Education policy-making in South Africa during COVID-19

Scholarship on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on education has focused primarily on learners (Vaughn, Sayed and Cooper, 2021; Spaull et al., 2020) and the widening of existing educational inequalities (Schleicher, 2020). Few studies have considered the effects COVID-19 has had on teachers, which makes this study’s contribution relevant and essential (Sayed et al., 2021). The literature on teaching during times of crisis has demonstrated that teachers can act as a buffer and mitigate many of the adverse effects that result from conflict and crises-ridden contexts (INEE, 2020). However, teachers need to feel more valued, as this will contribute to their positive sense of well-being and their ability to persist. This paper illuminates the experiences of teachers who work in challenging contexts in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It contributes to the knowledge on teachers’ experiences of crisis and instability in the Global South. The paper suggests that teachers, as front-line workers in crisis situations, should be granted autonomy and agency in their education choices and delivery methods

Goodbye Hartmann trial: a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study on the current use of a surgical procedure developed a century ago

Background: Literature suggests colonic resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) instead of Hartmann's procedure (HP) for the treatment of left-sided colonic emergencies. We aim to evaluate the surgical options globally used to treat patients with acute left-sided colonic emergencies and the factors that leading to the choice of treatment, comparing HP and RPA. Methods: This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up. Results: 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6 years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P < 0.001). 30-day mortality was higher in HP patients (13.7%), especially in case of bowel perforation and diffused peritonitis. 1-year follow-up showed no differences on ostomy reversal rate between HP and RPA. (P = 0.127). A backward likelihood logistic regression model showed that RPA was preferred in younger patients, having low ASA score (≤ 3), in case of large bowel obstruction, absence of colonic ischemia, longer time from admission to surgery, operating early at the day working hours, by a surgeon who performed more than 50 colorectal resections. Conclusions: After 100 years since the first Hartmann's procedure, HP remains the most common treatment for left-sided colorectal emergencies. Treatment's choice depends on patient characteristics, the time of surgery and the experience of the surgeon. RPA should be considered as the gold standard for surgery, with HP being an exception

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Monoxenic culture of the intraradical forms of Glomus sp. isolated from a tropical ecosystem: a proposed methodology for germplasm collection

Five arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, isolated from the rhizosphere of banana and sugar cane, were successfully cultured in vitro in association with genetically transformed roots of carrot. The intraradical forms of the fungi as mycorrhizal root pieces and single isolated vesicles constituted excellent sources of inoculum for the establishment of in vitro cultures and for the continuous culture of the species. Several thousand fungal propagules were obtained for the two G. versiforme species, G. intraradices and to a lesser extent for G. fasciculatum whereas few spores were obtained for G. macrocarpum. This coculture system appeared suitable for the establishment of in vitro collections of AM fungal strains

Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with Acacia albida Del. in Different Areas of Senegal

The influences of seasons, plant age, and physicochemical properties of the soil on surface and deep biological arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus parameters associated with Acacia albida were assessed in different areas of Senegal. More indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal propagules were found in the localities of the Sudano-Guinean zone (Djinaki and Kabrousse) than in those of the Sahelian zone (Louga and Diokoul), and species belonging to the genera Glomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora, and Sclerocystis prevailed. The numbers of total and viable spores increased more during the rainy season than during the dry season (about 108% more total spores and 262% more viable spores). Similarly, both total and viable spores were more prevalent around young Acacia trees than old trees. However, the intensities of root colonization did not differ in each ecoclimatic zone

Neamine dimers targeting the HIV-1 TAR RNA.

International audienc

Short-term delivery of anti-PlGF antibody delays progression of atherosclerotic plaques to vulnerable lesions

Aims: The vascular endothelial growth factor homologue placental growth factor (PlGF) is a pleiotropic cytokine, with a pro-inflammatory activity. Previous gene-inactivation studies revealed that loss of PlGF delays atherosclerotic lesion development and inhibits macrophage infiltration, but the activity of an anti-PlGF antibody (aPlGF mAb) has not been evaluated yet. Methods and Results: We characterized the potential of short-term delivery of aPlGF mAb in inhibiting lesion development in ApoE-deficient mice (apoE-/-) and in CD4:TGFßRIIDN x apoE-/- mice, a more severe atherosclerosis model. Short-term treatment of aPlGF mAb reduces early atherosclerotic plaque size and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lesion. Conclusions: These pharmacological aPlGF mAb results confirm previous genetic evidence that inhibition of PlGF slows down early atherosclerotic lesion development. Furthermore, the phenocopy of genetic and pharmacological loss-of-function strategies underscores that aPlGF acts by selectively neutralizing PlGF.status: publishe

Anti-PlGF inhibits growth of VEGF(R)-inhibitor-resistant tumors without affecting healthy vessels.

20Novel antiangiogenic strategies with complementary mechanisms are needed to maximize efficacy and minimize resistance to current angiogenesis inhibitors. We explored the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of alphaPlGF, an antibody against placental growth factor (PlGF), a VEGF homolog, which regulates the angiogenic switch in disease, but not in health. alphaPlGF inhibited growth and metastasis of various tumors, including those resistant to VEGF(R) inhibitors (VEGF(R)Is), and enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapy and VEGF(R)Is. alphaPlGF inhibited angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and tumor cell motility. Distinct from VEGF(R)Is, alphaPlGF prevented infiltration of angiogenic macrophages and severe tumor hypoxia, and thus, did not switch on the angiogenic rescue program responsible for resistance to VEGF(R)Is. Moreover, it did not cause or enhance VEGF(R)I-related side effects. The efficacy and safety of alphaPlGF, its pleiotropic and complementary mechanism to VEGF(R)Is, and the negligible induction of an angiogenic rescue program suggest that alphaPlGF may constitute a novel approach for cancer treatment.nonemixedC. Fischer;B. Jonckx;M. Mazzone;S. Zacchigna;S. Loges;L. Pattarini;E. Chorianopoulos;L. Liesenborghs;M. Koch;M. D. Mol;M. Autiero;S. Wyns;S. Plaisance;L. Moons;N. v. Rooijen;M. Giacca;J. Stassen;M. Dewerchin;D. Collen;P. CarmelietC., Fischer; B., Jonckx; M., Mazzone; Zacchigna, Serena; S., Loges; L., Pattarini; E., Chorianopoulos; L., Liesenborghs; M., Koch; M. D., Mol; M., Autiero; S., Wyns; S., Plaisance; L., Moons; N. v., Rooijen; Giacca, Mauro; J., Stassen; M., Dewerchin; D., Collen; P., Carmelie