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Background: COVID-19 necessitated emergency telepractice for student-led speech-language therapy clinical practicals in training institutions, with limited preparation and evidence-based guidelines. Beyond the pandemic, practitioners and university training sites are likely to continue to offer telepractice necessitating thorough preparation for telepractice services underpinned by a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in online therapy. Aims: Adopting realist evaluation principles, our aim in this paper was to explore broadly what works and does not work in a set of student-led telepractice sessions in a diverse, resource-limited context. The broader goal of this project was to provide evidence-based support to enhance the efficiency and success of telepractice sessions in student clinical training contexts. Methods & Procedures: We used qualitative observational methods with reflexive thematic analysis to analyse 28 video recordings and 61 observation notes of student-led paediatric telepractice sessions from a South African university clinic as part of a pilot study. Outcomes & Results: We identified four overarching considerations for student-led telepractice: (1) additional, specific preparation is required, (2) with greater management of technology and adaptation of tasks, especially during times of poor connectivity; (3) telepractice relies heavily on caregiver input and collaboration; and (4) promoting engagement online, holding a client's attention, building rapport and offering reinforcement are critical skills that are complicated by the lack of face-to-face contact. Conclusions & Implications: Our findings indicate that telepractice pedagogy needs to be explicitly taught and students require practical assistance as they learn how to use this service delivery approach effectively. There are some aspects peculiar to telepractice that require unique consideration and planning, especially in contexts where service providers and users may be unfamiliar with this form of service provision. The findings of this pilot study can be used by clinical educators and student clinicians to enhance clinical training opportunities involving telepractice.

Background: This study aimed to examine whether individuals with chronic tinnitus report more positive experiences following internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Methods: A mixed-methods design was used, nested in clinical trials evaluating internet interventions for tinnitus. Participants (n = 164) completed online questionnaires (both structured and open-ended) providing demographic information as well as health variables (e.g., tinnitus distress, anxiety, depression, insomnia). An open-ended question listing positive effects or outcomes related to having tinnitus was also included. Responses to the open-ended questions were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Of the 164 eligible participants, 32.3% (n = 53) provided at least 1 positive experience both at pre- and post-intervention, with 9.1% (n = 19) providing positive experiences only at pre-intervention, 49 (29.9%) providing positive experiences only at post-intervention, and 28.7% (n = 47) of the participants did not provide any positive experiences on either measurement occasion. Significantly more positive experiences were reported following the intervention in the overall sample (p < 0.0001, paired sample t-test). In addition, participants who reported positive experiences in both pre- and post-intervention also reported more positive experiences following intervention (p = 0.008, paired sample t-test). Conclusions: Internet-based CBT can help individuals with tinnitus to think more positively by changing unhelpful thought patterns. Open-ended questions can supplement structured questionnaires to measure treatment outcomes.

The BASE (Barberton Archean Surface Environments) scientific drilling project aimed at recovering an unweathered continuous core from the Paleoarchean Moodies Group (ca. 3.2 Ga), central Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB), South Africa. These strata comprise some of the oldest well-preserved sedimentary strata on Earth, deposited within only a few million years in alluvial, fluvial, coastal-deltaic, tidal, and prodeltaic settings. They represent a very-high-resolution record of Paleoarchean surface conditions and processes. Moodies Group strata consist of polymict conglomerates, widespread quartzose, lithic and arkosic sandstones, siltstones, shales, and rare banded-iron formations (BIFs) and jaspilites, interbedded with tuffs and several thin lavas. This report describes objectives, drilling, and data sets; it supplements the operational report. Eight inclined boreholes between 280 and 495 m length, drilled from November 2021 through July 2022, obtained a total of 2903 m of curated core of variable quality through steeply to subvertically dipping, in part overturned stratigraphic sections. All drilling objectives were reached. Boreholes encountered a variety of conglomerates, diverse and abundant, mostly tuffaceous sandstones, rhythmically laminated shale-siltstone and banded-iron formations, and several horizons of early-diagenetic silicified sulfate concretions. Oxidative weathering reached far deeper than expected. Fracturing was more intense, and BIFs and jaspilites were thicker than anticipated. Two ca. 1 km long mine adits and a water tunnel, traversing four thick stratigraphic sections within the upper Moodies Group in the central BGB, were also sampled. All boreholes were logged by downhole wireline geophysical instruments. The core was processed (oriented, slabbed, photographed, described, and archived) in a large, publicly accessible hall in downtown Barberton. A geological exhibition provided background explanations for visitors and related the drilling objectives to the recently established Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site. A substantial education, outreach, and publicity program addressed the information needs of the local population and of local and regional stakeholders.

ABSTRACTThere is strong evidence demonstrating cold housing prevalence in Aotearoa New Zealand. Whānau (families) were recruited from a healthy homes programme based in South Auckland. Forty whānau consented to participate in a temperature-based study that assessed the ability of homes to protect against outdoor temperatures. In this observational study, temperature sensors measured night-time indoor temperature every 15 min from May 2020 to October 2020. Whānau were provided with healthy homes education and practical suggestions to help make homes warmer and dryer. Notably, each device (and house) spent 85% or more of the time below the World Health Organization Housing and Health Guidelines recommended minimum indoor temperature of 20°C for vulnerable groups. The lower standard of 18°C for more general populations referenced in the Healthy Homes Standards was not met over 60% of the time. Over a quarter of the time temperatures measured inside homes were below 12°C. If Māori and Pacific whānau continue to live in substandard housing due to residential inequities, they will continue to experience inequitable health outcomes related to cold housing. Solutions include the anticipated Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations, supports for tenants and support with housing-related costs.

No abstract available.

