2,794 research outputs found
Considering the Shrinking Physical, Social, and Psychological Spaces of Rohingya Refugees in Southeast Asia
Refugees experience shrinking social, economic, political, and physical spaces at astonishing rates. However, these shrinking spaces are challenging to trace simultaneously and are rarely considered in policymaking or analysis. Using the Rohingya case study, this paper implores policy analysis to include these spaces, conceptually categorizing them into physical, social, and psychological spaces. Here we chronologize the plight of Rohingya refugees and identify how their spaces have changed over time. Our findings reveal four primary causal relationships linked to Rohingya refugees\u27 fluctuating spaces, including: (I) Bangladesh\u27s policy framework has kept the Rohingya largely isolated, yet their public-private partnerships have expanded their space; (ii) Bangladesh has a robust social policy framework, which has contributed to expanding refugees\u27 spaces; (iii) Myanmar\u27s foreign policy framework contributed to justifying war crimes, severely restricting Rohingya\u27s space, and (iv) The lack of a social policy framework in Myanmar lead to a severe lack of protection mechanisms for the Rohingya
A revision of the endemic South African spider genus Austrachelas, with its transfer to the Gallieniellidae (Arachnida: Araneae)
The endemic South African spider genus Austrachelas Lawrence, 1938 is revised. The type species, A. incertus Lawrence, 1938, and A. natalensis Lawrence, 1942, are redescribed, and their males described for the first time. Seven new species are described: A. bergi n. sp. (female only), A. kalaharinus n. sp. (male only), A. merwei n. sp. (both sexes), A. pondoensis n. sp. (both sexes), A. reavelli n. sp. (both sexes), A. sexoculata n. sp. (male only), and A. wassenaari n. sp. (both sexes). A cladistic analysis performed including Austrachelas and various species of the corinnid subfamilies Trachelinae, Castianeirinae, Corinninae and Phrurolithinae, and species from the Liocranidae, Gallieniellidae and Lamponidae, suggests that Austrachelas is currently misplaced. Its transfer to the Gallieniellidae is proposed.Fil: Haddad, Charles R.. University of the Free State; SudáfricaFil: Lyle, Robin. University of the Free State; SudáfricaFil: Bosselaers, Jan. Royal Museum for Central Africa; BélgicaFil: Ramirez, Martin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin
Design and characterization of terahertz CORPS beam forming networks
This work reviews the design and applicability of beam-forming networks based on Coherently Radiating Periodic Structures (CORPS-BFN) at Terahertz (THz) frequency bands. These versatile networks offer two operation modes: a continuous beam steering – feeding an antenna array with a linearly progressive phase distribution – using a reduced number of phase controls; or a multi-beam operation, generating independent, overlapped beams. These networks are built upon the concatenation of power combiners/dividers (PCDs) with isolated outputs. The isolation is provided by monolithically integrated resistors, implemented with Ti/TiO
thin films for the first time. In this work, a planar prototype of a
(inputs/outputs) microstrip CORPS-BFN for operation in the WR3.4/WM-864 band (220–330 GHz) on a thin 50
m Indium Phosphide (InP) substrate is designed, fabricated, and characterized. The measured S-parameters show a reflection coefficient better than -15 dB and an insertion loss between 1.6 and 3.2 dB in the whole band. In addition, an isolation better than 20 dB between the input ports has been measured. An overall remarkable agreement is observed between the measurements and the simulations. Last, the applications, scalability and efficiency of this type of networks at the targeted band are discussed in detail.This research was funded partially by the FPU Program from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, grant No. FPU18/00013, and project PID2019-109984RB-C43 (FRONT-MiliRAD); by the Deutsche Forschungs-Gemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Project 287022738-CRC/TRR 196 MARIE (Projects C02, C05, C06, C07 and S03); by BMBF (smartBeam, 6GEM grant No. EFRE-0400215, grant No.16KISK017 and grant No.16KISK039) and by the NRW/EFRE Terahertz-Integrationszentrum (Open6GHub and THz.NRW). Open Access funding provided by Universidad Pública de Navarra
South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) : review of current knowledge, constraints and future needs for documenting spider diversity (Arachnida : Araneae)
Biodiversity is one of the most important concepts in contemporary biology, with a broad range of
applications. In November 1995, South Africa ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Signatories are obligated to develop a strategic plan for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity. To meet the requirements of the CBD, the South African National Survey of Arachnida
(SANSA) was initiated in 1997. This national project has several aims: to document and describe the
arachnid fauna of South Africa; to consolidate all the available data on South African arachnids into
