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Item Different postharvest responses of fresh-cut sweet peppers related to quality and antioxidant and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activities during exposure to light-emitting diode treatments(MDPI, 2019-08-23)The influence of emitting diode (LED) treatments for 8 h per day on functional quality of three types of fresh-cut sweet peppers (yellow, red, and green) were investigated after 3, 7, 11, and 14 days postharvest storage on the market shelf at 7 C. Red LED light (660 nm, 150 mol m2 s1) reduced weight loss to commercially acceptable level levels (2.0%) in fresh-cuts of yellow and green sweet peppers at 7 and 11 d, respectively. Blue LED light (450 nm, 100 mol m2 s1) maintained weight loss acceptable for marketing in red fresh-cut sweet peppers up to 11 d. Highest marketability with minimum changes in color difference (DE) and functional compounds (total phenols, ascorbic acid content, and antioxidant activity) were obtained in yellow and green sweet pepper fresh-cuts exposed to red LED light up to 7 and 11 d, respectively, and for red sweet pepper fresh-cuts exposed to blue LED light for 11 d. Red LED light maintained the highest concentrations of carotene, chlorophyll, and lycopene in yellow, green, and red sweet pepper fresh-cuts up to 7 d. Similarly, blue LED light showed the highest increase in lycopene concentrations for red sweet pepper fresh-cuts up to 7 d. Red LED (yellow and green sweet peppers) and blue LED (red sweet pepper) lights maintained phenolic compounds by increasing phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity. Thus, the results indicate a new approach to improve functional compounds of different types of fresh-cut sweet pepper.Item Socio-economic factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision to participate in agro-processing industry in Gauteng province, South Africa.(Taylor and Francis, 2019-09-09)Smallholder farmers in South Africa have not been linked successfully to sustainable agro-processing value chains. This study aimed to identify factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision to participate in the agro-processing industry, as well as the extent of their participation in the Gauteng Province. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire that was administered face-to face to respondents in a randomly purposive selected sample of 102 smallholder farmers. A double-hurdle model was used to analyse factors influencing the decision to participate and the level of participation in agro-processing. The results show that very few (19%) smallholder farmers participate in the agro-processing industry of the Gauteng Province. The results also revealed that factors such as educational level, land tenure, agro-processing training and information have a positive influence on the decision to participate. Distance to market and off-farm income negatively influence the decision to participate. The level of participation is influenced by socio-economic factors such as age, household size, level of education, grain and livestock producers, farm size and access to training. The study recommends that smallholder agro-processing policy instruments be adjusted to facilitate effective participation in the agro-processing industry and participation in other high market value chains. There is a need to build up local agro-processing plants as a strategy of lowering the costs of transportation and storage when farmers take their farm produce to distant manufacturers or processors.Item Postharvest responses of hydroponically grown lettuce varieties to nitrogen application rate.(Elsevier Ltd., 2019-01-30)Limited information is available on the influence of preharvest N application rates on postharvest quality of different lettuce genotypes. Two green leafy lettuce (Multigreen 1 and Multigreen 3) and red leafy lettuce (Multired 4) were grown in gravel film technique and fertigated with five different N application rates: 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 mg L–1. The 120 mg L–1 N application is commercially recommended for lettuce. After harvest, lettuce samples were packed in a bioriented poly propylene packaging (5% O2 and 5% CO2) and held at 5°C and 85% RH for 3, 6, 9 and 12 days. The genotypes, preharvest N application rates and storage time affected the leaf colour coordinates, phenolic acids (dicaffeoyltataric acid, caffeoyl tartaric acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) and browning enzyme activities (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD)). Lower rates of N application at preharvest stage showed higher weight loss with the storage time increasing in Multigreen 3. In Multigreen 1, colour coordinate b* value decreased remarkably with N application rates from 60 to 120 mg L–1 due to the onset of browning during storage. While in Multigreen 3 and N application higher than 60 mg L–1 influenced the decrease in b* value. Browning occurred due to the increased activity of PAL enzyme and the availability of the substrates caftaric, chlorogenic, caffeic acids, PPO activity and production of browning pigments due to the activity of POD. Higher, N application rates (>120 mg L–1) influenced the browning mechanism and showed brownish red leaves in Multired 4 during storage. Higher ascorbic acid concentration played a role in reducing the onset of browning in the fresh cuts leaves of Mulitired 4 and Multigreen 3 fertilized with lower preharvest lower N application rates (<120 mg L–1). Preharvest N application at 90 mg L–1 retained the colour, ascorbic acid content and the phenolic acid components and extended the shelf life of Multired 4 lettuce up to 6 days.Item Social determinants of health in non-communicable diseases prevention policies in South Africa(AOSIS, 2023-08-22)Background: The South African government has developed many policies for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. However, non-communicable diseases remain among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. Although these diseases are linked to interaction of multiple risk factors, many of which are modifiable, they continue to cause much suffering particularly among the marginalised and people from the lower socioeconomic status. Objectives: The objective of this research was to explore and present the inclusion of social determinants of health in the policies meant for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in South Africa. Method: The qualitative document analysis approach was used to conduct policy analysis of purposefully selected policies for prevention and control of cancers, obesity and mental and behavioural disorders in South Africa. Results: The analysis revealed that policies for prevention and control of cancers, obesity and mental and behavioural disorders included policy intervention activities that focused on five social determinants of health: (1) governance, (2) social policies, (3) public policies, (4) material circumstances and (5) health system. Conclusion: Excluding most of the important social determinants of health in the policies for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases means that these policies would continue to fail in preventing these diseases from the root causes. Contribution: This article points out weaknesses in the policies meant for prevention and control of obesity, cancers and mental and behavioural disorders. This article further suggests policy improvement strategies that may be considered to effectively address these diseases.Item Healthcare providers’ perceptions of the cancer pain management barriers at a hospital in Zambia: A qualitative study.(SAGE, 2023-01-01)Introduction: Cancer incidence and mortality are increasing worldwide, and pain is the most common symptom patients experience. Despite developments in cancer pain management and guidelines, the pain often remains undertreated. Effective pain management ultimately involves overcoming several complex institutional, patient, and healthcare provider related barriers. Objective: The objective of the study was to explore and describe healthcare providers’ perceptions of the cancer pain management barriers at a hospital in Zambia. Method: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted. Data were collected from 10 purposively sampled medical doctors and registered nurses using prepiloted semistructured individual interviews. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was done, and trustworthiness was enhanced based on the criteria described by Lincoln and Guba. Ethical principles, as outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, were adhered to. Results: Three themes emerged, namely patient-related barriers (biographic characteristics, patient knowledge and perceptions), healthcare provider-related barriers (knowledge and perceptions and language barriers), and institution-related barriers (resource limitations and lack of standards and guidelines). Healthcare providers’ views that cultural beliefs about cancer being caused by witchcraft and the use of traditional medicine and services are barriers to cancer pain management were unique to this study. Conclusion: Cancer pain management requires a total pain management approach that addresses the barriers to pain management strategies from a patient, healthcare provider, and institutional perspective. The knowledge deficit among patients and healthcare providers is a barrier to cancer pain management and one of the most common challenges reported in the literature. This study further points toward a need to develop culturally competent healthcare providers.
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