Large carnivores such as the jaguar Panthera onca are particularly susceptible to population decline and local extinction as a result of habitat loss. Here we report on the long-term monitoring of a local jaguar population in a mixed land-use area in the eastern lowlands of Bolivia from March 2017 to December 2019. We recorded 15 jaguar individuals and four reproduction events (five offspring from three females), suggesting that our study area harbours a resident breeding population. Seven iterations of spatially explicit capture–recapture models provided density estimates of 1.32–3.57 jaguars per 100 km2. Jaguar capture rates were highest in forested areas, with few to no jaguar captures in pastures used for livestock. Massive deforestation after the survey period reduced the proportion of dense forest cover by 33%, shrinking the availability of suitable jaguar habitat and placing the resident jaguar population at risk. We use the jaguar as an indicator species to highlight the threat of habitat destruction in the Chiquitano region and we emphasize the importance of intact forest patches for jaguar conservation.

No abstract available.

Serving single-parent families with adolescents: An inclusive and intergenerational challenge. This article focused on the ministry to single-parent families after divorce. The study had its origins in the author’s observation that adolescents from single-parent homes are picked up and dropped off by their parents for catechesis, but that the parents are not involved in activities in the congregation – not even just to attend the worship service. The research had the objective to investigate why single-parent families do not experience themselves as true families within the church and do not receive the necessary support in the faith formation of their children. The fourfold reflective equilibrium approach of Osmer was used as the frame for how this article was structured. As a basis for the interpretation of the empirical findings, the relationship between youth and family ministry is portrayed to lay a theological basis for an inclusive approach. The qualitative empirical study included 17 randomly selected single parents. The empirical study confirmed that single parents find it difficult to survive. The demands placed upon them are intense and they depend on a support network to meet the basic needs of the family. These single parents further believe that the church cannot help them with this. The research confirmed that single parents do not experience acceptance in the church and that they do not receive support in the faith formation of their children. The two hermeneutic spheres for the understanding of faith are a source of tension for the adolescents because of the difference in understanding of matters of faith between their divorced parents. The involvement of grandparents was found to be a key factor in the support of the single-parent family and needs to be addressed in an intergenerational approach. The positive involvement of the local pastor can also be used as a changing factor in the support of the single-parent family. Contribution: This article contributes to a paradigm shift in the understanding of how families are constructed, especially single-parent families. The article reports on research that will be valuable for congregations in planning their ministry towards single-parent families.

This article reports on the findings of the Christian youth ministry involvement in community development in the Mayibuye community of Tembisa, in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The article employed Richard Osmer’s model of the four tasks of practical theological interpretation. These tasks have been used to understand better what is happening in youth ministry and community development contexts in the Mayibuye community by utilising documentary analysis and in-depth semi-structured interviews. The findings divulged that the Mayibuye community faces several socio-economic challenges. Most importantly, young people are the most affected. Furthermore, the findings exposed that youth involvement is limited in community development processes within local communities. As a result, the article proposes implementing a pragmatic strategy to enhance the youth ministry’s involvement in community development. Various principles of the youth ministry have been presented in the study as the essential principles that need youth leaders’ attention for functional youth ministry, and to achieve developmental outcomes. The study also recommended further empirical studies on youth culture, the importance of young people’s inclusion in leadership roles and the use of young people as catalysts for community transformation. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The anticipated outcomes of this research endeavour are poised to make a valuable contribution to the current corpus of knowledge in various academic domains, including Practical Theology, Youth Ministry, Theology and Development, Community Development, Congregational Studies, Missiology, Anthropology, and Sociology. This contribution suggests that adopting a pragmatic strategy is likely to yield positive outcomes for local churches, youth ministry, and community development as a whole.

The demand for innovative and cost-effective in-situ consolidation technologies in soft clay stimulated the effort to employ electrokinetic phenomena in soils under an electric field. This work explains the principles of electrophoresis and electroosmosis in soft clay under an electric field and discusses the implacations of these results for field implementation of the technique. The experimental work reported here was carried out to shed light on the principles by considering various influencing factors. The results show that there is a threshold current (about 15 mA) for electroosmosis and electrophoresis in soft clay. Below the threshold current, electrophoresis plays a major role and is accompanied by weak electroosmosis. The particle size, dry density, and boundary rise height of electrophoretic soil in anode chamber are mainly affected by soil moisture content, electrode in electrolyte length, and bottom of electrode to soil surface distance. The closer the soil moisture content is to the average value of the liquid limit and plastic limit, the denser the electrophoretic soil will be. Above the threshold current, almost only electroosmosis occurs. The greater the current, the greater the electroosmosis. In practical engineering application, electrodes are usually directly inserted into the soft clay. This results in the current usually being much greater than the threshold current, meaning the electrophoretic phenomenon in the soil can be negligible.

Abstract Wide-ranging carnivores experience tradeoffs between dynamic resource availabilities and heterogeneous risks from humans, with consequences for their ecological function and conservation outcomes. Yet, research investigating these tradeoffs across large carnivore distributions is rare. We assessed how resource availability and anthropogenic risks influence the strength of lion (Panthera leo) responses to disturbance using data from 31 sites across lions’ contemporary range. Lions avoided human disturbance at over two-thirds of sites, though their responses varied depending on site-level characteristics. Lions were more likely to exploit human-dominated landscapes where resources were limited, indicating that resource limitation can outweigh anthropogenic risks and might exacerbate human-carnivore conflict. Lions also avoided human impacts by increasing their nocturnal activity more often at sites with higher production of cattle. The combined effects of expanding human impacts and environmental change threaten to simultaneously downgrade the ecological function of carnivores and intensify human-carnivore conflicts, escalating extinction risks for many species.

