Seeking Asylum in Ireland

The aim of this paper is to relate in brief the story of my life as a refugee in Ireland. It will focus on my reasons for leaving Zimbabwe, my home country, and some general reasons why people find themselves in a position where they should make the very crucial decision to either continue to live in their own country and deal with whatever hardship or persecution, give up and stare death in the face, or move to another place and contend with the challenges of trying to fit in and survive. Writing from a personal point of view, these challenges will obviously be based on my own experiences, which in my opinion reflect to a reasonable extent the experiences of most refugees, while at the same time not assuming that there are no exceptions. The challenges will include my life as an asylum seeker in direct provision (accommodation centres designated for people seeking asylum), as a single mother away from the support of family and friends, and as a refugee trying to start a new life in a foreign country. Another aim of this document is to clarify the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee, terms that to some people very often have the same meaning. The paper will also give a brief overview of the general treatment of refugees worldwide not only in Ireland or the western world . Finally, I wish to use this article to give words of encouragement to all the displaced persons of this world who may get a chance to read this article, to help them realise that it is possible to have a home away from home and to rise above the dehumanising experiences of being a refugee. It is my heartfelt wish, too, to extend my humble gratitude through this article to different statutory and voluntary organisations and people who have devoted their lives to the worthy cause of helping asylum seekers and refugees in this country and indeed in other parts of the world

Investigating the evolution of cytochromes P450 involved in GA biosynthesis

Vascular plants invariably contain a class II diterpene cyclase (EC 5.5.1.x), as an ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase is required for gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis. This has provided the basis for evolution of a functionally diverse enzymatic family. A bifunctional diterpene synthase was characterized from the lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii . The structure of its product, labda-7,13E-dien-15-ol, demonstrates that this enzyme catalyzes a novel class II diterpene cyclization reaction, and clarifies the biosynthetic origins of the family of derived natural products. All higher plants contain kaurene oxidases (KO), which are multifunctional cytochromes P450 that catalyze oxidation at the C4α methyl, converting ent-kaurene to ent -kaurenoic acid, an early step in gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis. Arabidopsis produces no labdane-related diterpenoids other than gibberellins, whereas rice produces a wide range of such natural products as antibiotic phytoalexins or allelochemicals. While rice contains several kaurene oxidase homologs, only OsKO2 (CYP701A6) is required for gibberellin biosynthesis. Here, we demonstrate that the KO from Arabidopsis thaliana (CYP701A3 or AtKO) exhibits significantly greater promiscuity than does OsKO2. To further characterize this plasticity of AtKO, we determined the structure of the resulting products, whereas OsKO2 only hydroxylates its substrates on C19, AtKO reacts with labdane-related diterpenes of varied stereochemistry, which further leads to altered hydroxylation regiochemistry. Our results demonstrate greater promiscuity of AtKO, which evolved in the absence of other potential labdane-related diterpene substrates, relative to OsKO2 from rice, which contains many such alternative substrates. Thus, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that enzymatic plasticity is shaped, at least in part, by evolutionary context such as that noted here

Biodiversity of Salmonella strains isolated from selected water sources and wastewater discharge points in the Easern Cape Province of South Africa

In this study, the diversity of forty Salmonella isolates from selected drinking water and wastewater sources in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was assessed using parameters such as protein and lipopolysaccharide profile analysis, DNA fingerprinting and antibiotic susceptibility profile as test indices. Wastewater samples from Amalinda, Shornville and Fort Hare wastewater plants, and water samples from Gogogo and Tyume rivers were collected on ice and transported to the laboratory of the department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of Fort Hare for processing. The DNA dendograms of Salmonella and the applied UPGMA revealed 4 similarity groups of the strains. Most of the strains recovered from Amalinda, Shornville, Fort Hare wastewater plants, Gogogo and Tyume rivers show a high percentage of genetic similarity. On the other hand, protein dendograms of Salmonella isolates revealed 2 similarity groups which varied widely. Also, the lipopolysaccharide dendograms revealed three similarity groups with the first similarity groups showing a very high relatedness between strains from different water sources. The second similarity group included 16 strains which formed a rather homogenous group, and the third similarity group formed a distinct group. Of the seven antibiotics and sulfonamides tested against the Salmonella species, five namely, neomycin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, streptomycin and cotrimoxazole were significantly inhibitory, while the bacteria showed considerable resistance to doxycycline and sulphamethoxazole. Our results based on restriction digestion, SDS/PAGE and dendogram construction show that there is a high similarity between the forty Salmonella strains studied, and that these methods are valuable tools for evaluating the relatedness ofSalmonella species. Our observations have proffered a veritable reference point on the diversity of Salmonella strains in the studied area

