Browsing Faculty of Natural Science by Title
Now showing items 1269-1288 of 2565
-
Implications of potential biome boundary shifts for small mammal assemblages in the arid zone
(University of the Western Cape, 2019)Desertification deteriorates the landscape functionality of rangelands, affecting the resilience of biome boundaries which have a cascade effect not only in vegetation composition and characteristics but also in animal ... -
The implications of Sr and Nd isotope data on the genesis of the Platreef and associated BMS and PGE mineralisation, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2019)The Platreef is a platinum group elements (PGE) deposit located in the Northern limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC). It is a series of mafic and ultramafic sills that are overlain by rocks from the Main Zone (MZ) ... -
Implications of the geological structure of the Qoqodala dolerite ring complex for groundwater dynamics
(University of the Western Cape, 2008)The chief aim of this project is to investigate the groundwater flow dynamics of the various fractured-rock aquifers (deep and shallow) associated with Karoo dolerite ring complexes in the Qoqodala area (northeast of ... -
Imprints of Primordial Non-Gaussianity on Large Scale Structure in the Universe
(University of the Western Cape, 2016)Large scale structure in the universe is one of the most important probing tools for cosmological modelling. Assuming the hot big bang model of the universe, the expansion history has undergone two phases of acceleration. ... -
Improvement of cell-surface adhered cellulase activities in recombinant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae engineered for consolidated bioprocessing
(University of Western Cape, 2021)Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP), in which a single organism in a single reactor is responsible for the conversion of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass to bioethanol, remains an attractive option for production of commodity ... -
Improving estimation of precipitation and prediction of river flows in the Jonkershoek mountain catchment
(University of the Western Cape, 2016)Rainfall is the main input into the land phase of the hydrological cycle which greatly determines the available water resources. Accurate precipitation information is critical for mountain catchments as they are the main ... -
Improving Evaporation Rate of Mine Wastewater
(University of the Western Cape, 2018)The treatment of mine water at the eMalahleni Water Reclamation Plant (EWRP) results in the production of large volumes of brine. Different brine management methods have been applied to dispose the brine but the evaporation ... -
Imputation techniques for non-ordered categorical missing data
(University of the Western Cape, 2016)Missing data are common in survey data sets. Enrolled subjects do not often have data recorded for all variables of interest. The inappropriate handling of missing data may lead to bias in the estimates and incorrect ... -
In silico and molecular validation of identified putative genes and functional analysis of a N K G2D ligand as a breast cancer biomarkers
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)The current diagnostic, prognostic, predictive and therapeutic monitoring methods used for breast cancer are limited. Thus, research into more specific, sensitive and effective strategies is required. Breast cancer is ... -
In silico investigation of glossina morsitans promoters
(University of the Western Cape, 2013)Tsetse flies (Glossina spp) are the biological vectors for Trypanosomes, the causative magents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). HAT is a debilitating disease that continues to present a major public health problem ... -
The in vitro detection and measurement of the unfolded protein response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(University of the Western Cape, 2018)Bioethanol is currently the most widely used biofuel and can be used as a direct replacement for current fossil fuel based transportation fuels. Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP), in which bioethanol is produced in a single ... -
The in vitro effects of nicotine and selected antibiotics, tunicamycin and thapsigargin on human Breast carcinoma (mcf-7) cells.
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)Cancer is defined as the abnormal growth of genetically mutated or perturbant cells. Nicotine is a known cancer promoter and an apoptotic suppressor. This alkaloid acts on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors which affects ... -
The in vitro effects of pure and street methamphetamine on the proliferation and cell cycle of mouse brain endothelial (bend5) cells
(2012)The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an interface between the brain parenchyma and the circulating system. This barrier plays a vital role in protecting the CNS by restricting free paracellular diffusion of molecules from the ... -
In vitro effects of rooibos herbal tea (Aspalathus linearis) against methamphetamine on the mouse blood brain barrier
(University of the Western Cape, 2014)Methamphetamine (MA), also known as ‘Tik’, has detrimental short- and long-term psychological and morphological effects on the central nervous system (CNS). The lipophilic nature of MA allows it to cross the blood-brain ... -
In vitro evaluation of Leonotis leonurus to validate its potential as an alternative anti-diabetic drug
(University of the Western Cape, 2022)Africa is a rich source of medicinal plants with South Africa being known as a country with a strong history of traditional healing, which masses a variety of approximately 30 000 flowering plants and accounting for ... -
In vitro investigation of putative interactions between the RING finger domain of Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 6 (RBBP6) and various substrates
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 6 (RBBP6) is a RING finger-containing protein which plays a critical role in the 3'-end processing of mRNA transcripts. It is a constituent of the human pre-mRNA processing complex but also ... -
An in vitro investigation of the effects of camellia sinensis and aspalathus linearis on benign (RPWE 1) and malignant (LNCaP) prostate cell lines
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)The prostate is prone to three pathological processes that include inflammation, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and tumors. According to the center for Disease and Control 1999-2012 report, prostate cancer is the second ... -
In vitro investigation of the ubiquitination and degradation of p53 by Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2) and Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 6 (RBBP6)
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)P53 is one of the most important tumour suppressor proteins in the body which protects the cell against the tumourigenic effects of DNA damage by initiating processes such as apoptosis, senescence and cell cycle arrest. ... -
In vitro modulatory effects of fermented rooibos extract (Aspalathus linearis) against ethanol-induced effects on the mouse blood-brain barrier
(University of the Western Cape, 2014)Alcohol abuse is a growing crisis within South Africa, with severe health and socio-economic implications. Alcohol compromises the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and thus its ability to regulate the homeostatic ... -
In vitro neuroprotective effects of boophone disticha, brunsvigia bosmaniae and strumaria truncata extracts in sh-sy5y cells.
(University of Western Cape, 2021)Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, is one of the leading disability disorders with about 10 million people affected worldwide. The pathological hallmarks ...