Four previously unreported triterpenoid saponins named 3β-hydroxy-23-oxours-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (mannioside G) (1), 23-O-acetyl-3β-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (mannioside H) (2), ursolic acid 28-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl] ester (mannioside I) (3), and 3β-hydroxy-23-oxolup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (mannioside J) (4) were isolated as minor constituents from the EtOAc soluble fraction of the MeOH extract of the leaves of Schefflera mannii along with the known compounds 23-hydroxyursolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (5), ursolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (6), pulsatimmoside B (7) betulinic acid 28-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl] ester (8), 23-hydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (9), hederagenin (10), ursolic acid (11), betulinic acid (12), and lupeol (13). Their structures were elucidated by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR analysis and mass spectrometry. The MeOH extract, the EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions, and some of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against four bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC1026, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984, Escherichia coli ATCC10536, and Klepsiella pnemoniae ATCC13882. They were also screened for their antioxidant properties, but no significant results were obtained.

Producers in New Zealand’s pasture-based, seasonal dairy sector are striving to reduce nitrogen (N) losses to the environment whilst maintaining or increasing farm profitability. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of stacking different combinations of five N leaching mitigation strategies within the whole farm system; 1) reduced N fertilizer input, 2) off-paddock infrastructure, 3) recycling N by growing maize silage on a dedicated area on the farm using effluent as a fertilizer source followed by a catch-crop, 4) dietary salt supplementation to dilute urinary N, and 5) applying a nitrification inhibitor (NI) to slow the release of nitrate in the soil. The reference point (baseline) was a typical current dairy farm (CF) system in the Waikato region of New Zealand. We modelled four Future Farm scenarios by stacking mitigation strategies as follows: baseline plus reduced N fertilizer input, reduced stocking rate, and off-paddock infrastructure (FF); FF plus a dedicated maize block (FFP); FFP plus dietary salt (FFPS); and FFPS plus NI (FFPSNI). These systems were modelled using the Whole Farm Model coupled with the Urine Patch Framework, and APSIM models, using observed climate and economic input data over five consecutive years from 2013-2018. Relative to CF, the FF system achieved a N leaching reduction of 31% with a reduction in profit of 16%. The FFP system had a smaller N leaching reduction (22%), but the reduction in profit was smaller (11%). The fully stacked system (FFPSNI) demonstrated the largest leaching reduction of 33%, but also the largest profit reduction of 27%, compared with the CF. Stacking these five N mitigation strategies can achieve substantial N leaching reductions at the farm-scale. Including a dedicated, effluent-fertilized maize block followed by a catch-crop as part of the stack can reduce the negative impact on profitability but has a trade-off in N leaching. Farmers will have to weigh up these compromises between profit and leaching, considering risk factors not modelled here.

As antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage for people living with HIV (PLHIV) increases, HIV programmes require up-to-date information about evolving HIV risk behaviour and transmission risk, including those with low-level viremia (LLV; >50 to ≤1000 copies/mL), to guide prevention priorities. We aimed to assess differences in sexual risk behaviours, distribution of viral load (VL) and proportion of transmission across PLHIV subgroups. We analysed data from Population-based HIV Impact Assessment surveys in 14 sub-Saharan African countries during 2015-2019. We estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of self-reported HIV high-risk behaviour (multiple partners and condomless sex) across cascade stages via generalised estimation equations. We modelled the proportions of transmission from each subgroup using relative self-reported sexual risk, a Hill function for transmission rate by VL, and proportions within cascade stages from surveys and UNAIDS country estimates for 2010-2020. Compared to PLHIV with undetectable VL (≤50 copies/mL), undiagnosed PLHIV (aPR women: 1.28 [95% CI: 1.08-1.52]; men: 1.61 [1.33-1.95]) and men diagnosed but untreated (2.06 [1.52-2.78]) were more likely to self-report high-risk sex. High-risk behaviour was not significantly associated with LLV. Mean VL was similar among undiagnosed, diagnosed but untreated, and on ART but non-suppressed sub-groups. Across surveys, undiagnosed and diagnosed but untreated contributed most to transmission (40-91% and 1-41%, respectively), with less than 1% from those with LLV. Between 2010 and 2020, the proportion of transmission from individuals on ART but non-suppressed increased. In settings with high ART coverage, effective HIV testing, ART linkage, and retention remain priorities to reduce HIV transmission. Persons with LLV are an increasing share of PLHIV but their contribution to HIV transmission was small. Improving suppression among PLHIV on ART with VL ≥1000 copies/mL will become increasingly important.

Although South Africa is known as one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, based on its unique plants and animals, microorganisms have received much less attention. Microorganisms in general and actinobacteria in particular are an underexplored source of new medicines. Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of diverse cultivable actinobacteria from various biomes. However, investigations of the natural product diversity associated with these microorganisms are lacking. We hereby present a review of natural products isolated from South African actinobacteria together with their biological activities. Many of these natural products are structurally novel and include compounds belonging to the following classes: anthraquinones, isoflavonoids, ketolides, macrolides, macrolactams, tripeptides and depsipeptides. They show a wide range of biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic and antitumour activities. Significance: • This review highlights the importance of actinobacteria in the discovery of new medicines and summarises the state-of-the-art on their research in South Africa. • We reveal a gap in the exploitation of this resource and emphasise the opportunities for multidisciplinary research.

