Research Articles (University of Pretoria)

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This collection offers open access to the full text of research articles published by staff, students and affiliates of the University of Pretoria. These items are identical in content to their published counterparts. It is linked to the Research Information System and complements the Annual Research Report.

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Barriers to effective patient care as experienced by nurses in primary healthcare clinics in African countries : a systematic review of qualitative studies
(BioMed Central, 2025-02) Nesengani, Tintswalo Victoria; Downing, Charlene; Ten Ham-Baloyi, Wilma
BACKGROUND : The essence of adopting the Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) was to ensure that essential and acceptable healthcare services are accessible to individuals and families in the community. However, existing literature points that various factors pose as barriers towards effective caring for patients by nurses in primary healthcare clinics. Identifying factors that pose as barriers in effective caring for patients can assist in using strategies that can help in improving the provision of healthcare services. METHODS : A qualitative systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute’s approach, including the search and selection, critical appraisal, data extraction and synthesis. An extensive literature search was undertaken to identify relevant qualitative research studies research with substantive findings that reflected nurses’ challenges in PHC clinics, conducted in African countries from 2010 to 2024, in the following databases: CINAHL and Medline (through EBSCOhost), BioMed Central, ScienceDirect and Scopus (Elsevier), followed by a manual search in Google Scholar, and a citation search. RESULTS : Following the data extraction and analysis of nine articles, three themes were identified: (1) Shortage of nurses; (2) High workloads for nurses; and (3) Shortage of medicines. A majority of articles were from South Africa (n = 7). CONCLUSIONS : The identified barriers may be addressed at different healthcare system levels in various African countries to improve the provision of healthcare services.
Behaviour of commercial layer hens in enriched cages and floor systems examined using human and video-based observations
(South African Society for Animal Science, 2025-06) Chilemba, Timothy.; Van Marle-Koster, Este; Masenge, Andries; Cromhout, M.; Nkukwana, Thobela T.; evm.koster@up.ac.za
There is considerable pressure to eliminate the use of conventional cages in commercial layer hen production systems. However, the assessment of alternative systems that can ensure the hen's ability to perform natural behaviours, while simultaneously enhancing farm productivity and economic efficiency, remains incomplete. This study assessed layer behaviour in a floor system and in enriched cages on a commercial layer farm using human and video-based observations. The study focused on dust bathing, nesting, feather pecking, and perching behaviours, and on the formation of mud balls on the feet. A large proportion (72.9%) of the hens exhibited dust-bathing behaviour, with an average duration of 22.63 minutes. Feather pecking was exhibited by 35.4% of layers in the enriched cages, compared to 58.3% of layers in the floor system. Overall, feather pecking was the least observed behaviour. Layers in enriched cages used perches more (47%) than layers in the floor system (27%), and a negative association was found between body weight and perching in layers in the floor system. At the end of the six-week trial period, 41.67% of the hens had developed mud balls on their toes that exceeded 3 cm in length. The results of this study provide evidence of the relationships between poultry behaviour, welfare, and production. Video-based observations confirmed that farm managers may not be able to identify certain welfare-related behavioural aspects unless they are closely monitored. The results of this study may be used to inform stakeholders about behaviour and welfare considerations in the management of commercial layers.
Benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of stream health within the Central African Copperbelt
(Springer, 2025-07) Ouma, Kennedy O.; Shane, Agabu; Monde, Concillia; Syampungani, Stephen
Globally, stream ecosystem health in mining regions, including the Central African Copperbelt (CACB), is threatened by increased aquatic metal pollution. Stream biomonitoring and bioassessment offers an eco-friendly nature-based approach to determine the aquatic ecological conditions and inform management interventions in mining landscapes. This study conducted monthly between May 2022 and April 2023, explored the taxonomic and functional responses of macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of the ecological condition of four streams in the north-western Zambian Copperbelt of the CACB. 252 sediment samples were collected and analysed for metals. 144 macroinvertebrate samples were collected to determine their taxonomic and functional traits. ANOVA (analysis-of-variance), SIMPER (similarity-percentage), ANOSIM (analysis-of-similarities), CCA (canonical correspondence analysis) and multidimensional biotic index analyses were conducted to correlate environmental and biotic variables. Metal concentrations (mg/kg) in sediments followed the order As (5.27) < Pb (5.75) < Zn (44.6) < Ni (89.3) < Cu (187.5). From ANOVA, the macroinvertebrate community was significantly dominated by Insecta families, mostly Diptera (23.3%) and Coleoptera (16.7%). Trophically, predators significantly dominated in the order Odonata (34.7%) > Hemiptera (31.8%) > Diptera (18.9%). SIMPER depicted a strong influence of Cu, EC, velocity, sediment texture and organic matter on macroinvertebrate diversity and spatial distribution. ANOSIM indicated the highest community dissimilarity at the most impacted stream (KYABR). Habitat assessment metrics, including ZISS-1, ASPT, and EPT/Chironomidae ratio, registered a “good ecological status” with the presence of pollution-sensitive taxa (Helodidae and Perlidae), in concordance with environmental variables, confirming the suitability of macroinvertebrates as proxy bioindicators of stream health in mining landscapes. The study confirms the potential of macroinvertebrates, as potential bioindicators of stream health in mining landscapes. Their diversity and distribution is strongly influenced by Cu, EC, velocity, and sediment characteristics while habitat assessment metrics indicate a "good ecological status" despite moderate metal contamination.
