The Molecular Basis of Imidazolinone Herbicide Resistance in Arabidopsis Thaliana Var. Columbia.

Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is a key regulatory enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. ALS is inhibited by four classes of structurally unrelated herbicides viz. sulfonylureas, imidazolinones, triazolopyrimidines, and pyrimidyl-oxy-benzoate. To understand the molecular basis of imidazolinone resistance, the ALS gene was isolated from an imazapyr-resistant mutant GH90 of Arabidopsis thaliana (Haughn and Somerville, 1990. Plant Physiol. 92:1081-1085). DNA sequence analysis of the mutant gene demonstrated a single point mutation from G to A at the 1958th nucleotide of the ALS coding sequence (Sathasivan et al., 1990. Nucl. Acids Res. 18:2188). This would result in serine to asparagine substitution at the 653rd amino acid, near the carboxyl terminal of matured ALS. The mutant ALS gene was introduced into tobacco using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The presence of the introduced ALS gene was confirmed by a southern hybridization analysis of transgenic plant DNA. Imidazolinone resistance of transformed calli and leaves of transgenic plants was 100 fold greater than that of wild type. The level of resistance of the ALS activity in vitro correlated with the amount of resistance in the leaves of transgenic plants. These results demonstrated that the single amino acid substitution from serine to asparagine at the 653rd amino acid near the carboxyl terminus of ALS is the molecular basis of imidazolinone herbicide resistance

Experiences of nurses caring for mental health care users in an acute admission unit at a psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape Province

BACKGROUND: Caring for mental health care users (MHCUs) with mental illnesses is a major task that confronts nurses globally. It has been argued that caring for this group of patients is accompanied by unique challenges. Despite the available abundance of data about nursing patients suffering from mental illnesses, little is known about the lived experiences of nurses who care for MHCUs in acute admission units in the Western Cape province. OBJECTIVES: This study’s aim is to explore and describe the lived experiences of nurses who care for MHCUs in an acute admission unit at a psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape province. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological study was conducted. A purposive sampling procedure was applied which resulted in a sample that comprised eight nurses. Indepth, individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with these eight participants. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and the researcher utilised Collaizzi’s method to analyse collected data. RESULTS: Both positive and negative experiences were reported. Positive experiences were the recovery of patients, teamwork, and passion for caring. Negative experiences were the feelings of being unappreciated and unsupported by authorities. Physical assault by MHCUs, shortage of staff, increased workload and burnout was also reported. CONCLUSIONS: In-service training about management of aggression needs to be provided, debriefing sessions to deal with burnout needs to be arranged, and research to quantify levels of burnout should be conducted.Department of HE and Training approved lis

Intimate partner violence amongst undergraduate nursing students

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is reported to be rife among the student population at tertiary institutions and the general population. Yet the abuse is under diagnosed by nurses in health care settings. Research indicates that nurses’ personal experiences of this type of abuse play a role in the management of survivors. Hence, this study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with IPV among the undergraduate nursing student population at a tertiary institution in the Western Cape, South Africa. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by the stratified random sample. The reported lifetime prevalence of IPV included psychological, physical, financial and sexual abuse. IPV was significantly associated with the educational status of the respondent’s mother, financial support and witnessing of abuse during childhood. A support structure is thus needed to prepare the undergraduate student nurses emotionally before commencing with their training in the management of survivors of IPV.Department of HE and Training approved lis

ABORTION PROCUREMENT AND POST-ABORTION CARE SERVICES: EXPERIENCES OF NIGERIAN ADOLESCENTS

ABSTRACT Introduction: The prevention of abortion-related complications and mortality is dependent on the availability, accessibility and usability of emergency post-abortion care (PAC) throughout the health care system. Unfortunately, Nigerian adolescents are often unable to obtain adequate post-abortion care services due to numerous challenges and barriers. This study attempted to explore experiences with abortion and post-abortion care services from the adolescents’ perspective which is the first step in enhancing optimal utilization of adolescents’ PAC services Methods: A qualitative exploratory research design was used. 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescent patients during hospitalization. The adolescent patients were duly counselled and informed consent obtained prior to the in-depth interview. The semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection and the data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Findings from the interviews revealed that adolescents found it difficult to discuss issues of pregnancy and abortion with their parents or guardians due to fear, stigmatization or rejection. The adolescents experienced negligence of care, shame and stigma due to failure of health care providers to ensure privacy, as well as delay in treatment due to hospital protocol and non-availability of prescribed drugs which significantly affected the PAC care services they received Conclusion: The adolescents experienced fear, shame, and stigmatization, negligence of care and lack of access to adequate PAC services. These findings highlight the need to review health actions directed towards adolescents with abortion complications and plan interventions aimed at improving provision of adolescents’ friendly PAC services, in order to meet the reproductive health needs of these adolescents

The development of a model for continuing professional development for professional nurses in South Africa

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDComparative analysis of the CPD systems internationally and nationally revealed that CPD is mandatory for some whilst for other countries it is compulsory, but not mandatory for licensing purposes. Licensing occurs on a yearly basis, but CPD recognition is accredited over a time period with expiry deadlines and minimum requirements. A portfolio was a common method of recording and proof of evidence for CPD, and a continuous theme was that CPD is needed to ensure competency. The Nursing Act 33 of 2005 makes provision for CPD for nurses but to date the South African Nursing Council has not yet decided on a model of CPD for implementation for SA nurses.South Afric

