Wopko Jensma en die soeke na ’n nuwe (Suid-)Afrikaanse identiteit

Wopko Jensma and his quest for a new (South) African identityThis article focuses on aspects of identity in the Afrikaans poetry of Wopko Jensma, published in three volumes of poetry, and in various magazines. Jensma apparently strove towards a new, “free” South African identity, which is clear from his idiosyncratic use of language, his perspectives on the sociopolitical circumstances of his time, and his visual art works. As the authors of this article have recently completed the most comprehensive study to date on Jensma’s life, this article contains singularly fresh and new perspectives on this significant South African writer and artist. The authors purport that the Afrikaans literary historiography has, since the 1960s, maintained a distorted representation of Jensma’s contribution not realising his importance.Key words: Wopko Jensma, biography, South African identity, South African poetry, Afrikaans poetry.“i write from an ‘african’ point of view”Wopko Jensma (1973a)(article text in Afrikaans

Die effek van die regulering van maksimum werkure op werknemers se grondwetlike reg op gelykheid

The paper examines the effect of the provisons regulating maximum working hours, with reference to the principle of equality entrenched in section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Section 9(1) read with section 10(1) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75/1997 has the effect that, subject to certain exceptions, employees are not allowed to work for the same employer for more than 55 hours per week. This does not prevent employees from working longer hours in total for different employers, an option that entails clear disadvantages. As a result of the adverse effect of past discrimination, black people, women and people on low socio-economic levels are disproportionately more unfavourably positioned in respect of levels of income, occupational status, financial ability and, consequentially, opportunities for promotion and improvement. This disadvantage often creates a need to work longer hours, specifically for the same employer. An application of the test developed in Harksen v Lane NO leads to a conclusion that the provisions referred to constitute unfair discrimination in terms of section 9 of the Constitution. The provisions also fail the proportionality test of section 36 of the Constitution

Section Reniformia, a new section in the genus Pelargonium (Geraniaceae)

A new section of Pelargonium L’Héerit. (Geraniaceae), section Reniformia (Knuth) Dreyer is described in which 8 species and 2 subspecies are included. Pelargonium reniforme Curt, is designated as the type species for the section. All included species are endemic to southern Africa, with the majority of taxa centred in the Eastern Cape Province Section Reniformia is characterised by its floral structure, a basic chromosome number of x = 8 and pollen grains with a striate-reticulale tectum

Modelling the business cycle in South Africa : a non-linear approach

In this paper the South African business cycle is modeled, using a simple linear method and comparing it to non-linear methods. This is useful to address the debate between the Classical and Keynesian economists regarding their views on the business cycle. They believe in a stable economy with exogenous shocks and an unstable economy with an endogenous business cycle respectively. Linear models are usually associated with the Classical view and non-linear models with the Keynesian view. A detailed discussion on the non-linear model-building process, with particular emphasis on the family of STAR models is done. The South African GDP is used and AR, TAR, LSTAR and ESTAR models are fitted and compared. It finds that a parameterized nonlinear model (such as the family of STAR models) outperforms the simple regression model. This is due to asymmetric behaviour in the GDP data and the possibility of a threshold between a recession and an expansion. The results in this paper support the structural or institutional view of business cycles, which states that economic fluctuations are caused by various structural or institutional changes

Restructuring manufacturing in South Africa's lagging regions : the case of the Free State

The manufacturing economy of the Free State reflects both historical dependence on locally available raw materials and high-levels of state intervention, in terms of support for import substitution and Homeland development. In the contemporary era, deindustrialization, the uncertain future of the clothing / textile industries and limited growth over the last ten years, suggests that, in terms of manufacturing, the Free State is a 'lagging' region. While there has been significant expansion in the number of small firms, this is not matched by employment growth and does not compensate for the loss of many large firms and economic downscaling in the Goldfields. Key sectors such as petro-chemicals and gold jewellery present certain opportunities for future growth

Screening for gestational diabetes: examining a breakfast meal test

Objective: This study was performed to analyse the carbohydrate quantity of the non-standardised breakfast meal test consumed as part of a screening test for gestational diabetes.Design: A prospective descriptive design was utilised.Setting: Screening for gestational diabetes was performed in the High-Risk Antenatal Clinic at Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.Subjects: Fifty pregnant women who met the local selection criteria for diabetes screening.Outcome measures: The contents of the patient-provided breakfast meal tests were evaluated individually for total carbohydrate amount and compared with the 75 grams of carbohydrate provided by the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).Results: The median carbohydrate amount was 71 g but the range (55–145 g) was wide. Only seven meals (14%) fell within 10% of the 75 g carbohydrate target.Conclusion: The patient-provided breakfast meal showed wide variation in carbohydrate amount. If a meal test is to be used instead of the formal OGTT a carefully measured, prepared, palatable, readily available product would need to be sourced and provided.Layman’s summary: It is necessary to screen for the development of diabetes during pregnancy. The standard test with 75 g of glucose is unpalatable and is sometimes replaced by a meal test. However, when this meal test is provided by the women themselves without standardisation, the sugar and starch quantities are too variable. Careful consideration needs to be given to an alternative screening test if it is to be reliable.Strong lay message: Non-standardised screening meal tests for gestational diabetes should not be used.Keywords: gestational diabetes, meal test, screenin

Spectral and stratigraphic mapping of hydrated sulfate and phyllosilicate-bearing deposits in northern Sinus Meridiani, Mars