Security of Quantum Key Distribution Protocols

Quantum key distribution (QKD), another name for quantum cryptography, is the most advanced subfield of quantum information and communication technology (QICT). The first QKD protocol was proposed in 1984, and since then, more protocols have been proposed. It uses quantum mechanics to enable secure exchange of cryptographic keys. In order to have high confidence in the security of the QKD protocols, such protocols must be proven to be secure against any arbitrary attacks. In this chapter, we discuss and demonstrate security proofs for QKD protocols. Security analysis of QKD protocols can be categorised into two techniques, namely infinite-key and finite-key analyses. Finite-key analysis offers more realistic results than the infinite-key one, while infinite-key analysis provides more simplicity. We briefly provide the background of QKD and also define the basic notion of security in QKD protocols. The cryptographic key is shared between Alice and Bob. Since the key is random and unknown to an eavesdropper, Eve, she is unable to learn anything about the message simply by intercepting the ciphertext. This phenomenon is beyond the ability of classical information processing. We then study some tools that are used in the derivation of security proofs for the infinite- and finite-length key limits

Reliability analysis: assessment of hardware and human reliability

Most reliability analyses involve the analysis of binary data. Practitioners in the field of reliability place great emphasis on analysing the time periods over which items or systems function (failure time analyses), which make use of different statistical models. This study intends to introduce, review and investigate four statistical models for modeling failure times of non-repairable items, and to utilise a Bayesian methodology to achieve this. The exponential, Rayleigh, gamma and Weibull distributions will be considered. The performance of the two non-informative priors will be investigated. An application of two failure time distributions will be carried out. To meet these objectives, the failure rate and the reliability functions of failure time distributions are calculated. Two non-informative priors, the Jeffreys prior and the general divergence prior, and the corresponding posteriors are derived for each distribution. Simulation studies for each distribution are carried out, where the coverage rates and credible intervals lengths are calculated and the results of these are discussed. The gamma distribution and the Weibull distribution are applied to failure time data.The Jeffreys prior is found to have better coverage rate than the general divergence prior. The general divergence shows undercoverage when used with the Rayleigh distribution. The Jeffreys prior produces coverage rates that are conservative when used with the exponential distribution. These priors give, on average, the same average interval lengths and increase as the value of the parameter increases. Both priors perform similar when used with the gamma distribution and the Weibull distribution. A thorough discussion and review of human reliability analysis (HRA) techniques will be considered. Twenty human reliability analysis (HRA) techniques are discussed; providing a background, description and advantages and disadvantages for each. Case studies in the nuclear industry, railway industry, and aviation industry are presented to show the importance and applications of HRA. Human error has been shown to be the major contributor to system failure

Has South Africa been handed a poisoned chalice? Assessing the legal implications of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for South Africa's trade policy

AGOA is a US trade policy which defines and underpins the trade and investment relations between the US and sub-Saharan Africa. Essentially, AGOA extends duty free treatment to exports from eligible sub Saharan African countries. These preferences are aimed at promoting sub-Saharan African export earnings and stimulating their economic growth by giving them improved access to the US market. South Africa is one the few sub-Saharan African countries with a high utilization rate of the AGOA preferences, and has substantially benefited from AGOA. However, in order to ensure compliance with the eligibility requirements, an eligible sub-Saharan African country is subjected to constant, on-going surveillance and monitoring through the out of cycle review mechanism. Importantly, the US President has the prerogative to determine whether a sub- Saharan African country is eligible or remains eligible for the AGOA preferential treatment. The strict eligibility requirements and out of cycle review mechanism as well as the unilateral nature of AGOA deprive it of the necessary stability, certainty and predictability. Importantly, the out of cycle review mechanism has a chilling effect on trade policies of eligible sub-Saharan African countries. This is particularly true in respect of South Africa, whose trade policy is the primary subject of the study. Notwithstanding the economic benefits, the disadvantages and or risks associated with AGOA overwhelm same. The disadvantages and or risks are amply demonstrated by the recent development in which South Africa was compelled to remove Anti-Dumping duties and Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary measures it had validly imposed on US poultry in return for retaining AGOA preferences. Consequently, it is contended that AGOA is not a non-reciprocal preferential scheme that it purports to be. Instead, it is de facto reciprocal or has reverse preferences embedded in it. This study therefore argues that South Africa is entitled to impose Anti-Dumping duties and the Sanitary and Phyo-Sanitary measures, provided that specific requirements are met and that the measures imposed by South Africa on US poultry are legal under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and the WTO law as long as the procedural and substantive requirements have been fulfilled. Consequently, the consistency thereof can only be tested using the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. Further, the study highlights the implications of removing the above-mentioned measures for South Africa's trade policy and explores various alternative trade arrangements which South Africa and other sub-Saharan African countries may pursue in order to ensure or secure a stable, transparent, reciprocal trade relation with the US.tm2017Centre for Human RightsLLMUnrestricte