one relational database and to make this biodiversity information available to science; and to address
issues concerning their conservation and sustainable use. Extensive sampling took place and the
SANSA database contains a wealth of biodiversity data that are used to provide answers to ecological
questions. Presently 71 spider families, 471 genera and 2170 species are known from South Africa,
representing approximately 4.8% of the world fauna. This paper presents the current state of spider
biodiversity information and how it is managed. It demonstrates the importance of running a national
inventory; emphasises the significance of using a good database application; and the importance of
capacity development to improve the quality and integration of biodiversity information. Further, it
shows the role SANSA has played in unifying and strengthening arachnid research, with the major
thrust to discover the spider diversity in South Africa. We discuss the present status of knowledge,
constraints to improving this, and the future directions for research. SANSA has provided the
foundations for a more integrative approach to spider diversity research. Future research should build
on this legacy by linking taxonomic diversity with that of functional diversity, predicting the response
of this diversity to global change drivers. Functional approaches will link these studies to ecosystem
processes. Global collaborative studies at several sites following standardised sampling protocols and
focused research questions would add value to the SANSA collection and the importance of spiders for
the health of ecosystems.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ttrs202016-10-31hb201
The faunistic diversity of spiders (Arachnida : Araneae) of the South African grassland biome
As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA), all available information on spider species distribution in the South African Grassland Biome was compiled. A total of 11 470 records from more than 900 point localities were sampled in the South African Grassland Biome until the end of 2011, representing 58 families, 275 genera and 792 described species. A further five families (Chummidae, Mysmenidae, Orsolobidae, Symphytognathidae and Theridiosomatidae) have been recorded from the biome but are only known from undescribed species. The most frequently recorded families are the Gnaphosidae (2504 records), Salticidae (1500 records) and Thomisidae (1197 records). The last decade has seen an exponential growth in the knowledge of spiders in South Africa, but there are certainly many more species that still have to be discovered and described. The most species-rich families are the Salticidae (112 spp.), followed by the Gnaphosidae (88 spp.), Thomisidae (72 spp.) and Araneidae (52 spp.). A rarity index, taking into account an endemicity index and an abundance index, was determined to give a preliminary indication of the conservation importance of each species. The endemicity index indicates that 58 species are endemic to the biome, while 38 species could be considered to be introduced, cosmopolitan, or having a distribution extending beyond the Afrotropical Region. Levels of endemism are highest for mygalomorph trapdoor spiders (7.14–50%) and selected araneomorph families with restricted dispersal capabilities (i.e. Archaeidae, Sicariidae and Scytodidae). A brief review of the published data of surveys from the biome and the patterns of spider assemblage structure in each is presented, together with information on the most species-rich spider families occurring in the biome.The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Threatened Species Programme are thanked for generously funding SANSA Phase II. The National Research Foundation (NRF). SHF acknowledges financial assistance from the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ttrs20hb2013ab201
South African National Survey of Arachnida : a checklist of the spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa
The aim of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) is to document the
Arachnida fauna of South Africa. One of the focus areas of SANSA is to survey protected
areas to obtain species-specific information, and species distribution patterns for Red Data
assessments. Here, we provide the first checklist of the spider species of Lekgalameetse Nature
Reserve (LNR) in the Limpopo province of South Africa collected during five surveys between
2009 and 2016 using methods targeting both the ground and field layers. Forty-five families,
represented by 168 genera and 268 species, have been collected so far. The most species-rich
families were the Salticidae (41 spp.) and Araneidae (38 spp.), followed by the Thomisidae
(33 spp.), while 11 families were represented by one species. Information on spider guilds,
endemicity value and conservation status are provided. The LNR protects approximately
12.2% of the total South African spider fauna. Two species, Hasarinella distincta Haddad &
Wesołowska, 2013 (Salticidae) and Ballomma legala Jocqué & Henrard, 2015 (Zodariidae), are
presently known to be endemic to the reserve.
CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS : The LNR falls within the Savanna Biome in the Limpopo province.
Only five spider species were previously known from the reserve and 263 spp. are reported
from the reserve for the first time. Thirteen species are possibly new to science and 2 species
represent new distribution records for South Africa.http://www.koedoe.co.za/am2017Zoology and Entomolog
South African National Survey of Arachnida: A checklist of the spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in the Northern Cape province, South Africa
One of the aims of South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) is to survey protected areas to obtain species-specific information and compile inventories to determine species distribution patterns and evaluate their conservation status for Red Data assessments. The aim of this study, the first in a series of surveys of the Diamond Route Reserves, was to compile the first checklist of the spider species in the Northern Cape at the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. Spiders were collected during three survey periods (2005−2013) using different collecting methods to sample both the ground and field layers. In total, 32 families represented by 108 genera and 136 species have been collected so far. The most species-rich families are the Salticidae (20 spp.) and Thomisidae (18 spp.), followed by the Gnaphosidae and Araneidae (11 spp. each), while nine families are represented by singletons. The free-living wandering spiders represent 97 spp., while 39 spp. are web-builders. Information on spider guilds, endemicity value and conservation status are provided. The Tswalu Kalahari Reserve protects approximately 6.1% of the total South African spider fauna, while 24.3% of the species found in the reserve are South African endemics, of which 5.9% are Northern Cape endemics. Approximately 6.0% of the species sampled are possibly new to science or represent new records for South Africa.
Conservation implications: The Tswalu Kalahari Reserve falls within the Savanna Biome in the Northern Cape province. Only one spider species was previously known from the reserve; a further 135 spp. are reported for the first time, with 5.9% of the species being Northern Cape endemics and 24.3% South African endemics. Approximately 6.0% of the species may be new to science or represent new records for South Africa
The diversity of South African spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) : documenting a national survey
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Opname van Arachnida (SANSA) is in 1997 deur die
Landbounavorsingsraad (LNR) geïnisieer met die primêre doelwit om die Arachnidafauna
van Suid-Afrika op nasionale vlak te dokumenteer. Tydens die tweede fase van die projek,
genaamd SANSA II, het die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Biodiversiteitsinstituut (SANBI) deur
hul program vir bedreigde spesies van 2006 tot 2010, in vennootskap met die LNR by die
projek aangesluit. Gedurende die vier jaar lange projek is daar gepoog om alle beskikbare
spinnekopdata in een databasis te konsolideer. Hierdie data is gebruik om die ruimtelike
dekking van spesies te bepaal en vas te stel waar gapings in die data bestaan om sodoende
prioriteitsareas te identifiseer vir meer gefokuste opnames. Uitgebreide versameltogte deur
SANSA-veldwerkbestuurders is gedurende die vier jaar onderneem. Inligting oor spesies is
aangevul deur byvangste van ander navorsingsprojekte, studenteprojekte, en deur openbare
deelname. Al die pogings het waardevolle inligting voorsien oor die teenwoordigheid en
verspreiding van spinnekoppe. Die inligting is gebruik om die Eerste atlas van spinnekopspesies
van Suid-Afrika saam te stel, insluitende kaarte om die verspreiding van elke spesie aan
te dui, sowel as inligting oor die vlakke van endemisme vir elke spesie. Tans is daar 71
spinnekopfamilies, 471 genera en 2028 spesies in Suid-Afrika bekend. Die derde fase van
SANSA is in 2011 van stapel gestuur en verskeie aksies soos die saamstel van ’n rooidatalys van
spesies, ‘n reeks handboeke vir al die biome, die publikasie van die atlas, en die beskrywing
van nuwe spesies is onderweg.The South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) was initiated in 1997 by
the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), with the main aim of documenting the Arachnid
fauna of South Africa at a national level. Through their Endangered Species Programme, the
South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) came on board for the project’s second
phase, called SANSA II, from 2006 to 2010, in partnership with the ARC. During this four-year
project an attempt was made to consolidate all available data on South African spiders into
one database. This data was used to determine the spatial coverage of the already available
data, and to determine where ‘gaps’ in the data lie to identify priority areas for focused field
work. Due to extensive collecting done by SANSA field work managers, specimen bycatches
from other research projects, student projects, and through public participation in collecting
specimens, more than 40 degree square grids were sampled in previously poorly sampled
areas. This effort has provided valuable material that has improved our knowledge of the
distribution of species, and provided specimens for future taxonomic studies. All this data
was used to compile the First Atlas of the Spider Species of South Africa, including georeferenced
locality data, distribution maps and information on the level of endemicity of each species.
