Policy opportunities to enhance the role of smallholder livestock systems in Limpopo Province of South Africa

Post-apartheid administrations in South Africa were faced with redressing the legacy of multifaceted poverty and social inequalities created by apartheid politics. The entrance of smallholder farmers into the mainstream economy became a government priority and policy aim. Institutional efforts in Limpopo Province provided infrastructure to establish poultry and vegetable producing enterprises. Very few livestock projects were funded. The success rate of institutional interventions was low. We argue that smallholder livestock systems offer policy opportunities to realise post-apartheid reform goals in the smallholder livestock sector. The premises are; there are more livestock in communal smallholder sector than in the commercial sector. This indicates there is a substantial level of natural, human and social capital existing within smallholder livestock systems. Secondly, commercial livestock systems are increasingly converted to game and wildlife enterprises necessitating imports of large numbers of livestock from Namibia to account for the shortfall in red-meat in South Africa. It is possible that the low off-take characterising smallholder livestock and the Cattle Complex Philosophy probably deterred past efforts to recognise the potential of smallholder livestock systems for rural and agricultural development. The Cattle Complex Philosophy claims that African smallholders have an attitudinal resistance to sell livestock. Data from a survey amongst 193 households in ten villages of Sekhukhune District of Limpopo Province illustrates that low livestock sales relates to the dysfunctional composition, sub-optimal reproductive potential and high calf mortality of smallholder herds. Conclusions and policy recommendations are offered.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/agrihb201

Mechanistic-empirical compatible traffic data generation : portable weigh-in-motion versus cluster analysis

Axle load distribution factors (ALDFs) are used as one of the primary traffic data inputs for mechanistic-empirical (ME) pavement design methods for predicting the impact of varying traffic loads on pavement performance with a higher degree of accuracy than empirical methods that are solely based on equivalent single axle load (ESAL) concept. Ideally, to ensure optimal pavement structural design, site-specific traffic load spectra data—generated from weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems—should be used during the pavement design process. However, because of the limited number of available permanent WIM stations (in Texas, for example), it is not feasible to generate a statewide ALDFs database for each highway or project from permanent WIM data. In this study, two possible alternative methods, namely, the direct measurement using a portable WIM system and the cluster analysis technique, were explored for generating site-specific ME-compatible traffic data for a highway test section, namely, state highway (SH) 7 in Bryan District (Texas). The traffic data were then used for estimating pavement performance using a ME pavement design software, namely, the Texas Mechanistic-Empirical Thickness Design System (TxME). The TxME-predicted pavement performance (e.g., rutting) using the portable WIM-generated traffic input parameters closely matched with the actual field performance. Overall, the study findings indicated that the portable WIM (with proper installation and calibration) constitutes an effective means for rapidly collecting reliable site-specific ME-compatible traffic data.https://www.astm.org/DIGITAL_LIBRARY/JOURNALS/TESTEVAL/index.html2021-05-01am2020Civil Engineerin

Ultra-broadband shielding of cellulose nanofiber commingled biocarbon functional constructs:A paradigm shift towards sustainable terahertz absorbers

Terahertz (THz) spectrum and technology are envisioned to be a highly promising solution for enabling 6G and beyond wireless networks. This demand coincides with an urgent need to develop efficient electromagnetic interference shields to alleviate electromagnetic pollution in the THz range. Fully bioderived THz shields could be a sustainable solution to transcend towards a biocarbon economy. Herein, we report an environmentally benign and facile approach to fabricating 3D porous ultra-light aerogels and flexible nanopapers from cellulose nanofibers and highly conductive biocarbon fully derived from biomass. These functional constructs showcased excellent broadband THz shielding performance in both sub THz (W band) and THz region (0.4–2.0 THz). The THz shielding effectiveness of a 600 µm thick nanopaper and 3.00 mm aerogel was found to be 46 dB and 70 dB, with superior THz absorption behaviour and minimal reflection of THz signals. The electronic structure and charge transfer properties were examined under an external electric field based on density-functional theory. The results show that the effect of the external electric field induces intramolecular charge transfer from the lower-graphitic sheet to the upper-graphitic sheet of the nanocomposite suitable for THz excitation. Moreover, these sustainable absorbers could deliver similar THz shielding performance compared to graphene foam (74 dB), exemplifying their humungous potential as advanced functional materials for futuristic THz devices