Bacterial Isolation from natural grassland on nitrogen-free agar yields many strains without nitrogenase
(MDPI, 2025-01) Koirala, Amrit; Alshibli, Nabilah Ali; Das, Bikram K.; Brözel, Volker Siegfried
Nitrogen inputs for sustainable crop production for a growing population require the enhancement of biological nitrogen fixation. Efforts to increase biological nitrogen fixation include bioprospecting for more effective nitrogen-fixing bacteria. As bacterial nitrogenases are extremely sensitive to oxygen, most primary isolation methods rely on the use of semisolid agar or broth to limit oxygen exposure. Without physical separation, only the most competitive strains are obtained. The distance between strains provided by plating on solid media in reduced oxygen environments has been found to increase the diversity of culturable potential diazotrophic bacteria. To obtain diverse nitrogen-fixing isolates from natural grasslands, we plated soil suspensions from 27 samples onto solid nitrogen-free agar and incubated them under atmospheric and oxygen-reducing conditions. Putative nitrogen fixers were confirmed by subculturing in liquid nitrogen-free media and PCR amplification of the nifH genes. Streaking of the 432 isolates on nitrogen-rich R2A revealed many cocultures. In most cases, only one community member then grew on NFA, indicating the coexistence of nonfixers in coculture with fixers when growing under nitrogen-limited conditions. To exclude isolates able to scavenge residual nitrogen, such as that from vitamins, we used a stringent nitrogen-free medium containing only 6.42 μmol/L total nitrogen and recultured them in a nitrogen-depleted atmosphere. Surprisingly, PCR amplification of nifH using various primer pairs yielded amplicons from only 17% of the 442 isolates. The majority of the nifH PCR-negative isolates were Bacillus and Streptomyces. It is unclear whether these isolates have highly effective uptake systems or nitrogen reduction systems that are not closely aligned with known nitrogenase families. We advise caution in determining the nitrogen fixation ability of plants from growth on nitrogen-free media, even where the total nitrogen is very limited.
Bacterial blood microbiome of Mastomys rodents : implications for disease spill-over at the animal-human interface within the Bushbuckridge-East community, South Africa
(Frontiers Media, 2025-02) Kolo, Agatha Onyemowo; Brayton, Kelly A.; Collins, Nicola E.; Bastos, Armanda D.S.; Matthee, Sonja; Gall, Cory A.; Wentzel, Jeanette Maria; Neves, L.C.B.G.D. (Luís); Oosthuizen, Marinda C.
The Bushbuckridge-East community in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa is bordered by nature reserves, including the Manyeleti Game Reserve. Murid rodents are prevalent in both Manyeleti and communal rangelands adjoining the community households. Although rodents are reservoir hosts for a broad range of viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens, the rodent microbial diversity and transmission of zoonotic agents to humans in the community is understudied. In this study we investigated bacterial diversity in wild and commensal rodents sampled from different habitats. The 16S rRNA gene was amplified from DNA extracted from the blood of 24 wild Mastomys and one Steatomys sp. and subjected to PacBio circular consensus sequencing. As Bartonella species were dominant in the blood microbiome, gltA gene characterization was performed to delineate species. Rodents sampled from peri-urban and communal rangelands had higher proportions of Bartonella spp. [Hlalakahle (77.7%), Gottenburg (47.8%), Tlhavekisa (83.8%)] compared to those from the protected habitat (43.8%). Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Coxiella burnetii were detected at <1% of the sequence reads. Conventional PCR and sequencing validated the detection of Bartonella spp. with the first confirmation of Bartonella mastomydis infection in Mastomys in South Africa. Additionally, 317 mites, 90 fleas, 10 ticks and eight lice were collected from the rodents, providing evidence of possible vectors of the organisms detected. The detection of zoonotic agents in rodents in Bushbuckridge-East community, together with prior serological confirmation of Bartonella and Coxiella in non-malarial acute febrile patients from this community, highlights the possible risks that commensal rodents pose to human health.
