South African Journal of Science最新文献

Reconsidering consent for biomedical research using human biological material and associated data 重新考虑使用人类生物材料和相关数据进行生物医学研究的同意问题

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/15853

Larisse Prinsen

引用次数: 0

A mesocosm study on the use of clay minerals to improve heavy metal phytoremediation capacity of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty) 利用粘土矿物提高香根草（Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty）重金属植物修复能力的中观宇宙研究

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/15882

B. Otunola, M. P. Aghoghovwia, M. Thwala, O. Ololade

{"title":"A mesocosm study on the use of clay minerals to improve heavy metal phytoremediation capacity of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty)","authors":"B. Otunola, M. P. Aghoghovwia, M. Thwala, O. Ololade","doi":"10.17159/sajs.2023/15882","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/15882","url":null,"abstract":"Fast-paced global industrialisation due to population growth poses negative environmental implications, such as pollution by heavy metals. We assessed the application of vetiver grass assisted by clay minerals for the remediation of soil and water contaminated by multiple metals in a mesocosm study. The technique was tested previously in a greenhouse study that confirmed the effectiveness of 2.5% (w/w) attapulgite and 2.5% (w/v) bentonite to improve vetiver grass remediation of soil and water contaminated by multiple metals. At the end of the experiment, the total accumulation of Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn by vetiver grass from the soil was 1.8, 38.1, 19.0, 7.2 and 55.4 mg/kg, respectively, while in water, the total metal accumulation of Al and Mn by vetiver grass was 4534.5 and 104.5 mg/kg, respectively. The results confirm the effectiveness of attapulgite and bentonite as amendments to improve the remediation potential of vetiver in soil and water under natural conditions. Metal accumulation was generally higher in the roots than in shoots. We found the removal efficiency in the soil to be in the order Zn > Cr > Cu > Ni > Co and Al > Mn in water. Results also demonstrated that heavy metal accumulation was even better under natural conditions than in the greenhouse study. For example, Zn accumulation increased from 0.4 mg/kg in the greenhouse study to 55.4 mg/kg in the outdoor study. This study validates the application of bentonite and attapulgite-assisted phytoremediation for heavy metal contaminated soil and water.","PeriodicalId":21928,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Science","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139214331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Alcohol consumption patterns, suppliers and online alcohol marketing: Before and during COVID-19 alcohol bans 酒精消费模式、供应商和在线酒精营销：COVID-19 禁酒之前和禁酒期间

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/14543

M. Theron, Rina Swart, M. Londani, Charles Parry, P. P. Williams, Nadine Harker

{"title":"Alcohol consumption patterns, suppliers and online alcohol marketing: Before and during COVID-19 alcohol bans","authors":"M. Theron, Rina Swart, M. Londani, Charles Parry, P. P. Williams, Nadine Harker","doi":"10.17159/sajs.2023/14543","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/14543","url":null,"abstract":"COVID-19-related alcohol sales bans and stay-at-home orders prompted the alcohol industry in South Africa to increase their online alcohol sales promotions. We investigated changes in alcohol-related behaviour and the drivers of illegal alcohol sales through a self-reported Facebook survey that ran from July to November 2020. Questions included socio-demographics and comparison of alcohol purchasing behaviour and intake during 2019 and 2020. Statistical tests were applied to find associations between illegal alcohol purchasing and alcohol-related behaviours. A total of 792 participants took part in the survey, 69.7% of whom were female. During lockdown periods, most participants (55.3%) bought alcohol illegally from illegal outlets or friends. Online alcohol-delivery marketing increased by 20 percentage points from 2019 to 2020, with participants stating that they saw a lot of advertisements per day and 80% of persons under 25 years were not asked to verify their age in 2020 upon delivery. Home-brewed beer and vodka intake increased in 2020 during the alcohol sales bans. Men from the Western Cape who engaged in daily or weekly heavy episodic drinking were more prone to purchase alcohol illegally. The Western Cape, which is South Africa’s most prolific wine-producing region, had the highest odds of people buying alcohol illegally, with wine being found to be the most frequently bought alcohol online and consumed by these participants. There is a need for further research into the differences in alcohol-related behaviour affecting illegal alcohol purchasing according to income group, proximity to alcohol producers and underage alcohol sales and marketing through online applications.","PeriodicalId":21928,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Science","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139214544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Undoing Apartheid’s mechanisms of reproductive power 消除种族隔离的生殖权力机制

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/16546

Nancy Luxon

引用次数: 0

Antibacterial activity of two actinomycetes species isolated from black sand in North Egypt 从埃及北部黑沙中分离出的两种放线菌的抗菌活性