Measuring the contribution of γδ T cells to the persistent HIV reservoir

Objective:To study the contribution of γδ T cells to the persistent HIV reservoir.Design:Fifteen HIV-seropositive individuals on suppressive ART were included. We performed parallel quantitative viral outgrowth assays (QVOA) of resting CD4+ T (rCD4) cells in the presence or absence of γδ T cells.Methods:Resting αβ+CD4+ T cells were magnetically isolated from PBMCs using two different custom cocktails, only one kit contained antibodies to deplete γδ T cells, resulting in two populations: rCD4 cells and rCD4 cells depleted of γδ cells. Frequency of infection was analyzed by QVOA and DNA measurements.Results:Recovery of replication-competent HIV from cultures of rCD4 cells was similar in 11 individuals despite the presence of γδ T cells. In four donors, HIV recovery was lower when γδ T cells were present. Expression of the cytotoxic marker CD16+ on Vδ2 cells was the only variable associated with the lower HIV recovery. Our results highlight the potency of those responses since a mean of 10000 γδ T cells were present within 2.5 million rCD4 cells. However, despite the low frequency of γδ T cells, the presence of cytotoxic Vδ2 cells correlated with lower HIV recovery from cultures of rCD4 cells.Conclusion:Results of this study show that quantification of the contribution of γδ T cells to the reservoir is challenging because of their low numbers compared with conventional rCD4 cells and highlights the potent antiviral function of γδ T cells and the impact of their presence on the frequency of latent HIV infection

Antidepressant and skeletal muscle relaxant effects of the aqueous extract of the Prosopis cineraria

The aqueous leaves extract of Prosopis cineraria (AEPC) is used traditionally for the treatment of various CNS disorder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extract for antidepressant and skeletal muscle relaxant activity. The antidepressant effect of the extract was evaluated using Forced swim test (FST). The immobility periods of control and treated mice were recorded. The antidepressant-like effect of tested compound was compared to that of imipramine (15 mg/kg. p.o). Muscle relaxant property was studied using rotarod apparatus and total fall off time for standard and control group was recorded. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and phenolic compounds. The leaf extract at doses of 200 mg/kg significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in FST. The efficacy of tested extract was found to be comparable to that of imipramine. Our results suggested that the aqueous extract of Prosopis cineraria leaves exerts antidepressant-like effect.O extrato aquoso de folhas de Prosopis cineraria (AEPC) é utilizado, tradicionalmente, para o tratamento de várias disfunções do SNC. O propósito desse estudo foi avaliar o extrato quanto às atividades antidepressiva e relaxante muscular esquelética. O efeito antidepressivo do extrato foi avaliado usando o teste do nado forçado (FST). Registraram-se os períodos de imobilidade dos camundongos controle e dos tratados. O efeito antidepressivo do composto testado foi comparado com a imipramina ((15 mg/kg. p.o). A propriedade relaxante muscular foi estudada usando o cilindro giratório e o tempo total de queda para os grupos padrão e controle foram registrados. A triagem fitoquímica revelou a presença de saponinas, flavonoides, alcaloides, glicosídeos, taninos e compostos fenólicos. O extrato da folha em doses de 200 mg/kg diminui significativamente a duração do tempo de imobilidade no FST. A eficácia do extrato testado foi comparável àquela da imipramina. Nossos resultados sugeriram que o extrato aquoso das folhas da Prosopis cineraria exerce efeito semelhante ao antidepressivo

The timing of HIV-1 infection of cells that persist on therapy is not strongly influenced by replication competency or cellular tropism of the provirus

