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To document incidence rate and severity of specific sub-categories of respiratory tract illness (RTill) in rugby players during the Super Rugby tournament.Cross-sectional study.Team physicians completed daily illness logs in 537 professional male rugby players from South African teams participating in the Super Rugby Union tournaments (2013-2017) (1141 player-seasons, 102,738 player-days). The incidence rate (IR: illness episodes/1000 player-days) and severity [%RTill resulting in time-loss, illness burden (IB: days lost to illness/1000 player-days) and days until return-to-play (DRTP)/single illness (mean: 95% Confidence Intervals)] are reported for the following specific sub-categories of RTill: non-infective respiratory tract illness (RTnon-inf), respiratory tract infections (RTinf), influenza-like illness, infective sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infections (URTinf), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTinf).The overall IR of RTill was 2.9 (2.6-3.3). IR was higher for RTinf (2.5; 2.2-2.9) vs. RTnon-inf (0.4; 0.3-0.6) (p 0.001). For sub-categories the highest IR was in URTinf (1.9; 1.7-2.2), while the % illness causing time-loss was influenza-like illness (100%), LRTinf (91.7%), infective sinusitis (55.6%), and URTinf (49.0%). IB was highest for URTinf (2.0; 1.6-2.5), and the DRTP/single illness was highest for LRTinf (3.2; 2.3-4.4), and influenza-like illness (2.1; 1.6-2.8).RTinf accounted for57% of all illness during the Super Rugby tournament, and mostly URTinf. Influenza-like illness. LRTinf caused time-loss in90% cases. URTinf, LRTinf and influenza-like illness resulted in the highest burden of illness and LRTinf caused the highest DRTP. Prevention strategies should focus on mitigating the risk of RTinf, specifically URTinf, LRTinf and influenza-like illness.

Netball is a physical game with sudden direction changes, decelerations, jumping and landing, stop/start maneuvers and restrictive footwork rules exposing players to injury. Close contact play and shared facilities during tournaments, increase illness risk. Objective: To describe incidence, period prevalence, types and severity of injuries and illnesses during the 10-day Vitality Netball World Cup 2019 (NWC). Methods: All players from 16 teams consented (n = 192). Medical staff recorded injuries (840 exposure hours), illnesses (1440 player-days) and time-loss. Main outcome measures included incidence (I) calculated as injury/1000 player-hours and illness/1000 player-days, period prevalence (PP) and severity (time-loss) of all match injuries and illnesses. 39 players sustained 46 match injuries (I = 54.76; PP = 20.31%). Lower limb injuries (I = 29.76), specifically the ankle (I = 13.10) were most common with lateral ankle ligament sprains the highest (I = 17.39). Contact injuries (I = 40.48) significantly exceeded non-contact injuries (I = 14.29; p = 0.0124). Center players sustained most injuries (n = 12; 26%; I = 14.29), followed by goalkeepers (n = 10; 22%; I = 11.90) and goal defenders (n = 8; 17%; I = 9.52). Injuries occurred in almost 50% of matches, and 67% did not result in time-loss. Time-loss injuries (n = 14; 33%) were most frequent in the lower limb (n = 10; 71%) specifically involved lateral ankle ligaments (n = 4; 29%), attributable to contact (n = 11; 79%) and mostly implicated center players and goal defenders (n = 4 each; 29% each). 11 players contracted 11 illnesses (I = 7.64; PP = 5.72%) with respiratory tract illness contributing 36%. Most illnesses did not result in time-loss (91%). This is the first study reporting injury and illness during an NWC. Contact was the main mechanism of injury, and 2/3 of injuries did not result in time-loss. The ankle is most commonly injured and center players sustain most injuries. Non-respiratory system disease was most frequent, but upper respiratory tract infection remains the most common diagnosis. Targeted surveillance studies using similar methodology are required to develop injury and illness preventative strategies in elite netball.

The high mountain ranges of Western Europe had a profound effect on the biotic recolonization of Europe from glacial refugia. The Alps present a particularly interesting case because they form an absolute barrier to dispersal for most taxa, obstructing recolonization from multiple refugia in northern Italy. Here, we investigate the effect of the European Alps on the phylogeographic history of the European common frog Rana temporaria. Based on partial cytochrome b and COXI sequences from Switzerland, we find two mitochondrial lineages roughly north and south of the Alpine ridge, with contact zones between them in eastern and western Switzerland. The northern haplogroup falls within the previously identified Western European haplogroup, while the southern haplogroup is unique to Switzerland. We find that the lineages diverged ~110 kya, at approximately the onset of the last glacial glaciation; this indicates that they are from different glacial refugia. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the northern and southern haplogroups colonized Switzerland via trans‐ and circum‐Alpine routes from at least two separate refugia in northern Italy. Our results illustrate how a complex recolonization history of the central European Alps can arise from the semi‐permeable barrier created by high mountains., The European Alps presented a barrier to the post‐glacial recolonization of Europe for many taxa. However, a few cold‐tolerant species were able to colonize Switzerland across the Alps via multiple colonization routes from refugia in Northern Italy. We show that the complex colonization history of Rana temporaria across the Alps has resulted in unusually high genetic diversity within Switzerland.

Purpose This study aims to synthesise the available literature on the phenomenon of infanticide within the context of postpartum psychosis from a novel perspective using critical interpretive synthesis (CIS). The study placed its focus on the environmental aspects involved in the phenomenon of postpartum psychosis where the outcome was infanticide, as well as the chosen method of inflicting death. Design/methodology/approach CIS is a reviewing method that synthesises existing literature into a coherent frame with the exploration of literature at its core. CIS results in a natural critique of the body of literature and was critical to the study and its findings. The study ultimately found five synthetic constructs related to environmental aspects and method of inflicting death. Findings These included prior psychiatric history and care, demographics of perpetrators, perceptions on motherhood, profile on victims such as age and the method of death and, finally, the presence of “warning behaviour”. Reflections on the current state of the literature formed an important part of the study and enabled the authors to make recommendations for future research. Research limitations/implications The age of the literature acts as a limitation to the study, there is a need for updated to research to inform our current historical context. In addition, most of the included studies was based in developed countries which may impact on generalisability. The aim of he study was not to include an exhaustive body of literature, thus other relevant literature may have not been included. Some included studies did not solely focus on the concept of infanticide within the context of postpartum psychosis. Although efforts were made to ensure rigour, it is accepted that different researchers may come to different conclusion in inherently qualitative means of enquiry such as CIS. These included prior psychiatric history and care, demographics of perpetrators, perceptions on motherhood, profile on victims such as age and the method of death and, finally, the presence of “warning behaviour”. Reflections on the current state of the literature formed an important part of the study and enabled the authors to make recommendations for future research. Originality/value The study has not been published previously and all sources are credited. This study made a contribution by indicating important misconceptions about motherhood and the demography associated with infanticide in postpartum psychosis. It also highlighted the need for updated empirical research that may have implications for policy and practice