We present detailed stratigraphic and spectral analyses that focus on a region in northern Sinus Meridiani located between 1°N to 5°N latitude and 3°W to 1°E longitude. Several stratigraphically distinct units are defined and mapped using morphologic expression, spectral properties, and superposition relationships. Previously unreported exposures of hydrated sulfates and Fe/Mg smectites are identified using MRO CRISM and MEX OMEGA near‐infrared (1.0 to 2.5 µm) spectral reflectance observations. Layered deposits with monohydrated and polyhydrated sulfate spectral signatures that occur in association with a northeast‐southwest trending valley are reexamined using highresolution CRISM, HiRISE, and CTX images. Layers that are spectrally dominated by monohydrated and polyhydrated sulfates are intercalated. The observed compositional layering implies that multiple wetting events, brine recharge, or fluctuations in evaporation rate occurred. We infer that these hydrated sulfate‐bearing layers were unconformably deposited following the extensive erosion of preexisting layered sedimentary rocks and may postdate the formation of the sulfate‐ and hematite‐bearing unit analyzed by the MER Opportunity rover. Therefore, at least two episodes of deposition separated by an unconformity occurred. Fe/Mg phyllosilicates are detected in units that predate the sulfateand hematite‐bearing unit. The presence of Fe/Mg smectite in older units indicates that the relatively low pH formation conditions inferred for the younger sulfate‐ and hematitebearing unit are not representative of the aqueous geochemical environment that prevailed during the formation and alteration of earlier materials. Sedimentary deposits indicative of a complex aqueous history that evolved over time are preserved in Sinus Meridiani, Mars

Sodium reduction regulations in South Africa – the consumer perspective

The prevalence of adult hypertension has increased at an alarming rate in recent years in South Africa. Salt reduction legislation is considered a cost-effective way to reduce this burden, as salt is a driver of hypertension. This cross-sectional, descriptive study aimed to determine consumers’ awareness of, and perceptions towards, the salt legislation, and their salt consumption habits. An interviewer-administered survey was used to gather data from literate adult consumers (N=583) at four randomly selected shopping malls in the Tygerberg Health sub-district, City of Cape Town. More than half (56.9%) of all participants tried to consume less salt because they thought it was healthier (38.3%) yet processed foods were a major source of salt in their diets (50.4%). Only 16.5% of participants were aware of the national salt legislation. Almost half of participants (47.9%) thought the legislation would affect the taste of food negatively, yet 80.9% have not noticed a change after implementation of the first phase of the legislation. To conclude, regulating manufacturers of food products could facilitate a reduction in population salt intake. An integrative strategy and collaboration between all stakeholders with regards to legislation, labelling and health education is needed in order to achieve health targets for population salt reduction

Natural variation in abiotic stress responsive gene expression and local adaptation to climate in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Gene expression varies widely in natural populations, yet the proximate and ultimate causes of this variation are poorly known. Understanding how variation in gene expression affects abiotic stress tolerance, fitness, and adaptation is central to the field of evolutionary genetics. We tested the hypothesis that genes with natural genetic variation in their expression responses to abiotic stress are likely to be involved in local adaptation to climate in Arabidopsis thaliana. Specifically, we compared genes with consistent expression responses to environmental stress (expression stress responsive, "eSR") to genes with genetically variable responses to abiotic stress (expression genotype-by-environment interaction, "eGEI"). We found that on average genes that exhibited eGEI in response to drought or cold had greater polymorphism in promoter regions and stronger associations with climate than those of eSR genes or genomic controls. We also found that transcription factor binding sites known to respond to environmental stressors, especially abscisic acid responsive elements, showed significantly higher polymorphism in drought eGEI genes in comparison to eSR genes. By contrast, eSR genes tended to exhibit relatively greater pairwise haplotype sharing, lower promoter diversity, and fewer nonsynonymous polymorphisms, suggesting purifying selection or selective sweeps. Our results indicate that cis-regulatory evolution and genetic variation in stress responsive gene expression may be important mechanisms of local adaptation to climatic selective gradients

The NOMA track module on nutrition, human rights and governance: Part 2. A transnational curriculum using a human rights-based approach to foster key competencies in nutrition professionals

Background. In response to the challenge of the global health needs of the 21st century, four academic institutions in Norway, South Africa and Uganda,each offering a Master’s degree in nutrition, collaboratively developed the NOrwegian MAsters (NOMA) track module on nutrition, human rights andgovernance, integrating a human rights-based approach into graduate education in nutrition.Objective. To capture students’ perceptions about the NOMA track module, focusing on the development of key competencies.Methods. Employing a qualitative approach, 20 (91% response rate) in-depth telephonic interviews were conducted with participating students, voicerecorded and transcribed. Through an inductive process, emerging themes were used to compile a code list for content analysis of the transcribed text. Relevant themes were reported according to the professionals’ roles described by the CanMEDS competency framework.Results. Participation in the module enhanced key competencies in the students, e.g. communication skills and the adoption of a holistic approach tointeraction with people or communities. Their role as collaborator was enhanced by their learning to embrace diversity and cultural differences and similarities. Students had to adapt to different cultures and educational systems. They were inspired to contribute in diverse contexts and act as agents for change in the organisations in which they may work or act as leaders or co-ordinators during interaction with community groups and policy makers. Higher education institutions offering transnational modules should support lecturers to manage the inherent diversity in the classroom as a way of enhancing student performance.Conclusion. The development of future transprofessional modules will benefit from the inclusion of desirable key competencies as part of the moduleoutcomes by following a competency by design process