There is currently increasing awareness of third-party disability, defined as the disability and functioning of a significant other (SO) due to a health condition of one of their family members. The effects of third-party disability on the SOs of individuals with tinnitus has received little attention. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigated third-party disability in the significant others (SOs) of individuals with tinnitus. A cross-sectional survey design included 194 pairs of individuals from the USA with tinnitus and their significant others. The SO sample completed the Consequences of Tinnitus on Significant Others Questionnaire (CTSOQ). Individuals with tinnitus completed standardized self-reported outcome measures for tinnitus severity, anxiety, depression, insomnia, hearing-related quality of life, tinnitus cognitions, hearing disability, and hyperacusis. The CTSOQ showed that 34 (18%) of the SOs were mildly impacted, 59 (30%) were significantly impacted, and 101 (52%) were severely impact. The clinical variables of tinnitus severity, anxiety, and hyperacusis in individuals with tinnitus were the best predictors of the impact of tinnitus on SOs. These results show that the SOs of individuals with tinnitus may experience third-party disability. The effect of the individual’s tinnitus on their SO may be greater when the individual with tinnitus has a higher level of tinnitus severity, anxiety, and hyperacusis.

Abstract Background Tinnitus affects around 15% of the population and can be a debilitating condition for a sizeable part of them. However, effective evidence-based treatments are scarce. One recommended treatment for tinnitus is cognitive behavioral therapy which has been found to be effective when delivered online. However, more treatments including mindfulness-based interventions have been studied recently in an attempt to facilitate the availability of effective treatments. There are promising findings showing great effects in reducing tinnitus-induced distress and some evidence about the efficacy of such intervention delivered online. However, there is a lack of evidence on how these two treatments compare against one another. Therefore, the aim of this study will be to compare Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for tinnitus against an Internet-delivered mindfulness-based tinnitus stress reduction intervention in a three-armed randomized controlled trial with a waiting list control condition. Methods This study will be a randomized controlled trial seeking to recruit Lithuanian-speaking individuals suffering from chronic tinnitus. The self-report measure Tinnitus Handicap Inventory will be used. Self-referred participants will be randomized into one of three study arms: Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy, Internet-delivered mindfulness-based tinnitus stress reduction intervention, or a waiting-list control group. Post-treatment measures will be taken at the end of the 8-week-long intervention (or waiting). Long-term efficacy will be measured 3 and 12 months post-treatment. Discussion Internet-delivered interventions offer a range of benefits for delivering evidence-based treatments. This is the first randomized controlled trial to directly compare Internet-delivered CBT and MBTSR for tinnitus in a non-inferiority trial. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05705323. Registered on January 30, 2023.

Climate change represents the most significant challenge facing the global community. The issue in question has an impact on the younger generation, whose prospects may be jeopardised. Both younger and older generations are participating in climate movements. An illustrious instance is the School Strike for Climate, which was orchestrated by the adolescent environmentalist, Greta Thunberg. The climate movements exhibit a range of objectives, actions and focus. Various social movements construct narratives that appeal to the youth demographic. The presence of a coherent narrative aids in the formation of personal identity and the establishment of a shared sense of self among individuals. Collectively, they have the potential to advocate for equitable treatment of the environment. Climate activism, although not regarded as religious, employs religious language and concepts. Research examining the climate movements’ impact on churches has revealed the presence of religious effects. Upon conducting research on the involvement of young individuals in churches and climate movements, specifically with regard to their agency, it has been observed that climate movements are fundamentally grounded in religious language and ideals. This article analyses the religious concepts found within youth climate movements and further investigates the correlation between youth climate activism and religion through the analysis of religious rhetoric. Interdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary nature of this contribution is spread across the fields of theology and religion. The sub-disciplines of the youth in general, youth ministry and youth work, religious rhetoric, climate change, climate justice and environmental consciousness within the academic discourse of sustainability are studied.

(1) Objective: Social representations theory (SRT) is a body of theory within social psychology concerned with how individuals, groups, and communities collectively make sense of socially relevant or problematic issues, ideas, and practices. SRT has been increasingly sued in the area of health and disability. The current study examined the social representations of “tinnitus” and “health” among individuals with tinnitus who are seeking online psychological interventions. (2) Materials/Method: The data were gathered using a free association task about their “tinnitus” and “health” from 399 individuals with tinnitus. The data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative analyses methods. (3) Results: The responses resulted in 39 and 30 categories respectively, for “tinnitus” and “health”. The most commonly occurring categories for tinnitus included: descriptions of tinnitus (18%), annoying (13.5%), persistent (8%), and distracting (5%). The most commonly occurring categories for health included: content (12%), conditions (8%), active (7%), take control (6%), and overweight (5%). The responses to tinnitus had predominantly negative connotations (i.e., 76.9%) whereas a larger proportion of responses toward their health was related to positive connotations (i.e., 46.4%). These frequently occurring items were also dominant in similarities analysis. Prototypical analysis of tinnitus responses identified categories horrible and bothersome to be key items in the central zone. The categories in central zone of health responses included: content, active, healthy, grateful, and overweight. (4) Conclusions: Individuals with tinnitus have very negative view of their tinnitus impacting their psychological status. Tinnitus management should focus on reducing the negative associations toward their tinnitus and strengthen the positive aspects related to their general health.

A century after the discovery of rhizobia, the first Beta-proteobacteria species (beta-rhizobia) were isolated from legume nodules in South Africa and South America. Since then, numerous species belonging to the Burkholderiaceae family have been isolated. The presence of a highly branching lineage of nodulation genes in beta-rhizobia suggests a long symbiotic history. In this review, we focus on the beta-rhizobial genus Paraburkholderia, which includes two main groups: the South American mimosoid-nodulating Paraburkholderia and the South African predominantly papilionoid-nodulating Paraburkholderia. Here, we discuss the latest knowledge on Paraburkholderia nitrogen-fixing symbionts in each step of the symbiosis, from their survival in the soil, through the first contact with the legumes until the formation of an efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in root nodules. Special attention is given to the strain P. phymatum STM815T that exhibits extraordinary features, such as the ability to: (i) enter into symbiosis with more than 50 legume species, including the agriculturally important common bean, (ii) outcompete other rhizobial species for nodulation of several legumes, and (iii) endure stressful soil conditions (e.g., high salt concentration and low pH) and high temperatures.

