Possibility of organic beef production on South African communal farms

South African communal farmers possess indigenous breeds and resources required for organic beef production. However, the market off-take rate from communal farms is 5-10%, compared to 25% on commercial farms, despite the fact that 40% of cattle are found on communal lands. The objective of the study was to investigate the possibility of organic beef production on South African communal farms, using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) conducted with communal cattle farmers in UMgungundlovu, KwaZulu-Natal. The findings revealed that socio-cultural factors are the primary reasons for keeping cattle, with cash generation being a secondary importance. Despite the lack of external support, communal farmers value their communal production systems and produce which are labelled ‘organic’ by default. These farmers perceive this system as wholesome; results in mature and tasty meat with several domestic and medicinal benefits compared to conventional cattle production systems, hence, its products should be sold at a premium. Socio-behavioural factors, such as isolation, inferiority and lack of institutional support, market access and market information pertaining to the marketing of organic beef are the reasons why communal farmers are not actively participating in the South African formal beef market. It can be concluded that facilitating product differentiation and the involvement of communal farmers as stakeholders in the South African formal beef market through civic engagement has the potential to increase off-take rates from communal farms, rather than the bottom-up and top-down management strategies.Keywords: Civic engagement, Communal farmers, Extension, Formal beef markets, Organic beef, Off-take rates, Socio-behavioural facto

The Role of Negotiation in Privacy-Enhanced E-Commerce Transactions

Online vendors use personal information to deliver customized services efficiently to their customers. Both users and vendors value the relationship building made possible using personal data. However, the use of personally identifying data gives rise to the potential for privacy invasion. When consumers must disclose personal information, they are forced to perform a risk-benefit analysis in which the risks of disclosing one\u27s personal information are weighted against the potential benefits of the disclosure. While some researchers note that consumers maximize benefits in deciding whether to disclose personal information, others argue that consumers lack sufficient information and power to make educated, balanced decisions regarding disclosing their private information. We add to the privacy discussion by arguing that a real negotiation position for both parties can help realize the full benefits of online personalization. We propose a model for mitigating the tension between the benefits of personalization and the risks to privacy invasion. This framework informs our future work which seeks to develop rich and deep understandings of negotiated, privacy-concerned personalization

Genetic diversity in Cucurbita pepo landraces from northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Genetic variation in seven selfed and unselfed Cucurbita pepo landraces from districts in KwaZulu- Natal Province was investigated using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Out of 36 primers screened nine were selected, which gave 100 clear and bright fragments, out of which 94 (94%) fragments were considered polymorphic. The sizes of bands ranged from 75 to 1800 bp. The number of bands per primer ranged between nine and 14. The genetic differentiation coefficient between populations (GST) varied between 0.0022 and 0.0100, while the gene flow ranged between 49.4545 and 223.7226. The effective number of alleles, Nei’s gene diversity index and Shannon’s information index were the highest in the selfed population from Zululand (yellow) district (ZS) population (Ne= 1.2046; H=0.1677; I=0.3060) and the lowest in unselfed population from uThungulu (yellow) (TNS) population (Ne=1.1512; H=0.1301; I=0.2518). The production of specific RAPD markers by different primers indicated gene diversity between: Selfed and unselfed populations from the same geographic origin; populations with yellow/orange mature fruit from a population with green mature fruit; and also among different populations in general. The selfed population from uThungulu (yellow) (TS) and TNS populations, both from uThungulu district, were the highest in genetic identity (IN = 0.9996) and the closest in the genetic distance (D = 0.0004). The unselfed population from Umkhanyakude (green) (CPSP) and unselfed population from Umkhanyakude (yellow (MNS) populations as well as CPSP and TNS populations were the lowest in genetic identity (IN = 0.9985) and the furthest in genetic distance (D = 0.0015). The dendrogram mainly grouped the populations according to their mature fruit colour, and then according to their geographical origin. All genetic parameters indicated that there was plentiful genetic diversity in C. pepo landraces of northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Key words: Cucurbita pepo landraces, genetic variation, self-pollination, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, northern KwaZulu-Natal

A national policy for malaria elimination in Swaziland: a first for sub-Saharan Africa

Swaziland is working to be the first country in mainland sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate malaria. The highest level of Swaziland's government recently approved a national elimination policy, which endorses Swaziland's robust national elimination strategic plan. This commentary outlines Swaziland's progress towards elimination as well as the challenges that remain, primarily around securing long-term financial resources and managing imported cases from neighbouring countries