Automatic development of speech-in-noise hearing tests using machine learning
(Nature Research, 2025-04) Polspoel, Sigrid; Moore, David R.; Swanepoel, De Wet; Kramer, Sophia E.; Smits, Cas
Understanding speech in noisy environments is a primary challenge for individuals with hearing loss, affecting daily communication and quality of life. Traditional speech-in-noise tests are essential for screening and diagnosing hearing loss but are resource-intensive to develop, making them less accessible in low and middle-income countries. This study introduces an artificial intelligence-based approach to automate the development of these tests. By leveraging text-to-speech and automatic speech recognition (ASR) technologies, the cost, time, and resources required for high-quality speech-in-noise testing could be reduced. The procedure, named “Aladdin” (Automatic LAnguage-independent Development of the digits-in-noise test), creates digits-in-noise (DIN) hearing tests through synthetic speech material and uses ASR-based level corrections to perceptually equalize the digits. Traditional DIN tests were compared with newly developed Dutch and English Aladdin tests in listeners with normal hearing and hearing loss. Aladdin tests showed 84% specificity and 100% sensitivity, similar to the reference DIN tests (87% and 100%). Aladdin provides a universal guideline for developing DIN tests across languages, addressing the challenge of comparing test results across variants. Aladdin’s approach represents a significant advancement in test development and offers an efficient enhancement to global screening and treatment for hearing loss.
(S)places and peace of (s)place : Venḓa’s sacred sites
(Routledge, 2025) Sebola-Samanyanga, Kgomotso Jackson Phillip; jackson.sebola@up.ac.za
This article explores the concept of (s)place. Drawing from Lefebvre's Conceptual triad, Soja's Thirdspace, and Massey's Progressive sense of place, it unveils the nuanced meanings embedded within (s)place and its significance in understanding contemporary spatial dynamics, particularly within the African rural context. Through a qualitative investigation of sacred sites in the Venḓa region, this work recognises the intangible values embedded within these spaces, which are crucial elements of identity, well-being, and sense of place for VhaVenḓa communities. The core argument centres around the necessity for cognitive, spatial, and epistemic justice in crafting what de Sousa Santos dubs a pluriversal world that acknowledges and respects diverse knowledge systems without succumbing to epistemic violence, in this case, the legacy of colonial-apartheid planning. By coining (s)place, this work contributes to the discourse of planning in Africa, offering a decolonial lens through which to view and engage with spaces and places.
Auditory emotional prosody perception using pseudo-speech stimuli in native and non-native listeners
(Wiley, 2025-04) Gürses, Emre; Cesur, Sidika; Manchaiah, Vinaya
OBJECTIVE : To assess emotional recognition ability using corpora of emotions conveyed through nonlinguistic pseudo-sentences in native and non-native listeners (Turkish and English). METHODS : A cross-sectional design was employed, including a total of 60 young adults (aged 18–25 years). Of these, 30 were American English-speaking participants with no knowledge of Turkish, while the remaining 30 were age-, sex-, and education-matched Turkish participants. Emotional recognition scores and reaction times were assessed following audiological measurements using a one-interval, five-alternative forced choice method. A hundred stimuli recorded by Turkish speakers were presented, including 5 emotions × 2 speakers × 10 pseudo-sentences. The emotions tested were “neutral,” “happy,” “angry,” “surprised,” and “panicked.” RESULTS : No statistically significant differences exist between the groups' recognition of “neutral” and “angry” emotions. However, significant differences were observed in the recognition of happy, surprised, panicked and the mean scores of the emotions. Reaction times showed that nonmeaningful pseudo-sentences elicited similar listening efforts between native and non-native listeners. CONCLUSION : Overall results suggest that while there may be recognizable vocal cues irrespective of languages for expressing angry and neutral emotions, this does not apply to all emotions. These results point to the fact that the type of test materials may play an important role when measuring emotional recognition among different cultures using auditory stimuli. In terms of reaction time results, pseudo-sentences could be used for cross-language auditory emotion recognition, however with certain emotions.
Association between recorded physical activity and cancer progression or mortality in individuals diagnosed with cancer in South Africa
(BMJ Publishing, 2025-05) Mabena, Ntokozo; Rugbeer, Nivash; Lehmann, Sandra; Torres, Georgia; Patel, Deepak; Mabunda, Mosima; Greyling, Mike; Thornton, Jane S.; Choi, Yun-Hee; Stranges, Saverio; Patricios, Jon S.