People with HIV-1 (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) can maintain undetectable virus levels, but a small pool of infected cells persists. This pool is largely comprised of defective proviruses that may produce HIV-1 proteins but are incapable of making infectious virus, with only a fraction (~10%) of these cells harboring intact viral genomes, some of which produce infectious virus following ex vivo stimulation (i.e. inducible intact proviruses). A majority of the inducible proviruses that persist on ART are formed near the time of therapy initiation. Here we compared proviral DNA (assessed here as 3’ half genomes amplified from total cellular DNA) and inducible replication competent viruses in the pool of infected cells that persists during ART to determine if the original infection of these cells occurred at comparable times prior to therapy initiation. Overall, the average percent of proviruses that formed late (i.e. around the time of ART initiation, 60%) did not differ from the average percent of replication competent inducible viruses that formed late (69%), and this was also true for proviral DNA that was hypermutated (57%). Further, there was no evidence that entry into the long-lived infected cell pool was impeded by the ability to use the CXCR4 coreceptor, nor was the formation of long-lived infected cells enhanced during primary infection, when viral loads are exceptionally high. We observed that infection of cells that transitioned to be long-lived was enhanced among people with a lower nadir CD4+ T cell count. Together these data suggest that the timing of infection of cells that become long-lived is impacted more by biological processes associated with immunodeficiency before ART than the replication competency and/ or cellular tropism of the infecting virus or the intactness of the provirus. Further research is needed to determine the mechanistic link between immunodeficiency and the timing of infected cells transitioning to the long-lived pool, particularly whether this is due to differences in infected cell clearance, turnover rates and/or homeostatic proliferation before and after ART

Refined histopathological predictors of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation status: A large-scale analysis of breast cancer characteristics from the BCAC, CIMBA, and ENIGMA consortia

Introduction: The distribution of histopathological features of invasive breast tumors in BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline mutation carriers differs from that of individuals with no known mutation. Histopathological features thus have utility for mutation prediction, including statistical modeling to assess pathogenicity of BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants of uncertain clinical significance. We analyzed large pathology datasets accrued by the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA) and the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) to reassess histopathological predictors of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation status, and provide robust likelihood ratio (LR) estimates for statistical modeling. Methods: Selection criteria for study/center inclusion were estrogen receptor (ER) status or grade data available for invasive breast cancer diagnosed younger than 70 years. The dataset included 4,477 BRCA1 mutation carriers, 2,565 BRCA2 mutation carriers, and 47,565 BCAC breast cancer cases. Country-stratified estimates of the

Associations of common breast cancer susceptibility alleles with risk of breast cancer subtypes in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Introduction: More than 70 common alleles are known to be involved in breast cancer (BC) susceptibility, and several exhibit significant heterogeneity in their associations with different BC subtypes. Although there are differences in the association patterns between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers and the general population for several loci, no study has comprehensively evaluated the associations of all known BC susceptibility alleles with risk of BC subtypes in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. Methods: We used data from 15,252 BRCA1 and 8,211 BRCA2 carriers to analyze the associations between approximately 200,000 genetic variants on the iCOGS array and risk of BC subtypes defined by estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and triple-negative- (TN) status; morphologic subtypes; histological grade; and nodal involvement. Results: The estimated BC hazard ratios (HRs) for the 74 known BC alleles in BRCA1 carriers exhibited moderate correlations with the corresponding odds ratios from the general population. However, their associations with ER-positive BC in BRCA1 carriers were more consistent with the ER-positive as

Assessing associations between the AURKAHMMR-TPX2-TUBG1 functional module and breast cancer risk in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers

While interplay between BRCA1 and AURKA-RHAMM-TPX2-TUBG1 regulates mammary epithelial polarization, common genetic variation in HMMR (gene product RHAMM) may be associated with risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 mutation carriers. Following on these observations, we further assessed the link between the AURKA-HMMR-TPX2-TUBG1 functional module and risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers. Forty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 15,252 BRCA1 and 8,211 BRCA2 mutation carriers and subsequently analyzed using a retrospective likelihood appr

Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia

Prof. Paunio on PGC:n jäsenPrevious studies have shown an increased risk for mental health problems in children born to both younger and older parents compared to children of average-aged parents. We previously used a novel design to reveal a latent mechanism of genetic association between schizophrenia and age at first birth in women (AFB). Here, we use independent data from the UK Biobank (N = 38,892) to replicate the finding of an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women, and to estimate the genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in women stratified into younger and older groups. We find evidence for an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women (P-value = 1.12E-05), and we show genetic heterogeneity between younger and older AFB groups (P-value = 3.45E-03). The genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in the younger AFB group is -0.16 (SE = 0.04) while that between schizophrenia and AFB in the older AFB group is 0.14 (SE = 0.08). Our results suggest that early, and perhaps also late, age at first birth in women is associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia in the UK Biobank sample. These findings contribute new insights into factors contributing to the complex bio-social risk architecture underpinning the association between parental age and offspring mental health.Peer reviewe