Following SANSA II, 71 spider families, 471 genera and 2028 species are presently known
in South Africa. The third phase of SANSA started in 2011 and several actions, such as Red
Listing of species, a handbook series for all the biomes, publication of the atlas, and description
of new species are underway.Scan this QR
code with your
smart phone or
mobile device
to read online.A.D.S. (Landbounavorsingsraad) was die projekleier van
SANSA en kurator van die Nasionale Versameling van
Arachnida; A.v.d.B. (Landbounavorsingsraad) het gehelp
met die saamstel van hierdie artikel en is betrokke by verskeie
opnames in agro-ekosisteme; R.L. (Landbounavorsingsraad)
is verantwoodelik vir opnames in die Noord-Kaap; C.H.
(Universiteit van die Vrystaat) is die hulpprojekleier
van SANSA en was verantwoordelik vir koördinering
van versamelritte; S.F. (Universiteit van Venda) was
verantwoordelik vir opnames in die savannabioom; L.L.
(Nasionale Museum) het data verskaf vanaf die Nasionale
Museum en was betrokke by opnames in die graslandbioom.Finansiële steun en beskikbaarstelling van infrastruktuur
deur die Landbounavorsingsraad word met dank
erken. Befondsing is verkry vanaf die Suid-Afrikaanse
Biodiversiteitsinstituut se program vir bedreigde spesies,
asook van die NRF deur hul Thuthuka-program.http://www.satnt.ac.zaam2013ab201
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Africa and the Middle East, despite year-round sunny days
Exposure to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B (UVB), is essential for cutaneous vitamin D synthesis. Despite significant daily sunlight availability
in Africa and the Middle East, persons living in these regions are frequently vitamin D insufficient or deficient. Vitamin D insufficiency
(25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) between 15 and 20 ng/mL (37.5 - 50 nmol/L)) has been described in various population groups, ranging from 5%
to 80%. Risk factors include traditional dress and avoidance of sunlight exposure, and multiple dietary factors as a result of specific cultural beliefs.
Vitamin D resistance due to calcium deficiency mechanisms has been described in similar population groups, which may lead to hypovitaminosis D.
Should the new diseases related to hypovitaminosis D prove to be truly associated, Africa and the Middle East will become an epicentre
for many of these conditions. Urgent attention will need to be paid to cultural dress and dietary behaviours if hypovitaminosis D is to be
taken seriously. Should such factors not be correctable, new strategies for supplementation or food fortification will have to be devised.http://www.samj.org.zaam201
Thermography as a method of acquiring competences in Physiology. Application case for hand blood flow control
5 p.The present work proposes a methodological structure as part of the learning of the circulatory system. For this, the application of thermal stress is used, by immersing the hands in cold water to visualize the reperfusion of the hands. Learning, based on the visualization and analysis of thermographic images, allows the acquisition of specific competences at the university level. In graduate studies such as physiotherapy and nursing, the use of virtual tools and materials that allow the acquisition of skills and technical knowledge is essential for the job performance of future professionals. The application of this methodology is proposed in practical sessions of subjects in the area of knowledge of Physiology, to demonstrate and facilitate the understanding of the circulatory system. This approach is framed within the discipline of virtual laboratories since the virtual materials generated can be used for the acquisition of skills and practical competencies, as well as for the evaluation of competencies in e-learning courses. In this way, by recording a pedagogical video that shows a short practice, 5 minutes long, it is possible to establish the necessary knowledge bases to expand them later. This material is easily implementable in any learning management system.S
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