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School teachers must be prepared for ongoing, unpredictable and rapid changes in the world, therefore, they need specialised and general knowledge to be able to think independently and imaginatively. The purpose with this article was thus to report on the effectiveness of a self-directed professional development (SDPD) intervention that guided teachers to enhance their curriculum as praxis, especially for 21st-century education. Self-directed learning (SDL) and the capability approach were used to support teachers, through SDPD, to become the teachers they would want to be or could be in the 21st century, in terms of enhancing their curriculum as praxis. Qualitative research was conducted in South-Africa with Grade 9 teachers. Pre- and post-SDPD interviews were conducted, and the SDPD-intervention continued for 3 to 5 months. The results from our research show that the SDPD-intervention effectively supported the participating teachers to enhance their curriculum as praxis.

Although physical education (PE) provides a school-based platform for the enhancement of learners' physical health, implementation challenges can have a detrimental effect on learners' motivation to participate in physical activities and their fitness levels. Within the framework of the Self-determination Theory (SDT), meeting learners' basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness in the PE class, can promote their fitness levels by enhancing their intrinsic motivation to be physically active. The purpose with this study was to investigate the effect of an in-service PE teacher training programme including needs-support teaching strategies on the physical and motor fitness levels of the learners of the participating teachers. Using a pre- and post-test experimental design, the fitness of 1 control and 4 experimental groups were assessed using standardised tests before and after the intervention programme. The intervention included implementing the needs-support teaching strategies acquired by the teachers during the once-off, 5-day teacher training programme, for 4 months while receiving continued support from the instructors of the course during those 4 months. The results show that the programme had a positive effect on the fitness levels of the learners in most of the tested fitness components, warranting the recommendation of SDT-based in-service training of PE teachers to support learners' motivation towards physical activity and fitness.

This study, titled "The Effect of Computer Simulation on Grade 11 Learners' Conceptualisation of Stoichiometric Chemistry," was carried out at a school in the Frances Baard District of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Poor conceptualisation of stoichiometric chemistry by learners in Grades 10-12 in South Africa and, hence, their failure to apply the concepts to problem-solving in the same and other topics in chemistry, is a cause for concern. The study was conducted with the theoretical framework of activity theory. A mixed method design that consisted of a pre-test post-test experimental design, a questionnaire and interviews were used for the study. Two Grade 11 physical sciences classes which consisted of a control and experimental group were taught stoichiometric chemistry after the SCAT pre-test. The experimental group obtained an intervention comprising computer simulations during teaching, while the control group was taught using the lecture method. The ANOVA results showed that learners of the control and experimental groups were comparable in terms of prior knowledge of the topic of stoichiometric chemistry. The paired t-test showed that both groups improved their performance in stoichiometric chemistry. However, the ANCOVA results showed that the experimental group had a greater improvement in performance than the control group. The results of the SCAT post-test, observation of lessons, questionnaire and interviews showed that the experimental group conceptualised stoichiometric chemistry better than the control group. The quantitative and qualitative data was triangulated, and it also indicated that the experimental group conceptualised stoichiometric chemistry better than the control group. It is therefore suggested that using computer simulations for the teaching and learning of stoichiometric chemistry is a better method to improve its conceptualisation in the FET phase of schools in South Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa is under-represented in global biodiversity datasets, particularly regarding the impact of land use on species population abundances. Drawing on recent advances in expert elicitation to ensure data consistency, 200 experts were convened using a modified-Delphi process to estimate intactness scores: the remaining proportion of an intact reference population of a species group in a particular land use, on a scale from 0 (no remaining individuals) to 1 (same abundance as the reference) and, in rare cases, to 2 (populations that thrive in human-modified landscapes). The resulting bii4africa dataset contains intactness scores representing terrestrial vertebrates (tetrapods: ±5,400 amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and vascular plants (±45,000 forbs, graminoids, trees, shrubs) in sub-Saharan Africa across the regions major land uses (urban, cropland, rangeland, plantation, protected, etc.) and intensities (e.g., large-scale vs smallholder cropland). This dataset was co-produced as part of the Biodiversity Intactness Index for Africa Project. Additional uses include assessing ecosystem condition; rectifying geographic/taxonomic biases in global biodiversity indicators and maps; and informing the Red List of Ecosystems.

