Factors predicting habitat use by leopards in human-altered landscapes

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA SD1.—Univariate analyses results for male and female leopard occurrence probability at the fine and large spatial scales.Transformed landscapes caused by human activity leave remnant patches of natural habitat for wildlife. The persistence of species in the face of such transformation depends on individuals’ ability to adapt to novel habitat, and to secure resources and reproductive opportunities despite habitat alterations. The leopard, Panthera pardus, is the last free-roaming top carnivore in South Africa whose high trophic status and wide-ranging movements make them an effective focal species in conservation planning. Using location data from leopards, we investigated key correlates of habitat selection in human-altered landscapes at two spatial scales. We compared sex-related differences and predicted how conspecific home range locations influenced habitat selection. Leopards avoided human-altered landscapes more strongly at the large spatial scale, where both sexes selected core areas near formally protected areas. Conspecific home range locations had a strong positive effect at both spatial scales for males, while for females, conspecifics explained fine-scale habitat selection by selecting areas near neighboring females. Spatial scale, sex-related differences, and conspecific location play roles in habitat selection for solitary felids and have implications for conservation planning and management. Excluding these factors may result in inappropriate species management policies.Development Bank South Africa, United Nations Environmental Programme, United Nations Development Programme, Green Fund, Global Environmental Facility, Global Environment Facility/Small Grants Programme, Henry and Iris Englund Foundation, National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund, Mones Michaels Trust, Tamarisk Trust, Timothy Allsop, ABAX Foundation, Table Mountain Fund, Vodacom Foundation, Deutsche Bank Foundation (RSA), Brad Banducci, and Arne Hanson.https://academic.oup.com/jmammalhj2023Mammal Research Institut

Neurophysiologic, phenomenological, cultural, social and spiritual correlates of empathy experiences: integral psychological and person centered perspectives

The main objective of this research was to explore neurophysiologic, phenomenological, cultural and social correlates of recipients’ experiences of empathy within the context of Wilber’s Integral approach and Person Centered theory and practice. Thirteen psychologists participated as co-researchers in a triangulated, within subjects’ post-test experimental design in which empathy data were compared with data from control conditions of factual information processing and rest. A consistent pattern emerged from data gathered. Empathy experiences were associated with an unexpected, statistically significant increase in alpha activity, with some associated increasing trends in theta and beta activity. Expected findings were significant decreases in delta activity accompanied by decreasing  trends in gamma wave activity, muscle tension, heart and respiration rate. Individual experiences generally reflected an affective, interpersonal,  cultural, social and spiritual state of normal waking consciousness. Participant consensus was that the neurophysiologic and other correlates corresponded truthfully with typical empathic moments, insights and/or peak experiences, which are associated with effective therapeutic change in traditional and contemporary healing contexts.Key words: Neurophysiologic, phenomenological, cultural, social, spiritual, correlates, empathy experiences, integral psychology, person centered psychotherap

High-levels of acquired drug resistance in adult patients failing first-line antiretroviral therapy in a rural HIV treatment programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and patterns of acquired antiretroviral drug resistance in a rural primary health care programme in South Africa. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study nested within HIV treatment programme. METHODS: Adult (≥ 18 years) HIV-infected individuals initially treated with a first-line stavudine- or zidovudine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen and with evidence of virological failure (one viral load >1000 copies/ml) were enrolled from 17 rural primary health care clinics. Genotypic resistance testing was performed using the in-house SATuRN/Life Technologies system. Sequences were analysed and genotypic susceptibility scores (GSS) for standard second-line regimens were calculated using the Stanford HIVDB 6.0.5 algorithms. RESULTS: A total of 222 adults were successfully genotyped for HIV drug resistance between December 2010 and March 2012. The most common regimens at time of genotype were stavudine, lamivudine and efavirenz (51%); and stavudine, lamivudine and nevirapine (24%). Median duration of ART was 42 months (interquartile range (IQR) 32-53) and median duration of antiretroviral failure was 27 months (IQR 17-40). One hundred and ninety one (86%) had at least one drug resistance mutation. For 34 individuals (15%), the GSS for the standard second-line regimen was <2, suggesting a significantly compromised regimen. In univariate analysis, individuals with a prior nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) substitution were more likely to have a GSS <2 than those on the same NRTIs throughout (odds ratio (OR) 5.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.60-12.49). CONCLUSIONS: There are high levels of drug resistance in adults with failure of first-line antiretroviral therapy in this rural primary health care programme. Standard second-line regimens could potentially have had reduced efficacy in about one in seven adults involved

Factors shaping prayer frequency among 9- to 11-year-olds

This paper begins by reviewing the evidence from international research concerning the personal and social correlates of prayer frequency during childhood and adolescence. Overall these data continue to support the view that young people who pray not only report higher levels of personal wellbeing but also report higher levels of pro-social attitudes. These findings raise a research question of particular relevance within church schools regarding the factors that predict higher levels of prayer activity among students. The Student Voice Project offers data that can illuminate this research question. Among the 3,101 9- to 11-year old students who participated in the project 11% prayed daily, 9% at least once a week, 32% sometimes, 11% once or twice a year, and 37% never. The present paper tests the power of four sets of predictor variables to account for individual differences in prayer frequency among these students: personal factors (age and sex), psychological factors (using the three dimensional model of personality proposed by Eysenck), church attendance (self, mother, and father), and family discussion about prayer (mother, father, and grandparents). Multiple regression analyses identified the discussion of prayer with the mother as the single most important predictor. These findings locate the development of the practice of prayer within the home, even more than within the church

The relationship between courage and personal moral philosophy in a morally intense situation

When faced with a morally intense situation, determining what the right thing to do is easy. Instead, ultimately doing the right thing is a major source of ethical dilemmas for business leaders. This is due to the often-conflicting business interest against the individual s personal values. It therefore follows that a person s courage should play a huge role in assisting business leaders to remain true to their convictions. As such, this study set out to investigate the relationship between an individual s levels of courage and their personal moral philosophy when placed in a morally intense situation. Using a quasi-experimental approach, this study created a morally intense situation by manipulating Jones (1991) six dimensions of moral intensity. Research participants were requested to experimentally immerse themselves in the case study and to take decisions on various situations posed to them. All participants were then measured on personal levels of courage using Woodard-Pury s (2007) courage scale; and on their personal moral philosophies using Forsyth s (1980) Ethics Positioning Questionnaire (EPQ). The results were statistically analysed to determine if there is a relationship between business leaders levels of courage and their moral philosophies; and the influence that these have when they were placed in a morally intense situation. The participants of this study were 118 first year Masters of Business Administration (MBA) students who occupy on average middle-manager positions within large international corporates in South Africa. The study found that when faced with ethical dilemmas in the workplace; as presented through the morally intense case study; those business leaders with a relative moral philosophy take decisions in line with their personal moral philosophies. In addition, the study proved that though there is no relationship between courage and personal moral philosophy in a morally intense situation; for those with a relative ideology; the willingness to act might have a moderation effect when an individual is placed in a morally intense situation. This means that the willingness component of courage accounts for some level of the ultimate decision taken. This is particularly positive for business as it indicates that though business leaders do not need to be courageous to do what they believe is right, they have to be willing to act righteously in order for the probability of taking the right action to increase. The study found this to be true for situations with high levels of moral intensity.Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.ms2016Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)MBAUnrestricte