Addressing Content, Convergent and Predictive Validity of Implicit Pain-Related Fear in Chronic Low Back Pain

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common condition that can lead to emotional distress and physical disability. Fear of pain, a phobic-like response to pain, can contribute to significant avoidance behavior and is associated with disrupted physical and emotional functioning. While questionnaires remain the standard for measurement of pain-related fear, recent work has explored the use of implicit methods. This study aimed to use an implicit measure, the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP), to assess convergent and predictive validity of implicit pain-related fear in relation to explicit self-report measures. Seventy-four participants with CLBP were recruited and completed the pain-related fear IRAP, along with self-report measures of pain-related fear, distress, and disability, as well as three physical performance tasks. Both explicit and implicit biases were demonstrated in participants, suggesting the presence of pain-related fear, however, implicit pain-related fear failed to demonstrate convergent and predictive validity. Therefore, implicit pain-related fear, while present in patients with CLBP, may not provide additional utility above and beyond explicit measures of pain-related fear

Myotonometric Measurements of Muscle during Changes in Gravitational Forces

Goal: Assess operational characteristics and reliability of the Myotonometer, a portable medical device that quantifies muscle tone and strength, while gravitational forces are changing

Kriminologiese analise van sekuriteitrisiko's binne die kommersiële produksiegebied van Transvaal Suiker Beperk

This research focusses on crime prevention on farms with Transvaal Sugar Limited as a selected study. The printed media, quantitative and qualitative research principles were used to gather data and to determine to what extend crime is experienced by the respondents. The primary aim of the quantitative research principles is to investigate the nature and extent of crime on the company`s agricultural sites. Existing crime prevention measures on the different agricultural sites are also evaluated and recommendations made where necessary. Interviews with various respondents brought to the fore interesting opinions related to crime based on the empirical-phenomenological method. The support farmers received from the SAPS is discussed in full. The value of the primary physical barriers or obstructions with regard to crime prevention were emphasised in this study. Without the support of conventional electronics, together with the inputs of the human factor, physical crime prevention measures will be of little value, especially on geographical far reached agricultural estates. Farm attacks as a separate phenomenon is part of this study and serves as a comprehensive discussion regarding media reports and previous research on this subject. The ADSC crime prevention model is developed as a result of this study with the aim of contributing to the prevention of crime on farms. Good interpersonal and loyal attitudes are identified as key factors on which the farmers must concentrate in order to prevent crime.Criminology and Security ScienceD. Litt. et Phil.(Criminology

Growth–Defense Trade-Offs Shape Population Genetic Composition in an Iconic Forest Tree Species

All organisms experience fundamental conflicts between divergent metabolic processes. In plants, a pivotal conflict occurs between allocation to growth, which accelerates resource acquisition, and to defense, which protects existing tissue against herbivory. Trade-offs between growth and defense traits are not universally observed, and a central prediction of plant evolutionary ecology is that context-dependence of these trade-offs contributes to the maintenance of intraspecific variation in defense [Züst and Agrawal, Annu. Rev. Plant Biol., 68, 513–534 (2017)]. This prediction has rarely been tested, however, and the evolutionary consequences of growth–defense trade-offs in different environments are poorly understood, especially in long-lived species [Cipollini et al., Annual Plant Reviews (Wiley, 2014), pp. 263–307]. Here we show that intraspecific trait trade-offs, even when fixed across divergent environments, interact with competition to drive natural selection of tree genotypes corresponding to their growth–defense phenotypes. Our results show that a functional trait trade-off, when coupled with environmental variation, causes real-time divergence in the genetic architecture of tree populations in an experimental setting. Specifically, competitive selection for faster growth resulted in dominance by fast-growing tree genotypes that were poorly defended against natural enemies. This outcome is a signature example of eco-evolutionary dynamics: Competitive interactions affected microevolutionary trajectories on a timescale relevant to subsequent ecological interactions [Brunner et al., Funct. Ecol. 33, 7–12 (2019)]. Eco-evolutionary drivers of tree growth and defense are thus critical to stand-level trait variation, which structures communities and ecosystems over expansive spatiotemporal scales