The association between apparent temperature and hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease in limpopo province, South Africa

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a high disease burden both globally and in South Africa. They have also been found to be temperature-sensitive globally. The association between temperature and CVD morbidity has previously been demonstrated, but little is known about it in South Africa. It is important to understand how changes in temperature in South Africa will affect CVD morbidity, especially in rural regions, to inform public health interventions and adaptation strategies. This study aimed to determine the short-term effect of apparent temperature (T(app)) on CVD hospital admissions in Mopani District, Limpopo province, South Africa. A total of 3124 CVD hospital admissions records were obtained from two hospitals from 1 June 2009 to 31 December 2016. Daily T(app) was calculated using nearby weather station measurements. The association was modelled using a distributed lag non-linear model with a negative binomial regression over a 21-day lag period. The fraction of morbidity attributable to non-optimal T(app), i.e., cold (6-25 degrees C) and warm (27-32 degrees C) T(app) was reported. We found an increase in the proportion of admissions due to CVDs for warm and cold T(app) cumulatively over 21 days. Increasing CVD admissions due to warm T(app) appeared immediately and lasted for two to four days, whereas the lag-structure for the cold effect was inconsistent. A proportion of 8.5% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 3.1%, 13.7%) and 1.1% (95% CI: -1.4%, 3.5%) of the total CVD admissions was attributable to cold and warm temperatures, respectively. Warm and cold T(app) may increase CVD admissions, suggesting that the healthcare system and community need to be prepared in the context of global temperature changes

Exploring meteorological conditions and human health impacts during two dust storm events in Northern Cape province, South Africa: Findings and lessons learnt

Dust storms are meteorological hazards associated with several adverse health impacts including eye irritations, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, and vehicular road accidents due to poor visibility. This study investigated relations between admissions from a large, public hospital that serves people living in Northern Cape and Free State provinces, South Africa during 2011 to 2017, and meteorological variables (temperature and air quality) during two dust storms, one in October 2014 (spring) and the second in January 2016 (summer), identified from the media as no repository of such events exists for South Africa. Distributed nonlinear lag analysis and wavelet transform analysis were applied to explore the relationships between hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, eye irritation, and motor vehicle accidents; maximum temperature, and two air quality ‘proxy measures,’ aerosol optical depth and Ångström exponent, were used as groundbased air quality data were unavailable. Eye irritation was the most common dust-related hospital admission after both dust storm events. No statistically significant changes in admissions of interest occurred at the time of the two dust storm events, using either of the statistical methods. Several lessons were learnt. For this type of study, ground-based air quality and local wind data are required; alternative statistical methods of analysis should be considered; and a central dust storm repository would help analyze more than two events. Future studies in South Africa are needed to develop a baseline for comparison of future dust storm events and their impacts on human health.The South African Medical Research Councilhttps://www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphereGeography, Geoinformatics and MeteorologySchool of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH

Cercospora zeina from maize in South Africa exhibits high genetic diversity and lack of regional population differentiation