The Western Cape in South Africa is a water-scarce region which will likely receive less rainfall and higher air temperatures under projected climate change scenarios. The integration of trees within agricultural systems provides an effective measure for improving water retention on agricultural land. Studying an established and irrigated agroforestry system (AFS) combining alder (Alnus cordata (Loisel.) Duby) as a linear windbreak with a blackberry (Rubus fructicosus L.) crop, we explore the water use dynamics of the intercrop as influenced by the windbreak element by combining methods from hydrology, soil science and forestry disciplines. Our objective is to explore whether the AFS positively impacts the water balance by combining measurement campaigns to characterise the spatial variability of various key system properties with continuous monitoring. The campaigns encompassed extensive soil sampling to determine soil characteristics (nutrient concentrations, hydraulic conductivity, texture, water retention) in the laboratory as well as terrestrial laser scans of the field site, especially of the windbreaks. The continuous measurements covered meteorological, soil water content and soil water potential observations over a 6-month period (in summer). These were applied to understand soil water dynamics during rainstorms and dry spells, including root water uptake as well as soil water storage. We recorded a total of 13 rainfall events delivering 2.5–117.6 mm of rainfall with maximum intensities of 4.1 to 82.6 mm h−1. Further analyses showed that infiltration is likely dominated by preferential flow, with root water uptake potentially occurring in two depth zones corresponding to different plant communities. While soil water content varied by depth and was influenced by physical and environmental factors, it was generally higher in the intercrop zone than within the windbreak-influenced zone. During dry spells, soil water content did not drop below the water content of the permanent wilting point (<-1500 kPa). Values corresponding to soil water tensions above 1000 kPa were recorded on several occasions; these were mitigated by irrigation and, thus, did not result in water stress. Nutrient distribution and soil physical properties differed near the windbreak in comparison to the blackberry crop, and the carbon sequestration potential is great in comparison to monoculture farming. We could demonstrate positive effects of the windbreak on the water balance and dynamics in the blackberry field site, even though questions remain as to the extent of these benefits and how they compared to disadvantageous aspects brought about by the presence of the trees (e.g. increased water usage). Irrigation did, in fact, shift the AFS from a water-limited regime to an energy-limited one.

Trees established in linear formations can be utilised as windbreak structures on farms as a form of agroforestry system. We present an extensive data package collected from an active berry farm located near Stellenbosch, South Africa, considering hydrological, pedological, dendrological and meteorological measurements centred around an Italian alder (Alnus cordata (Loisel.) Duby) windbreak and a blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L. Var. “Waldo”) crop. Data were collected between September 2019 and June 2021. The data are available from Hassler et al. (2024) and include the following measurements (i) meteorological variables – solar radiation, precipitation characteristics, vapour pressure deficit, air temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, gust speed, and lightning strikes and distance recorded at 10 min intervals; (ii) hydrological measurements – soil moisture and matric potential in two profiles at 15 min intervals alongside soil samples at various depths describing soil texture, hydraulic conductivity, and water retention parameters; (iii) soil characteristics – a soil profile description accompanied by 60 topsoil samples describing carbon, nitrogen, and exchangeable base cation concentrations, as well as potential cation exchange capacity and descriptions of soil texture; and (iv) dendrological measurements – point cloud data for the studied windbreak trees and surrounding features, cylinder models of the windbreak trees with volume and biomass data, and foliage data as a product of an existing leaf creation algorithm. The described dataset provides a multidisciplinary approach to assess the impact and interaction of windbreaks and tree structures in agroforestry landscapes, aiding future work concerning water fluxes, nutrient distribution, microclimate and carbon sequestration. The dataset, including high-resolution time series and point cloud data, offers valuable insights for managing the windbreak's influence and serves as a unique training dataset for spatial analysis (https://doi.org/10.5880/fidgeo.2023.028, Hassler et al., 2024).