OBJECTIVES : This study aimed to determine the association between progression and mortality in individuals with stage 1 cancer and their recorded physical activity before the diagnosis of the cancer. METHODS : We included 28 248 members with stage 1 cancers enrolled in an oncology programme in South Africa. Physical activity was recorded using fitness devices, logged gym sessions and participation in organised fitness events. Levels of physical activity over the 12 months before cancer diagnosis were categorised as no physical activity, low physical activity (an average of <60 min/week) and moderate to high physical activity (≥60 min/week). Measured outcomes were time to progression, time to death and all cause mortality. RESULTS : Physically active members showed lower rates of cancer progression and lower rates of death from all causes. The HR for progression to higher stages or death was 0.84 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.89), comparing low activity with no physical activity, and 0.73 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.77), comparing medium to high physical activity with no physical activity. The HR for all cause mortality was 0.67 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.74), comparing low physical activity with no activity, and 0.53 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.58), comparing medium to high physical activity with no physical activity. CONCUSIONS : Individuals engaging in any level of recorded physical activity showed a reduced risk of cancer progression or mortality than those not physically active. There was a further reduction among individuals with moderate to high levels of physical activity compared with those with lower levels.
Associating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparities
(Nature Research, 2025-04) Lebelo, Maphuti Tebogo; Mmekwa, Naledi; Louw, Melanie; Jaratlerdsiri, Weerachai; Mutambirwa, Shingai B.A.; Loda, Massimo; Hayes, Vanessa M.; Bornman, Maria S. (Riana); riana.bornman@up.ac.za
Serum testosterone levels decrease in the aging male, while the risk for prostate cancer (PCa) increases concomitantly. Higher levels in younger men have been linked with racially driven PCa disparities, with African men disproportionately impacted. In turn, higher levels of serum lipids have been associated with aggressive disease, while racial disparity between serum testosterone, cholesterol and cancer mortality has been suggested. Having previously reported a 2.1-fold increased age-adjusted risk for aggressive PCa in Black South African over Black American men, we determined the serum testosterone and associated lipid levels in 250 Black South African men either with or without clinicopathologically diagnosed disease. Observing no associations with serum lipid levels, Black South Africans presented with testosterone levels between 1.24 (< 60 years) and 1.3-fold (≥ 60 years) greater than Black Americans. Notably, a rapid drop in total-, bioavailable- and free testosterone levels in men 65 years or older was significantly associated with PCa risk (P = 0.0057, 0.009 and 0.005, respectively), while irrespective of age, further associated with advanced disease (P = 0.004, 0.0012 and 0.0036, respectively). These preliminary data provide insights into the potential role of androgens in driving PCa health disparities, with important consequence for tailoring treatment for Black men.
Assessment of the inland wetland ecosystem types in South Africa : threats and protection
(Taylor and Francis, 2025) Van Deventer, Heidi; Nel, Jeanne L.
Ecosystem threat status (ETS) and ecosystem protection levels (EPLs) are headline indicators that can assess freshwater ecosystems at a country-wide scale. A spatial layer of freshwater, inland wetland ecosystem types of South Africa was combined with a range of spatial data sets to model their ecological condition. The ETS and EPL of each ecosystem type were determined using the area of that type in good ecological condition relative to a biodiversity target, which represented 20% of the total area of that ecosystem type. Thresholds were applied to distinguish four ETS categories ranging from Least Concern to Critically Endangered, and four EPL categories ranging from Not Protected to Well Protected. A total of 79% of the 135 of South African inland wetland ecosystem types were found to be threatened, of which 83 (62% of the number of types) are Critically Endangered, 12 (9%) are Endangered, 12 (9%) are Vulnerable and 28 (21%) of Least Concern. Of the 135 inland wetland types, 61% were Not Protected, with 6% being Well Protected, 3% Moderately Protected, and 30% Poorly Protected. Protected and Ramsar sites hosted only 7% of the total area of inland wetlands, which means that the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 for 2020 (17%) was not met.
Exploring models, practice and strategies in mentorship within health professions education in the Southern African context : short report
(South African Medical Association, 2024-12-18) Naidoo, Kimesh Loganathan; Badlangana, Ludo Nlambiwa; Adam, Sumaiya; Maart, Ronel; Van Wyk, Jacqueline Marina
BACKGROUND. Despite benefits, structured mentorship needs to be better recognised within health profession training institutions (HPI) in Southern Africa (SA). Given the need to transform faculties and retain skilled personnel, mentoring programmes can be used to address these needs and warrant further exploration. OBJECTIVE. To explore mentorship models within HPI in SA. METHODS. During the annual South African Health Educationalists Conference (SAAHE) in 2022, five academics from HPIs in the region conducted an interactive national workshop on mentorship in health professions education. Following a presentation on mentorship models, participants were allowed to share their perspectives on current mentorship practices, gaps and recommendations for enhancing mentorship. Key concepts and themes generated are reported. RESULTS. Three key approaches to mentorship models were identified during the workshop. These were ‘top-down’, ‘ad-hoc’ and ‘supportive’ approaches. Mentorship models were largely self-initiated and followed a traditional dyadic style with little innovation. Mandatory ‘top-down’, over-regulated programmes compared with ‘grassroots’ approaches were the two extremes reflected on the spectrum of models. While the benefits of mentorship were recognised, institution-wide implementation is lacking, reflecting varied or no widescale adoption. Mentorship could serve as a focused, formal strategy to ensure the demographic transformation of HPIs. Recommendations were made to measure the effectiveness of mentorship programmes against academic promotion criteria and research outputs. CONCLUSION. While mentorship is positively viewed as a means to ensure improved equity and outputs, practical implementation is lacking. Mentorship programmes require further exploration of models and processes to facilitate successful implementation.
