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Abstract Background Yellow fever, Dengue, West Nile and Zika viruses are re-emerging mosquito-borne Flaviviruses of public health concern. However, the extent of human exposure to these viruses and associated disease burden in Kenya and Africa at large remains unknown. We assessed the seroprevalence of Yellow fever and other Flaviviruses in human populations in West Pokot and Turkana Counties of Kenya. These areas border Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia where recent outbreaks of Yellow fever and Dengue have been reported, with possibility of spillover to Kenya. Methodology Human serum samples collected through a cross-sectional survey in West Pokot and Turkana Counties were screened for neutralizing antibodies to Yellow fever, Dengue-2, West Nile and Zika virus using the Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT). Seroprevalence was compared by county, site and important human demographic characteristics. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were estimated using Firth logistic regression model. Results Of 877 samples tested, 127 neutralized with at least one of the four flaviviruses (14.5, 95% CI 12.3–17.0%), with a higher proportion in Turkana (21.1%, n = 87/413) than in West Pokot (8.6%, n = 40/464). Zika virus seroprevalence was significantly higher in West Pokot (7.11%) than in Turkana County (0.24%; χ2 P

Ready to publish? On the presentation, refereeing process and text editing of scholarly articles This article is an attempt to present authors planning to write a scholarly article with practical guidelines before submitting the article to a specific journal. The following aspects are also focused on: typical points of criticism usually raised in referees’ reports, and the necessity for clarity of expression and lucid scholarly style. Specific examples of how to enhance the technical and language finish of an article are also included. This article is the outcome of many years of practical work within the Bureau for Scholarly Journals; hence the publication of it in In die Skriflig, one of the journals processed by the Bureau.

Sedert 1989 is T.T. Cloete saam met ander digters werksaam aan die omdigting van die Psalms - ’n taak wat, soos hy self sê, ’n nuwe dimensie in sy lewe ingedra het, maar ook ’n taak wat buitengewone eise stel: eksegeties en hermeneuties moet die Skrifgegewe in die omdigting met omsigtigheid vertolk word, die struktuurpatrone van die grondtaal moet nie onnodig versteur word nie en die eindproduk moet musikologies en harmonies aanvaarbaar op die oor val. In hierdie opsig is die bestaande Geneefse melodie soms ’n verdere dwangmeester wat die verslengte en die strofebou bepaal. Waar ook die melodie in berekening gebring moet word, moet hierdie ‘ruimte’ sinvol ‘ingevul’ word met Skrifgetroue inhoud. En wat poëties, semanties en taalkundig ‘normaal’ is, is nie altyd singbaar nie - die omdigtings moet uiteindelik in aldagtaal gesing word. Woorde, betekenisnuanses, verse en lettergrepe moet dus letterlik en figuurlik geweeg en getel word.

We report the safety and immunogenicity of fractional and full dose Ad26.COV2.S and BNT162b2 in an open label phase 2 trial of participants previously vaccinated with a single dose of Ad26.COV2.S, with 91.4% showing evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 286 adults (with or without HIV) were enrolled >4 months after an Ad26.COV2.S prime and randomized 1:1:1:1 to receive either a full or half-dose booster of Ad26.COV2.S or BNT162b2 vaccine. B cell responses (binding, neutralization and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity-ADCC), and spike-specific T-cell responses were evaluated at baseline, 2, 12 and 24 weeks post-boost. Antibody and T-cell immunity targeting the Ad26 vector was also evaluated. No vaccine-associated serious adverse events were recorded. The full- and half-dose BNT162b2 boosted anti-SARS-CoV-2 binding antibody levels (3.9- and 4.5-fold, respectively) and neutralizing antibody levels (4.4- and 10-fold). Binding and neutralizing antibodies following half-dose Ad26.COV2.S were not significantly boosted. Full-dose Ad26.COV2.S did not boost binding antibodies but slightly enhanced neutralizing antibodies (2.1-fold). ADCC was marginally increased only after a full-dose BNT162b2. T-cell responses followed a similar pattern to neutralizing antibodies. Six months post-boost, antibody and T-cell responses had waned to baseline levels. While we detected strong anti-vector immunity, there was no correlation between anti-vector immunity in Ad26.COV2.S recipients and spike-specific neutralizing antibody or T-cell responses post-Ad26.COV2.S boosting. Overall, in the context of hybrid immunity, boosting with heterologous full- or half-dose BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine demonstrated superior immunogenicity 2 weeks post-vaccination compared to homologous Ad26.COV2.S, though rapid waning occurred by 12 weeks post-boost. Trial Registration: The study has been registered to the South African National Clinical Trial Registry (SANCTR): DOH-27-012022-7841. The approval letter from SANCTR has been provided in the up-loaded documents.

