract was prepared and the active principle harpagoside was identified by mass spectrometry (MS). A simple, linear, accurate and precise UHPLC method was developed for quantitative determination of the bioactive harpagoside. Harpagophytum procumbens was encapsulated in lipid vesicles (liposomes and phytosomes) by using a dry film hydration technique and characterized for particle size, polydispersity index and encapsulation efficiency.
Polymer-based protein delivery systems for loco-regional administration
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2021) Aucamp, M.E.; Dube, A.; Mansor, M.H
With the advent of recombinant technology, a wide variety of biocompatible therapeutic proteins can be produced with relative ease. These proteins are formulated and subsequently administered in patients to treat various of diseases in a more effective and targeted manner. At the level of formulation development, protein molecules can be physically and/or chemically-conjugated to a wide array of naturally-occurring, semi-synthetic and synthetic biomaterials to form different types of protein delivery systems. Depending on their architecture and the extent of protein-scaffold interactions, these delivery systems can modify the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the proteins. The versatility of polymer-based protein delivery systems such as micro/nanoparticles, hydrogels, porous scaffolds and fibrous scaffolds means it is possible to alter the spatial distribution of the protein load within the system as well as the protein release kinetics. These can then influence the ability of the protein molecules to exert their effects in their immediate microenvironments, be it to kill cancer cells or to recruit stem/progenitor cells. In this Chapter we discuss the production of protein therapeutics and the application of polymer-based biodegradable delivery systems for these proteins which include nanoparticles and scaffolds. We also include discussion of ‘green synthesis’ methods for production of these delivery systems.
The protection of the environment during armed conflict: a case study of the Republic of Congo
(University of the Western Cape, 2014) M’Banza, Frederic Ghislain Bakala; van der Poll, Letetia; Dube, A.
The International Committee of the Red Cross/Crescent (ICRC) has been the only agency promoting the observance of the law of armed conflict. It has invested considerably in finding solutions to protecting people and regulates the means and methods of warfare. Throughout the development of the law of armed conflict, the protection of the environment was never the centre of focus. From the early 1868 Declaration of Saint Petersburg to the Hague Regulations of 1907, attention was given to weakening the military forces of the enemy and the right of the belligerents not to destroy or seize the enemy’s property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war. Through AP I, the basic principle of IHL was reaffirmed. The concepts of military necessity and proportionality became clearer, permitting only those acts of war which are proportional to the lawful objective of a military operation. Considering the cruelty experienced through the crises that occurred in the RC, it is therefore imperative for the administration to enforce their observation. In the light of the above background the aims of this research paper are to seek to explore the challenges that the current RC administration is facing in implementing IHL and IEL principles. In addition, the research paper will analyse the possibilities to promote the implementation of IHL and IEL instruments within the public domain, mostly the army, to dissipate any ignorance that occur. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has also made it clear that an obligation rests upon states to take environmental considerations into account during armed conflict in so far as these relate to states’ military objectives
The protection of the environment during armed conflict: a case study of the Republic of Congo
(University of the Western Cape, 2014) M’Banza, Frederic Ghislain Bakala; van der Poll, Letetia; Dube, A.
The International Committee of the Red Cross/Crescent (ICRC) has been the only agency promoting the observance of the law of armed conflict. It has invested considerably in finding solutions to protecting people and regulates the means and methods of warfare. Throughout the development of the law of armed conflict, the protection of the environment was never the centre of focus. From the early 1868 Declaration of Saint Petersburg to the Hague Regulations of 1907, attention was given to weakening the military forces of the enemy and the right of the belligerents not to destroy or seize the enemy’s property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war. Through AP I, the basic principle of IHL was reaffirmed. The concepts of military necessity and proportionality became clearer, permitting only those acts of war which are proportional to the lawful objective of a military operation. Considering the cruelty experienced through the crises that occurred in the RC, it is therefore imperative for the administration to enforce their observation. In the light of the above background the aims of this research paper are to seek to explore the challenges that the current RC administration is facing in implementing IHL and IEL principles. In addition, the research paper will analyse the possibilities to promote the implementation of IHL and IEL instruments within the public domain, mostly the army, to dissipate any ignorance that occur. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has also made it clear that an obligation rests upon states to take environmental considerations into account during armed conflict in so far as these relate to states’ military objectives
Recent Advances in the Development of Antimicrobial and Antifouling Biocompatible Materials for Dental Applications
(MDPI, 2021) Ramburrun, P.; Pringle, N.A.; Dube, A.; Adam, R.Z.
The risk of secondary bacterial infections resulting from dental procedures has driven the design of antimicrobial and antifouling dental materials to curb pathogenic microbial growth, biofilm formation and subsequent oral and dental diseases. Studies have investigated approaches based primarily on contact-killing or release-killing materials. These materials are designed for addition into dental resins, adhesives and fillings or as immobilized coatings on tooth surfaces, titanium implants and dental prosthetics. This review discusses the recent developments in the different classes of biomaterials for antimicrobial and antifouling dental applications: polymeric drug-releasing materials, polymeric and metallic nanoparticles, polymeric biocides and antimicrobial peptides. With modifications to improve cytotoxicity and mechanical properties, contact-killing and anti-adhesion materials show potential for incorporation into dental materials for long-term clinical use as opposed to short-lived antimicrobial release-based coatings. However, extended durations of biocompatibility testing, and adjustment of essential biomaterial features to enhance material longevity in the oral cavity require further investigations to confirm suitability and safety of these materials in the clinical setting. The continuous exposure of dental restorative and regenerative materials to pathogenic microbes necessitates the implementation of antimicrobial and antifouling materials to either replace antibiotics or improve its rational use, especially in the day and age of the ever-increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance.

Browsing by Author "Dube, A."

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