Assessment of communal farmers' knowledge of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) within the FMD protection zone with vaccination of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa
(Elsevier, 2025-05) Kiayima, Kibambe D.; Etter, Eric Marcel Charles; Chaminuka, Petronella; Delabouglise, Alexis; Fosgate, Geoffrey Theodore
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease affecting domestic livestock and its control in South Africa depends on methods including event-based surveillance and the reporting of disease by farmers. This study assessed FMD knowledge level among small-scale, communal livestock farmers in South Africa's FMD zone with vaccination. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 629 farmers from 44 dip-tanks (animal assembly points). A FMD knowledge score was derived from 25 yes/no questions with scores above the median classified as high FMD knowledge. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of high FMD knowledge with associations reported as odds ratios (OR) and their corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Eighty percent of the participants were male and 65 % aged 60 or older. The most common livestock raised was cattle (98.1 %). Sixty-six percent (415/629) of the interviewed farmers reported that they were aware of the existence of FMD. Formal education (OR 2.0, 95 % CI, 1.4–2.9, P < 0.001), poultry ownership (OR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.1–2.5, P = 0.006), livestock farming as the main occupation (OR 1.6, 95 % CI 1.1–2.3, P = 0.026) and the total livestock units of their farm (OR 1.5, 95 % CI 1.1–1.9, P = 0.002) were significant predictors of FMD recognition. Most respondents (54 %) that claimed to be aware of the existence of FMD did not know that African buffalos were a source of FMD virus. Also, less than half of the respondents cited lameness (38 %) and excessive salivation (37 %) as the main FMD clinical signs. Only a small proportion (2.4 %) of these respondents were aware that movement of infected animals can cause FMD virus to spread to new areas. FMD knowledge scores were calculated for the 415 respondents claiming to be aware of the existence FMD with 174 (42 %) having a total knowledge score greater than the median (hereafter referred to as “high FMD knowledge” compared to the rest of the farmers). Farmers from Vhembe District in Limpopo had an odds of high FMD knowledge four times higher than those in Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga (OR 4.0, 95 % CI 1.7–9.4, P = 0.002). Farmers that owned more than 15 cattle (OR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.0–2.8, P = 0.035) and farmers that supervised their own cattle during grazing (OR 1.6, 95 % CI 1.0–2.5, P = 0.043) also had a significantly higher odds of high FMD knowledge. Communal farmers in South Africa have gaps in their FMD knowledge and specifically were not aware that movement of infected animals and their products pose a threat for the spread of FMD. Comprehensive information, education and training for communal livestock farmers are essential for improving event-based surveillance and FMD prevention and control in the region.
Assessing user experience with the Bioline™ HCV point-of-care test in primary healthcare settings : a mixed-methods study
(BioMed Central, 2025-04) Duah, Evans; Mathebula, Evans Mantiri; Maluleke, Kuhlula; Baloyi, Tinyiko Violet; Ephraim, Richard Kobina Dadzie; Mashamba-Thompson, Tivani Phosa; evans.duah@tuks.co.za
BACKGROUND : Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a major public health challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings with inadequate diagnostic services. The Bioline™ HCV Point-of-Care (POC) test provides a promising solution for improving diagnosis in Primary Healthcare (PHC) clinics without laboratory infrastructure. This study evaluated the test’s usability, acceptability, and deliverability in Ghana using user-oriented REASSURED criteria. METHODS : A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was adopted. Quantitative data was collected through direct observation of Healthcare Workers (HCWs) using audit checklists and analyzed with Stata 16. The analysis included descriptive statistics, inter-rater concordance assessment, and the application of the System Usability Scale (SUS). Qualitative data, analyzed using Atlas.ti 24.2.0, explored user experiences, confidence, storage infrastructure, and suggestions for test design improvement through in-depth interviews. RESULTS : The quantitative audit included 81 non-laboratory HCWs, with 22 participating in in-depth interviews. The test scored 88.7 on the SUS (95% CI: 86.40-90.88), with 88% of HCWs rating it as easy or very easy to use. Most HCWs (81.5%) successfully completed all testing steps independently, achieving 100% inter-rater concordance, but 83% made errors in at least one step, primarily during pre-testing. Qualitative findings revealed widespread acceptance, confidence, and adaptability despite challenges with storage infrastructure. DISCUSSION : The Bioline™ HCV POC test demonstrated high usability and acceptance among HCWs in resource-limited settings. Enhancements such as improved packaging, simplified information sheets, refined droppers, and additional components like gloves could further optimize usability. These findings support the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 by enhancing access to timely HCV diagnosis, contributing to Universal Health Coverage, and strengthening health systems in underserved areas. TRIAL REGISTRATION : This study is part of a diagnostic trial registered in the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (https://pactr.samrc.ac.za) on 24th October 2024 with trial registration number: PACTR202410837698664.
