Development, Sexual Cultural Practices and HIV/AIDS in Africa

This open access book introduces the theoretical frameworks and academic debates concerning sexual cultural practices and HIV/AIDS in Africa. It shows how these frameworks have been applied in a practical sense in Africa to investigate sexual cultural practices and their link with HIV/AIDS. The author provides an overview of both the field of study and the methods used during fieldwork. Finally, it assesses the implications of the findings for the conceptualization and provision of current and future HIV/AIDS policies and programs in Africa. This monograph will appeal to policy makers and practitioners working in the field of HIV/AIDS in the Global South as well as academics and students

Determining host-parasitoid linkages between Sirex noctilio and Sirex nigricornis through molecular techniques

The European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, is a wood-boring insect native to Eurasia and North Africa, which was accidentally introduced across the Southern Hemisphere where it caused extensive economic damage to conifer plantations. Discovered ten years ago in North America, S. noctilio competes directly with Sirex nigricornis, a native congener, through shared resources in host trees. The two species also share a suite of six parasitoids, which utilize both native and non-native species of woodwasps as hosts. To study these interactions, it is common practice to fell trees and split logs from which siricid larvae and their parasitoids are collected. It is exceedingly difficult to identify larval species due to their indistinct morphology. The objectives of this study were to: 1) differentiate between the native S. nigricornis and the non-native S. noctilio using PCR assays and 2) determine if such assays can be used to identify host species from a parasitoid’s gut contents. DNA was extracted from 206 siricid larvae and 202 were identifiable as S. noctilio (154, 73%) or S. nigricornis (48, 23%) using PCR, illustrating the applicability of this technique to differentiate among Sirex species. Identification of species from DNA extracted from host cadavers associated with parasitoid larvae was also successful (17 of 21, 81%). However, identification of species from DNA extracted from gut contents of parasitoids was also successful (12 of 35, 34%). Being able to successfully identify trophic linkages associated with non-native species is important to understand how they will invade an area and their ecological impacts

FUNCTIONAL PHOSPHORYLCHOLINE POLYMERS: PRODRUGS AND BIOMATERIALS

This thesis describes the synthesis and applications of multifunctional, hydrophilic polymers consisting of a methacrylate backbone and zwitterionic phosphorylcholine (PC) pendent groups, prepared by free radical polymerization of the zwitterionic monomer, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC). Advances in polymer chemistry, applied to PC polymers, allowed for the preparation of well-defined structures with controlled molecular weight, narrow polydispersity, and facile incorporation of functional comonomers, giving breadth to the range of materials accessible for different applications. Built-in functionality included fluorophores and reactive groups for post-polymerization transformations, such as drug conjugation or cross-linking. The ability to form well-defined structures based on the polyMPC backbone is attractive to the fields of polymer therapeutics and biomaterials, due to the high level of biocompatibility associated with PC polymers. The work presented here examines methacrylate-based PC polymers as (1) polymer-protein conjugates, (2) polymer prodrugs, and (3) polymeric hydrogels. In Chapter 2, synthetic advances center on tailoring chain-end functionality and utilizing such structures as polymer-protein conjugates. The design of new ATRP initiators containing specific functionality allowed for polymer conjugation to lysozyme as a model protein. PolyMPC-lysozyme conjugates retained their native enzymatic activity, and pharmacokinetic profiles of the conjugates in mice revealed increased circulation half-life compared to lysozyme alone. Chapter 3 describes PC-polymers that enhance intravenous drug delivery of potent chemotherapeutic agents. Functionalized methacrylates for copolymerization with MPC were designed, such that multiple copies of a drug can be loaded onto the polymer backbone, affording highly water soluble polymer prodrugs with unprecedented drug loading (\u3e30 wt %). PolyMPC prodrugs of camptothecin (CPT) and doxorubicin (DOX) demonstrated cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines in vitro. PolyMPC-DOX prodrugs displayed prolonged circulation half-lives, and reduced uptake in healthy tissue, enhanced accumulation in tumors, and superior treatment efficacy in 4T1-tumor bearing mice. Chapter 4 highlights multifunctional polyMPC as a precursor to new phosphorylcholine hydrogels. Two cell lines, live mouse skeletal muscle myoblasts (C2C12) and human ovarian cancer (SKOV3) cells, were observed to specifically attach, spread, and proliferate on PC-hydrogels containing the GRGDS peptide sequence, with a notable dependence on peptide concentration. The remarkable hydrophilicity and biocompatibility attributed to polyMPC combined with facile gelation conditions affords a platform of new bio-cooperative materials suitable for cell studies

Development, Sexual Cultural Practices and HIV/AIDS in Africa

This open access book introduces the theoretical frameworks and academic debates concerning sexual cultural practices and HIV/AIDS in Africa. It shows how these frameworks have been applied in a practical sense in Africa to investigate sexual cultural practices and their link with HIV/AIDS. The author provides an overview of both the field of study and the methods used during fieldwork. Finally, it assesses the implications of the findings for the conceptualization and provision of current and future HIV/AIDS policies and programs in Africa. This monograph will appeal to policy makers and practitioners working in the field of HIV/AIDS in the Global South as well as academics and students