To Gibberellins and Beyond! Surveying the Evolution of (Di)Terpenoid Metabolism

The diterpenoids are classically defined by their composition, four isoprenyl units (20 carbons), and are generally derived from [E,E,E]-geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). Such metabolism seems to be ancient and has been extensively diversified, with ~12,000 diterpenoid natural products known. Particularly notable are the gibberellin phytohormones, whose requisite biosynthesis has provided a genetic reservoir giving rise to not only a large super-family of ~7,000 diterpenoids, but to some degree all plant terpenoid natural products. This review focuses on the diterpenoids, particularly the defining biosynthetic characteristics of the major superfamilies defined by the cyclization and/or rearrangement of GGPP catalyzed by diterpene synthases/ cyclases, although some discussion also is provided of the important subsequent elaboration in those few cases where molecular genetic information is available. In addition, the array of biological activity providing the selective pressure driving the observed gene family expansion and diversification, along with biosynthetic gene clustering, will be discussed as well

The socio-economic impact of a food production programme: Qamata irrigation scheme

Irrigation Schemes were introduce to be hub for food production and provision of job opportunities for rural communities. The idea also focused on provision of water in most dry areas but with potential soil for production. The introduction of government food security program came as means to achieve these objectives by subsidizing farmers with inputs and mechanical operations so as to reduce cost of production. This paper analyses the social and economic impact of massive food program in changing the lives of communities at Qamata Irrigation scheme. The data were collected from households who were beneficiaries of massive food program at Qamata Irrigation scheme and analysed using a descriptive statistics. The results show that socio-economic factors which include storage facilities, access to markets channels, land acquisition and size, change in income limit the ability of farmers to produce and sell productively, since they cannot store their produce for better market prices and are also limited in terms of available market. They are forced to sell at local village level on credit or have their produce loss in poor storage facilities. Qamata irrigation scheme had limited access to formal markets and market information

Biochemical analysis of the TPS-a subfamily in Medicago truncatula

Terpenes are important mediators of plant chemical response to environmental cues. Here, we describe the genome-wide identification and biochemical characterization of TPS-a members in Medicago truncatula, a model legume crop. Genome mining identified thirty-nine full-length terpene synthases with a significant number predicted to produce monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Biochemical characterization of the TPS-a subfamily associated with sesquiterpene biosynthesis revealed such compounds, that exhibit substantial biological activity in other plants. Gene expression analysis using qPCR and the Medicago gene atlas illustrated distinct tissue and time-based variation in expression in leaves and roots. Together our work establishes the gene-to-metabolite relationships for sesquiterpene synthases in M. truncatula. Understanding the biosynthetic capacity is a foundational step to defining the ecological roles of this important family of compounds

Land and agrarian reform, and rural livelihoods in post-apartheid South Africa : a study on the Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga Province

The study examines land and agrarian reforms in democratic South Africa focusing on projects implemented under the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) since 2009. Focusing on Bushbuckridge municipal area, the study reviews wide ranging transformative efforts initiated to address agrarian sector inequalities and rural poverty. The review illustrates that modest achievements have been made in restructuring the apartheid political geography manifesting in high levels of asset poverty amongst rural populations and vulnerability to food insecurity. While several factors are explored to explain this, it is discernible that a disjuncture exists between the social justice imperatives and the neoliberal development ideology adopted since transition to democracy. Adopting the sustainable livelihoods approach, the study examines whether the CRDP is adequate to address the needs for land equity in redistribution and to improve rural livelihoods in Mpumalanga, with particular focus on Bushbuckridge municipal area. Furthermore, the study examines the extent to which the implementation of CRDP has met the objective of equitable land redistribution as specified in the policy and also explores the outcomes of implementation, whether necessary conditions to promote the small-scale agricultural sector have been created; for instance, investments in agricultural infrastructure, support services such as credit measures, inputs and capacity building programmes for subsistence sector farming. Through a qualitative inquiry challenges are identified regarding the achievement of equity in land distribution and sustainable livelihoods. The conclusive chapter argues for paradigm shifts in land acquisition, public engagement, gender equity, funding models for subsistence farming, intersectoral co-operation, funding of rural infrastructural projects particularly markets and agro-processing facilities