In this research I explored how mathematics teachers can inform their teaching practice through a meta-reflective inquiry into methods of facilitating Whole Brain® learning in mathematics. Herrmann's Whole Brain® theory was used as a lens through which to explore leading theories in the fields of constructivism, mathematics education and cognitive psychology by means of a participatory action research innovation, stretching over approximately 3 years. An analysis of these theories validated Herrmann's Whole Brain ® theory as the foundation for a synthesised integrated theory of practice, which also formed the epicentre of the conceptual framework for the research. The conceptual framework was also at the core of the participatory action research. The Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®) was administered to 8 teacher participants in a school mathematics department. Learners of each of the teacher participants also completed a questionnaire on how they perceived their teachers to facilitate learning and assessment of mathematics. These results were compared to the teacher participants' Herrmann's Brain Dominance Instrument ®. Findings indicate that the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® initiated scholarly reflection with teacher participants involved in facilitating and assessing the learning of mathematics. The collective reflexive practice was both part of the action research process and an outcome of the research itself. Findings also indicate that the thinking preferences of teacher participants, as tested by the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument®, are not necessarily indicative of their teaching style and teachers involved in post-graduate studies indicated an ability to access their non-dominant thinking mode situationally.

Abstract Background Objective assessment of skills after training is essential for safe implementation of lung point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). In low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) there is a need for assessment tools without onsite experts to scale up POCUS access. Our objective is to develop a web-based assessment tool and evaluate trainees across different countries and at different time points after initial lung POCUS training. Methods We adapted the objective and validated lung ultrasound score (LUS-OSAUS) to a web-based tool with quiz and practical skills test. Trainees were evaluated after a short (4-day) standardized lung POCUS training and were classified in distinct groups according to (i) their geographical location (Benin vs. South-Africa) and (ii) time elapsed since training (Benin 0 months vs. Benin 6 months). The Benin 6 months group had minimal continuous education. Skills test images were read by two blinded experts. We report the overall success rates and then compare these rates based on location and timing since training, using the Fischer’s exact test. Results A total of 35 out of 43 participants completed the online LUS-OSAUS quiz and skills test. The overall success rate was 0.84 (95%CI 0.80–0.88), with lower success rates for “correct depth” 0.54 (0.37–0.71), “correct assessment of pleura” 0.63 (0.45–0.79) and “conclusion” 0.71 (0.54–0.85). There were no differences based on location, with respective rates of 0.86 (0.80–0.92) and 0.83 (0.75–0.91) (p-value = 0.125) for Benin and South Africa at 0 months, respectively. Similarly, there were no differences according to timing with success rates of 0.86 (0.80–0.92) and 0.82 (0.72–0.93) (p-value = 0.563) for Benin at 0 months and 6 months, respectively. Conclusion Web-based objective and structured assessment of lung POCUS skills in LMIC following a short-standardized training is feasible and has a good overall success rate with consistent results across regions and up to 6 months after training given minimal continuous education. Overall, technical and POCUS-based clinical conclusion skills are the most difficult to acquire.

Abstract Tuberculous meningitis (TBM)—the extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis, is the most severe complication associated with tuberculosis, particularly in infants and children. The gold standard for the diagnosis of TBM requires cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through lumbar puncture—an invasive sample collection method, and currently available CSF assays are often not sufficient for a definitive TBM diagnosis. Urine is metabolite-rich and relatively unexplored in terms of its potential to diagnose neuroinfectious diseases. We used an untargeted proton magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) metabolomics approach to compare the urine from 32 patients with TBM (stratified into stages 1, 2 and 3) against that from 39 controls in a South African paediatric cohort. Significant spectral bins had to satisfy three of our four strict cut-off quantitative statistical criteria. Five significant biological metabolites were identified—1-methylnicotinamide, 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid, 5-aminolevulinic acid, N-acetylglutamine and methanol—which had no correlation with medication metabolites. ROC analysis revealed that methanol lacked diagnostic sensitivity, but the other four metabolites showed good diagnostic potential. Furthermore, we compared mild (stage 1) TBM and severe (stages 2 and 3) TBM, and our multivariate metabolic model could successfully classify severe but not mild TBM. Our results show that urine can potentially be used to diagnose severe TBM.