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/14509

Basma M. Atallah, Soliman A. Haroun, E. El-Mohsnawy

{"title":"Antibacterial activity of two actinomycetes species isolated from black sand in North Egypt","authors":"Basma M. Atallah, Soliman A. Haroun, E. El-Mohsnawy","doi":"10.17159/sajs.2023/14509","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/14509","url":null,"abstract":"Increasingly high levels of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens have necessitated the discovery of novel bioactive compounds. For this reason, two actinomycetes strains, Streptomyces griseorubens and Streptomyces rochei, were isolated for the first time from the black sand shores of Kafr El Sheikh in Egypt, which is home to several large fish farms. Isolates were identified via phenotypic, biochemical and 16S rRNA sequence protocols. Both strains exhibited powerful antimicrobial activity against three serious MDR pathogens: Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella enteritidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bioactive compounds of isolates’ filtrates were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). For S. griseorubens, the detectable antibacterial compounds were hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, 2-ethylhexyl ester, n-Decane, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, benzene acetic acid, ricinolic acid, and ethylparaben, while S. rochei secretes heptadecane, 2,6-dimethyl-, benzene acetic acid, dibutyl phthalate, octacosane, hexacosane, and vitamin A aldehyde. These results strongly encourage the use of these eco-friendly isolates as a biocontrol against MDR pathogens that attack fish farms.","PeriodicalId":21928,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Science","volume":"29 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139215159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The next steps in human evolutionary palaeoecology 人类进化古生态学的下一个步骤

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/16081

C. Marean

{"title":"The next steps in human evolutionary palaeoecology","authors":"C. Marean","doi":"10.17159/sajs.2023/16081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/16081","url":null,"abstract":"and how did hominins position themselves relative to it? Modern human hunter–gatherers always place their campsites near water – it structures much of their movement. What animals were the primary predators of hominins and how did hominins avoid them? The theory of landscape of fear shows us how important this question is. Do the faunal data show us what edible plants were available, and how these changed over time? We have become very good at assigning fossils to taxonomic groups and dating them, but we have yet to really make headway into understanding what these past ecologies were like. Second, the book shows us that we have reached a glass ceiling with our current approach. Our current approach finds fossils, describes them, dates them, and then uses specific animals or groups to infer what the environment was around the site. If there is a sequence, then we might describe how that changes over time, juxtapose it against a long climate and environmental archive record, and look for correlations. We are still very much in an inductive phase of science, and most sciences eventually mature into more deductive forms where the data are used to test hypotheses. We now have the ability to begin to do this. Advances in our ability to create climate models, and environmental models from those, has exploded in the last 10 years and will become increasingly powerful. My recommendation, which we have argued for elsewhere 3 , is that we start to nudge ourselves in that direction. In such a procedure, we would create formal models of climate and environment across regions, and then use our fragmented sequences to test and refine those models, thus creating palaeoscape models. Within those palaeoscapes, we can use computer simulations such as agent-based modelling to experiment with interactions between fauna and their environment, which of course moves us truly in the direction of palaeoecology.","PeriodicalId":21928,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Science","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139209860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Performance of leaf extract media in culturing mycorrhizal mushroom mycelium 培养菌根蘑菇菌丝的叶提取物培养基的性能

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/14175

Alec Mlambo, Mcebisi Maphosa

{"title":"Performance of leaf extract media in culturing mycorrhizal mushroom mycelium","authors":"Alec Mlambo, Mcebisi Maphosa","doi":"10.17159/sajs.2023/14175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/14175","url":null,"abstract":"In-vitro culture of mycorrhizal mushroom (MM) species in southern Africa remains largely unexplored, particularly using tree-derived media. In this study, a Julbernardia globiflora [(Benth.) Troupin] leaf infusion was tested for its ability to promote MM mycelial growth. Amanita loosii, Cantharellus miomboensis and Cantharellus heinemannianus isolates were incubated at a pH of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 and at 25 °C in six leaf extract agar (LEA) infusion concentrations of 150, 175, 200, 225 or 250 grams of leaves/L distilled water, with potato dextrose agar (PDA) as a standard. We determined mycelium growth rates for all treatment combinations. Mycelium growth rate was found to be optimal at a pH between 4 and 6 in all leaf infusion concentrations tested. Significant (p<0.001) linear regressions of A. loosii and C. miomboensis were found for pH only (R2=0.837 and 0.8582, respectively) and a significant (p<0.001) regression was found for C. heinemannianus (R2=0.293). Amanita loosii and C. heinemannianus had faster (p<0.001) growth in PDA than in LEA, while C. miomboensis had similar growth rates in the two media. Growth characteristics observed were attributed to acid phosphatase mediated physiological processes in mycelium for the different MM species with an optimum pH of 4–6. MM mycelia were white, mycelia for A. loosii and C. miomboensis were loose and for C. heinemannianus were thin filaments. LEA proved to be a potential alternative medium for culturing MM species.","PeriodicalId":21928,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Science","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139212430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The pros and cons of buccal swabbing and tail clipping for monitoring reptilian biodiversity 颊拭子和剪尾对监测爬行动物生物多样性的利弊

