The molecular characterisation of Escherichia coli K1 isolated from neonatal nasogastric feeding tubes

Background: The most common cause of Gram-negative bacterial neonatal meningitis is E. coli K1. It has a mortality rate of 10–15%, and neurological sequelae in 30– 50% of cases. Infections can be attributable to nosocomial sources, however the pre-colonisation of enteral feeding tubes has not been considered as a specific risk factor. Methods: Thirty E. coli strains, which had been isolated in an earlier study, from the residual lumen liquid and biofilms of neonatal nasogastric feeding tubes were genotyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and 7-loci multilocus sequence typing. Potential pathogenicity and biofilm associated traits were determined using specific PCR probes, genome analysis, and in vitro tissue culture assays. Results: The E. coli strains clustered into five pulsotypes, which were genotyped as sequence types (ST) 95, 73, 127, 394 and 2076 (Achman scheme). The extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) phylogenetic group B2 ST95 serotype O1:K1:NM strains had been isolated over a 2 week period from 11 neonates who were on different feeding regimes. The E. coli K1 ST95 strains encoded for various virulence traits associated with neonatal meningitis and extracellular matrix formation. These strains attached and invaded intestinal, and both human and rat brain cell lines, and persisted for 48 h in U937 macrophages. E. coli STs 73, 394 and 2076 also persisted in macrophages and invaded Caco-2 and human brain cells, but only ST394 invaded rat brain cells. E. coli ST127 was notable as it did not invade any cell lines. Conclusions: Routes by which E. coli K1 can be disseminated within a neonatal intensive care unit are uncertain, however the colonisation of neonatal enteral feeding tubes may be one reservoir source which could constitute a serious health risk to neonates following ingestion

Tirannieke bewakers?

Geef studenten een uniform en een machtspositie, en ze veranderen al snelin tirannen. Met die conclusie is het Stanford Prison Experiment beroemdgeworden, opgezet door de psycholoog Philip Zimbardo (1933-2024). Maarkritiek is er ook steeds geweest, variërend van methodologischetekortkomingen tot ethische bezwaren, met een recent onderzoek dat zelfsde hoofdconclusie definitief ondermijnt. Toch biedt het experiment nog altijdbelangrijke inzichten.Social decision makin

Trainee psychologists’ experiences of providing psychosocial support to educators during COVID-19 in South Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the school going population in South Africa and Educators in the country were faced with several mental health challenges as a result. These mental health concerns coupled with the reality of living within the confines of a pandemic resulted in the need for psychosocial support. This resulted in formulation of workshops based on the needs of Educators, to be delivered via online means by Rhodes University postgraduate students in 2020 studying towards their Masters in Counselling Psychology. This study makes use of a case study approach to explore and examine the experiences of three of these students, so as to ascertain the implications of working online with groups amidst pandemic conditions. It explores how professional practice and the deployment of Community Psychologies have taken place during this period. Experiences encompassing the personal and professional development that occurred as part of engaging with Community-Based Service Learning during COVID–19 have been collected through the Single Question Inducing Narrative methodology, so as to enable the postgraduate student voice in the context of pandemic conditions to be added to the available literature, in an effort to position the application of Community Psychology critically within the South African context. It is hoped that the data generated from this study might assist in future programme planning and intervention, so as to encourage training standards to remain responsive to the times, whilst seeking insight into how value-laden praxis can be achieved through work at the intersections between theory and practice.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 202

"In the interests of justice?" The International Criminal Court, peace talks and the failed quest for war crimes accountability in northern Uganda

This article analyzes the first peace talks to take place against the backdrop of an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation: the Juba Talks between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda (2006–2008). Drawing on field research and original source material, it departs from well-worn peace versus justice debates and provides new empirical material to explore how the presence of the court shaped domestic political dynamics at Juba. It argues that at the level of broad rhetoric, the presence of the court created significant discord between negotiating parties. On a practical level, however, it created space for consensus, but not the type envisaged by international justice promoters. The court came to be seen by both sides as an intervention that needed to be contained and controlled. This resulted in the politically expedient Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation, which showcased a transitional justice “tool-kit,” but was based on a shared desire to evade the jurisdiction of international criminal justice. Given its practical complexity, the transitional justice agreement was ultimately rejected by Joseph Kony, who became increasingly distrustful of his own negotiating team at Juba. In findings relevant to other contexts, the article presents in-depth analyses of how domestic political dynamics around the ICC intervention produced a national transitional justice framework designed to protect both parties from war crimes accountability

Designing foresights by communities: a new groundbreaker role for strategic design

In order to humanize forecasting, communities have been proposed to activate and enlarge a collective ability of foresight. To better understand how communities relate to collective foresight abilities, this article untangles its critical modes, roles and social media involved. Based on a fine-grained analysis of 10 community practices, we uncovered the abilities of capturing, conceiving and designing foresights enacted in the distinct modes of creative, user and strategic communities. Discoveries included the novel abilities of conceiving foresights, a new groundbreaker role for strategic designers and specific activities of social media listening with regard to future interests. Grounded on the prime findings, we propose a framework with propositions that shape further theory development on community abilities of designing foresights. Further research directions are outlined

Social Design of Community Service Models with AIoT to Support Aging and Elders Well-Being -68

Along with the increase in average life expectancy, the world’s elderly population is expected to grow to 2.1 billion by 2050. Ageing marks a sensitive and vulnerable period of life, bringing loss of roles and functions and increased dependence on others, often reflected in a decline in quality of life. As everyone experiences ageing, the need to achieve a satisfactory old age for all in the future means that more research and a better systematic understanding of ageing and elder well-being are needed as changing demographics put growing pressure on public health and finance, and the provision of long-term care becomes increasingly inadequate. In this study, we have systematically scoped three streams of literature, design, social studies and digital technology based on Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) methodological framework. With this RSD presentation, we will report on our ongoing work, scoping our research on three core elements: Aging and elder well-being, Community services and AIoT (Artificial intelligence and Internet of Things). Our preliminary review revealed a cluster of ethnographic studies on ‘ageing in place’ in which community services appeared to be of interest. Several survey studies confirm that most elders prefer to receive care from their families rather than in institutions. In a cluster with a systemic lens, community services have been studied to become an increasingly important model of long-term care a few have demonstrated that community services are more effective in supporting elders’ interests and care preferences. Within the digital technology stream, an emerging cluster of studies proposes Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (AIoT) as potential solutions to the challenges associated with an ageing society. AIoT integrated into elderly care expands the range of services and supports social well-being. Experimental studies with prototyped technologies are studied in relation to outcomes of improving the self-care experience of elders at home and how AIoT facilitates the development and sharing of their unique coping strategies, thereby maintaining their vitality and independence. However, the volume of the literature shows that only a few studies have included AIoT as part of community service. Overall, our systemic review work in progress unpacks the relevant literature into different clusters and categories, including theoretical lenses, research methods, findings and outcomes. The initial charting of the studies indicates that despite the accumulation of previous research, the current body of knowledge on the interplay of ageing and elder well-being, community services, and AIoT is underdeveloped, with unresolved issues at multiple levels of the community care model, including policy, organisation, services and individuals

Verminderen van financiële stress bij studenten: KCPEG onderzoeksrapport

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