Malaria Control in South Africa 2000–2010: Beyond MDG6

Background: Malaria is one of the key targets within Goal 6 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), whereby the disease needs to be halted and reversed by the year 2015. Several other international targets have been set, however the MDGs are universally accepted, hence it is the focus of this manuscript. Methods: An assessment was undertaken to determine the progress South Africa has made against the malaria target of MDG Goal 6. Data were analyzed for the period 2000 until 2010 and verified after municipal boundary changes in some of South Africa’s districts and subsequent to verifying actual residence of malaria positive cases. Results: South Africa has made significant progress in controlling malaria transmission over the past decade; malaria cases declined by 89.41% (63663 in 2000 vs 6741 in 2010) and deaths decreased by 85.4% (453 vs 66) in the year 2000 compared to the year 2010. Coupled with this, malaria cases among children under five years of age have also declined by 93% (6791 in 2000 vs 451 in 2010). This has resulted in South Africa achieving and exceeding the malaria target of the MDGs. A series of interventions have attributed to this decrease, these include: drug policy change from monotherapy to artemisinin combination therapy, insecticide change from pyrethroids back to DDT; cross border collaboration (South Africa with Mozambique and Swaziland through the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative– LSDI) and financial investment in malaria control. The KwaZulu-Natal Province has seen the largest reduction in malaria cases and deaths (99.1% cases- 41786 vs 380; and 98.5% deaths 340 vs 5), when comparing the year 2000 with 2010. The Limpopo Province recorded the lowest reduction in malaria cases compared to the other malaria endemic provinces (56.1% reduction- 9487 vs 4174; when comparing 2000 to 2010). Conclusions: South Africa is well positioned to move beyond the malaria target of the MDGs and progress towards elimination. However, in addition to its existing interventions, the country will need to sustain its financing for malaria control and support programmed reorientation towards elimination and scale up active surveillance coupled with treatment at the community level. Moreover cross-border malaria collaboration needs to be sustained and scaled up to prevent the re-introduction of malaria into the country

How Does Dew Affect L–band Backscatter? Analysis of PALS Data at the Iowa Validation Site and Implications for SMAP

NASA\u27s Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite mission will use both an L-band radiometer and radar to produce global-scale measurements of soil moisture. L-band backscatter is also sensitive to the water content of vegetation. We found that a moderate dew increased the L-band backscatter of a soybean canopy by 1 dB. Dew thus has the potential to add error to satellite observations of soil moisture

Research ethics capacity building in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of NIH Fogarty-funded programs 2000–2012

The last fifteen years have witnessed a significant increase in investment in research ethics capacity development throughout the world. We examine nine research ethics training programs that are focused on Sub-Saharan Africa and supported by the US National Institutes of Health. We collected data from grants awards' documents and annual reports supplemented by questionnaires completed by the training program directors. Together, these programs provided long-term training in research ethics to 275 African professionals, strengthened research ethics committees in 19 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and created research ethics curricula at many institutions and bioethics centers within Africa. Trainees' leadership resulted in new national systems and policies on research ethics, human tissue storage and export, and methods of monitoring compliance with research ethics guidelines. Training programs adapted to challenges that arose due to varied trainees' background knowledge in ethics, duration of time available for training, spoken and written English language skills, administrative obstacles, and the need to sustain post-training research ethics activities. Our report showcases the development of awareness of research ethics and building/strengthening of basic research ethics infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, the increasing amount and complexity of health research being conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa suggests the need for continued investment in research ethics capacity development in this region. This paper is part of a collection of papers analyzing the Fogarty International Center's International Research Ethics Education and Curriculum Development program

Design in emergency scenario: project of a hand sanitizer dispenser in public transport using Design Sprint method

In the emergency scenario generated by COVID-19 pandemic, the development of fast solutions to reduce the contagious curve can mean saving lives. Democratic access to prevention methods is essential, especially in places with high exposure to contamination and whose activities have not been interrupted, such as public transportation. This work presents the development of a hand sanitizer dispenser for public transportation and other possible locations in the urban environment, designed during an online marathon. The focus is on the development of the Design Sprint method and its adaptations to fit the remote work and other constraints due social distance. The final product was designed to be produced by 3D printing and open design, to fast distribution and replication. It fits in the bus's handrails, with some positioning possibilities and the use of PET bottles as alcohol containers. As a result, the paper highlights the particularities of agile methods for the design process at a distance and demonstrates that the process used allows for quickly responding to solutions for emerging needs