Endocrine disrupting compounds and pesticides have been detected in rivers and irrigation canals of Southern Alberta, a semiarid region with irrigation-dependent crop production, intensive livestock operations, and a growing human population. However, little is known about the effects of agricultural runoff or wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent in Southern Alberta on fish. Reproductive effects of WWTP effluents from the cities of Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, as well as agricultural runoff in the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District canals, were investigated in a field study with wild fathead minnows (FHMN) in the Oldman and the South Saskatchewan rivers, in Alberta, Canada, and in a laboratory study with laboratory reared FHMN exposed in vivo to the city of Lethbridge WWTP effluent for 21 days. Biochemical and morphological endpoints were measured to characterize reproductive status. Liver vitellogenin, a biomarker of exposure to estrogen mimics, was analyzed using quantitative RT-PCR, and gonadal histology was used to determine sex, gonadal maturity, and intersex. Adverse reproductive effects were detected in FHMN exposed for 21 days to 10 and 25% of Lethbridge WWTP effluent. In the field, effluents from both Lethbridge and Medicine Hat had an effect on the reproductive systems of FHMN. In canals, reproductive effects were detected in wild fathead minnows in years when water quality in irrigation drain canals decreased. Exposure to pesticides was estimated using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. Exposure to Lethbridge WWTP effluent did not inhibit AChE, whereas results from the field study were inconclusive. In conclusion, reproductive systems of fathead minnows in Southern Alberta were impacted by anthropogenic chemicals. / xi, 104 leaves : ill. (some col.), maps ; 29 cm

This thesis examines regional integration in Southern Africa and the evolution of SADC. Regional developments are evaluated with the yardsticks of integration theory, against the background of international regionalisation, and in terms of the region's practical record, its rhetoric and future agenda. The extent to which economic integration is progressing, is determined, after which the thesis focuses on political integration within SADC - both de Jure and de facto. Finally, developments within the region are evaluated in light of normative prerequisites for increased political integration. The thesis finds that the integration process in SADC does not fit into traditional integration theory, and concludes that successful economic integration in the region is not necessarily a prerequisite to political integration, but would facilitate it. The research finally concludes that there is evidence of embryonic political integration within SADC, which will wane or grow depending primarily on the political will of its constituents / Political Science / M.A. (Politics)

The regionalisation of politics on a global scale, Call be seen as one of the defining features of contemporary international relations. Given this phenomenon, the tasks which confronted this thesis, was to consider the conditions and requirements necessary within the Southern African region to build an all-embracing developed regional order. The urgency with which the latter task should be undertaken, is premised on an increased realisation that the region, and indeed the continent as a whole, are becoming of lesser significance in international affairs. However, a number of impediments will have to be overcome, before the goal of a developed regional order can be achieved, which will contribute to lasting security in the region. Foremost amongst many issues, is how to employ the approaches to integration, in attempting to explain how the goal of a developed order should be achieved. A second problem which this thesis was confronted with, relates to which organisation shoulO be' considered the best vehicle, to drive the integration process forward- COMESA, SACU or SADC. The decision take SADC as the organisation to drive the integration process forward, is premised on a number of factors. Amongst many, it qualifies in geographical terms as a region, the historical linkages of the countries of the region (based on their fight against apartheid, division of labour, etc.), serves