Writing guidelines on procedural sedation and analgesia is a formidable and challenging task. There are many disciplines and societies at international level now involved in writing guidelines and we need to be aware of what they see as important in their guidelines. We always need to identify new trends in sedation; for that we need to be involved at international level. Our aim with these guidelines is to provide a guidance for safe sedation practice for all healthcare providers who are involved in sedation practice. In this issue we have added adverse events and record-keeping, accreditation and the importance of simulation training to our recommendations under clinical governance. We would like our sedation practitioners to keep records and report adverse events to our societies, e.g. SOSPOSA, so that we all can benefit from the information we get. It is also crucial that sedation practitioners keep their logbooks and update them regularly – “if it is not written down, it never happened”. All aspects of accreditation remain an important issue and we need to address this urgently. This forms an important part of safe sedation practice, also done at international level, and we need to follow this. The facilities where we work, especially outside the operating theatre, must meet the requirements for safe practice. It is our responsibility to see that this is the case. In the appendices there is a practice appraisal protocol that should be filled in by sedation practitioners doing sedation outside the operating theatre. We do not cover sedation techniques in the guidelines. We believe sedation practitioners must learn the techniques with supervised clinical training. Capnography for sedation outside the operating theatre will become a focus point in future. We are only supposed to be doing ASA I and II patients outside the operating theatre so there may be a feeling we do not need capnography. There is pressure to include capnography under monitoring as a minimum monitoring standard, like pulse oximetry and blood pressure monitoring. Our appendices have been revised with more information on what patients need to know about sedation e.g. an example of a cover letter to the patient. This will include information to the patient, as well as information from the patient. Sedation is today one of the fastest growing areas in anaesthesia care. Our research studies show a low incidence of side-effects, and a high incidence of patient satisfaction. To all our readers we wish you a safe sedation journey.

A pattern of population structure called isolation-by-environment (IBE) evolves when gene flow connecting populations in different habitats is lower than expected. Although IBE is widespread, there is limited information on its magnitude compared with other factors influencing gene flow. We estimated the relative importance of IBE in the frog Rana temporaria in the Swiss Alps, a geographic context in which IBE should be relatively pronounced. The environmental factor potentially causing IBE was the length of the growing season, which is highly correlated with elevation. A sample of 992 individuals from 82 breeding sites were genotyped at 1827 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers; gene flow was estimated in four ways related to FST , genetic distance, allele sharing, and distance on a population graph. Gravity modeling and random forest regression evaluated the importance of six at-site covariates, 10 between-site covariates, and geographic distance. There was broad agreement among analysis methods and measures of gene flow: isolation-by-distance (IBD) and habitat quality between sites were of highest importance, the elevation and ruggedness of the dispersal path were about half as important, and IBE was about 10-20% as important as IBD. These results combine with other evidence to suggest that population divergence across elevational gradients is underway in amphibians.

A mobile-based behavioural change program iloveLive.mobi was implemented to prevent HIV among young people (12-24 years) in South Africa. The mobile site offered access to sexual and reproductive health and psychosocial information through interactive learning. The site provided incentives for positive behaviour (such as HIV testing). The research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the iloveLife.mobi site in promoting protective behaviour of users. A mixed-methods approach was used, including document review, KAPB survey (n = 1882), group discussions (n = 68) and telephonic interviews (n = 175) with users and interviews with 46 project and community stakeholders. The SRH and psychosocial information on the site was age-appropriate and useful to young people (82.2%). The site reached young men who are generally difficult to reach with SRH information. High-frequency users reported more confidence related to condom use and HIV testing and more protective behaviour (condom use, VMMC) compared to low-frequency users. Users also reported more protective behaviour (HIV testing, VMMC, condom use) than a comparable national sample. iloveLife.mobi became a repository for learning to reach young people with health information. The research highlights key issues to consider when implementing an mHealth platform in a low- or middle-income country, where literacy levels and technical infrastructure may cause challenges.

Bacillus based probiotics are becoming relevant as alternatives to antibiotics used in poultry production and in other animal husbandry. This study describes the isolation of 48 Bacillus spp. candidates, from chickens and chicken environments, for use as potential probiotics in poultry production. These isolates, plus a further 18, were tested in a comprehensive in vitro screening regime that was specifically designed to select the best isolates that satisfied multiple modes of action desirable for commercial poultry probiotics. This screening programme involved the evaluation of the ability of the isolates to survive and grow in the limiting conditions of the chicken gastrointestinal tract. Only 11 of the isolates fulfilled these criteria; hence, they were further evaluated for the ability to adhere to epithelial cells, produce extracellular enzymes, and to demonstrate antagonistic activity against selected pathogens of significant importance in poultry production. Of these, a total of 6 isolates were selected, due to their all-round probiotic capability. Identification by 16S RNA sequencing confirmed these isolates as B. subtilis and B. velezensis, identities which are generally regarded as safe. The Bacillus isolates reported in our study exhibit strong all-inclusive probiotic effects and can potentially be formulated as a probiotic preparation for poultry production.

Hedonic assessment and sensory characteristics of 13 Amaranthus genotypes, stewed with onions, tomatoes and potatoes, were evaluated. 50 consumers ranked their preference on a nine-point hedonic scale to determine overall acceptability of the stewed samples. In addition, 100 consumers were asked to select sensory characteristics that described the genotypes best, using the Check-all-that-apply question. Hedonic responses indicated significant differences (p

Tooth mobility is commonly seen in general dental practice, usually resulting from chronic periodontitis. A fibre-reinforced composite splint may be used to treat mobile teeth successfully. This article will concentrate on the precise steps on how to place such a periodontal splint. Minimally invasive options should always be considered. In long-term maintenance of periodontally involved teeth where the active disease is under control, the periodontal splint can be very helpful as part of a comprehensive periodontal treatment plan. CPD/Clinical Relevance: A fibre-reinforced composite periodontal splint may improve the masticatory ability and consequently the patient's quality of life.

Traditional crops have historically provided accessible and affordable nutrition to millions of rural dwellers but have been neglected, with most modern agricultural systems over-reliant on a small number of internationally traded crops. Traditional crops are typically well-adapted to local agro-ecological conditions and many are nutrient-dense. They can play a vital role in local food systems through enhanced nutrition (particularly where diets are dominated by starch crops), food security and livelihoods for smallholder farmers, and a climate-resilient and biodiverse agriculture. Using short-read, long-read and phased sequencing technologies, we generated a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly for Amaranthus cruentus, an under-researched crop with micronutrient- and protein-rich leaves and gluten-free seed, but lacking improved varieties, with respect to productivity and quality traits. The 370.9 Mb genome demonstrates a shared whole genome duplication with a related species, Amaranthus hypochondriacus. Comparative genome analysis indicates chromosomal loss and fusion events following genome duplication that are common to both species, as well as fission of chromosome 2 in A. cruentus alone, giving rise to a haploid chromosome number of 17 (versus 16 in A. hypochondriacus). Genomic features potentially underlying the nutritional value of this crop include two A. cruentus-specific genes with a likely role in phytic acid synthesis (an anti-nutrient), expansion of ion transporter gene families, and identification of biosynthetic gene clusters conserved within the amaranth lineage. The A. cruentus genome assembly will underpin much-needed research and global breeding efforts to develop improved varieties for economically viable cultivation and realization of the benefits to global nutrition security and agrobiodiversity.