Abstract High dose-rate brachytherapy is a treatment technique for gynecologic cancers where intracavitary applicators are placed within the patient’s pelvic cavity. To ensure accurate radiation delivery, localization of the applicator at the time of insertion is vital. This study proposes a novel method for acquiring, registering, and fusing three-dimensional (3D) trans-abdominal and 3D trans-rectal ultrasound (US) images for visualization of the pelvic anatomy and applicators during gynecologic brachytherapy. The workflow was validated using custom multi-modal pelvic phantoms and demonstrated during two patient procedures. Experiments were performed for three types of intracavitary applicators: ring-and-tandem, ring-and-tandem with interstitial needles, and tandem-and-ovoids. Fused 3D US images were registered to magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) images for validation. The target registration error (TRE) and fiducial localization error (FLE) were calculated to quantify the accuracy of our fusion technique. For both phantom and patient images, TRE and FLE across all modality registrations (3D US versus MR or CT) resulted in mean ± standard deviation of 4.01 ± 1.01 mm and 0.43 ± 0.24 mm, respectively. This work indicates proof of concept for conducting further clinical studies leveraging 3D US imaging as an accurate, accessible alternative to advanced modalities for localizing brachytherapy applicators.

Abstract The classical androgens, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, together with dehydroepiandrosterone, the precusrsor to all androgens, are generally included in diagnostic steroid evaluations of androgen excess and deficiency disorders and monitored in androgen replacement and androgen suppressive therapies. The C11-oxy androgens also contribute to androgen excess disorders and are still often excluded from clinical and research-based steroids analysis. The contribution of the C11-oxy androgens to the androgen pool has not been considered in androgen deficiency. An exploratory investigation into circulating adrenal and gonadal steroid hormones in men was undertaken as neither the classical androgens nor the C11-oxy androgens have been evaluated in the context of concurrent measurement of all adrenal steroid hormones. Serum androgens, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, progesterones and androgens were assessed in 70 healthy young men using ultra high performance supercritical fluid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Testosterone, 24.5 nmol/L was the most prominent androgen detected in all participants while dihydrotestosterone, 1.23 nmol/L, was only detected in 25% of the participants. The 11-oxy androgens were present in most of the participants with 11-hydroxyandrostenedione, 3.37 nmol, in 98.5%, 11-ketoandrostenedione 0.764 in 77%, 11-hydroxytestosterone, 0.567 in 96% and 11-ketotestosterone: 0.440 in 63%. A third of the participants with normal testosterone and comparable 11-ketotestosterone, had significantly lower dehydroepiandrosterone (p

Abstract The biological response to biomaterials plays a crucial role in selecting suitable materials for the formulation and development of tissue engineering platforms. Biodegradation is one of the properties that is considered in selecting appropriate biomaterials for biomedical applications. Biodegradation is the process of breaking down large molecules into smaller molecules with/without the aid of catalytic enzymes. The biodegradation process is crucial in the chemical absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) process of biomaterials and small molecules in the body. Degradation of biomaterials can be followed by assessing the physical, mechanical, and chemical attributes of biomaterials. There are several techniques/parameters that can be targeted when studying the degradation of biomaterials, with gravimetric analysis, surface erosion, and morphological changes being the largely employed techniques. However, the techniques present a few limitations, such as technical errors and material solubility being mistaken for degradation, and these techniques can infer but not confirm degradation as they do not provide the chemical composition of fragmenting/fragmented molecules. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) guidelines provide techniques and parameters for assessing biodegradation. However, the ASTM guidelines for degradation assessment approaches and techniques need to be updated to provide sufficient evidence to draw conclusive decisions regarding the degradation of biomaterials. In this review, the degradation assessment approaches and techniques are critically reviewed about their advantages and disadvantages, and to provide suggestions on how they can still play a role in assessing the degradation of biomaterials. This review could assist researchers employ cost-effective, efficient, and multiple degradation assessment techniques to evaluate and provide sufficient information about the degradation of biomaterials. Suggested future ASTM guidelines for assessing biodegradation should include measuring parameters (such as chemical, mechanical, or physical attributes of biomaterials) in real-time, employing non-invasive, continuous, and automated processes.

