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Maxi Schoeman - an appreciation
Vale, Peter Christopher Julius (Vale, Peter Christopher Julius, 2026)
More than anything else – and certainly, more than anyone else – Maxi Schoeman, who passed away on 14 September 2025 has ensured the longevity of the academic discipline of International Relations in South Africa. This is because Professor Schoeman encouraged scholars to build trust with those who practice the diplomatic craft. She also championed rigorous academic standards, a deep commitment to public service, and called on scholars to frame policies relevant to their work. This is the principal message of this Appreciation of a friend, a colleague, and a confidant, not only of this writer, but of many in the ‘political science’ community beyond African shores.
A public sector reputation management framework for South Africa’s Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Msiya, Mgwebi; De Beer, Estelle (University of the Free State, 2025-12)
Reputation management was synonymous with the private sector until recently when public sector organisations, particularly in Europe and America, adopted the concept. This study's aim is to contribute to the scant body of knowledge on public sector reputation management, specifically in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. The study adopted a qualitative approach to gain an understanding of the public perceptions of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government's reputation. The findings were based on two participant observations and a purposively selected sample of 15 participants who were recruited from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), media institutions, government departments, youth structures, and business organisations. The study utilised semi-structured interviews and participant observations as data collection techniques. The collected data was analysed thematically through categorisation and Leximancer software analysis. The results of the study show that the Eastern Cape Provincial Government lacks the capacity to manage its reputation strategically, resulting in increasingly discontented communities. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the public held negative views of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government's reputation. The Public Sector Reputation Management Framework, which was developed in this study, provides an understanding of how the Eastern Cape Provincial Government's reputation could be strategically and sustainably managed.
An epigenetic perspective on neonatal encephalopathy with suspected hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy
Mistry, Priyal; Mellet, Juanita; Durandt, Chrisna; Smuts, Izelle; Pepper, Michael Sean (BioMed Central, 2025-12-08)
Neonatal encephalopathy with suspected hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (NESHIE) is a neurological disorder caused by oxygen deprivation and limited blood flow to a neonate's brain. Although various antenatal and perinatal factors have been identified, their precise role in NESHIE pathogenesis remains unclear. The pathophysiology involves multiple molecular pathways that can be explored using a multi-omics approach, including epigenetics. Epigenetics involves heritable changes in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, encompassing chemical modifications to DNA and histone proteins, as well as changes mediated by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). These epigenetic changes regulate gene expression and can be influenced by environmental factors, offering crucial insights into gene regulation and disease mechanisms. This review examines the role of epigenetic mechanisms in NESHIE, focusing on the modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and ncRNA during hypoxic conditions. Additionally, epigenetic-mediated foetal programming may shed light on how maternal and antenatal risk factors contribute to NESHIE susceptibility. Understanding these epigenetic signatures could advance biomarker discovery and the development of novel therapeutic strategies for NESHIE.
Light sensitivity and diel activity rhythms in the Angoni vlei rat (Otomys angoniensis) under natural and artificial conditions
Oosthuizen, Tasha; Pillay, Neville; Oosthuizen, Maria Kathleen (Taylor and Francis, 2025-10-16)
Artificial light at night (ALAN) can disrupt daily rhythms of wildlife, yet little is known about its effects on African rodents. We investigated the diel activity rhythms of the Angoni vlei rat (Otomys angoniensis), a species with an inconclusive temporal niche. We exposed wild-caught vlei rats to three treatments: (1) standard laboratory light–dark cycle; (2) laboratory light–dark cycle with low-intensity ALAN (2 Lux); and (3) natural ambient light and temperature fluctuations. Activity was recorded via infrared sensors, and the activity rhythm was quantified using Cosinor analysis. Activity was predominantly nocturnal across all treatments. However, rhythm amplitude, MESOR and robustness were nearly three-times higher under natural conditions than in both laboratory treatments. ALAN did not significantly suppress activity, suggesting minimal masking effects (unlike strictly nocturnal animals) and possible flexibility in the temporal niche. In nature, O. angoniensis occupies dense grass habitats, and therefore, its predominantly nocturnal activity in captivity could be due to the lack of adequate cover during experiments. Moreover, the greater activity under natural conditions could be a consequence of brighter daytime light and natural temperature cycles. We suggest that although O. angoniensis displays nocturnal activity in the laboratory, it may be more diurnal in its natural habitat. Our findings demonstrate that the temporal activity of O. angoniensis is shaped by environmental context, with implications for contextualising circadian flexibility in species inhabiting human-altered landscapes.
Reflections on editorial leadership : looking back…moving forward
Den Hond, Frank; Painter, Mollie (Cambridge University Press, 2025-10)
We take the opportunity in this editorial that marks the end of our tenure, to offer some reflections on our experiences. It is an occasion for looking back, for reflection on the scholarship and practice of business ethics, and for celebrating some of the outstanding work that is being done in and for the journal.