Highlights • Bacillus spp. are attractive for use as in-feed probiotics due to their robustness. • High spore density cultivations above 1 × 1010 CFU. mL−1 can be achieved. • Bacillus probiotics can be formulated into a powdered product with 100 % recovery. • Bacillus probiotics are capable of survival and proliferation in the simulated GIT conditions. • Bacillus probiotics can be easily incorporated into feed preparations at high concentrations., Probiotics can be effective alternatives to the prophylactic use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in response to industry and consumer concerns around their use in poultry. Studies on the suitability of Bacillus probiotics are emerging and showing benefits, but information on the production technology is limited. We developed the production process for a novel probiotic product previously shown to be effective in field trials. All strains were cultivated to a spore concentration exceeding 1 × 1010 CFU. mL−1. The spores of each strain were harvested, processed into a powder intermediate and formulated into an end product with 100 % recoveries and a shelf life stability >1 year. The probiotic was shown to be incorporated into broiler feed exceeding the desired concentration of 1 × 106 CFU. g−1. Using efficient process technology and lower cost materials, this study presents a commercially relevant case for the potential adoption of probiotic products by the poultry industry.

Objective To determine the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of RRIs among trail runners who entered the 2019 SkyRun races. Design Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting 2019 SkyRun races. Participants Consent for data analysis was given by 305 of 412 (74%) race entrants. Main outcome measures Retrospective annual incidence (RRIs/1000 h), point prevalence (%), frequency (%), characteristics (anatomical region, body area, tissue type, pathology type) and injury severity (mean severity score; 95% CI) of RRIs. Results 28.2% of participants reported at least one RRI. The retrospective annual incidence was 49.5 RRIs per 1000h and the point prevalence was 1.3%. Most injuries occurred in the lower limb (87.3%), with the knee (26.5%), ankle (21.6%), and foot (16.7%) reported as the most frequently injured body areas. Muscle/tendon accounted for 44.1% of tissue type injuries. Tendinopathy (27.5%), joint sprain (19.6%), and muscle injury (15.7%) were the most common pathology types reported. The mean injury severity score was 31.6. Conclusions One in 4 trail runners reported at least one RRI in the 12 months leading up to a race. RRIs mostly affected the lower limb specifically the knee, ankle and foot. Future research should establish injury risk factors to ultimately develop specific injury prevention strategies.

Background: It is plausible that optimal cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management differs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from low or middle income compared to high income populations. This study aimed at producing evidence-based points to consider for CVD prevention in South African RA patients. Methods: Five rheumatologists, one cardiologist and one epidemiologist with experience in CVD risk management in RA patients, as well as two patient representatives, two health professionals and one radiologist, one rheumatology fellow and 11 rheumatologists that treat RA patients regularly contributed. Systematic literature searches were performed and the level of evidence was determined according to standard guidelines. Results: Eighteen points to consider were formulated. These were grouped into 6 categories that comprised overall CVD risk assessment and management (n = 4), and specific interventions aimed at reducing CVD risk including RA control with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, glucocorticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 3), lipid lowering agents (n = 8), antihypertensive drugs (n = 1), low dose aspirin (n = 1) and lifestyle modification (n = 1). Each point to consider differs partially or completely from recommendations previously reported for CVD risk management in RA patients from high income populations. Currently recommended CVD risk calculators do not reliably identify South African black RA patients with very high-risk atherosclerosis as represented by carotid artery plaque presence on ultrasound. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that optimal cardiovascular risk management likely differs substantially in RA patients from low or middle income compared to high income populations. There is an urgent need for future multicentre longitudinal studies on CVD risk in black African patients with RA., The first meeting held amongst local Rheumatologists was funded by the South African Arthritis and Rheumatology Association. The studies by Professor González-Gay have been supported by grants from “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” PI06/0024, PS09/00748, PI12/00060, PI15/00525, PI18/00043, and RD12/0009/0013 and RD16/0012 (RIER) from “Instituto de Salud Carlos III” (ISCIII) (Spain), co-funded by FEDER funds

The identification of stable and adaptable high yielding cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) and highly discriminative environments will be useful for elite cultivar development in South Africa. Two statistical models, the Additive main effects multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and the genotype, genotype by environment biplot analysis have been used extensively to identify superior genotypes and ideal testing environments. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify elite cowpea lines and testing environments using the two models to inform future cultivar development strategies. Fifteen cowpea genotypes were evaluated for yield performance and stability across 3 different locations during 2016 and 2017 growing seasons in South Africa. Genotype main effects were significant for grain yield, while genotype × environment interaction effect was insignificant for grain yield. However, genotypic perfomance for grain yield was significantly affected by seasonal variability. The AMMI analysis of variance showed that genotypes (G), environments (E) and their interaction were significant for grain yield. The G and GE effects accounted for about 10% of the total variation in grain yield, while the environment accounted for 66%. The high yielding genotypes, Vigna Onb, TVU-5431 and Kisumu mix, were adapted to Mafikeng and Potchefstroom sites. Kisumu mix, followed by Vigna Onb, were the most stable genotypes, while Veg cowpea 1, Veg cowpea dacama cream and Veg cowpea 2 were the least stable genotypes across the three sites and seasons. The analysis also showed that Environment 4 (Potchefstroom) was the most ideal site for cowpea production among the test sites.

Skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs) consist of a heterogeneous group of medications with a side effect profile of concern. The aim of this paper was to review the evidence of use of SMRs in the treatment of sports injuries. A literature search between 2005 – 2018 (Ovid MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus and SCOPUS) were conducted. In addition, citations within articles were searched, and the most commonly prescribed SMRs in South Africa were also used to explore the literature for additional publications. Relevant studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Clinical recommendations for general practitioners are given based on the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) level of evidence. Combination drugs rather than single agents are mostly used, however the effectiveness of SMR agents, single and in combination, as well as its significance as opposed to analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, still has to be evaluated. Evidence suggest SMRs to be probably effective for use in non-specific lower back pain (acute and chronic lower back muscle strains, ligament sprains, soft tissue contusions), as well as for whiplash associated disorder, mechanical neck disorders, piriformis syndrome, lateral epicondylosis, and plantar fasciitis. It does not appear if there is a role for SMRs as part of combination management for acute cervical strains, post-exercise muscle soreness or myofacial pain syndrome. However, substantial evidence to confirm the use of SMRs in the treatment of sports injuries have not been adequately investigated and is currently largely based on case reports and general reviews. Keywords: muscle relaxant, sports injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, management, exercise, athlete

Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] is an important underutilised staple food crop in South Africa, with a lot of potential to address food insecurity among poor rural households. Development of high yielding stable taro cultivars is one of the most important goals of plant breeders. Twenty-nine taro accessions collected from major taro producing regions of the country were evaluated for growth performance, yield potential and stability under dryland conditions at two sites (Umbumbulu and Roodeplaat) in 2013, 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons. The experiment was laid in a randomised complete block design replicated three times. Growth and yield traits were measured. Analysis of variance and correlation analysis was done on all measured traits. The genotype by environment interaction was analysed using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI). As a result, significant variation was observed for most of the traits except number of leaves and leaf width as well as number of suckers...

