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Recent Submissions

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An essential variable approach for integrated social-ecological systems monitoring to determine sustainability in a South African catchment
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Itzkin, Adela; Scholes, Mary; Clifford-Holmes, Jai Kumar; Coetzer, Kaera
This thesis presents an essential variable (EV) approach tailored for integrated social-ecological systems (SES) monitoring within the Tsitsa River Catchment (TRC) in South Africa. The study addresses the conceptual and methodological challenges inherent in SES integration and monitoring to provide insights into sustainable landscape management. The research methodology employed a transdisciplinary social learning process, integrating systems thinking and participatory research methods across three related publications. In the first publication, systems diagramming, qualitative interviews, and participatory data collection provided a systemic snapshot of the interconnected social and biophysical drivers of land degradation in the TRC. The findings underscored the dual benefits of changes in land use and grazing practices for landscape improvement and sustainable livelihoods, informing the identification of monitoring variables crucial for sustainable land management. In the second publication, a social learning process, termed participatory self-observation, explored approaches to enhance integration and monitoring of biophysical and social data for adaptive management. The process identified data integration, overload, scale, learning-oriented monitoring, and relationship-building as key challenges in SES monitoring Recommendations included participatory approaches focusing on applied work, identifying essential data for SES monitoring, and improving transdisciplinary collaboration. In the third publication, a transdisciplinary process guided by EV development identified Essential Social-ecological System Variables (ESEVs) for the TRC, emphasising the relational connection between social and ecological aspects of SESs. ESEVs were prioritized based on essentiality scores and participant consensus, facilitating integrated planning and management at the catchment scale. The ESEVs identified for the TRC include 'soil erosion related to human actions on the land,' 'participation in natural resource governance,' 'grazing and rangeland sustainability,' and 'land cover and condition. Participants proposed three additional ESEVs, 'access to water,' 'local natural resource governance system,' and 'human well-being in the landscape'. The study concludes that collaborative learning informed by diverse transdisciplinary perspectives can guide adaptive monitoring approaches, with lessons from the TRC applicable to diverse contexts. The ESEV approach offers wider application value, addressing the question of the minimum variables needed for integrative landscape management in complex SESs. Overall, this thesis pioneers a transdisciplinary mixed-methods approach for efficiently monitoring social-ecological sustainability outcomes. Through advancements in conceptualizations of integrated, contextually grounded monitoring, it offers a novel perspective for understanding the implications of development interventions, bridging critical gaps in SES monitoring
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Shooting at a Moving Target: The Complexity of Evaluating and Monitoring the Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change of Local Government Institutions in South Africa: A Study of the Eastern Cape Province.
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Gadu, Siyaxola Ernest; Simatele, Mulala Danny
It is no longer a myth that natural catastrophic events associated with varying climate are increasing globally, with severe and devastating consequences in poor countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where many of the world’s poor people reside. Thus, the emphasis on adapting to varying climate is no longer optional, or a deferred problem into the future, but rather an urgent matter of concern which must be considered to be a policy priority. Countering the retrogressive climate variation challenges on economic development and ecological degradation, the South African government has, in the last two and half decades, embarked on the progressive formulation of different policy instruments and strategic frameworks to curb and minimise the effects of climate variation on all economic sectors. Applying research techniques from the qualitative research approach and existing literature, this research explored the complexities of evaluating the institutional adaptive capacity to climate change in municipal institutions of South Africa, with particular focus on the Eastern Cape Province. The research outcomes indicate that, although much remains to be achieved, some level of success has been realised, particularly in the space of policy formulation, albeit with a poor record of implementation. While the policy sounds good and is solution-driven, the implementation of the programme at local levels to achieve the desired goals, however, remains a significant challenge due to institutional and capacity challenges. In addition, the research further highlighted the fragmented climate change governance system which has posed significant systemic challenges, and these have tended to constrain decision-making and implementation processes. The institutional and capacity challenges create an unconducive environment for adequate coping strategies, and an evaluation of institutional adaptive capacity at municipal level across the country. The study findings also stressed the prominence of indigenous knowledge, and the alliance between the opportunities presented by climate variation and Sustainable Development Goals. This study further emphasized the importance of developing a reliable system to assess and monitor the institutional coping capacity at municipal level that can compare adaptive capacity of different institutions and assist in resource allocation
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FRONTIER 1 a partially randomized phase 2 study assessing the safetypharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Mim8 a factor VIIIa mimetic
(WILEY-BLACKWELL) S Lentz; P Chowdary; L Gil; F Lopez-Jaime; Johnny Mahlangu; E et al
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Chromatic Polynomials and Certain Classes of Graphs
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Maphakela, Lesiba Joseph; Mphako-Banda, G.