ABSTRACT: The effect of applying an energy and nutrient matrix to a wheat-corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with a novel consensus bacterial 6-phytase variant (PhyG) and xylanase–β-glucanase on growth performance, bone mineralization, carcass weights, feed costs, and carbon footprint was evaluated. A randomized complete block design (3,300 Ross 308 mixed-sex birds; 60 pens, 12 pens per treatment) tested 5 treatments: 1) a positive control diet (PC), containing 0.92, 0.84, 0.71% Ca and 0.43, 0.38, 0.30% digestible P during 1 to 10, 11 to 21, and 22 to 32 d of age, respectively; 2) a negative control reduced in Ca, digestible P, digestible AA, ME, and Na by phase based on the PhyG dosing regimen (NC1); 3) NC1 supplemented with PhyG at 2,000, 1,500, and 1,000 FTU/kg by phase (NC1+PhyG); 4) as NC1 but additionally reduced in ME (NC2); and 5) NC2 supplemented with PhyG as in 3) plus 1,220 U/kg of xylanase and 152 U/kg of β-glucanase (NC2+PhyG+XB). Final (d 32) BW, overall (0–32 d of age) ADFI, FCR, d 10 and 32 tibia ash and carcass part weights were reduced or impaired (P < 0.05) in NC1 and NC2 vs. PC (d 32 BW −477 g/bird (23.4%) and −422 g/bird (20.7%), respectively). Growth performance (all measures, all phases) was improved and tibia ash (at 10 and 32 d of age), total carcass thigh, breast and leg weights were increased (P < 0.05) in NC1+PhyG vs. NC1, and NC2+PhyG+XB vs. NC2. Overall growth performance outcomes in NC1+PhyG and NC2+PhyG+XB were not different (P > 0.05) from the PC. Total feed cost and carbon footprint per kilogram BW gain (BWG) were reduced (P < 0.05) vs. PC in NC2+PhyG+XB [−0.052 € and −376 g CO2 eq./kg BWG, respectively] and NC1+PhyG [−0.038 € and −260 g CO2 eq./kg BWG, respectively]. The results validated the nutrient matrices in the test diets and highlighted a potential feed cost and environmental sustainability benefit which was greatest when the enzymes were applied in combination.

This article provides ethical guidance on using race in health research as a variable or in defining the study population. To this end, a plain, non-exhaustive checklist is provided for researchers and research ethics committees, preceded by a brief introduction on the need for justification when using race as a variable or in defining a study population, the problem of exoticism, that distinctions pertain between race, ethnicity and ancestry, the problematic naming of races, and that race does not serve well as a presumed biological construct in genetic research.

Background. The pattern of HIV-associated eye disease has changed with ongoing advancements in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). HIV-infected individuals now live longer, enabling us to observe the long-term effects of HIV and HAART on the eye. There are few recent studies on HIV-related ocular disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Objectives. To describe the ocular manifestations of HIV in patients attending the Nthabiseng HIV clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 and 2022 using convenience sampling of patients at the HIV clinic. The participants’ clinical history was taken, their files were reviewed, and they underwent ocular examination. Correlation between eyes was managed by taking disease in one eye as the presence of disease in the participant. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant characteristics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the odds ratio (OR) of developing HIV-associated ocular diseases, and a p-value of