Muller, M.F., Barnes, I., Kunene, N.T., Crampton, B.G., Bluhm, B.H., Phillips, S., Olivier, N.A. and Berger, D.K. 2016. Cercospora zeina from maize in South Africa exhibits high genetic diversity and lack of regional population differentiation. Phytopathology 106 ; 1194-1205. South Africa is one of the leading maize-producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the 1980s, Cercospora zeina, a causal agent of gray leaf spot (GLS) of maize, has become endemic in South Africa, and is responsible for substantial yield reductions. To assess genetic diversity and population structure of C. zeina in South Africa, 369 isolates were collected from commercial maize farms in three provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and North West). These isolates were evaluated with fourteen microsatellite markers and species-specific mating type markers that were designed from draft genome sequences of C. zeina isolates from Africa (CMW 25467) and USA (USPA-4). Sixty alleles were identified across 14 loci, and gene diversity values within each province ranged from 0.18 to 0.35. High levels of gene flow were observed (Nm = 5.51), and in a few cases, identical multilocus haplotypes were found in different provinces. Overall, 242 unique multilocus haplotypes were identified with a low clonal fraction of 34%. No distinct population clusters were identified using STRUCTURE, Principle Co-ordinate analysis or Weir’s theta θ statistic. The lack of population differentiation was supported with AMOVA analyses which indicated that only 2% of the variation was attributed to variability between populations from each province. Mating-type ratios of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs from 335 isolates were not significantly different from a 1:1 ratio in all provinces, which provided evidence for sexual reproduction. The draft genome of C. zeina CMW 25467 exhibited a complete genomic copy of the MAT1-1 idiomorph as well as exonic fragments of MAT genes from both idiomorphs. The high level of gene diversity, shared haplotypes at different geographical locations within South Africa, and presence of both MAT idiomorphs at all sites indicates widespread dispersal of C. zeina between maize fields in the country as well as evidence for sexual recombination. The outcomes of this genome-enabled study are important for disease management since the high diversity has implications for dispersal of fungicide resistance should it emerge and the need for diversified resistance breeding.This work is based on research supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa (Grants #73650, #RTF14012762416) and the Genomics Research Institute at the University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa, and the National Science Foundation, USA (Grant # 0920287 to BHB). DKB was supported by a USDA Norman E Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship at the University of Arkansas, USA. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at, are those of the authors and are not necessarily to be attributed to NRF, UP or NSF. We acknowledge PANNAR SEED Pty Ltd, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture, Baynesfield Estate and local farmers for access to collection sites. We thank Phillip San Miguel and the Purdue Genomics Core Facility, Purdue University, USA for genome sequencing, H.Kim for assistance with microsatellite marker design, M.Greve for drafting Fig. 1, and the University of Pretoria sequencing facility for the use of the ABI3500xl genetic analyser, supported by the NRF RISP equipment grant (# 78566).http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/loi/phytohb2016GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologyPlant Scienc

Nets, Spray or Both? The Effectiveness of Insecticide-Treated Nets and Indoor Residual Spraying in Reducing Malaria Morbidity and Child Mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

Malaria control programmes currently face the challenge of maintaining, as well as accelerating, the progress made against malaria with fewer resources and uncertain funding. There is a critical need to determine what combination of malaria interventions confers the greatest protection against malaria morbidity and child mortality under routine conditions. This study assesses intervention effectiveness experienced by children under the age of five exposed to both insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS), as compared to each intervention alone, based on nationally representative survey data collected from 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Living in households with both ITNs and IRS was associated with a significant risk reduction against parasitaemia in medium and high transmission areas, 53% (95% CI 37% to 67%) and 31% (95% CI 11% to 47%) respectively. For medium transmission areas, an additional 36% (95% CI 7% to 53%) protection was garnered by having both interventions compared with exposure to only ITNs or only IRS. Having both ITNs and IRS was not significantly more protective against parasitaemia than either intervention alone in low and high malaria transmission areas. In rural and urban areas, exposure to both interventions provided significant protection against parasitaemia, 57% (95% CI 48% to 65%) and 39% (95% CI 10% to 61%) respectively; however, this effect was not significantly greater than having a singular intervention. Statistically, risk for all-cause child mortality was not significantly reduced by having both ITNs and IRS, and no additional protectiveness was detected for having dual intervention coverage over a singular intervention. These findings suggest that greater reductions in malaria morbidity and health gains for children may be achieved with ITNs and IRS combined beyond the protection offered by IRS or ITNs alone

Self-Directed Learning in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted teaching and learning at higher education institutions (HEIs), and this book disseminates research findings on a series of cross-campus online initiatives of the North-West University (NWU) to ensure high-quality self-directed learning, whilst simultaneously attending to the need for inclusion and diversity in this challenging context. The golden thread running through the 13 chapters is how this HEI responded to the pandemic in a creative way through its investment in online virtual student excursions, based on problem-based, cooperative learning and gamification principles to support self-directed learning. Whereas virtual excursions usually refer to learning opportunities where ‘a museum, author, park or monument is brought to the student’ (Hehr 2014:1), the virtual excursion in our context is an activity system (Engeström 1987) where students’ learning is scaffolded across the zone of proximal development (Vygotsky 1978) and where their ‘social and pedagogical boundaries are stretched or expanded’ (De Beer & Henning 2011:204). Students engage as Homo ludens, the playing human (Huizinga 1955), in learning activities embedded in an ill-structured problem, and through reflective activities, they are encouraged to reflect on their own naïve understandings or biases. This ‘tension’, or in Veresov (2007) parlance, ‘dramatical collisions’, provides a fertile learning space for self-directed learning