There are a number of aesthetic issues that may occur as a result of periodontal disease and/or its management and it is a common motivation for patients to seek treatment, particularly when it affects the anterior teeth due to their prominence within the dentition. Clinicians and patients are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the periodontal/muco-gingival tissues to provide an aesthetic smile and, as a result, this has led to the development of both surgical and prosthodontic techniques to improve or maintain the dental aesthetics. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the prosthodontic solutions available to improve the aesthetics of retained periodontally involved teeth. CPD/Clinical Relevance: To present an overview of the prosthodontic solutions available to improve the aesthetics of retained periodontally involved teeth.

The South African abalone farming industry is entirely based on Haliotis midae, which has been commercially cultured with great success the last 20 years. Even though abalone are cultivated under identical farming conditions, originating from homogenous genetic stocks, variation is experienced in individual abalone growth rates, justifying further research into the mechanisms related to these growth differences. Insights into the biochemical processes of abalone would help to identify the various metabolic factors related to varied abalone growth rates. Metabolomics, aims to investigate the metabolism holistically, and is considered a powerful tool for better elucidation of observed phenotypical changes. A metabolomics approach including the use of untargeted gas chromatography-time of flight spectrometry, semi-targeted liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry and targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were used to indicate and better describe the metabolic variation associated with slow and fast growing abalone. The results obtained by metabolomics analysis of H. midae adductor muscle samples showed that faster growing individuals utilise energy pathways and reserves (via elevated insulin production) in such a way that they promote protein synthesis. In contrast the metabolic profile of slow growing individuals supports protein catabolism, where energy allocation for breakdown of metabolic products has priority over mechanisms utilised for abalone growth. Overall these results sets the stage for future work highlighting metabolic pathways which should be investigated in a qualitative manner ensuring reference values which can furthermore be monitored to assist with abalone growth predictions.

Background: The skin provides a permeable barrier which may be impaired in oc‐ cupational settings. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and skin surface pH (SSpH) have been used in occupational settings to predict early onset of occupational skin diseases, to measure the effectiveness of prevention strategies for occupational skin diseases, and to assess skin condition during expo‐ sure. The aim was to compare the findings, identify shortcomings in the methodology and data reporting and furthermore, to make recommendations for future studies. Materials and Methods: A literature study was conducted on studies published be‐ fore December 2018 to provide a review on the measurement of TEWL, SCH and SSpH in occupational settings. Results: TEWL, SCH and SSpH were previously measured in a wide variety of indus‐ tries. Results between studies were highly variable, due to different study designs and different anatomical positions measured. Not all of the measurement conditions were reported and variations in study objectives led to data being reported and in‐ terpreted differently for most studies. Conclusion: Incomplete reporting of methodology hinders comparison of bioen‐ gineering measurements. No bioengineering method has been proven useful as a predictive tool for occupational skin diseases, however, it is useful in the acute as‐ sessment of skin condition. It is recommended that future studies on TEWL, SCH and SSpH adhere to guidelines for occupational settings as far as possible to enable comparison between studies

Background: Amateur cyclists use a wide variety of supplements and nutritional substances to increase performance in addition to their training.Objectives: The intended nutritional supplement use, carbohydrate (CHO) use and hydration practices of amateur cyclists before, during and after endurance cycling were analysed. Evidence of ignorance regarding the use of sports supplements and CHO, as well as the disregard of hydration strategy was hypothesised.Methods: Amateur cyclists, of all age and sex groups, were requested to complete an online survey anonymously on the 2013 Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge website, a few days before the event.Results: Responses were received from 2 550 out of 30 640 race entrants (8%); representing a distribution of 75% males, 25% females, with the majority between 25 to 45 years old. Nutritional supplements were used by 59% of respondents, with 77% dose adherence, and 29% with supplement ingredient knowledge. Half of the respondents (48%) planned to carbo-load two-three days before the event, while only five percent used professional advice to scientifically calculate their carbo-loading requirements. CHO were consumed by 81% during the event. Hydration preferences during the race were sports drinks (59%) and water (22%); and after the race 45% preferred a sports drink and 40% water. Ingredients, taste, colour, and temperature were criteria used to choose a sports drink. Only 18% of respondents knew to use both colour of urine and thirstiness to determine post-race fluid requirements.Conclusion: The authors concluded that amateur cyclists had insufficient knowledge regarding nutritional supplement ingredients and usage, CHO requirements and carbo-loading practices, and hydration strategies before, during and after the event.Keywords: ergogenic aids, nutritional supplements, carbohydrate use

The study investigated consumers’ overall liking and sensory profiling of 13 boiled Amaranthus genotypes by using the Check-all-that-apply question. Fifty consumers ranked their preference on a nine-point hedonic scale to determine overall liking of boiled samples. Additionally, 100 consumers completed a CATA question, which contained 19 descriptive terms related to Amaranthus leaves. Significant differences were found in the frequency in which consumers used 11 out of the 19 terms. Correspondence analysis, explaining 68.1% variance, illustrated differences in sensory characteristics between genotypes. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified three consumer segments, indicating the heterogeneous acceptance of samples. External mapping of the samples’ configuration identified regions of maximum liking. Sensory characteristics of Amaranthus leaves varied between genotypes and species, with no relationship between specific species and their sensory properties. The information obtained can be recommended to farmers to be incorporated into breeding programmes.

Root-knot nematodes are destructive phytopathogens that damage agricultural crops globally, and there is growing interest in the use of biocontrol based on rhizobacteria such as Bacillus to combat Meloidogyne species. It is hypothesized that nematicidal activity of Bacillus can be attributed to the production of secondary metabolites and hydrolytic enzymes. Yet, few studies have characterized these metabolites and their identities remain unknown. Others are speculative or fail to elaborate on how secondary metabolites were detected or distinguished from primary metabolites. Metabolites can be classified based on their origin as either intracellular or extracellular and based on their function, as either primary or secondary. Although this classification is in general use, the boundaries are not always well defined. An understanding of the secondary metabolite and hydrolytic enzyme classification of Bacillus species will facilitate investigations aimed at bionematicide development. This review summarizes the significance of Bacillus hydrolytic enzymes and secondary metabolites in bionematicide research and provides an overview of known classifications. The importance of appropriate cultivation conditions for optimum metabolite and enzyme production is also discussed. Finally, the use of metabolomics for the detection and identification of nematicidal compounds is considered.

