Molecular analysis of HIV-1 resistance: biosynthesis, kinetic, and thermodynamic study of resistant HIV-PROTEASE (C-SA) mutants.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Abstract available in pdf

The impact of social change on social dominance theory and social identity theory

Social dominance theory (SDT) and Social identity theory (SIT) are theoretical frameworks that have been conceptualised and examined in societies that predominantly have stable intergroup relations. The present study sought to examine both theoretical frameworks in a context that is undergoing social change. Three cross-sectional studies were conducted amongst black and white students from a South African University. Results indicated that there was no difference in the desire for group-based inequality (i.e. social dominance orientation, SDO) amongst groups affected by social change, when group status was measured subjectively. Yet, when group status was determined sociologically, dominant group members had significantly higher SDO levels. Furthermore, results indicated that the perception of social change had a conditional effect on the relationship between SDO and support for affirmative action amongst white participants, in that when white participants perceived higher in-group status loss, higher SDO levels predicted opposition towards affirmative action. Racial in-group identification had a conditional effect on the relationship between perceived social change and support for affirmative action amongst black participants; when black participants had higher racial in-group identification, greater perception of social change predicted support for affirmative action. Lastly, amongst black participants, hierarchy-attenuating legitimising myths had a conditional effect on the relationship between SDO and support for affirmative action. Specifically, when colourblindness or Ubuntu were endorsed, higher SDO predicted support for affirmative action. However, when these hierarchy-attenuating legitimising myths were rejected, higher SDO predicted opposition towards affirmative action.PsychologyM.A. (Psychology

Beyond belonging? White settler entitlement and the dynamics of nativeness, autochthony and nostalgia in South Africa.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.White settlers continue to impose themselves as owners of contemporary settler colonies (Veracini, 1999; Moreton-Robinson, 2015). Their imposition not only translates into making settler colonies their permanent homelands, but also engenders deep sense of entitlement to them (Veracini, 1999; Moreton-Robinson, 2015). Despite the transition from an era of outright colonial rule to modern-day liberal democracies, colonial based asymmetries of power between White settlers and Indigenous groups remain resolute. Commonly, these asymmetries of power present as race-based hierarchies that shape the political, social and economic landscape of these societies. Hence, White settlers’ entitlement claims to contemporary settler colonies are central to the continuing problem of racial inequality because they rationalise, maintain and even reproduce their enjoyment of historical privileges. While Indigenous groups, who are the victims of settler colonial conquest, continue to exist on the margins of these societies (Veracini, 1999; 2008; Moreton-Robinson, 2015). The social psychology of intergroup relations has hardly paid attention to how White settlers continue to exercise dominance over contemporary settler colonies by advancing entitlement claims. In this thesis, I attempt to address this gap in literature by examining how White nativeness, White settler autochthony beliefs and White settler nostalgia, reinforce race-based hierarchies. Mainly, I argue that White settlers’ enduring sense of entitlement to settler colonies reinforces race-based hierarchies through the construction of a White native status and the mobilisation of White settler autochthony beliefs and nostalgia. My primary aim in this thesis is to show how White settlers’ psychological entitlement to settler colonial territory, reinforces preference for race-based hierarchies. To do this, I first undertake a theoretical examination of how White settlers construct and assert nativeness to settler colonies. Second, I undertake an empirical examination that investigates how psychological expressions of entitlement to settler colonies, through White settler autochthony and White settler nostalgia reinforce race-based hierarchies. In my theoretical examination, I argue that White settlers have constructed themselves as de facto natives by mobilising settler mythologies. And their assertion of a de facto White native status enables the mobilising of White settler autochthony and White settler nostalgia. This is because autochthony beliefs are a powerful set of ethical and moral ideals that award rightful ownership of a territory based on first arrival and investment of time and labour. While collective nostalgia is a deep yearning for a place and time in the history of the group (Wildschut et al., 2014). Autochthony beliefs and collective nostalgia are psychological orientations are typically used by native groups express entitlement to territory. Hence, in my empirical examination, I argue that autochthony beliefs and collective nostalgia are expressions of psychological entitlement to territory that White settlers use to reinforce racebased hierarchies, because they help them justify racial asymmetries and reflect their assertion of a de facto White native status

The impact of system features on call centre agents' job performance and on their service delivery

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-79).The study was conducted with the agents in a contact centre environment in one of the leading insurance organisations in South Africa. The framework adopted was Theoretical Framework of User Satisfaction with a Web Interface which is adapted from Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene theory.It was found that there are several factors impacting agents' job performance and customer service, including systems performance, page loading capacity, complexity and speed of information seeking tasks, system-telephonic integration, system-emails integration, system-system integration, frequent changes of service delivery processes, and difficulties of combining products with systems training. It was found that the greatest impact of these factors was on average handling time (AHT) and 'not ready' time

Collective psychological ownership and territorial compensation in Australia and South Africa

Collective psychological ownership as a sense that a territory belongs to a group might explain attitudes of the White majority toward territorial compensation for Indigenous Peoples in settler societies. Ownership can be inferred from different general principles and we considered three key principles: autochthony (entitlements from first arrival), investment (entitlements from working the land), and formation (primacy of the territory in forming the collective identity). In two studies, among White Australians (Study 1, N = 475), and White South Africans (Study 2, N = 879), we investigated how support for these general principles was related to perceived ingroup (Anglo-Celtic/White South African) and outgroup (Indigenous Australian/Black South African) territorial ownership, and indirectly, to attitudes toward territorial compensation for the Indigenous outgroup. Endorsement of autochthony was related to stronger support for territorial compensation through higher perceived outgroup ownership, whereas investment was related to lower support through higher perceived ingroup ownership. Agreement with the formation principle was related to stronger support for compensation through higher outgroup ownership, and simultaneously to lower support through higher ingroup ownership

A systematic approach to identify host targets and rapidly deliver broad-spectrum antivirals.

peer reviewe

From pavement entrepreneurs to stock exchange capitalists: the case of the South African black business class

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDThe evolution of policy regarding the black bourgeoisie -- Issues in the struggle for black capitalism -- The roles and effects of NAFCOC (National African Federation Chamber of Commerce) and FABCOS (Foundation of Business and Consumer Service) -- The development of black capitalists in the urban areas -- Constraints on, and the performances of black entrepreneurs -- 'Normalisation' of the economic playing field.South Afric

Collective psychological ownership and territorial compensation in Australia and South Africa

This project contains the data (as Mplus dat files) and analysis code (as Mplus inp files) for the paper "Collective psychological ownership and territorial compensation in Australia and South Africa

Doxorubicin-Based Hybrid Compounds as Potential Anticancer Agents: A Review

The scarcity of novel and effective therapeutics for the treatment of cancer is a pressing and alarming issue that needs to be prioritized. The number of cancer cases and deaths are increasing at a rapid rate worldwide. Doxorubicin, an anticancer agent, is currently used to treat several types of cancer. It disrupts myriad processes such as histone eviction, ceramide overproduction, DNA-adduct formation, reactive oxygen species generation, Ca2+, and iron hemostasis regulation. However, its use is limited by factors such as drug resistance, toxicity, and congestive heart failure reported in some patients. The combination of doxorubicin with other chemotherapeutic agents has been reported as an effective treatment option for cancer with few side effects. Thus, the hybridization of doxorubicin and other chemotherapeutic drugs is regarded as a promising approach that can lead to effective anticancer agents. This review gives an update on hybrid compounds containing the scaffolds of doxorubicin and its derivatives with potent chemotherapeutic effects