Emerging sulfur isotope data divides opinion surrounding the Great Oxidation Event. Utilising computational approaches and additional data, Uveges et al. reconcile these disparities, offering a more refined framework of atmospheric oxygenation.

The growing public interest in biodiversity monitoring has led to a significant increase in initiatives that unite citizen scientists, researchers, and machine learning technologies. In this context, we introduce WildLIVE!, a dynamic biomonitoring and citizen science project. In WildLIVE!, participants analyze a vast array of images from a long-term camera trapping project in Bolivia to investigate the impacts of shifting environmental factors on wildlife. From 2020 to 2023, more than 850 participants registered for WildLIVE!, contributing nearly 9,000 hours of voluntary work. We explore the motivators and sentiments of participant engagement and discuss the key strategies that have contributed to the project’s initial success. The findings from a questionnaire highlight that the primary motivational factors for our participants are understanding and knowledge, as well as engagement and commitment. However, expressions of positive and negative sentiments can be found regarding involvement. Participants appeared to be driven primarily by a desire for intellectual growth and emotional fulfillment. Factors crucial to the success of this digital citizen science project include media exposure, creating emotional connections through virtual and in-person communication with participants, and visibility on public citizen science portals. Moreover, the project’s labeled dataset serves as a valuable resource for machine learning, aiding the development of a new platform that is compliant with the FAIR principles. WildLIVE! not only contributes to outcomes in science, society, and nature conservation, but also demonstrates the potential of creating a collaborative bridge between the general public, scientific research, biodiversity conservation, and advanced technological applications.

Objectives The objectives of this review were to identify the types of music-based interventions and associated accessibility challenges for people who have visual impairment (VI) and their reported effects on psychological, physiological and social well-being.Design A scoping review was developed according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and guidelines. A narrative synthesis was conducted to map out the types of music-based interventions undertaken and to compare the therapeutic outcomes. The studies were evaluated according to the music reporting checklist.Results In total 5082 records were identified, 69 full-text articles were screened and 13 studies were included. Eleven studies included younger children and teenagers, two focused on adults with acquired VI. Ten studies involved active music therapy strategies and three used passive music listening. Eleven of the studies focused on social outcomes and two reported mental health. Although the studies reported that music-based intervention strategies improved psychosocial well-being in people with a VI, conclusions could not be drawn as robust outcome measures were not generally used and only four of the studies included any statistical analysis.Conclusions Although potential was evident, details of intervention protocols and training requirements were not sufficiently reported and further, high-quality evidence-based studies are required.

By providing a review of the present state of research regarding French historian of ideas Michel Foucault’s (1926-1984) current four-volume series Histoire de la sexualité, this essay highlights an acceleration in tempo after the publication of an edited fourth volume (Les aveux de la chair) in 2018. After providing an overview of the manuscript development of Les aveux de la chair, and the emergence of a pattern regarding the structural and chronological composition of Histoire de la sexualité, namely that the series should effectively be read backward from the first volume La volonté de savoir to the thematically last volume L’usage des plaisirs, several developing themes in the most recent scholarship on Histoire de la sexualité are noted and annotated. The report concludes with a presentation of two notable features of the current four volumes, namely its unconventional composition and existing historical gaps, regarding the Carolingian and post-Carolingian periods, later Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, and Counter-Reformation.

Diaconate and youth in Afrikaans-speaking Reformed congregations in South Africa. South Africa is characterised by various socio-economic and socio-political challenges (fractures) not easily met (or healed). ‘Fractures’ refer to social, economic, religious, spatial, ecological, environmental, and economic injustices and other issues. Within this context, the church is confronted with her vocation. The unique vocation of a congregation is that the members become a ‘new community’ (koinonia) in which they not only care for one another but also develop relationships featuring care for, and mercy and solidarity (diakonia) with the weak, poor, and marginalised in society. Several researchers prove that the current South African youth could be classified as vulnerable and marginalised. Since the church does not preach the gospel in a vacuum but in relation to specific human realities, the theme of the youth and diaconate in the Afrikaans-speaking Reformed churches in South Africa is examined in this study, based on Osmer’s Practical Theological Interpretation. Interdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The interdisciplinary nature of this contribution is spread across the two fields of youth ministry and diaconate. The sub-disciplines of both the youth in general, and youth ministry and youth work within the academic discourse of the diaconate are studied, specifically in the Afrikaans-speaking Reformed denomination.

Oxygenic photosynthesis supplies organic carbon to the modern biosphere, but it is uncertain when this metabolism originated. It has previously been proposed1,2 that photosynthetic reaction centres capable of splitting water arose by about 3 billion years ago on the basis of the inferred presence of manganese oxides in Archaean sedimentary rocks. However, this assumes that manganese oxides can be produced only in the presence of molecular oxygen3, reactive oxygen species4,5 or by high-potential photosynthetic reaction centres6,7. Here we show that communities of anoxygenic photosynthetic microorganisms biomineralize manganese oxides in the absence of molecular oxygen and high-potential photosynthetic reaction centres. Microbial oxidation of Mn(II) under strictly anaerobic conditions during the Archaean eon would have produced geochemical signals identical to those used to date the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis before the Great Oxidation Event1,2. This light-dependent process may also produce manganese oxides in the photic zones of modern anoxic water bodies and sediments.