Assessing the visibility and public engagement of bone marrow and stem cell transplantation research : an altmetric analysis
(Elsevier, 2025-02) Ahmadian, Mohammad; Alizadeh, Shaban; Omidkhoda, Azadeh; Sheikhshoaei, Fatemeh; Van Wyk, Brenda
BACKGROUND : Bone marrow and stem cell transplantation have led to significant advancements in modern medicine, offering potential cures for various hematological disorders and specific cancers. This study aims to investigate and analyze research in this field using altmetrics in a world outside the academic scholarly and publishing environment. METHODS : This study examines articles in the field of bone marrow and stem cell transplantation in a ten-year period (2013–2022) extracted from the Web of Science database. The Altmetric Explorer database and tool were used to extract data. After an initial review of the data for their completeness and accuracy, the study considered descriptive reports, statistical analyses, bibliometric network analysis, and overlaps between articles, journals, and research centers in terms of the Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) and citations using Excel, SPSS, Python, R, and VOSviewer. RESULTS : This study evaluated 12924 articles published in 293 journals. Findings show that 85.67% of the articles were mentioned at least once on various social media and their tools. The AAS varied between 0 and 1125, and the median of this score was 2. The highest score was assigned to an article that provides critical insights into the outcomes of patients with refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Mendeley, X (formerly Twitter), and News were the most important and active social tools, respectively, where these articles were mentioned. The highest number of tweets, news stories, Facebook posts, and policy documents were from the USA, USA, USA, and UK, respectively. The @PaperbirdsM and @MayoClinic accounts on X had the highest tweet and follower statistics, respectively. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center also had the highest number of mentions on social networks. Network analysis maps of the top AAS articles showed “Stem Cell Transplantation” as the most popular author keyword, with Blood having the most influence at the journal level, the USA at the country level, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at the research center level, and Kenneth C. Anderson at the author level. Finally, the results of the tests showed a significant correlation between citation and Altmetric indicators/AAS. However, nor were there differences in AAS based on the open access status of articles or the journal quartile. CONCLUSION : A high percentage of articles in this field are present on social networks and platforms. Furthermore, highly cited articles on social media have attracted more attention. Both traditional and web-based metrics offer different perspectives on scholarly impact. While each provides valuable insights, further research is needed to explore how these metrics can be effectively combined for a more comprehensive evaluation of scientific outputs.
Women in leadership positions in dentistry : a scoping review
(Elsevier, 2024-02) Gangwani, Pooja; Bennie, Karen R.; Gupta, Avni; Koka, Sreenivas; Bompolaki, Despoina
BACKGROUND : The objectives of this scoping review were to calculate the prevalence of women in leadership positions in dentistry, present existing research on gender (male, female) disparities affecting dentistry globally, identify gaps in the literature that can drive future research, and provide recommendations for achieving gender parity in leadership positions. TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED : A search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases was performed using search terms. The search strategies were developed to cover English-language articles from January 2016 through April 2022 that examined the prevalence of women in leadership positions in dentistry. Abstracts, newsletters, qualitative reports, and letters to the editors were excluded. RESULTS : Eighteen studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Low prevalence was noted of women in leadership positions in dentistry globally. Multiple reasons that have led to gender disparities were identified and recommendations for decreasing gender disparities and achieving gender equity in dentistry were provided. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS : Over the years, several factors have contributed to gender inequalities in dentistry. However, during the past decade, gender equity, inclusion, and diversity have been recognized increasingly as core values of the dental profession. Presenting and analyzing all available data surrounding this topic are of paramount importance to start formulating appropriate strategies to achieve gender parity in all areas of dental leadership.
