Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Pasiecznik
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Prosopis Glandulosa ◽  
Atmospheric Nitrogen ◽  
Northern Mexico ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Southwestern Usa ◽  
Common Tree

Abstract P. glandulosa is a small to medium-sized thorny evergreen tree, native to northern Mexico (P. glandulosa is one of the most common tree species in Mexico) and the southwestern USA, mainly from California to Texas. It has also been widely introduced, but is most common as an exotic in Australia and South Africa. In Mexico, P. glandulosa wood is used for rustic construction projects, railroad ties and posts, and as firewood. P. glandulosa is an excellent soil improver; P. glandulosa foliage deposit an important layer of organic material as it fixes atmospheric nitrogen and its roots control the movement of dunes. In Mexico it is also used as forage for domestic animals, it serves as habitat for wildlife, it is used for bee forage, and its fruit is edible. The main uses of this species where exotic are for fodder, fuelwood, as a roadside, hedging, ornamental or shade tree, for dune retention, and for timber for cheap furniture. P. glandulosa is very invasive, and is seen as a weed on Mexican livestock ranges, in the USA, and where introduced.

scholarly journals Boundaries of solidarity: a meta-ethnography of mask use during past epidemics to inform SARS-CoV-2 suppression

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e004068
Author(s):  
Po Man Tsang ◽  
Audrey Prost
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
Trust In Government ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Collective Levels ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Meanings ◽  
The Usa

BackgroundMany countries aiming to suppress SARS-CoV-2 recommend the use of face masks by the general public. The social meanings attached to masks may influence their use, but remain underinvestigated.MethodsWe systematically searched eight databases for studies containing qualitative data on public mask use during past epidemics, and used meta-ethnography to explore their social meanings. We compared key concepts within and across studies, then jointly wrote a critical synthesis.ResultsWe found nine studies from China (n=5), Japan (n=1), Mexico (n=1), South Africa (n=1) and the USA (n=1). All studies describing routine mask use during epidemics were from East Asia. Participants identified masks as symbols of solidarity, civic responsibility and an allegiance to science. This effect was amplified by heightened risk perception (eg, during SARS in 2003), and by seeing masks on political leaders and in outdoor public spaces. Masks also acted as containment devices to manage threats to identity at personal and collective levels. In China and Japan, public and corporate campaigns framed routine mask use as individual responsibility for disease prevention in return for state- or corporate-sponsored healthcare access. In most studies, mask use waned as risk perception fell. In contexts where masks were mostly worn by patients with specific diseases (eg, for patients with tuberculosis in South Africa), or when trust in government was low (eg, during H1N1 in Mexico), participants described masks as stigmatising, uncomfortable or oppressive.ConclusionFace masks can take on positive social meanings linked to solidarity and altruism during epidemics. Unfortunately, these positive meanings can fail to take hold when risk perception falls, rules are seen as complex or unfair, and trust in government is low. At such times, ensuring continued use is likely to require additional efforts to promote locally appropriate positive social meanings, simplifying rules for use and ensuring fair enforcement.

Peanut Web Blotch: I. Cultural Characteristics and Identity of Causal Fungus1

1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Taber ◽  
R. E. Pettit ◽  
G. L. Philley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Mycelial Growth ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Optimum Temperature ◽  
Cultural Characteristics ◽  
Foliar Disease ◽  
The Usa

Abstract A foliar disease of peanuts, previously unreported in the USA, was found in Texas in 1972. The pathogen was identified as a species of Ascochyta. Further cultural studies have revealed this fungus to be Phoma arachidicola Marasas, Pauer, and Boerema. Pycnidia form profusely at 20 C and 25 C. Pycnidiospores are borne on short pycnidiosphores and are predominantly one-celled in culture. Spores produced in pycnidia on infected leaflets become 1 septate. Large 1-septate spores, as well as an occasional 2-septate spore, may form in culture. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth in 20 C; little or no growth occurs at 5 C or above 30 C. The teleomorphic state develops in the field on fallen leaflets and can be induced to form in the laboratory on sterilized peanut leaflets between 15 and 20 C. Cultures derived from single ascospores form pseudothecia. Pycnidiospores, ascospores, and chlamydospores are all infective units. Because this fungus produces hyaline ascospores and pseudoparaphyses, it has been transferred to the genus Didymella as Didymella arachidicola (Choch.) comb. nov. Comparisons with 15 isolates causing web blotch of peanut in the USA, Argentina, and South Africa indicate that web blotch symptoms are produced by the same fungal species.