Objective: Cancer patients in Africa face unique challenges such as poverty, access to health care and under-resourced health-care systems. Although quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients has been well researched, the perspectives of cancer patients living in Africa are unknown. The objective was to explore what constitutes QoL for cancer patients accessing public health care in South Africa. Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was used, and data were gathered by means of in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling selected the participants, and the sample size was determined by saturation (n = 22). The data were analyzed using Patton's method of content analysis. Results: The participants were aged between 20 and 79 years, with an average of 50 years. Most were female and represented seven cultural groups. Four themes that influence QoL arose from the data: psychosocial-, physical-, spiritual and financial factors. Conclusions: QoL remains a complex phenomenon, enhanced and diminished by various individual factors. Poverty was a major issue and influenced the physical aspects of QoL, as the participants had to be strong enough to work and earn a living. Support from family, friends, and church members enhanced QoL, as well as religion and religious practices. Measuring QoL would be the next step to enable nurses to implement measures to improve QoL. Whether existing QoL instruments would be suitable for this patient population is not known and should be investigated before implementation.

Cowpea is a valuable crop for subsistence farmers in South Africa. Seed quantitative traits and germination parameters are important for good establishment of the crop, therefore the variation for these traits were determined for 44 cowpea genotypes. A field experiment was conducted at Roodeplaat planted in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed significant variation among the genotypes for all traits. Seed length varied from 6.90 to 9.72 mm, while seed width ranged from 5.47 to 7.20 mm. Seed thickness varied from 3.97 to 5.74 mm (mean 4.87 mm). Significant positive correlations were recorded for seed length and seed width; seed thickness and single seed weight; seed width and seed thickness; single seed weight and seed width. Germination speed was also positively correlated to germination percentage. The principal component biplot showed the cowpea genotypes scattered in different quadrants mainly based on seed width, seed length, germination percentage an...

A 38-year-old man, previously well, presents after being mauled by a Cape buffalo, while on Safari in South Africa. He recovered well but visited a cardiologist for infrequent palpitations lasting less than 10 min. A chest radiograph demonstrated increased cardiothoracic ratio raising the concern of possible traumatic mediastinal injury. His clinical examination was unremarkable. ECG demonstrated sinus rhythm with incomplete right bundle branch block. Echocardiography revealed a dilated, hyperdynamic right ventricle (RV) and dilated coronary sinus (CS). The left ventricle (LV) and aorta were normal with no evidence of aneurysm or dissection. An agitated saline bubble study was performed via the left antecubital fossa. Interestingly, all bubbles entered the right atrium (RA) via the superior vena cava (SVC) with no bubbles entering via the CS and no bubbles shunting to the left …

When environmental variation is spatially continuous, dispersing individuals move among nearby sites with similar habitat conditions. But as an environmental gradient becomes steeper, gene flow may connect more divergent habitats, and this is predicted to reduce the slope of the adaptive cline that evolves. We compared quantitative genetic divergence of Rana temporaria frog populations along a 2,000-m elevational gradient in eastern Switzerland (new experimental results) with divergence along a 1,550-km latitudinal gradient in Fennoscandia (previously published results). Both studies found significant countergradient variation in larval development rate (i.e., animals from cold climates developed more rapidly). The cline was weaker with elevation than with latitude. Animals collected on both gradients were genotyped at ∼2,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers, revealing that dispersal distance was 30% farther on the latitudinal gradient but 3.9 times greater with respect to environmental conditions on the elevational gradient. A meta-analysis of 19 experimental studies of anuran populations spanning temperature gradients revealed that countergradient variation in larval development, while significant overall, was weaker when measured on steeper gradients. These findings support the prediction that adaptive population divergence is less pronounced, and maladaptation more pervasive, on steep environmental gradients.

We assessed seven decades of change in the largest known population of the endangered endemic Boswellia elongata Balf. F. (Burseraceae) on Socotra Island (Yemen). To quantify the population change we evaluated tree number and locations on digitized images from various sources in the period 1956–2017 and combined this with direct field measurements of the population between 2011 and 2017. Our study reveals that the Homhil Nature Sanctuary B. elongata population shows a continuous decline since 1956. The steady but slow natural decline was strongly accelerated by two catastrophic cyclones in November 2015, when 38% of the trees were directly destroyed by strong winds. During the following 2 years 29% of the remaining trees died additionally. The remaining population has a bell-shaped size distribution; most trees are around 40 cm in diameter (range 18 to 70 cm). Tree ring analysis of 11 dead trees with a diameter of 29 to 44 cm without bark, resulted in estimated tree ages between 80 and 101 years. We estimate that similar-sized trees showing strong signs of senescence have a maximum age of a little over 100 years. The age structure of the Homhil population is, therefore, unbalanced with large sized trees prevailing. Natural regeneration is absent for decades. Viable seeds are available and have been shown to germinate, but the development of seedlings into saplings is a bottleneck. If the decline continues at the current rate, only 30 trees will remain there in 2036. Protection, planting and awareness activities are needed to keep this unique frankincense tree in Homhil Nature Sanctuary.

ObjectivesWe investigated the management of travel fatigue and jet lag in athlete populations by evaluating studies that have applied non-pharmacological interventions (exercise, sleep, light and nutrition), and pharmacological interventions (melatonin, sedatives, stimulants, melatonin analogues, glucocorticoids and antihistamines) following long-haul transmeridian travel-based, or laboratory-based circadian system phase-shifts.DesignSystematic reviewEligibility criteriaRandomised controlled trials (RCTs), and non-RCTs including experimental studies and observational studies, exploring interventions to manage travel fatigue and jet lag involving actual travel-based or laboratory-based phase-shifts. Studies included participants who were athletes, except for interventions rendering no athlete studies, then the search was expanded to include studies on healthy populations.Data sourcesElectronic searches in PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Google Scholar and SPORTDiscus from inception to March 2019. We assessed included articles for risk of bias, methodological quality, level of evidence and quality of evidence.ResultsTwenty-two articles were included: 8 non-RCTs and 14 RCTs. No relevant travel fatigue papers were found. For jet lag, only 12 athlete-specific studies were available (six non-RCTs, six RCTs). In total (athletes and healthy populations), 11 non-pharmacological studies (participants 600; intervention group 290; four non-RCTs, seven RCTs) and 11 pharmacological studies (participants 1202; intervention group 870; four non-RCTs, seven RCTs) were included. For non-pharmacological interventions, seven studies across interventions related to actual travel and four to simulated travel. For pharmacological interventions, eight studies were based on actual travel and three on simulated travel.ConclusionsWe found no literature pertaining to the management of travel fatigue. Evidence for the successful management of jet lag in athletes was of low quality. More field-based studies specifically on athlete populations are required with a multifaceted approach, better design and implementation to draw valid conclusions.PROSPERO registration numberThe protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42019126852).