"Burkholderia dabaoshanensis" was described in 2012. Although the name was effectively published, it could not be validly published, because the description provided in the original paper did not comply with the Rule 27 (2) (c) of the Bacterial Code. The Code requiresthat the properties of the taxon form part of the protologue. As the name of this species does not have standing in nomenclature, the recently published new combination Trinickia dabaoshanensis could also not be validly published. The current proposal attempts to rectify the situation by providing the information required to meet the criteria stipulated in Rule 27 for valid publication.

The role of precipitation (P) variability with respect to evapotranspiration (ET) and its two components, transpiration (T) and evaporation (E), from savannas continues to draw significant research interest given its relevance to a number of ecohydrological applications. Our study reports on 6 years of measured ET and estimated T and E from a grazed savanna grassland at Welgegund, South Africa. Annual P varied significantly with respect to amount (508 to 672 mm yr−1), with dry years characterized by infrequent early-season rainfall. T was determined using annual water-use efficiency and gross primary production estimates derived from eddy-covariance measurements of latent heat flux and net ecosystem CO2 exchange rates. The computed annual T for the 4 wet years with frequent early wet-season rainfall was nearly constant, 326±19 mm yr−1 (T/ET=0.51), but was lower and more variable between the 2 dry years (255 and 154 mm yr−1, respectively). Annual T and T/ET were linearly related to the early wet-season storm frequency. The constancy of annual T during wet years is explained by the moderate water stress of C4 grasses as well as trees' ability to use water from deeper layers. During extreme drought, grasses respond to water availability with a dieback–regrowth pattern, reducing leaf area and transpiration and, thus, increasing the proportion of transpiration contributed by trees. The works suggest that the early-season P distribution explains the interannual variability in T, which should be considered when managing grazing and fodder production in these grasslands.

The 2010 Nagoya Protocol is an international framework for access and benefit sharing (ABS) of the use of genetic and biological resources, with particular focus on indigenous communities. This is especially important in Africa, where local communities have a close reliance on environmental resources and ecosystems. However, national legislation and policies commonly lag behind international agreements, and this poses challenges for legal compliance as well as practical applications. This study reviews the academic literature on the Nagoya Protocol and ABS applications, and then considers the implications of this analysis for research in Africa. Results show that there is uneven engagement with the principles of the Nagoya Protocol across different academic disciplines; local communities are sometimes sidelined in these studies; and only 8% of researchers in the literature analysed are located in Africa. Future developments should focus on ensuring national compliance with the Nagoya Protocol, and that researchers and industry work in partnership with local African communities on ABS issues.

Naturally and anthropogenically emitted aerosols, which are determined by their physical and chemical properties, have an impact on both air quality and the radiative properties of the earth. An important source of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in South Africa is household combustion for space heating and cooking, which predominantly occurs in low-income urban settlements. The aim of this study was to conduct a detailed size-resolved assessment of chemical characteristics of aerosols associated with household combustion through the collection of particulates in low-income urban settlements in South Africa to quantify the extent of the impacts of atmospheric pollution. Outdoor (ambient) and indoor aerosols in different size fractions were collected during summer and winter in four low-income urban settlements located in the north-eastern interior on the South African Highveld, i.e. Kwadela, Kwazamokuhle, Zamdela, and Jouberton. Mass concentration and chemical composition was determined for three size fractions, namely, PM1, PM2.5, and PM2.5−10. The highest concentrations of particulates were measured indoors with the highest mass concentration determined in the indoor PM2.5−10 (coarse) size fraction. However, the highest mass concentrations were determined in PM1 in all outdoor aerosol samples collected during winter and summer, and in indoor samples collected during summer. Significantly higher concentrations were determined for SO4-2 in outdoor and indoor particulates compared to other ionic species, with NH4+ and NO3- being the second most abundant. SO4-2 and NH4+ almost exclusively occurred in the PM1 size fraction, while NO3- was the major constituent in the larger size fractions. The highest SO4-2 levels were recorded for the winter and summer outdoor campaigns conducted at Zamdela, while NO3- and NH4+ concentrations were higher during the winter outdoor campaign. The combined concentrations of trace elements were higher for indoor particulates compared to outdoor aerosols, while the total trace element concentrations in PM1 were substantially higher than levels thereof in the two larger size fractions of particulates collected during all sampling campaigns. No distinct seasonal trend was observed for the concentrations of trace elements. Na, Ca, and Cr had the highest concentrations in particulates collected during outdoor and indoor sampling campaigns. Ni concentrations in outdoor and indoor aerosols exceeded the annual average European standard. PM1 collected during all sampling campaigns in low-income urban settlements had the highest organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations. The highest OC and EC levels were determined in PM1 collected during the winter indoor campaign. OC and EC concentrations were highest during winter, which can be attributed to changes in meteorological patterns and increased household combustion during winter. Low OC/EC ratios determined for particulates collected in low-income urban settlements are indicative of OC and EC being mainly associated with local sources of these species. OC concentrations determined in this study were an order of magnitude lower than OC concentrations determined for ambient aerosols collected in the north-eastern interior of South Africa, while similar EC levels were measured. According to estimated dust concentrations, it was indicated that dust is the major constituent in all size ranges of particulates collected in this study, while trace elements were the second most abundant. However, trace elements made the highest contribution to indoor PM1 and PM1−2.5 mass. Mass concentrations and chemical concentrations determined for aerosols collected in low-income settlements reflect the regional impacts of anthropogenic sources in the north-eastern interior of South Africa and the influence of local sources.