Unforeseen plant phenotypic diversity in a dry and grazed world
(Nature Research, 2024-08) Gross, Nicolas; Maestre, Fernando T.; Liancourt, Pierre; Berdugo, Miguel; Martin, Raphael; Gozalo, Beatriz; Ochoa, Victoria; Delgado-Baquerizo, Manuel; Maire, Vincent; Saiz, Hugo; Soliveres, Santiago; Valencia, Enrique; Eldridge, David J.; Guirado, Emilio; Jabot, Franck; Asensio, Sergio; Gaitan, Juan J.; Garcia-Gomez, Miguel; Martinez, Paloma; Martinez-Valderrama, Jaime; Mendoza, Betty J.; Moreno-Jimenez, Eduardo; Pescador, David S.; Plaza, Cesar; Pijuan, Ivan Santaolaria; Abedi, Mehdi; Ahumada, Rodrigo J.; Amghar, Fateh; Arroyo, Antonio I.; Bahalkeh, Khadijeh; Bailey, Lydia; Ben Salem, Farah; Blaum, Niels; Boldgiv, Bazartseren; Bowker, Matthew A.; Branquinho, Cristina; Van den Brink, Liesbeth; Bu, Chongfeng; Canessa, Rafaella; Castillo-Monroy, Andrea del P.; Castro, Helena; Castro, Patricio; Chibani, Roukaya; Conceicao, Abel Augusto; Darrouzet-Nardi, Anthony; Davila, Yvonne C.; Deak, Balazs; Donoso, David A.; Duran, Jorge; Espinosa, Carlos; Fajardo, Alex; Farzam, Mohammad; Ferrante, Daniela; Franzese, Jorgelina; Fraser, Lauchlan; Gonzalez, Sofia; Gusman-Montalvan, Elizabeth; Hernandez-Hernandez, Rosa Mary; Hoelzel, Norbert; Huber-Sannwald, Elisabet; Jadan, Oswaldo; Jeltsch, Florian; Jentsch, Anke; Ju, Mengchen; Kaseke, Kudzai F.; Kindermann, Liana; Le Roux, Peter Christiaan; Linstaedter, Anja; Louw, Michelle Anne; Mabaso, Mancha; Maggs-Koelling, Gillian; Makhalanyane, Thulani P.; Issa, Oumarou Malam; Manzaneda, Antonio J.; Marais, Eugene; Margerie, Pierre; Hughes, Frederic Mendes; Messeder, Joo Vitor S.; Mora, Juan P.; Moreno, Gerardo; Munson, Seth M.; Nunes, Alice; Oliva, Gabriel; Onatibia, Gaston R.; Peter, Guadalupe; Pueyo, Yolanda; Quiroga, R. Emiliano; Ramirez-Iglesias, Elizabeth; Reed, Sasha C.; Rey, Pedro J.; Reyes Gomez, Victor M.; Rodriguez, Alexandra; Rolo, Victor; Rubalcaba, Juan G.; Ruppert, Jan C.; Sala, Osvaldo; Salah, Ayman; Sebei, Phokgedi Julius; Stavi, Ilan; Stephens, Colton; Teixido, Alberto L.; Thomas, Andrew D.; Throop, Heather L.; Tielboerger, Katja; Travers, Samantha; Undrakhbold, Sainbileg; Val, James; Valko, Orsolya; Velbert, Frederike; Wamiti, Wanyoike; Wang, Lixin; Wang, Deli; Wardle, Glenda M.; Wolff, Peter; Yahdjian, Laura; Yari, Reza; Zaady, Eli; Zeberio, Juan Manuel; Zhang, Yuanling; Zhou, Xiaobing; Le Bagousse-Pinguet, Yoann
Earth harbours an extraordinary plant phenotypic diversity1 that is at risk from ongoing global changes. However, it remains unknown how increasing aridity and livestock grazing pressure—two major drivers of global change—shape the trait covariation that underlies plant phenotypic diversity. Here we assessed how covariation among 20 chemical and morphological traits responds to aridity and grazing pressure within global drylands. Our analysis involved 133,769 trait measurements spanning 1,347 observations of 301 perennial plant species surveyed across 326 plots from 6 continents. Crossing an aridity threshold of approximately 0.7 (close to the transition between semi-arid and arid zones) led to an unexpected 88% increase in trait diversity. This threshold appeared in the presence of grazers, and moved toward lower aridity levels with increasing grazing pressure. Moreover, 57% of observed trait diversity occurred only in the most arid and grazed drylands, highlighting the phenotypic uniqueness of these extreme environments. Our work indicates that drylands act as a global reservoir of plant phenotypic diversity and challenge the pervasive view that harsh environmental conditions reduce plant trait diversity8,9,10. They also highlight that many alternative strategies may enable plants to cope with increases in environmental stress induced by climate change and land-use intensification.