International audience; Genomic surveillance of bacterial meningitis pathogens is essential for effective disease control globally, enabling identification of emerging and expanding strains and consequent public health interventions. While there has been a rise in the use of whole genome sequencing, this has been driven predominately by a subset of countries with adequate capacity and resources. Global capacity to participate in surveillance needs to be expanded, particularly in low and middle-income countries with high disease burdens. In light of this, the WHO-led collaboration, Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Roadmap, has called for the establishment of a Global Meningitis Genome Partnership that links resources for: N. meningitidis (Nm), S. pneumoniae (Sp), H. influenzae (Hi) and S. agalactiae (Sa) to improve worldwide co-ordination of strain identification and tracking. Existing platforms containing relevant genomes include: PubMLST: Nm (31,622), Sp (15,132), Hi (1935), Sa (9026); The Wellcome Sanger Institute: Nm (13,711), Sp (> 24,000), Sa (6200), Hi (1738); and BMGAP: Nm (8785), Hi (2030). A steering group is being established to coordinate the initiative and encourage high-quality data curation. Next steps include: developing guidelines on open-access sharing of genomic data; defining a core set of metadata; and facilitating development of user-friendly interfaces that represent publicly available data.

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥25 mL/min/1.73 m2 and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥30 to ≤5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level α = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049.

The effects of temperature on microorganisms in high latitude regions, and their possible feedbacks in response to change, are unclear. Here, we assess microbial functionality and composition in response to a substantial temperature change. Total soil biomass, amoA gene sequencing, extracellular activity assays and soil physicochemistry were measured to assess a warming scenario. Soil warming to 15°C for 30 days triggered a significant decrease in microbial biomass compared to baseline soils (0°C; P

Sex chromosomes in vertebrates range from highly heteromorphic (as in most birds and mammals) to strictly homomorphic (as in many fishes, amphibians, and nonavian reptiles). Reasons for these contrasted evolutionary trajectories remain unclear, but species such as common frogs with polymorphism in the extent of sex chromosome differentiation may potentially deliver important clues. By investigating 92 common frog populations from a wide range of elevations throughout Switzerland, we show that sex chromosome differentiation strongly correlates with alleles at the candidate sex-determining gene Dmrt1. Y-specific Dmrt1 haplotypes cluster into two main haplogroups, YA and YB , with a phylogeographic signal that parallels mtDNA haplotypes: YA populations, with mostly well-differentiated sex chromosomes, occur primarily south of the main alpine ridge that bisects Switzerland, whereas YB populations, with mostly undifferentiated (proto-)sex chromosomes, occur north of this ridge. Elevation has only a marginal effect, opposing previous suggestions of a major role for climate on sex chromosome differentiation. The Y-haplotype effect might result from differences in the penetrance of alleles at the sex-determining locus (such that sex reversal and ensuing X-Y recombination are more frequent in YB populations), and/or fixation of an inversion on YA (as supported by the empirical observation that YA haplotypes might not recombine in XYA females).

Objective To describe the experiences of South African patients living with head and neck cancer. Methods We used a qualitative descriptive design and conducted unstructured interviews with 18 (n = 18) purposive selected participants. Data saturation determined the sample size. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results The majority of the sample were Black males; on average, 50.8 years (SD ± 13.6) old. Two themes and eight subthemes arose from the data. The themes were living with the consequences of the illness and treatment, and coping with a changed life. The lives the participants knew before becoming sick changed and became a living hell; pain was a major problem as was eating and for some, communicating. The participants were stigmatised, ridiculed and rejected which added to their suffering. Receiving support from family and friends and their faith in God assisted them to cope with their changed lives. Conclusion Our study poses various challenges to clinical practice. Pain management is of the utmost importance; the nutritional status of these patients should be monitored and best practices in terms of management applied. Raising awareness of cancer and its complications could improve knowledge and decrease blame, stigmatisation and rejection and improve patient outcomes.

SUMMARY The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of embryonic thermal manipulation and dietary fat source during the finisher period on carcass characteristics and breast muscle myopathies following acute heat stress. Thermal manipulation (TM) of incubation temperatures has been shown to improve bird resistance to heat stress and enhance breast muscle growth. Fat supplementation is frequently used during heat stress and fat source may alter carcass composition, as fat sources rich in unsaturated fatty acids have been shown to reduce fat pad weight. Ross 708 eggs were incubated at 37.5°C except during TM when temperature was increased to 39.5°C for 12 h daily from embryo day 7 to 16. A total of 1,080 chicks were reared under standard conditions until acute heat stress at 43 d. Dietary treatments were applied during the finisher period beginning at 28 d, with diets including 4.5% of soya oil, poultry fat, or olive oil. At 49 d, 240 male birds were processed to assess carcass and portion weights, as well as breast quality. Carcass and portion weights were decreased by TM, however percent yield was similar to the controls. A decrease in breast muscle myopathies was noted but may have been due to the lower BW of the TM birds. Interactions between the treatments suggest that TM may alter lipid metabolism. Differences in dietary fat source did not affect carcass characteristics. The reduction in breast muscle myopathies may be negated by the negative impact of TM on carcass weights.

The use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) is common practice to improve broiler production and performance. The use of AGP is under discussion as it can induce bacterial resistance. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of removing AGP from broiler feed and study the effect of feed additives. For those countries where in-feed AGP are still permitted, the effect of the products in the presence of AGP was evaluated. Half the number of male broilers received a diet free of AGP, whereas the other half received a diet supplemented with zinc bacitracin at 0.5 g/kg. Both diets were either without additional additives or combined with a coated sodium butyrate, α-monolaurin or a combination of these additives. Raised under optimal conditions, the incorporation of AGP had no effect on broiler performance, but negatively affected villi height and villi height to crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio in the duodenum. In the absence of AGP, butyric acid and α-monolaurin had a positive effect on villi height. In the presence of AGP, α-monolaurin resulted in the lowest feed conversion ratio and improved VH:CD ratio in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Both feed additives had minimal effect on performance parameters but showed small positive effects on gut health in the absence of AGP and could play a role in the strategy to replace AGP.

Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] has the potential to address food and nutrition insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the nutrient content of taro is yet to be fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to evaluate mineral element content as a proxy for nutritional value of different taro genotypes. The study evaluated 14 taro accessions at Roodeplaat and Umbumbulu in South Africa based on their calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), phosphorous (P) and zinc (Zn) content. The accessions were planted in a randomized complete block design, replicated three times under field conditions. The mineral element content varied significantly (p < 0.05) among the genotypes. Genotypes Amad7-2, Umbu8 and Amad101 exhibited high Ca (≥432 mg kg−1), Fe (≥32 mg kg−1) and Mg (≥229 mg kg−1) across the locations. The first principal component (PC) accounted for 33.7% of the variation and was strongly associated with Zn (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) and P (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). The second PC explained 29.7% of the variation and was associated with Na (r = 0.83, p < 0.001), Mg (r = 0.76, p < 0.001) and K (r = 0.55, p < 0.05). Fe and Mn contributed below the 12.5% threshold to the PCs and were considered as less discriminatory among the accessions. The negative correlations among some of the mineral elements would be a challenge for selection and breeding of nutritious taro accessions. This information is essential to select superior local accessions based on their mineral element content for developing breeding populations and lines for improving nutrition quality among poor households in sub-Saharan Africa.