It is currently not recommended to grow soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) further than 54° North, but climate change and the development of new high latitude-adapted varieties raises the possibility that it could be introduced into Scotland as a novel high protein crop deriving most of its nitrogen (N) requirements through biological N fixation (BNF). This was evaluated via field trials in 2017 and 2018 near Dundee (56.48°N). As there are no native soybean-nodulating bacteria (SNB) in UK soils, soybean requires inoculation to exploit its BNF potential. In 2017, three commercial inoculants containing elite Bradyrhizobium strains significantly increased plant biomass in plot trials with a soybean 000 maturity group variety (ES Comandor). Rhizobia were isolated from the nodules and identified as the original inoculant species, B. diazoefficiens and B. japonicum. One inoculant (Rizoliq Top) was used for larger-scale trials in 2018 with two varieties (ES Comandor, ES Navigator); inoculation doubled the grain yield to 1 t ha-1 compared to the uninoculated crop. The inoculated soybean obtained most of its N through BNF in both years regardless of plant genotype i.e. >73%Ndfa, with BNF contributions to aerial biomass exceeding 250 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in 2017 and that to grain 50 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in 2018. These data suggest that N-fixing soybean could be grown in Scotland without mineral N-fertiliser, either for forage as animal feed, or as green pods for human consumption (“edamame”), and potentially, even as dry grain. The potential for survival of the Bradyrhizobium inoculant strains in soils was also demonstrated through the detection of the inoculant strain B. diazoefficiens SEMIA 5080 at relatively high populations (104 g-1 dry soil) using a qRT-PCR method with SNB-specific nodZ primers. Microbiome data obtained from soil using 16S rRNA primers demonstrated that the diversity of bacteria belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium increased in soybean-cropped soils compared to bulk soil regardless of inoculation status. The economic and practical implications of residual inoculum, as well as those arising from introducing a non-native plant and alien bacteria into Scottish soils in terms of their impact on the native soil microbiota are discussed.

The Umlindi newsletter was developed to provide information towards climate advisories, considering, for instance, drought conditions, presented in a relevant manner for the agricultural and disaster sectors in South Africa. This newsletter, which is disseminated on a monthly basis, provides information derived from climate-related monitoring products obtained from an integration of remote sensing and in situ data from weather stations. It contains useful indicators, such as rainfall, vegetation, and fire conditions, that provide an overview of conditions across the country. The present study demonstrates how these natural resource indices are integrated and consolidated for utilization by farmers, policy-makers, private organizations, and the general public to make day-to-day decisions on the management and mitigation of natural disasters. However, there is a need to expand these baseline observation initiatives, including the following: (1) forecasting future conditions to strengthen coping mechanisms of government, farmers, and communities at large; and (2) incorporating information on other natural disasters such as floods and extreme heat. In the context of South Africa, this information is important to improve disaster preparedness and management for agricultural productivity. In a global context, the Umlindi newsletter can be insightful for developing and disseminating natural resources information on adaptation to and mitigation of climate change and variability impacts to other regions facing similar risks. Furthermore, while international organizations also provide natural resource information, the Umlindi newsletter may be distinguished by its regional focus and linkages to individual communities. It bridges the gap between global environmental data and local decision-making by illustrating how global scientific knowledge may be applied locally.

We would like to thank Dr. Aldè and his colleuage’s for their thoughtful comments [...]

Abstract This contribution reports for the first time the possibility of using radiolysis to engineer stable efficient nanofluids which exhibit an enhanced thermal conductivity. The validation was confirmed on Ag-H2O and Ag-C2H6O2 nanofluids fabricated via g-radiolysis within the mild dose range of 0.95 × 103–2.45 × 103 Gray. The enhanced thermal conductivity of Ag-H2O and Ag-C2H6O2 nanofluids, was found to be g-radiations dose dependent. In the latter case of Ag-C2H6O2 nanofluid, the relative enhancement in the temperature range of 25–50 °C was found to be 8.89%, 11.54%, 18.69%, 23.57% and 18.45% for D1 = 0.95 × 103 Gray, D2 = 1.2 × 103 Gray, D3 = 1.54 × 103 Gray, D4 = 1.80 × 103 Gray and D5 = 2.45 × 103 Gray respectively. Yet not optimized, an enhancement of the effective thermal conductivity as much as 23.57% relatively to pure C2H6O2 was observed in stable Ag-C2H6O2 nanofluids. Equivalent results were obtained with Ag-H2O.

Background: Little is known about the experiences and impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare workers (HCWs), particularly in Global South contexts. Aim: The authors aimed to explore the experiences of HCWs at different points during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Setting: This study’s sample included 621 HCWs from various professions and health sectors who completed the survey during the pandemic peaks of waves I, II and III in South Africa. Methods: The authors used a qualitative survey design exploring participants’ general work, life, mental health and wellbeing experiences, and their support mechanisms or strategies. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The authors identified three overarching themes in the data, namely stress, adjustment to work during COVID-19, and support experiences and needs. These themes were common across all three survey waves, with some minor differences noted across the waves. Conclusion: An overarching thread of uncertainty seems central to HCWs’ experiences of working during COVID-19, related to pressures in the South African healthcare system that have been aggravated by the pandemic. Contribution: These findings have the potential to inform the development of contextually relevant approaches to support the mental health and wellbeing needs of HCWs during and after a pandemic. In particular, workplaces need to actively offer psychological support to all HCWs, not just to workers traditionally defined as frontline.

IntroductionWe assessed progress in HIV viral load (VL) scale up across seven sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries and discussed challenges and strategies for improving VL coverage among patients on anti-retroviral therapy (ART).MethodsA retrospective review of VL testing was conducted in Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda from January 2016 through June 2018. Data were collected and included the cumulative number of ART patients, number of patients with ≥ 1 VL test result (within the preceding 12 months), the percent of VL test results indicating viral suppression, and the mean turnaround time for VL testing.ResultsBetween 2016 and 2018, the proportion of PLHIV on ART in all 7 countries increased (range 5.7%-50.2%). During the same time period, the cumulative number of patients with one or more VL test increased from 22,996 to 917,980. Overall, viral suppression rates exceeded 85% for all countries except for Côte d'Ivoire at 78% by June 2018. Reported turnaround times for VL testing results improved in 5 out of 7 countries by between 5.4 days and 27.5 days.ConclusionsThese data demonstrate that remarkable progress has been made in the scale-up of HIV VL testing in the seven SSA countries.