as a basis for building a sense of community. Thirdly its institutions can be developed to achieve the goal of an all-embracing regional order. Lastly and most importantly, SADC realises that regional integration will remain unattainable without the involvement of the peoples of Southern Africa. The identification of the organisation to drive the integration process forward, serves to bolster moves towards a maximalist order. However, significant changes in the structure and institutions of SADC is necessary, before it can be considered an all-embracing and developed regional order. Not suprisingly, therefore, we have witness a number of institutional changes to the SADC structures. Amongst many, the establishment of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security , the signing of the SADC Trade Facilitation Protocol, and the commitment to democracy and a human rights culture, are most significant and will, it is hoped, provide the building-blocks for deeper integration in Southern Africa. Apart from the above, which occur between and among the states of the region, steps are underway between and among the agents of civil society to work closely with each other, to establish a regional civil society. Most notably, the establishment of a media society for Southern Africa, the calls by COSATU for a Social Charter with a regional flavour, the establishment of environmental and human rights networks, and the support for the Gay and Lesbian Movement of Zimbabwe (GALZ), represent landmarks, in the search for a developed regional order. However, the reluctance of the governments of the Southern African countries, to consult with the NGOs, before the adoption of the Organ Politics, clearly bears testimony to their present inability to take the necessary steps needed to move from a minimalist to a maximalist conception of regional organisation. The suggestion of this thesis is that the move-away from minimalism to maximalism can be facilitated by the development of a political centre-around which both governments and NGO activities can be articulated, since both are primarily concerned with the security and welfare of the Southern African region.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (DPhil (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

No description available.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The systematics of the southern African members of the genus Oxalis L. (Oxalidaceae) is in a state of flux. The bulbs of these species contain potential taxonomically important characters and therefore require detailed study (Salter, 1944). A pilot study assessed the homology of bulbs among southern African Oxalis species (Gebregziabher, 2001), and found that they are all homologous structures. This pilot study also emphasized the range of potentially informative characters from different bulb parts. The aim of the present study was to assess the taxonomic significance of bulb morphology in selected southern African Oxalis species. As far as possible, efforts were made to represent both the taxonomic (Salter, 1944) and palynological diversity (Dreyer, 1996) present in the genus. Detailed bulb morphological studies of 30 species of southern African Oxalis species revealed 41 potentially informative characters. Different bulb-types were identified based on these characters. Bulb-type affinities of taxa included in this study, as well as bulb descriptions from the pilot study (Gebregziabher, 2001), were discussed. Comparison with the current taxonomic classification (Salter, 1944), palynological classification (Dreyer, 1996) and a preliminary phylogeny based on the non-coding plastid trnL-trnF DNA region (Oberlander, 2003), were also made. Bulb morphology conflicted with the current taxonomic classification (Salter, 1944), but showed greater congruence with both the palynological groupings and the trnL-trnF based phylogeny. Based on this study, bulb morphology is found to be taxonomically significant. Further studies on the bulb morphology and anatomy of southern African Oxalis species are merited. Key words: bulb morphology, Oxalis, informative characters, basal plates, fleshy leaves, tunics / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die sistematiek van die suider Afrikaanse lede van Oxalis L. (Oxalidaceae) is labiel. Die bolle van hierdie spesies sluit potensieel taksonomies belangrike kenmerke in, en behoort daarom in detail bestudeer te word (Salter, 1944). In Loodsstudie het die homologie van die bolle van die suider Afrikaanse Oxalis spesies ge-evalueer (Gebregziabher, 2001), en gevind dat hulle homoloë strukture is. Resultate van hierdie loodsstudie het ook die reeks van potensieel informatiewe kenmerke van verskillende boldele beklemtoon. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die taksonomiese belang van boImorfologie in geselekteerde suider Afrikaanse Oxalis spesies te ondersoek. Pogings is aangewend om, sover moontlik, beide die taksonomiese (Salter, 1944) en die palinologiese (Dreyer, 1996) diversiteit van die genus in die studie in te sluit. Gedetailleerde bol-morfologiese studies van 30 suider Afrikaanse Oxalis spesies het 41 potensieel informatiewe kenmerke uitgewys. Gebaseer op hierdie kenmerke, is verskillende bol-tipes geïdentifiseer. Verwantskappe tussen die bol-tipes van die spesies ingesluit in hierdie studie, sowel as beskrywings van bolle volgens die loodsstudie (Gebregziabher, 2001), word bespreek. Vergelykings met die huidige taksonomiese klassifikasie (Salter, 1944), palinologiese klassifikasie (Dreyer, 1996) en In voorlopige filogenie gebaseer op die niekoderende plastied trnL-F DNA-streek (Oberlander, 2003) is ook getref. BoImorfologie weerspreek die huidige taksonomiese klassifikasie (Salter, 1944), maar toon groter ooreenstemming met beide die palinologiese groeperings en die trnL-F gebaseerde filogenie. Hierdie studie het bevind dat bolmorfologie van taksonomiese waarde is. Verdere studies op die bolmorfologie en -anatomie van die suider Afrikaanse Oxalis spesies word aanbeveel.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This multi-disciplinary study compiled taxonomic and biogeographical data to elucidate the extant diversity of lechwe antelopes (Kobus leche complex), and reconstruct their evolutionary history. Their diversification has been confined to wetlands across the south-central Africa plateaux. Lechwes are specialist grazers in water meadow floodplains; these stenotopic habitat requirements are invoked to explain why their evolution is atypical of terrestrial large mammals. Combined analyses of morphological (171 adult males), genetic (208 genotyped individuals) and palaeo-environmental datasets, revealed a recent (Middle Pleistocene) pulse of speciation in the K. leche complex. Multivariate morphometric analyses revealed the presence of five distinct groups that could be tied to the geography of the region. Furthermore, the genetic analyses supported the existence of at least four of these lineages, which show significant population separation at the level of the mtDNA control region. Most of the differences among populations were confined to frequency differences among populations and Bayesian analyses strongly suggest that the pattern obtained is the result of the retention of ancestral haplotypes with limited female geneflow among the extant populations. Evolution of the five lineages identified by the morphological and population genetic analyses were further investigated by making use of additional genetic data (mtDNA cyt b, SPTNB, SRY, Protamine 1, and b-Fibrinogen) and a subset of the samples. Topologies were largely unresolved due to the recent common ancestry of the lineages. Following the Evolutionary Species Concept, which was motivated by a philosophical review, five allopatric species could be recognized (anselli, kafuensis, leche, robertsi and smithemani). A model of drainage evolution compiled disparate facets of biological and geological evidence to detail interlinked histories of wetlands and their biota across the south-central Africa plateaux. This wetland archipelago is recognized as a distinct biogeographical unit in its own right - the Katanga-Chambeshi region. Evolutionary diversification of lechwes represents a dominant biogeographical signal reflecting how the aquatic biota have evolved in tandem with palaeo-drainage dynamics across this evolutionary theatre. Delimitation of key events in lechwe and drainage evolution was refined by archaeological dating of the Victoria Falls Formation, to decipher when the Zambezi river eroded the Batoka gorge. Demographic expansion in K. leche s.s (early Middle Pleistocene) corresponds to