Abstract Background Elevations in the gut metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) have been linked to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Whether elevated TMAO levels reflect early mechanistic involvement or a sequela of evolving disease awaits elucidation. The purpose of this study was to further explore these potential associations. Methods We investigated relationships between circulating levels of TMAO and its pre-cursor substrates, dietary factors, gut microbiome profiles and disease risk in individuals with a Healthy BMI (18.5 30, n = 27) and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS; ≥ 3 ATPIII report criteria, n = 39). Results Unexpectedly, plasma [TMAO] did not vary substantially between groups (means of 3–4 µM; p > 0.05), although carnitine was elevated in participants with MetS. Gut microbial diversity and Firmicutes were also significantly reduced in the MetS group (p

Background: The complexity of contexts and varied purposes for which biome donation are requested are unknown in South Africa. Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide strategic data towards actualisation of whether a stool donor bank may be established as a collaborative between Western Cape Blood Services (WCBS) and the University of Cape Town (UCT). Method: We designed a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey to determine willingness of WCBS blood donors to donate stool specimens for microbiome biobanking. The study was conducted between 01 June 2022 and 01 July 2022 at three WCBS donation centres in Cape Town, South Africa. Anonymous blood donors who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Anonymised demographic and interview data were analysed statistically. Results: Analysis of responses from 209/231 blood donors demonstrated in a logistic regression model that compensation (p 0.001) and ‘societal benefit outweighs inconvenience’ beliefs (p = 7.751e-05) were covariates significantly associated with willingness to donate stool. Age was borderline significant at a 5% level (p = 0.0556). Most willing stool donors indicated that donating stool samples would not affect blood donations (140/157, 90%). Factors decreasing willingness to donate were stool collection being unpleasant or embarrassing. Conclusion: The survey provides strategic data for the establishment of a stool bank and provided an understanding of the underlying determinants regarding becoming potential donors. Contribution: This is the first report on the perspectives of potential participants in donating samples towards a stool microbiome biobank in South Africa, a necessity for faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).

Background: An improved understanding of the reasoning behind model decisions can enhance the use of machine learning (ML) models in credit scoring. Although ML models are widely regarded as highly accurate, the use of these models in settings that require explanation of model decisions has been limited because of the lack of transparency. Especially in the banking sector, model risk frameworks frequently require a significant level of model interpretability. Aim: The aim of the article is to evaluate traditional model risk frameworks to determine their appropriateness when validating ML models in credit scoring and enhance the use of ML models in regulated environments by introducing a ML interpretability technique in model validation frameworks. Setting: The research considers model risk frameworks and regulatory guidelines from various international institutions. Method: The research is qualitative in nature and shows how through integrating traditional and non-traditional model risk frameworks, the practitioner can leverage trusted techniques and extend traditional frameworks to address key principles such as transparency. Results: The article proposes a model risk framework that utilises Shapley values to improve the explainability of ML models in credit scoring. Practical validation tests are proposed to enable transparency of model input variables in the validation process of ML models. Conclusion: Our results show that one can formulate a comprehensive validation process by integrating traditional and non-traditional frameworks. Contribution: This study contributes to existing model risk literature by proposing a new model validation framework that utilises Shapley values to explain ML model predictions in credit scoring.

IntroductionThe French bulldog (FBD) is a brachycephalic breed prone to several neurological conditions, of which intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is considerably prevalent. Gastrointestinal (GI) disease is a reported complication in dogs surgically treated for IVDH. The objective of this study was to describe GI signs and their outcome in FBDs surgically treated for IVDH.Materials and methodsData regarding the GI signs (vomiting, diarrhoea and regurgitation), their frequency and short-term outcome in FBDs surgically treated for IVDH (cervical, thoracolumbar or lumbar) between January 2017 and April 2023 were obtained from medical records at one institution. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher exact tests, and ordinal/continuous data between categorical groups using Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney tests.ResultsNinety-seven FBDs were included for analysis. GI signs occurred in 74/97 (76.3%) FBDs while hospitalised, with 33.8% and 66.2% developing GI signs pre- and post-operatively, respectively. FBDs that developed GI signs had a mean of 4.9 episodes. Diarrhoea was the most common GI sign encountered (51/74) compared to regurgitation (38/74) and vomiting (22/74). Resolution of GI signs occurred within a mean of 2.2 days. Mean duration of hospitalisation post-surgery was 4.6 days in FBDs that developed GI signs versus 3.7 days in FBDs that did not (p = 0.033). Anaesthesia length was associated with developing GI signs (p=0.037). Neurological severity, neuroanatomical localisation and surgical procedure were not associated with development of GI signs (p = 0.42, p = 0.794 and p = 1, respectively).ConclusionGI signs were commonly encountered in FBDs surgically treated for IVDH and associated with length of anaesthesia and prolonged hospitalisation.