UWCScholar
This repository serves as a digital archive for the preservation of research / scholarly output / publications from the University of the western Cape.
Communities in UWCScholar
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Knowledge, beliefs and practice about sexual concurrent partnering amongst education students at a tertiary institution in rural Namibia
(Universty of the Western Cape, 2010) Shilongo, Lydia; Van Wyk, Brian
Background: In an attempt to avert the HIV/AIDS epidemic, more research has been conducted to determine why the epidemic is more devastating in Southern African countries than anywhere else in the world. Heterosexual transmission is believed to be driving the epidemic in many sub-Saharan African countries. Recent research has indicated that having concurrent sexual partners is one of the factors contributing to the fast spread of HIV transmission in this region. Aim: This study aimed to describe the level of knowledge about the risk of HIV transmission posed by concurrent sexual partnering as well as beliefs and practices about concurrent partnering among education students at the Rundu College of Education(RCE) in the Kavango region of Namibia. Concurrent partnering was defined as a situation where a person has more than one sexual partner at the same time, during the twelve months preceding the study.
Application of nanotechnology and proteomic tools in crop development towards sustainable agriculture
(Springer, 2024) Daniel, Augustine Innalegwu; Hüsselmann, Lizex; Shittu, Oluwatosin Kudirat; Gokul, Arun
The increase in global population which translates to increased demand for food called for urgent attention from key players and policy makers in agricultural sector. Also, the effects of climate change and its consequent biotic and abiotic stresses in plants has greatly affect the sustainability of agriculture and production of food. These challenges require novel and sustainable approaches to improve the quality and yield of crops. The vast application of nanoparticles in different fields of study is attributed to their distinct chemical and physical characteristics. However, in agriculture, their application is limited because of their safety concern. Currently, research is tailored to study the response of plants to various nanoparticle treatments; however, these studies are inconclusive due to limited knowledge on the mechanisms of plant–nanoparticle interactions. Recently, studies on nanobiotechnology have taken a new dimension from preliminary bioassay experiments to more complex, research-oriented studies using various omics tools. Changes in protein expression caused by plant–nanoparticle interaction at any developmental stages, or tissue types may be investigated using suitable proteomics techniques. This review discussed the various applications of nanotechnology and proteomic tools in plant growth and development. Plant–nanoparticle interactions and the application of nanoparticles and proteomic tools in genetic engineering of plants to attain agricultural sustainability and food safety are also discussed. Informative and thorough understanding of plant–nanoparticle interaction will serve as a blueprint that will enable plant scientist and genetic engineers to develop plant biomarkers and explore their potential application for crop improvement.
Cuspal deflection of teeth restored with bulk fill flowable composite resins, with and without fiber-reinforcement and evaluated by Micro-computed Tomography
(Elsevier Methods X, 2023-07-27) Parker, Raeesa; Mulder, Riaan; Keanly, Colin
Polymerisation shrinkage of composite resins is a clinical challenge which has been well documented in the literature. Many studies investigating polymerisation shrinkage stress measure cuspal deflection, which is a manifestation of this stress. The introduction of flowable bulk-fill composite (BFRBC) materials has streamlined the restorative process, though the shrinkage and cuspal deflection from these BFRBCs has not been compared with regards to its use with polyethylene fibers (Ribbond fibers). The authors describe a method to measure the cuspal deflection of flowable BFRBCs placed in cavities of standardised dimensions at distinct steps of the restorative process, with and without fiber-reinforcement and using x-ray micro-computed tomography. Coordinate points are established on the buccal and lingual aspects of scanned specimens using the Volume Graphics VG Studio max 3.2.5 (Hiedelberg, Germany 2018) software. The system allows for these landmarks to be established across each scan (of the same tooth), ensuring standardization of each specimen. Further anatomical points are used to enable analysis. Comparison of angles generated across these points determines the extent of cuspal deflection.
•A method of measuring the cuspal deflection of composite resins is proposed.
•Experimental procedures are provided.
•Data analysis methods are outlined.
Test-retest, intra- and inter-rater reliability of the reactive balance test in patients with chronic ankle instability
(Frontiers Media SA, 2024) Maricot, Alexandre; Lathouwers, Elke; Meeusen, Romain
Introduction: The Reactive Balance Test (RBT) could be a valuable addition to research on chronic ankle instability (CAI) and clinical practice, but before it can be used in clinical practice it needs to be reliable. It has already been proven reliable in healthy recreational athletes, but not yet in patients with CAI who have shown persistent deficits in dynamic balance. The study aimed to determine the test-retest, intra-, and inter-rater reliability of the RBT in patients with CAI, and the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the newly developed RBT score sheet. Methods: We used a repeated-measures, single-group design to administer the RBT to CAI patients on three occasions, scored by multiple raters. We included 27 participants with CAI. The study used multiple reliability measures, including Pearson r, intra-class correlations (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), standard error of prediction (SEP), minimal detectable change (MDC), and Bland–Altman plots, to evaluate the reliability of the RBT’s outcome measures (visuomotor response time and accuracy). It also assessed the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the RBT score sheet using the same measures. Results: The ICC measures for test-retest reliability were similar for accuracy (0.609) and VMRT (0.594). Intra-rater reliability had high correlations and ICCs for accuracy (r = 0.816, ICC = 0.815) and VMRT (r = 0.802, ICC = 0.800). Inter-rater reliability had a higher ICC for VMRT (0.868) than for accuracy (0.690). Conclusion: Test-retest reliability was moderate, intra-rater reliability was good, and inter-rater reliability showed moderate reliability for accuracy and good reliability for VMRT. Additionally, the RBT shows robust SEM and mean difference measures. The score sheet method also demonstrated moderate test-retest reliability, while inter-rater reliability was good to excellent. This suggests that the RBT can be a valuable tool in assessing and monitoring balance in patients with CAI.
Chained Communities: A Critique of South Africa’s Approach to Land Restitution
(2021) Diala, Anthony; Sonya R, Cotton
In its quest to restore land to millions of its citizens dispossessed under colonial
and apartheid regimes, South Africa adopted a Restitution of Land Rights Act and set up
a Land Claims Court in 1994 and 1996, respectively. This article uses select judgments of
the Land Claims Court to critique the interpretative mindset of judges and the ideological
neutrality of certain definitions in the Restitution Act. It argues that the colonial legacy of
legal positivism and 20th century anthropological imagery inhibits the access to justice of
dispossessed Africans living on the periphery of land rights. It uses the word ‘chained’ to
describe communities whose restitution of land rights depends on their ability to
(re)imagine themselves through a judicial prism of fossilized colonial ideas of traditional
structures, lineage, and unbroken practices. The article recommends measures for
promoting a South African legal culture that is sensitive to legal pluralism, mindful of
indigenous law’s flexibility, and distrustful of undue standardization that stifles people’s
access to justice.