dessication of Palaeo-Lake Makakgadikgadi while more recent phylogeographic signals correspond to the tenure of Palaeo-Lake Bulozi. These speciation events in the Middle Pleistocene preceded peripatric speciation of K. kafuensis that accompanied the morphosis of the Kafue Flats (from palaeo-lake to floodplain), when the Kafue River attained its modern topology. The present study highlights that Lechwes represent a biota of evolutionary vibrant clades, rich in endemic species. As ecologically-dominant species in wetlands, lechwes deserve priority conservation attention, which is challenged to perpetuate evolutionary and ecological processes across an archipelago straddling five countries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die multidisiplinêre studie bring saam taksonomiese en biogeografiese data om die evolusionêre geskiedenis en huidige diversitiet van basterwaterbokke (Kobus leche kompleks) te verklaar. Hulle diversifikasie is beperk to vleilande regoor die suid-sentraal Afrika plato. Basterwaterbokke is gespesialiseerde grasvreters in grasvloedvlaktes; hierdie stenotipiese habitatsvereiste word voorgehou om te verduidelik hoekom die evolusie van hierdie diere atipies is vir terrestriële groot soogdiere. Gekombineerde analise van morfologie (171 volwasse manlike diere), geneties (208 genotipes) en plaeo-omgewings datstelle toon aan dat daar ‘n onlangse (middel Pleistoseen) pols van spesiasie plaasgevind het in die K. lechwe kompleks. Multivariate morfometriese analyses het aangetoon dat vyf verskillende groepe diere bestaan wat ook sin gemaak het op grond van geografiese ligging. Verdermeer, die genetiese analise het die bestaan van ten minste vier van hierdie lyne geondersteun wat betekenisvolle bevolkings isolasie vertoon het op die vlak van die mtDNA kontrole gebied. Meeste van die verskille tussen bevolkings was beperk to frekwensieverkille tussen die bevolkings en Bayesian analise het sterk aanduidings getoon dat die patroon wat gekry is die gevolg was van die behoud van voorvaderlike haplotiepes met beperkte vroulike geenvloei tussen die huidige bevolkings. Evolusie van die vyf lyne wat deur die morfologie en bevolkingsgenetika studies geidentifiseer is was verder ondersoek deur gebruik te maak van addisionele genetiese data (mtDNA cytb, SPTBN, SRY, Protamien 1, en b-Fibrinogeen) en ‘n subset van die monsters. Topologieë was hoofsaaklik onopgelos as gevolg van die kort tyd tot die onlangse gemeenskaplike voorouer van lyne. Deur die Evolusionêre Spesies Konsep aan te hang, wat gemotiveer is deur ‘n filosofiese oorsig, is vyf allopatriese spesies herken (anselli, kafuensis, leche, robertsi and smithemani). ‘n Model wat dreinerings evolusie voorstel het verskeie fasette van biologiese en geologiese bewyse saamgvat om die verbindingsgeskiedenis van vleilande en hulle biota oor die suidsentraal Afrika plato te beskryf. Die vleiland argipelago word herken as ‘n onafhanklike biogeografiese eenheid in sy eie reg – die Katanga-Chambeshi streek. Evolusionêre diversifikasie van basterwaterbokke verteenwoordig ‘n dominante biogeografiese sein wat voortsel hoe die akwatiese biota ontwikkel het in tandem met die palaeo-dreinerings dinamika in hierdie evolusionêre konsert. Die afbakening van sleutelgebeure in basterwaterbok en dreinerigsevolusie is beter toegelig deur argeologiese datering wat gebasseer was op die vorming van die Victoria Valle om te bepaal waneer die Zambezi rivier die Batoka skeurgroef gevorm het. Demografiese uitbreiding binne K. leche s.s (gedurende die vroë Middel Pleistoseen) stem ooreen met die uitdroging van Palaeo-Meer Makakgadikgadi terwyl meer onlangse filogeografiese syne ooreenstem met die ontstaan van Palaeo-Meer Bulozi. Hierdie spesiasie gebeure in die Middel Pleistoseen het die peripatriese spesiasie van K. kafuensis voorafgegaan wat die morfose van die Kafue Vlaktes vergesel het (van palaeo-meer na vloedvlakte), toe die Kafue Rivier sy huidige vorm aangeneem het. Die huidige studie het uitgelig dat basterwaterbokke verteenwoordig ‘n biota van evolusionêre energieke eenhede, ryk aan endemiese spesies. As ‘n ekologiese dominante spesie in vleilande, moet basterwaterbokke as ‘n prioriteit gesien word in bewaring, waar dit dan die geleentheid sal hê om voort te bou op die evolusionêre en ekologiese prossese van die archipelago wat oor vyf lande strek.