Contract workers at HEIs within a framework of motivational leadership

Most literature sources are based on negative assumptions about contract workers and career success. Despite the growing number of contract workers employed at higher education institutions (HEIs), and the changes it elicits in the work place, there has been little theoretical work conducted about a positive perspective of contract workers in relation to achieving organisational or personal goals. A review of the topic about contract workers has been undertaken from the perspective of motivational leadership, incorporating the theoretical perspectives of the goal setting theory (Locke 1960 in Jooste 2009) and the model of complex man and organisations (Schein 1992 in Jooste 2009).DHE

Effectiveness of breakpoint chlorination and rechlorination on nitrified chloraminated water

Chloramine is used as a secondary disinfectant in water distributions system (WDS). However, nitrification is a major concern involved in the chloraminated WDS as it leads to the accelerated decay of chloramines. After the onset of nitrification, breakpoint chlorination followed by rechlorination is generally practiced in WDS to reinstate chloramine residuals in the WDS. In this study, two different control strategies re-chlorination and breakpoint chlorination followed rechloramination were applied on the severely nitrified water collected from the laboratory-scale reactor system. Results showed that breakpoint chlorination followed by rechloramination is highly stable as the chloramine residual was maintained up to 300 hours and is highly effective than rechlorination alone as it could maintain residue only up to 50 hours even with repeated re-dosing

Impact of NOM character on copper adsorption by trace ferric hydroxide from iron corrosion in water supply system

The fate of trace concentrations of cupric sulfate (<0.4 mg/L) dosed into chloraminated distribution systems to inhibit nitrification has been shown in this study to be controlled by at least two crucial factors: the character of natural organic matter (NOM) and iron hydroxide corrosion products present at low concentrations (<2 mg/L). This research quantified the removal of Cu(II) ions added into waters containing trace Fe(OH)3 flocs and the effect of NOM of different character on this removal. The dominant dissolved copper species in NOM-containing waters were found to be Cu(II)–NOM complexes. Both intramolecular chelation and intermolecular complexation can occur, with the latter occurring preferentially and resulting in the aggregation of smaller organic molecules to form larger molecules. The presence of ferric hydroxide flocs when Cu(II) ions were added into NOM-containing waters was shown to result in removal of Cu(II) ions, presumably as Cu(II)–NOM complexes. This removal was through adsorption processes obeying Freundlich isotherms, although the presence of larger NOM molecules and heterogeneous copper species (e.g. Cu(OH)2(s) and CuO(s)) appeared to shield smaller Cu(II)–NOM complexes from adsorption to some extent. For the strategy of inhibition of nitrification in distribution systems by the addition of Cu(II) ions, complexation of Cu(II) ions by NOM and adsorption of Cu(II)–NOM complexes by ferric hydroxide flocs released from pipe walls pose significant operational challenges to maintaining the concentration of Cu(II) ions through the distribution system

Prior expectations of leadership programme attendees and their subsequent reflections on completion thereof

This article describes the reflections of nursing academics on their personal expectations prior to commencement of a leadership programme and their subsequent reflections on completion of this introduction to the leadership programme. The programme aimed at developing the participants as leaders in conjunction with developing the culture of research in a school of nursing at a university in the Western Cape, South Africa. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used. A total sample of eight nursing academics at a higher education institution (HEI) took part and narratives were written in July 2012. The results indicated active participation and involvement; development of skills and knowledge; a balance between programme and personal goals; a sense of confidence amongst attendees; creating structure for growth; and critical thinking. The implication of the study was that a leadership research team has been established with clear underlying assumptions of transformative leadership in research driven by self-leadership.Department of HE and Training approved lis

Training young water professionals in leadership and transdisciplinary competencies for sustainable water management in India

Young water professionals (YWPs) have a critical role in ensuring how water resources will be managed to contribute towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To address the challenges of climate change, population growth, and urbanization, YWPs require leadership skills, transdisciplinary competencies, technical knowledge, and practical experience. This article presents the India YWP training program, led by Western Sydney University and the Australia India Water Centre (AIWC), aimed at developing a cohort of skilled YWPs and nurturing the next generation of water leaders in support of India’s water reform agenda and the National Water Mission. The program engaged 20 YWPs, consisting of an equal gender representation, selected by the Ministry of Jal Shakti from various water management agencies and departments across India. The 11-month training program was designed to be transformative and interactive, and it used an online platform comprising online lectures, mentoring, and project-based learning facilitated by the AIWC team. The training methodology focused on engaged learning, incorporating online workshops, Situation Understanding and Improvement Projects (SUIPs), online group discussions, and mentoring. The SUIPs provided a platform for YWPs to work in pairs, receiving guidance from AIWC members, enabling them to develop practical skills and knowledge in realworld contexts. The program effectively enhanced participants’ capacities in project planning, design, implementation, and management, while fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills by adopting transdisciplinary approaches. Furthermore, participants demonstrated improved leadership, project management, time management, and communication skills. The training helped YWPs to equip them with a holistic perspective and stakeholder-focused mindset to address diverse water challenges from a holistic and long-term standpoint