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Garlic contains secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties that can alter nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation, similar to other antimicrobial products. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of garlic powder and garlic juice on in vitro nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and gas production. The treatments consisted of control with no additives, garlic powder, and garlic juice at 0.5 ml and 1 ml. The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre were determined after 48 hours incubation. Rumen ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids were determined at 12 hours and 24 hours incubation. The cumulative gas production was recorded periodically over 48 hours. The in vitro dry matter disappearance decreased with 1 ml of garlic juice compared with control. The crude protein degradability in garlic powder and garlic juice was lower than in control. Volatile fatty acids increased in all treatments. Individual volatile fatty acids were significantly different, especially propionate, whereas the acetate to propionate ratio was reduced by garlic juice, and ammonia nitrogen was reduced by garlic powder and 0.5 ml of garlic juice. The cumulative gas production increased significantly with both levels of garlic juice. The addition of garlic juice at 0.5 mL/100 ml could enhance the production of propionate, and reduce the acetate to propionate ratio, implying that the supply of hydrogen for methanogens was limited. ________________________________________________________________________________ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Studies have shown that poverty has reduced in households receiving a child support grant (CSG), and that it has contributed to improving the lives of beneficiaries. Objectives. The study objectives were to determine the contribution of the CSG to the diet and nutritional status of children under 5 years old. Methods. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey with an analytical component of 189 caregiver-child pairs receiving CSGs from Mogalakwena Municipality. Data were collected by using a validated questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Results. About 36.5% of caregivers were between the ages of 26 and 35 years, 75.7% unmarried, and 84.1% unemployed. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of children was 2.84 (1.33) years of whom 77.8% lived in a household of more than 5 people. Most caregivers received nutritional education from relatives, 71.1% were never educated about nutrition, and 57.9% of children were fed 3 times/day. The child support grant was used by 94.2% of recipients to buy food, with an average monthly expenditure of ZAR171.55 (155.25), while the proportion of the total grant spent on food was 44%. There was a 53.5% prevalence of stunting, 32.3% of wasting and 5.3% underweight among the children, while 22.1% of caregivers were overweight and 12.1% obese. Conclusion. Most caregivers were not taught about child feeding. The proportion of CSG spent on food was less than 50%, with most bought food being of low nutritional quality. The prevalence of wasting and stunting was very high, accompanied by a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Studies have shown that poverty has reduced in households receiving a child support grant (CSG), and that it has contributed to improving the lives of beneficiaries. Objectives. The study objectives were to determine the contribution of the CSG to the diet and nutritional status of children under 5 years old. Methods. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey with an analytical component of 189 caregiver-child pairs receiving CSGs from Mogalakwena Municipality. Data were collected by using a validated questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Results. About 36.5% of caregivers were between the ages of 26 and 35 years, 75.7% unmarried, and 84.1% unemployed. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of children was 2.84 (1.33) years of whom 77.8% lived in a household of more than 5 people. Most caregivers received nutritional education from relatives, 71.1% were never educated about nutrition, and 57.9% of children were fed 3 times/day. The child support grant was used by 94.2% of recipients to buy food, with an average monthly expenditure of ZAR171.55 (155.25), while the proportion of the total grant spent on food was 44%. There was a 53.5% prevalence of stunting, 32.3% of wasting and 5.3% underweight among the children, while 22.1% of caregivers were overweight and 12.1% obese. Conclusion. Most caregivers were not taught about child feeding. The proportion of CSG spent on food was less than 50%, with most bought food being of low nutritional quality. The prevalence of wasting and stunting was very high, accompanied by a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Studies have shown that poverty has reduced in households receiving a child support grant (CSG), and that it has contributed to improving the lives of beneficiaries. Objectives. The study objectives were to determine the contribution of the CSG to the diet and nutritional status of children under 5 years old. Methods. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey with an analytical component of 189 caregiver-child pairs receiving CSGs from Mogalakwena Municipality. Data were collected by using a validated questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Results. About 36.5% of caregivers were between the ages of 26 and 35 years, 75.7% unmarried, and 84.1% unemployed. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of children was 2.84 (1.33) years of whom 77.8% lived in a household of more than 5 people. Most caregivers received nutritional education from relatives, 71.1% were never educated about nutrition, and 57.9% of children were fed 3 times/day. The child support grant was used by 94.2% of recipients to buy food, with an average monthly expenditure of ZAR171.55 (155.25), while the proportion of the total grant spent on food was 44%. There was a 53.5% prevalence of stunting, 32.3% of wasting and 5.3% underweight among the children, while 22.1% of caregivers were overweight and 12.1% obese. Conclusion. Most caregivers were not taught about child feeding. The proportion of CSG spent on food was less than 50%, with most bought food being of low nutritional quality. The prevalence of wasting and stunting was very high, accompanied by a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model simulating the effects of the control potential on the static configuration of a piezo-elastic structure is presented. This model is centred on the electric displacement field, which is shown to be divergence free. Thus, the surface charge effect no control over the configuration of a piezo-elastic structure, save for the control potential derived through passive or active control. Results show that at zero gain the proposed model resembles a structure free from piezoelectric control. Thus, no fictituous stiffness is introduced as is the case with models presented in the literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, the dynamic stability of finite element modelling of laminated piezo-elastic structures is investigated. The criteria for stability are established based on the second method of Lyapunov, which considers the energy of the system. The results show that the equations of motion are asymptotically stable. However, energy dissipation through the piezoelectric effect continued at zero feedback gain. This implied that the structure was controlled unconditionally. Subsequently, a control strategy that satisfies the condition of no piezoelectric effects when the gain set to zero is developed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study assessed the impact of water and sediment quality on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Dwars River, a tributary of the Olifants River, Limpopo province, South Africa. Physico-chemical variables, heavy metals and macroinvertebrates were collected using standard methods. A multivariate analysis, Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), was used to examine the macroinvertebrate community structure. Based on the selected physico-chemical variables and metal concentrations assessed, the water quality and sediment quality are deteriorating mainly in the downstream areas. The number of taxa and the Average Score per Taxon (ASPT) were significantly different between sites and seasons, with more taxa recorded in the upstream section of the river and in winter. A higher proportion of sensitive and high-scoring taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) were recorded in upstream and midstream sites and in winter. The CCA analysis showed an association of heavy metal concentration in the sediment with the distribution of macroinvertebrate taxa tolerant to poor water quality in the downstream section of the river. Because of the potential impacts of rapid economic development in the catchment, regular monitoring of the river is recommended, to detect potential river health problems early. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Interprofessional education aims to prepare learners to collaborate across specialties to provide high-quality healthcare. Internationally and nationally, the emerging need for integrated healthcare and education has been emphasised. The current education programme at the School of Health Care Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa primarily follows a uniprofessional approach. Objectives. To describe the development of interprofessional modules over 4 years between the departments of Human Nutrition, Nursing Science, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Radiography. Methods. The Knowledge-to-Action model guided the module development process. The planning phase comprised three steps: (i) problem identification (e.g. national and international policy focus on interprofessional education); (ii) review of existing knowledge (e.g. common learning outcomes); and (iii) adaptation of knowledge to the local context (e.g. syllabi and logistics). Results. The development of interprofessional modules can be guided by the above-mentioned model to meet the needs of the faculty, departments, students and community and to contribute to interprofessional education, while overcoming the associated challenges. Conclusion. Challenges included clashes in timetable schedules, financial constraints, administrative support, logistical issues and resistance to change. The designing and implementing of new modules were intense and time consuming, and required commitment. The development of the modules was an excellent example of interprofessional teamwork that needs to be transferred to the implementation and role modelling of interprofessional education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]