Widening global variability in grassland biomass since the 1980s
(Nature Research, 2024-10) MacDougall, Andrew S.; Esch, Ellen; Chen, Qingqing; Carroll, Oliver; Bonner, Colin; Ohlert, Timothy; Siewert, Matthias; Sulik, John; Schweiger, Anna; Borer, Elizabeth T.; Naidu, Dilip; Bagchi, Sumanta; Hautier, Yann; Wilfahrt, Peter; Larson, Keith; Olofsson, Johan; Cleland, Elsa; Muthukrishnan, Ranjan; O'Halloran, Lydia; Alberti, Juan; Anderson, T. Michael; Arnillas, Carlos A.; Bakker, Jonathan D.; Barrio, Isabel C.; Biederman, Lori; Boughton, Elizabeth H.; Brudvig, Lars A.; Bruschetti, Martin; Buckley, Yvonne; Bugalho, Miguel N.; Cadotte, Marc W.; Caldeira, Maria C.; Catford, Jane A.; D'Antonio, Carla; Davies, Kendi; Daleo, Pedro; Dickman, Christopher R.; Donohue, Ian; Dupre, Mary Ellyn; Elgersma, Kenneth; Eisenhauer, Nico; Eskelinen, Anu; Estrada, Catalina; Fay, Philip A.; Feng, Yanhao; Gruner, Daniel S.; Hagenah, Nicole; Haider, Sylvia; Harpole, W. Stanley; Hersch-Green, Erika; Jentsch, Anke; Kirkman, Kevin; Knops, Johannes M.H.; Laanisto, Lauri; Lannes, Luciola S.; Laungani, Ramesh; Lkhagva, Ariuntsetseg; Macek, Petr; Martina, Jason P.; Mcculley, Rebecca L.; Melbourne, Brett; Mitchell, Rachel; Moore, Joslin L.; Morgan, John W.; Muraina, Taofeek O.; Niu, Yujie; Paertel, Meelis; Peri, Pablo L.; Power, Sally A.; Price, Jodi N.; Prober, Suzanne M.; Ren, Zhengwei; Risch, Anita C.; Smith, Nicholas G.; Sonnier, Gregory; Standish, Rachel J.; Stevens, Carly J.; Tedder, Michelle; Tognetti, Pedro; Veen, G.F. (Ciska); Virtanen, Risto; Wardle, Glenda M.; Waring, Elizabeth; Wolf, Amelia A.; Yahdjian, Laura; Seabloom, Eric W.
Global change is associated with variable shifts in the annual production of aboveground plant biomass, suggesting localized sensitivities with unclear causal origins. Combining remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index data since the 1980s with contemporary field data from 84 grasslands on 6 continents, we show a widening divergence in site-level biomass ranging from +51% to −34% globally. Biomass generally increased in warmer, wetter and species-rich sites with longer growing seasons and declined in species-poor arid areas. Phenological changes were widespread, revealing substantive transitions in grassland seasonal cycling. Grazing, nitrogen deposition and plant invasion were prevalent in some regions but did not predict overall trends. Grasslands are undergoing sizable changes in production, with implications for food security, biodiversity and carbon storage especially in arid regions where declines are accelerating.
Acute animal toxicity and genotoxicity of obliquumol, a potential new framework antifungal compound isolated from Ptaeroxylon obliquum (Rutaceae) leaf extracts
(Elsevier, 2024-09) Ramadwa, Thanyani Emelton; McGaw, Lyndy Joy; Madikizela, Balungile; Eloff, Jacobus Nicolaas
Obliquumol (12-O-acetylptaeroxylinol) isolated from Ptaeroxylon obliquum leaves has excellent antifungal activity and low cellular toxicity. As a next step in the potential development of a framework antifungal product, the present work investigated the acute animal toxicity of obliquumol according to OECD 423 guidelines. Furthermore, the genotoxicity of P. obliquum acetone leaf extracts, fractions (hexane, chloroform and 30 % H2O in MeOH) and isolated compounds (obliquumol and a mixture of lupeol and β-amyrin) was determined using Ames test. . A single dose of obliquumol was orally administered to mice at levels of 50, 300 and 2000 mg/kg and observed for 14 days. The three S. typhimurium tester strains TA 98, TA 100 and TA 102 were used without metabolic activation to determine the genotoxicity. Even at the highest dose of obliquumol, the mass, behaviour and food intake of the animals were not affected. Gross necropsy and histopathological analysis on organs indicated hardly any effects. No samples had genotoxic activity against the S. typhimurium strains tested. Obliquumol had an LD50 >2000 mg/kg since there were no mortalities after 14 days. This encourages the possible development of a new class of antifungal compounds from the obliquumol framework.
Applying the intersection between defence of the inherent requirements of the job and the duty to provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities in the workplace : Damons v City of Cape Town
(Routledge, 2024) Ngwena, Charles; charles.ngwena@up.ac.za
In Damons v City of Cape Town (2022), by a majority, the Constitutional Court held that the inherent requirements of the job defence in s 6(2)(b) of the Employment Equity Act is a complete defence to a charge of unfair discrimination in respect of an employee who has no capacity to perform the job in question due to a disability that cannot be rehabilitated or reasonably accommodated. By contrast, in a sole dissent, Pillay AJ held that s 6(2)(b) is not a complete defence where the employer ought to have created a new position to fit the capacities of the employee as a reasonable accommodation measure. This commentary explores the implications of the Damons case and appraises the divergent approaches of the Constitutional Court.

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