Agricultural crops are severely damaged by root-knot nematodes causing extensive financial losses globally. Historically, agrochemicals have been the preferred method to combat these pests; however, threats to humans and the environment posed by these agrochemicals led to the need for developing new biocontrol agents. Importantly, the latter should adhere to biosafety regulations while being highly effective. Root-knot nematodes live in soil and thus the use of rhizobacteria such as Bacillus for biocontrol development have shown potential. Although various Bacillus species have been tested in this capacity, little is known about their secondary metabolites and the mechanisms of action responsible for their nematicidal activity. If these secondary metabolites can be qualitatively and quantitatively characterised, metabolic features could be synthetically engineered and used to combat root-knot nematodes. Although there is great potential for bionematicides, the commercialisation and development of such products can be difficult. This review summarises the importance of Bacillus species as natural antagonists of root-knot nematodes through the production of secondary metabolites. It provides an overview of the significance of root-knot nematodes in agriculture and the advances of chemical nematicides in recent years. The potential of Bacillus species as biocontrol agents, the known mechanisms of action responsible for the nematicidal activity demonstrated by Bacillus species, non-target effects of biocontrol agents and the commercialisation of Bacillus-based bionematicides are discussed

Modern high-throughput approaches such as metabolomics, holds promise for investigating microbial communities. This study evaluated the quantitative and qualitative data generation potential of a metabolomics-based approach to characterise the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) of soil microbial communities against that of traditional microbial lipid analyses, including fractionated phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and total lipid extract (TLE) analyses. The results showed that the extraction method and different derivatisation techniques had an effect on FAME concentrations and on repeatability between sample replicates. An assessment of the applicability of the different methods to distinguish between soil microbial communities exposed to various soil fumigant treatments in a greenhouse, showed that even though the metabolomics analysis gave higher FAME yields than PLFA analysis, its discrimination potential between treatments were much lower. Therefore, PLFA analysis was recommended for FAME characterisation in microbial communities. The untargeted metabolomics analysis has potential in differentiating between different treatments, despite representing the larger soil community and not microbial communities per se .

Worldwide, there are approximately 100 Haliotis species, more commonly known as abalone or ‘Paua’ in New Zealand, ‘Venus's-ears’ in Greece, ‘Awabi’ in Japan, ‘Perlemoen’ in South Africa and ‘Ormers’ in Europe. Regardless of what they are called in any part of the world, a high monetary value is coupled to this animal, because it is largely considered a seafood delicacy. Subsequently, a great deal of research primarily focused on improving the health and growth rates of abalone were carried out to maximise productivity of the commercial farming efforts in various countries. In this review, we comprehensively describe the most recent available scientific literature on abalone biology, and those aspects related to the growth of this organism; more specifically, those factors related to the uptake and breakdown of metabolic products which ensures long-term growth. We subsequently discuss this in terms of basic animal design, farming outcomes, feeding, cellular growth mechanisms and the unique metabolic processes that exist in these species. Using this information and the knowledge of the metabolic processes in other organisms, we additionally make a number of new hypotheses regarding how these metabolic processes may function in terms of abalone growth. Based on the information presented in this review, we also identify major research opportunities and gaps in the existing knowledge of abalone metabolism, which when elucidated may not only serve the purpose of better understanding these organisms growth but also could potentially lead to increased productivity of the abalone commercial farming sector.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) can be technically challenging in the obese. The primary aim of the trial was to establish whether following a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) for two weeks pre-operatively reduces operation time. Secondary outcomes included perceived operative difficulty and length of hospital stay.A single-blinded, randomized controlled trial of consecutive patients with symptomatic gallstones and BMI30 kg/m(2) 46 patients were randomized to a VLCD or normal diet for two weeks prior to LC. Food diaries were used to document dietary intake. The primary outcome measure was operation time. Secondary outcomes were length of stay, weight change operative complications, day case rates and perceived difficulty of operation.The VLCD was well tolerated and had significantly greater preoperative weight loss (3.48 kg vs. 0.98 kg; p 0.0001). Median operative time was significantly reduced by 6 min in the VLCD group (25 vs. 31 min; p = 0.0096). There were no differences in post-operative complications, length of stay, or day case rates between the groups. Dissection of Calot's triangle was deemed significantly easier in the VLCD group.A two week VLCD prior to elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in obese patients is safe, well tolerated and was shown to significantly reduce pre-operative weight and operative time.61630192. http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN61630192 Trial registration.

During July 2009 and 2010 surveys of snail-borne larval trematodes of the Okavango Delta floodplains and lagoons were undertaken. Cercaria mohemboense were shed by Pila occidentalis (Mousson, 1887) and Cercaria dubaensis and Cercaria indistinctus were shed by Biomphalaria pfeifferi (Krauss, 1848), respectively. Morphological descriptions of these fork-tailed cercariae are given, with suggestions on the possible life cycles of these parasites.

Broiler chicken production is one of the most lucrative food production industries globally because of the demand for poultry products. Stringent regulations pertaining to the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in livestock production coupled with the changing consumer trends in terms of an increase in the consumtion of AGP-free meat pose a challenge to the poultry industry. Probiotics, specifically from the genus Bacillus, are emerging as a feasible solution to address this challenge because their spore-forming capabilities afford them several advantages over conventional probiotics. Success of these organisms has been attributed to their possession of a myriad of mechanisms that elicit probiotic effects, including among others, competitive exclusion of common poultry pathogens, improvement in digestion and absorption via the production of exogenous enzymes, improvement of intestinal morphology, immunomodulation, and the reduction of toxic compounds such as ammonia and aflatoxins. These effects reportedly reduce disease and mortality, improve feed efficiency up to 5%, enhance health, and assist in the environmental sustainability of poultry production. Bacillus spp. are easily isolated from environments and have up to 100% survivability in the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Besides these important considerations, the key advantage for the use of Bacilli as feed probiotics is their robust nature pertaining to industrial production because of the high-density spore production, spores can be produced in excess of 1 × 1011 spores•mL−1. Furhtermore spores can retain approximately 90% viability during the probiotic harvesting process. In addition, these spores remain stable at a concentration of 1 × 109 spores•mL−1 when formulated into probiotic products, with a shelf life potential of 5 yr. Furthermore, spores retain their viability through the poultry feed manufacturing process. This review focuses on the unique beneficial characteristics of Bacillus spp. in both the production process of a viable probiotic product and the application thereof in the poultry industry.