Psychometric Testing as an Unfair Labour Practice

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Taylor ◽  
E.J. Radford
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Psychometric Testing ◽  
Moderator Variable ◽  
Ability Test ◽  
Labour Relations ◽  
Ability Tests ◽  
Labour Practice ◽  
The Usa

The concept of unfair labour practice has been introduced into South Africa through the Labour Relations Act and it is argued that certain psychometric testing practices can be interpreted as falling under the definition of an unfair labour practice. Empirical results are presented indicating that different ethnic groups obtain significantly different mean ability test scores. A case-study is cited to show that this would result in underprediction of performance on a criterion for the lower scoring of two groups if test scores are regarded as comparable. It is argued that any interpretation of psychometric data in South Africa that does not take account of possible differences between ethnic groups is likely to ignore a significant moderator variable, given the history of ethnically based discriminatory practices in this country. Arguments based on meta-analytical research in the USA, to the effect that psychometric ability tests do not discriminate unfairly against disadvantaged groups if the same tests and norms are used, should not be assumed to hold in South Africa. Various conceptions of what constitutes fairness in selection are considered, and it is concluded that there is a need for employers to make explicit in their selection policies the trade-off between economic and social costs of employment practices. Finally, some implications for users of psychometric tests in industry are considered, in order to forewarn of likely developments in this field.

Xylem anatomical and hydraulic drought resistance characteristics of common tree species in hilly areas of North China

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
李泽东，陈志成，曹振，车路平，刘舒文，张永涛 LI Zedong
Keyword(s):  
Drought Resistance ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
North China ◽  
Common Tree

scholarly journals Conserving a geographically isolated Charaxes butterfly in response to habitat fragmentation and invasive alien plants

Koedoe ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Casparus J. Crous ◽  
James S. Pryke ◽  
Michael J. Samways
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Agricultural Matrix ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Invasive Tree Species ◽  
Remnant Forest

In South Africa, much of the forest biome is vulnerable to human-induced disturbance. The forest-dwelling butterfly Charaxes xiphares occidentalis is naturally confined to a small forest region in the south-western Cape, South Africa. Most of the remaining habitat of this species is within a fragmented agricultural matrix. Furthermore, this geographical area is also heavily invaded by alien plants, especially Acacia mearnsii. We investigated how C. x. occidentalis behaviourally responds to different habitat conditions in the landscape. We were particularly interested in touring, patrolling and settling behaviour as a conservation proxy for preference of a certain habitat configuration in this agricultural matrix. Remnant forest patches in the agricultural matrix showed fewer behavioural incidents than in a reference protected area. Moreover, dense stands of A. mearnsii negatively influenced the incidence and settling pattern of this butterfly across the landscape, with fewer tree settlings associated with more heavily invaded forest patches. This settling pattern was predominantly seen in female butterflies. We also identified specific trees that were settled upon for longer periods by C. x. occidentalis. Distance to a neighbouring patch and patch size influenced behavioural incidences, suggesting that further patch degradation and isolation could be detrimental to this butterfly. Conservation implications: We highlight the importance of clearing invasive tree species from vulnerable forest ecosystems and identify key tree species to consider in habitat conservation and rehabilitation programmes for this butterfly. We also suggest retaining as much intact natural forest as possible. This information should be integrated in local biodiversity management plans.

scholarly journals The use of real life contexts in the CTA: Some unintended consequences

Pythagoras ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 0 (69) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Bansilal
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Assessment Programme ◽  
Assessment Tasks ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Assessment Activities

The Common Tasks for Assessment (CTA) was a new assessment programme that was introduced in 2002 in South Africa for all Grade 9 learners. The purpose of this paper is to articulate some concerns around the use of contextualised assessment activities in the CTA. The study reported here was carried out in 2003. Data for the study was generated from lesson observations and interviews with the participant teachers and groups of learners. It is argued that although the intentions behind the design of the CTA are well meaning and noble, there are in fact some learners who may be unintentionally disadvantaged by the design of the CTA which uses an extended context as a source for all the assessment tasks. In this paper two unintended consequences of using ‘real life’ contexts are identified and the implications of these are discussed, by linking the observations to research carried out in the UK and the USA.

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