The chromatic polynomial of a graph has been widely studied in the literature. The focus of this research is on exploring the chromatic polynomial of specific graphs that result from the application of a join operation. The chromatic polynomial of a graph can be expressed in various forms; power form, tree form, factorial form and cycle form. The expressions in various forms, such as power form, tree form, and factorial form, have been subject to comprehensive investigation. However, it should be noted that the cycle form presents relative gaps that necessitate further exploration. This work builds upon the existing literature by engaging in a discussion of the coefficients of the chromatic polynomial of a graph expressed in cycle form. To achieve this objective, we commence by presenting the general formula of the chromatic polynomial in cycle form. Following this, we introduce an algorithm that computes the chromatic polynomial of a graph in cycle form. Additionally, we outline a method for converting the chromatic polynomial of a graph from its tree form into the cycle form. Furthermore, we determine the values of the first and second terms of the chromatic polynomial in its cycle form. This research also complements the well established knowledge of the chromatic polynomial of graphs resulting from the application of a join operation. Of particular interest, we explore the joins of various classes of graphs, including the join of a null graph, N1 with a graph G, which is known as the vertex join of graph G. Building upon this framework, we extend our analysis to encompass the join of a null graph, N2, with graph G. Similarly, we present results pertaining to the join of a complete graph, Kn, with a graph G. Significantly, we conduct a thorough comparative analysis of the chromatic equivalence class among these derived classes of graphs. Lastly, we discuss the chromatic uniqueness of these derived classes of graphs, alongside introducing variations to these derived graphs by deleting their edges and subgraphs.
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SBLS Lithic Technology and its Behavioural Implications
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Bielderman, Sebastian Christopher; Wurz, Sarah
In the Middle Stone Age (MSA) of the southern Cape in South Africa significant research has been undertaken to understand the behaviours linked to coastal adaptation as well as the exploitation of terrestrial resources, however but relatively little is understood on how lithic technology relates to human behaviour during certain MSA periods in this region. The Silty Black Soils (SBLS) layer at Klasies River main site (KRM), which is older than 110 000 years ago, falls within one of these lesser understood periods and has yielded lithic material in association with both faunal and shellfish remains and other important features such as hearths. Understanding the behaviours of the SBLS is significant in broadening our understanding of the MSA I/earlier MSA technologies. Through the analysis of the Chaî ne Opé ratoire (or production sequence), macro-fractures, and the Tip Cross-Sectional Area of the SBLS lithics, significant information on the manufacturing and utilisation behaviours has been inferred. The data gained from these analyses allow for widespread behavioural comparison between the SBLS, overlaying KRM layers, and other sites. Broadly speaking, the assemblage shares several technological signatures with the MSA I/Klasies River technology previously identified at KRM and on a technological attribute level widespread similarities are shared with several MIS 5 assemblages in South Africa; an example of this is the widespread use of locally available raw materials. There is, however, a key behavioural inference which clearly indicates that the SBLS is different to other assemblages both at KRM and in the broader MIS 5. The SBLS points and their TCSA values point towards significantly smaller points. This supports a different and varied hunting approach which is unique to KRM during this period at KRM