In this study we tested the hypothesis that the decrease in habitat quality at wastewater treatment works (WWTW), such as limited prey diversity and exposure to the toxic cocktail of pollutants, affect fatty acid profiles of interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBrAT) in bats. Further, the antioxidant capacity of oxidative tissues such as pectoral and cardiac muscle may not be adequate to protect those tissues against reactive molecules resulting from polyunsaturated fatty acid auto-oxidation in the WWTW bats. Bats were sampled at two urban WWTW, and two unpolluted reference sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Brown adipose tissue (BrAT) mass was lower in WWTW bats than in reference site bats. We found lower levels of saturated phospholipid fatty acids and higher levels of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in WWTW bats than in reference site bats, while C18 desaturation and n-6 to n-3 ratios were higher in the WWTW bats. This was not associated with high lipid peroxidation levels in pectoral and cardiac muscle. Combined, these results indicate that WWTW bats rely on iBrAT as an energy source, and opportunistic foraging on abundant, pollutant-tolerant prey may change fatty acid profiles in their tissue, with possible effects on mitochondrial functioning, torpor and energy usage., Summary: Brown adipose tissue of banana bats foraging at wastewater treatment works contained lower saturated and higher mono- and polyunsaturated phospholipid fatty acids than that of bats foraging at reference sites.

Abalone meat is a delicacy worldwide, fetching high prices and a valuable source of income for the many countries farming and exporting this commodity. The quality of abalone is based on its unique sensory properties and an analytical metabolomics method for determining the compounds related to this would serve as a valuable tool for ensuring quality and consumer satisfaction. Metabolomics is a promising “omics” tool which can be applied towards this goal; however, widely applicable parameters for the evaluation of an untargeted gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomic approach is still lacking. GC-MS is a popular and suitable metabolomics method due to its high separation power, reproducible retention times, and selective mass detection. The aim of this study was to establish a reliable untargeted GC-MS method for analyzing firstly a standard compound mixture consisting of 10 compounds representing various compound classes and secondly applying the method in an untargeted manner to abalone muscle samples. Using a standard compound mixture with a concentration range of 1 to 100 μg/mL, the limit of detection (LOD) ranged between 0.01 and 3.30 μg/mL, the limit of quantification (LOQ) resulted in values between 0.02 and 9.49 μg/mL, the accuracy determined was

Functional hypoxia is a stress condition caused by the abalone itself as a result of increased muscle activity, which generally necessitates the employment of anaerobic metabolism if the activity is sustained for prolonged periods. With that being said, abalone are highly reliant on anaerobic metabolism to provide partial compensation for energy production during oxygen-deprived episodes. However, current knowledge on the holistic metabolic response for energy metabolism during functional hypoxia, and the contribution of different metabolic pathways and various abalone tissues towards the overall accumulation of anaerobic end-products in abalone are scarce. Metabolomics analysis of adductor muscle, foot muscle, left gill, right gill, haemolymph and epipodial tissue samples indicated that South African abalone (Haliotis midae) subjected to functional hypoxia utilises predominantly anaerobic metabolism, and depends on all of the main metabolite classes (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) for energy supply. Functional hypoxia caused increased levels of anaerobic end-products: lactate, alanopine, tauropine, succinate and alanine. Also, elevation in arginine levels was detected, confirming that abalone use phosphoarginine to generate energy during functional hypoxia. Different tissues showed varied metabolic responses to hypoxia, with functional hypoxia showing excessive changes in the adductor muscle and gills. From this metabolomics investigation, it becomes evident that abalone are metabolically able to produce sufficient amounts of energy when functional hypoxia is experienced. Also, tissue interplay enables the adjustment of H. midae energy requirements as their metabolism shifts from aerobic to anaerobic respiration during functional hypoxia. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Objective:Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional, subjective, and highly individual phenomenon. The current study speaks to the QoL domains identified by palliative patients living in Africa. The need to identify these domains has been recognized but seemed to still be lacking. This study filled this knowledge gap by providing the domains and by giving directions in terms of the assessment of QoL in palliative patients living in resource-restricted communities in South Africa.Method:We followed a multi-method approach and conducted a literature review to identify and describe the multidimensional QoL instruments used in African palliative care. A secondary analysis design and open-coding method was employed to identify the domains influencing the QoL of palliative patients living in a resource-restricted South African community, after which we compared these domains to the domains assessed by the identified QoL instruments.Results:We found that two multidimensional QoL of life instruments—the Missoula–Vitas Quality of Life Index (MVQoLI) and the Functional Assessments of Chronic Illness Therapy–Palliative Care (FACIT–Pal)—have been used in African palliative care and have identified various domains, grouped as four themes: physical concerns, psychosocial issues, financial restraints, and existential issues. The patient-identified QoL domains were to a great extent not assessed by the MVQoLI and FACIT–Pal.Significance of Results:Our study highlights the complexity of QoL and QoL assessment. A more accurate representation of the QoL of palliative patients living in resource-restricted communities might be obtained by using individualized measures or exploring what QoL means to these patients and selecting QoL instruments accordingly.

Producing biofuels such as ethanol from non-food plant material has the potential to meet transportation fuel requirements in many African countries without impacting directly on food security. The current shortcomings in biomass processing are inefficient fermentation of plant sugars, such as xylose, especially at high temperatures, lack of fermenting microbes that are able to resist inhibitors associated with pre-treated plant material and lack of effective lignocellulolytic enzymes for complete hydrolysis of plant polysaccharides. Due to the presence of residual partially degraded lignocellulose in the gut, the dung of herbivores can be considered as a natural source of pre-treated lignocellulose. A total of 101 fungi were isolated (36 yeast and 65 mould isolates). Six yeast isolates produced ethanol during growth on xylose while three were able to grow at 42 °C. This is a desirable growth temperature as it is closer to that which is used during the cellulose hydrolysis process. From the yeast isolates, six isolates were able to tolerate 2 g/L acetic acid and one tolerated 2 g/L furfural in the growth media. These inhibitors are normally generated during the pre-treatment step. When grown on pre-treated thatch grass, Aspergillus species were dominant in secretion of endo-glucanase, xylanase and mannanase.

Oxygen is essential for metabolic processes and in the absence thereof alternative metabolic pathways are required for energy production, as seen in marine invertebrates like abalone. Even though hypoxia has been responsible for significant losses to the aquaculture industry, the overall metabolic adaptations of abalone in response to environmental hypoxia are as yet, not fully elucidated. To use a multiplatform metabolomics approach to characterize the metabolic changes associated with energy production in abalone (Haliotis midae) when exposed to environmental hypoxia. Metabolomics analysis of abalone adductor and foot muscle, left and right gill, hemolymph, and epipodial tissue samples were conducted using a multiplatform approach, which included untargeted NMR spectroscopy, untargeted and targeted LC–MS spectrometry, and untargeted and semi-targeted GC-MS spectrometric analyses. Increased levels of anaerobic end-products specific to marine animals were found which include alanopine, strombine, tauropine and octopine. These were accompanied by elevated lactate, succinate and arginine, of which the latter is a product of phosphoarginine breakdown in abalone. Primarily amino acid metabolism was affected, with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism assisting with anaerobic energy production to a lesser extent. Different tissues showed varied metabolic responses to hypoxia, with the largest metabolic changes in the adductor muscle. From this investigation, it becomes evident that abalone have well-developed (yet understudied) metabolic mechanisms for surviving hypoxic periods. Furthermore, metabolomics serves as a powerful tool for investigating the altered metabolic processes in abalone.