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/16217

Matthew G Adair, Jean-Jacque Forgus, Devon C. Main, J. Taft, J. D. da Silva, K. Tolley

{"title":"The pros and cons of buccal swabbing and tail clipping for monitoring reptilian biodiversity","authors":"Matthew G Adair, Jean-Jacque Forgus, Devon C. Main, J. Taft, J. D. da Silva, K. Tolley","doi":"10.17159/sajs.2023/16217","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/16217","url":null,"abstract":"In biodiversity research, the retrieval of genetic material from organisms is a common and essential component for assessing genetic diversity. The welfare of the organism, however, needs to be balanced against the overall goal of the intended research. One sampling technique often applied to retrieve DNA material from small reptiles is the removal of a small portion of the distal end of the tail. While most squamate reptiles have tail autotomy, some species (e.g. many iguanid lizards and snakes) do not regenerate tail tissue. We therefore explored the efficacy of a minimally disruptive technique, buccal swabbing, as an alternative to tissue sampling via tail clipping, particularly for species without tail autotomy, using dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion spp.) as a case study. The two sampling techniques were compared to assess the efficacy of DNA retrieval. We also evaluated the financial implications of each technique. The results indicate that buccal swabs paired with a specialised DNA extraction kit offer a feasible (although expensive), once-off alternative to tissue sampling, but with no material left for biobanking. Deviations in swab type used and the DNA extraction process (i.e. using more affordable extraction procedures) resulted in poor DNA retrieval and unreadable sequences. This finding suggests that buccal swabbing can be a suitable alternative when finances are not constrained, an expensive extraction kit is available, and biobanking is not a concern. For researchers from low- to middle-income economies, this expensive alternative may hamper research progress by placing a financial obstacle in the way, and therefore the next best option is tissue sampling.","PeriodicalId":21928,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Science","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139210409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Radiocarbon-dated evidence for Late Pleistocene and Holocene coastal change at Yzerfontein, Western Cape, South Africa 南非西开普省 Yzerfontein 晚更新世和全新世海岸变化的放射性碳年代证据

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/15505

Stephen Woodborne, Duncan Miller, M. Evans, H. Cawthra, Stephan Winkler

{"title":"Radiocarbon-dated evidence for Late Pleistocene and Holocene coastal change at Yzerfontein, Western Cape, South Africa","authors":"Stephen Woodborne, Duncan Miller, M. Evans, H. Cawthra, Stephan Winkler","doi":"10.17159/sajs.2023/15505","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/15505","url":null,"abstract":"We report radiocarbon dates obtained from on-shore marine and near-shore terrestrial deposits near Yzerfontein, on the West Coast of South Africa. These deposits include Late Pleistocene shell concretions from the southern end of 16 Mile Beach and a marine shell deposit inland of the coastal Rooipan (Red Pan); mid-Holocene coastal pan deposits exposed by modern storm erosion of the sandy 16 Mile Beach; and four Holocene storm beach deposits on a rocky shore to the south. We interpret the results in terms of local geomorphology constraints on sea-level fluctuations. The eastern margin of Rooipan is a >40 ka elevated beach deposit in a dune cordon that separates it from the adjacent Yzerfonteinpan. Both pans have gypsum deposits up to 2 m thick formed by repeated marine overwash. Saline pan deposits that are exposed intermittently on the beach are mid-Holocene and indicate a former westward extension of Rooipan. This is in contrast to storm beaches dating 8000–2600 cal BP at higher elevations on a rocky platform further south. This suggests that a dune barrier existed seaward of the present shoreline near Rooipan at this time. The coastal changes described here show that deposition and erosion can be affected significantly by the local palaeogeomorphology and cannot be ascribed solely to sea-level change.","PeriodicalId":21928,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Science","volume":"335 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139212163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Vincent Clifford Moran (1937–2023): Internationally recognised entomologist and committed administrator 文森特-克利福德-莫兰（1937-2023）：国际公认的昆虫学家和坚定的管理者

IF 2.4 4区综合性期刊

South African Journal of Science Pub Date : 2023-11-29 DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2023/16934

John H. Hoffmann

引用次数: 0