Development, Sexual Cultural Practices and HIV/AIDS in Africa

This open access book introduces the theoretical frameworks and academic debates concerning sexual cultural practices and HIV/AIDS in Africa. It shows how these frameworks have been applied in a practical sense in Africa to investigate sexual cultural practices and their link with HIV/AIDS. The author provides an overview of both the field of study and the methods used during fieldwork. Finally, it assesses the implications of the findings for the conceptualization and provision of current and future HIV/AIDS policies and programs in Africa. This monograph will appeal to policymakers and practitioners working in the field of HIV/AIDS in the Global South as well as academics and students.publishedVersio

The effectiveness of peer-support for people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis

publishedVersio

Development and application of a geomorphic-based vulnerability index for assessing relative coastal vulnerability to erosion under wave energy scenarios associated with climate change

xiii, 202 leaves : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 29 cmIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-181).With the projected increase in global mean sea level rise, small coastal communities face formidable challenges as they seek to sustainably manage their coastal assets and resources impacted by sea level rise (SLR). Consequently, it has become increasingly important to assess a community’s coastal vulnerability. In collaboration with the Partnership for Canada-Caribbean Community Climate Change Adaptation (ParCA) project, the aim of this research was twofold: 1) develop a tool to assess relative physical coastal vulnerability to erosion, incorporating the geomorphic components of assailing, resistance, and resilience characteristics and 2) apply the tool to Lockeport, Nova Scotia under four wave energy scenarios to simulate how the addition of storm winds and increases in water depths associated with climate change conditions changes the wave energy reaching the shoreline; ultimately allowing for the determination of coastline and building vulnerability to erosion and inundation. The identification of areas and buildings most vulnerable to SLR-induced erosion and inundation, under varying wave energy scenarios, is meant to guide coastal planning and SLR adaptation strategies in the Town of Lockeport, Nova Scotia

The feasibility of reintroducing African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) into the Great Fish River Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa

With a declining population of roughly 3000-5000 individuals in Africa, African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are one of the most endangered carnivores in the world. As the global human population expands, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that large portions of land will be set aside for conservation, especially in developing countries. Thus, recent wild dog conservation efforts in South Africa have concentrated on establishing a managed metapopulation. A metapopulation is a group of geographically isolated subpopulations of a species that are managed (using supplementation and harvesting) to mimic natural gene flow. The Great Fish River Nature Reserve (GFRNR) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa has been identified as a potential reserve to become part of the national wild dog metapopulation. My research aimed to conduct a feasibility assessment of the long-term (~ 25 years) success of a wild dog reintroduction into the GFRNR. This assessment included biological modelling of wild dogs and their expected prey, and determining the potential anthropogenic threats to wild dogs on the private and communal land surrounding the reserve. I used VORTEX population modelling and determined that the GFRNR is likely to have a wild dog carrying capacity of ~22 individuals. Using a 25-year modelling simulation, the most appropriate wild dog reintroduction scenario would be to reintroduce six females and four males initially and supplement the population with one female and two males in years 3, 10, 15 and 23. In addition, the harvesting/removal of one male and one female in years 10 and 20 would be required to ensure 100% population persistence and adequate genetic diversity. Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) are expected to be the two most important prey species for reintroduced wild dogs in the GFRNR. Furthermore, wild dogs are likely to prefer the north-western and south-western sectors of the reserve because of the relatively high prey densities in these areas. However, regular monitoring of both the potential prey and the wild dog populations is essential to ensure persistence of the wild dogs and to prevent prey populations decreasing precipitously. Using structured questionnaire interviews (n = 128), I found that while neighbouring land owners and local communities were generally positive about the potential wild dog reintroduction (56 % of all respondents), several threats to wild dogs were identified along the reserve boundary and on the adjoining unprotected land. Some private landowners and members of rural communities around the reserve (34 %) stated that they would kill any wild dogs that dispersed onto their land. In addition, some respondents (8 %) admitted to believing in traditional uses for wild dog products (e.g. fur) which could result in the illegal killing of wild dogs outside of the GFRNR for traditional purposes. Poaching and the presence of unvaccinated domestic dogs on neighbouring land were also identified as being potential threats to a reintroduced wild dog population. However, such anthropogenic threats appear to be localised to the western and southern boundaries of the reserve. Therefore, by implementing preventative measures (such as anti-snare collars, anti-poaching patrols and vaccination against rabies and canine distemper) the likelihood of such threats occurring can be reduced. I conclude that the GFRNR can sustain a population of wild dogs and successfully contribute to South Africa‘s national metapopulation. An additional reserve will benefit the country‘s metapopulation by increasing the number of wild dogs available for translocation, thereby increasing genetic diversity and overall resilience (to environmental change, disease etc.) of South Africa‘s wild dog population. This will contribute towards the future conservation of this endangered species