Conservative theology was consistent with the advance of racial justice in the Southern Baptist Convention during the second half of the twentieth century. Historians have downplayed the role of conservative theology in the advancement of racial justice within the Southern Baptist Convention. Yet rank-and-file Southern Baptists went along with efforts to abolish segregation only when those efforts did not conflict with evangelical interpretations of Scripture. Between World War II and the Supreme Court's school desegregation decision, Southern Baptists from all theological camps advocated racial equality. They did not consider, however, that a belief in equality might conflict with segregation. The changing social climate between 1955 and 1970 drove Southern Baptists to reflect on segregation and subsequently to change their views based on their theology. Even within the theologically liberal Christian Life Commission, progressive thinkers appealed to evangelical theology to move their denomination on the race issue. Southern Baptist seminaries and colleges gradually integrated and appropriated conservative theology to gain support from the denomination. African Americans felt evangelical theology logically demanded racial inclusiveness and wondered why the Southern Baptist Convention failed to live up to the theology it professed to believe. By the 1980s, evangelical views had established denominational opinion in favor of racial equality and integration. Because of the widespread agreement on race, people on both sides of a denominational controversy agreed in their approach to race despite disagreeing on a host of other issues. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

This thesis explores the evolution plural verbal -s ("People thinks he is guilty") and zero 3rd singular ("He think he is guilty") in data from two sources on Southern English: The Linguistic Atlas of the Gulf States (LAGS) and The Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States (LAMSAS). The research questions that underlie this study consider (1) the demographic association of plural verbal -s and zero 3rd singular, (2) the maintenance of each form, (3) the constraints on their use, and (4) the origins of -s variability. The atlas data suggest the following for plural verbal -s: (1) it has a British source, (2) it was present in both African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and early Southern White English (SWE), and (3) there were different grammatical constraints on its use in AAVE and SWE. Data for zero 3rd singular -s suggest this form (1) did not have a British source and (2) that it has historically been an AAVE feature.

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of southern Alberta nurse educators regarding the concept of collaborative programming as one way of working towards baccalaureate entry into nursing practice (EP 2000). Specifically, answers to the following questions were sought: 1. To what extent do nurse educators support the EP 2000 mandate, and why do they hold these views? 2. To what extent do nurse educators support the concept of collaborative programming, and why do they hold these views? 3. What programming alternatives do nurse educators perceive as desirable for working towards baccalaureate entry to practice? 4. What are the perceived barriers and facilitators to developing a collaborative program? 5. What factors may influence a nurse educator's perception of collaborative programming? A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 112 full-time nurse educators in four dimploma nursing programs (DNP) and two baccalaureate nursing programs (BNP) in southern Alberta. Completed returns numbered 74 (66%). Descriptive statistics, content analysis and the Chi Square statistical test were used to analyze the data. Lewin's (1951) force field theory was used as a guide in inteerpretation of the data findings. The major findings of the study were as follows: 1. Generally, nurse-faculty perceived the system of nursing education to be inadequate in meeting the health care needs of society; in providing for education and career mobility; and in the kind and amount of communication between its educational components. 2. A majority of BNP and DNP faculty support the EP 2000 mandate. Each group identified the need to upgrade professional standards and educational requirements to better serve society (consumers, patients, hospitals, marketplace demands and the profession) and better meet the increased intellectual, technical and judgemental demands required by the expanded roles in nursing practice. 3. A majority of the BNP and DNP faculty support the development of collaborative baccalaureate programsprovi for reasons ranging from professional benefits to pragmatic and economic aspects. However, there were a number of ambiguities and contradictions in the participants' responses. 4. Restricted provincial funds, lack of government support for EP 2000, concerns regarding the academic qualifications of diploma faculty to deliver university transfer courses, the need to protect existing program territoriality, and difficulties in mobilizing inter-institutional processes were perceived as barriers influencing the development of collaborative programs. The EP 2000 position statements, the increased student demands for baccalaureate education, and a desire to retain the strengths and resources of diploma education were preceived as facilitators. 5. The participants' type of employing institution affected certain perceptions of collaborative programming and the baccalaureate as entry to nursing practice. It was concluded that less overt resistance to collaborative programming was found than might have been predicted, given the slow movement in the province toward planned collaboration. The base seems to exist for a concerted, organized, regional effort in this direction, provided that serious attention is paid to the issues identified by the respondents. Finally, the data provide a foundation for developing on educational process and action steps to enhance progress toward collaboration as one option for facilitating EP 2000. Recommendations were presented for nursing education and future research. / xi, 138 leaves ; 28 cm