Background. Critical care transfers (CCTs) are necessitated by the growing prevalence of high-acuity patients who require upgrade of care to multidisciplinary teams from less-equipped referring facilities. Owing to the high acuity of the critical care patient, specialised teams with advanced training and equipment are called upon to undertake these transfers. The inherent understanding of the potential effects, and therefore the needs of the critical care patient during transfer, are affected owing to the paucity of international, but more specifically, local data relating to CCTs. Objectives. To describe a cohort of patients who underwent CCT by dedicated critical care retrieval services (CCRS) in the private sector in South Africa (SA). Methods. This retrospective, descriptive study sampled all paediatric and adult CCTs completed over a 1-year period (1 January 2017 - 31 December 2017) from the dedicated CCRS of two national emergency medical services in SA. All neonatal patients were excluded. Data were extracted from patient report forms by trained data extractors and subjected to descriptive analysis. Results. A total of 1 839 patients were transferred between the two services. A total of 3 143 diagnoses were recorded, yielding an average of ~2 diagnoses per patient. The most prevalent primary diagnosis was cardiovascular disease (n=457, 25%), followed by infection (n=180, 10%) and head injury (n=133, 7%). Patients had an average of ~3 attachments, with the most prevalent being patient monitoring (n=2 856, 155%), peripheral intravenous access (n=794, 43%) and mechanical ventilation (n=445, 24%). A total of 2 152 instances of medication infusion or administration were required during transport, yielding an average of ~1 medication or infusion per patient transported. The most common medications recorded were central nervous system depressants (n=588, 32%), followed by analgesics (n=482, 26%) and inotropic or vasoactive agents (n=320, 17%). Conclusion. This study provides insight into the demographics, most prevalent diagnoses and interfacility transfer monitoring needs of patients being transported in SA by two private dedicated CCRS. The results of this study may be used to inform future specialised critical care transport courses and qualifications, equipment procurement and scopes of practice for providers undertaking critical care transfers.

Elke individu het noodwendig deel aan die kultuur van sy volk. Die sendeling kry gevolglik nie net met die heiden as individu te make nie, maar ook as lid van sy volk en gevolglik by sy volkskultuur geïntegreer.

With the rapid evolution of marketing from product to service to experience, marketers are challenged to incorporate experiential marketing into their strategies (Maklan & Klaus, 2011). This is especially relevant for retailers creating an experience-based store environment to increase sales and profit margins. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the store environment’s influence on brand loyalty, with brand trust and brand satisfaction as mediators. Although a number of similar studies have been conducted, there is still a lack of research on this topic in fashion retail, especially among black middle class women in Johannesburg. This study undertakes a quantitative approach in that 501 online surveys were distributed among black middle class women to explore the influence of store environment on brand loyalty in relation to fashion brands. The findings support all five hypotheses. In other words, store environment has a positive influence on brand trust, brand satisfaction, and brand loyalty. This study is of significant importance to retailers who wish to influence consumers’ buying behaviour through the manipulation of in-store environmental cues. By achieving this, practitioners are able to increase consumers’ trust in a brand, their satisfaction with the brand, and ultimately increase brand loyalty. The present study contributes to the growing body of knowledge in experiential marketing, retail management, and branding. Furthermore, it contributes to literature in South Africa, which, as an emerging market, is often overlooked.

With the rise of globalisation and the infiltration of global brands into emerging markets, retailers are facing challenges to win market share in this competitive landscape. As a result, retailers are reverting to innovative methods such as experiential marketing to influence consumer buying behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of using experiential marketing as a way of influencing consumers’ purchase intentions in coffee shops. The influences of scent and sight as predictors of purchase intention among Generation Y consumers is explored. By means of a quantitative study, 256 self-administered questionnaires were distributed amongst Generation Y individuals in Johannesburg. The data analysis was done by means of structural equation modelling (SEM), with the main focus being placed on path modelling for testing the proposed hypotheses. The findings indicate that both scent and sight are predictors of purchase intention. Although several studies have explored this phenomenon in an array of contexts, few studies have investigated Generation Y within a South African context. This paper is of paramount importance to retailers who seek to gain market share in the competitive landscape by implementing innovative ways in a bid to effectively influence consumer buying behaviour.

The ‘pink dollar’ or ‘dream market’ is a relatively untapped market that is idealised by marketers for its profit potential. As a result, it is of significant interest to marketing practitioners who aim to invest in this billion dollar industry. However, marketers face challenges in reaching this market through mainstream advertising due to the ‘stigma’ attached to homosexuality, which often results in the marginalisation of heterosexual consumers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of consumers’ tolerance of homosexuality on their attitudes toward homosexual advertisements, and ultimately how these attitudes influence on purchase intention. Data collection was conducted by means of self-administered questionnaires involving 312 university students aged 19 and 24. The results of this study indicated that tolerance to homosexuality does influence attitudes formed by various advertisements, thereby influencing purchase intentions. Furthermore, the results indicated that gender influenced the attitude and purchase intention towards brands that use homosexual models in their advertisements. The findings of this study provide marketers with a better understanding of how to advertise to the homosexual market without marginalising the heterosexual consumer. Developing improved understanding of such an important market segment is significantly meaningful, especially in South Africa, a developing country that researchers often neglect.