South Africa, although a “young” democracy, has quickly become one of the most economically uneven nations due to its history of segregation and discrimination as contributing factors. South Africans have seen an increase in the number of protests over the past several years because of the frustration that has been caused by unbearable living circumstances, a lack of service delivery, and empty promises made by the government. Poverty, unemployment, and social injustice are seen by the South African government as the most important obstacles that need to be overcome to construct a prosperous nation. Despite the government’s commitment to a “better life for all” since 1994, the post-apartheid South African government has predominantly prioritised civil and political rights in its efforts to address social injustices, while the socio-economic needs of the country’s impoverished and marginalised populations have remained largely unfulfilled. The degradation of human dignity that results from conditions such as poverty and unemployment is significant. A violation of one’s dignity can also occur when one is excluded from efforts to combat issues such as poverty and unemployment, which should be considered. Amidst all of this, the church is criticised for remaining silent and doing little to address the situation. This article proposes social justice as an ideal approach to diaconia and development. Therefore, it seeks to understand and include social justice principles as a means of empowering people to ensure effective development. The objective of long-term poverty reduction cannot be accomplished unless there is an emphasis placed on social justice. This article conducts an in-depth analysis of a variety of social justice theories to rationalise a social justice approach to diaconia.

As recreational fishers act relatively autonomously, management relies heavily on voluntary compliance. Therefore, understanding fishers’ views on management options can be beneficial. This study used a two-phase approach of face-to-face interviews and subsequent online questionnaires to evaluate recreational fishers’ salient views on issues affecting the Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus armatus) and Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) fisheries in Western Australia as well as current and potential management arrangements, including stock enhancement. The strength and heterogeneity of views were also determined. Minimum size limits were mainly considered acceptable or very acceptable, with restricting recreational fishing and spatial closures the least supported management options for both species, in addition to maximum size limits for crabs. These views were not always consistent across fishing locations for each species and among types of crab fishers, indicating heterogeneity in views. Stocking was the most acceptable of the management measures not already utilised for crabs and among the most popular for bream fisheries. Recreational fishers of both species believed stock enhancement could have strong positive outcomes for the abundance of their target species and increase their subsequent catches. They also recognized that some negative outcomes, e.g., increased fishing pressure and environmental issues, might occur but considered them unlikely.

Burkholderia sensu lato is a large and complex group, containing pathogenic, phytopathogenic, symbiotic and non-symbiotic strains from a very wide range of environmental (soil, water, plants, fungi) and clinical (animal, human) habitats. Its taxonomy has been evaluated several times through the analysis of 16S rRNA sequences, concantenated 4⁻7 housekeeping gene sequences, and lately by genome sequences. Currently, the division of this group into Burkholderia, Caballeronia, Paraburkholderia, and Robbsia is strongly supported by genome analysis. These new genera broadly correspond to the various habitats/lifestyles of Burkholderia s.l., e.g., all the plant beneficial and environmental (PBE) strains are included in Paraburkholderia (which also includes all the N₂-fixing legume symbionts) and Caballeronia, while most of the human and animal pathogens are retained in Burkholderia sensu stricto. However, none of these genera can accommodate two important groups of species. One of these includes the closely related Paraburkholderia rhizoxinica and Paraburkholderia endofungorum, which are both symbionts of the fungal phytopathogen Rhizopus microsporus. The second group comprises the Mimosa-nodulating bacterium Paraburkholderia symbiotica, the phytopathogen Paraburkholderia caryophylli, and the soil bacteria Burkholderia dabaoshanensis and Paraburkholderia soli. In order to clarify their positions within Burkholderia sensu lato, a phylogenomic approach based on a maximum likelihood analysis of conserved genes from more than 100 Burkholderia sensu lato species was carried out. Additionally, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and amino acid identity (AAI) were calculated. The data strongly supported the existence of two distinct and unique clades, which in fact sustain the description of two novel genera Mycetohabitans gen. nov. and Trinickia gen. nov. The newly proposed combinations are Mycetohabitans endofungorum comb. nov., Mycetohabitansrhizoxinica comb. nov., Trinickia caryophylli comb. nov., Trinickiadabaoshanensis comb. nov., Trinickia soli comb. nov., and Trinickiasymbiotica comb. nov. Given that the division between the genera that comprise Burkholderia s.l. in terms of their lifestyles is often complex, differential characteristics of the genomes of these new combinations were investigated. In addition, two important lifestyle-determining traits-diazotrophy and/or symbiotic nodulation, and pathogenesis-were analyzed in depth i.e., the phylogenetic positions of nitrogen fixation and nodulation genes in Trinickia via-à-vis other Burkholderiaceae were determined, and the possibility of pathogenesis in Mycetohabitans and Trinickia was tested by performing infection experiments on plants and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. It is concluded that (1) T. symbiotica nif and nod genes fit within the wider Mimosa-nodulating Burkholderiaceae but appear in separate clades and that T. caryophyllinif genes are basal to the free-living Burkholderia s.l. strains, while with regard to pathogenesis (2) none of the Mycetohabitans and Trinickia strains tested are likely to be pathogenic, except for the known phytopathogen T. caryophylli.

[This corrects the article on p. 1154 in vol. 8, PMID: 28694797.].