The incidence and associated risk factors of injury in professional golfers

Background Golf has become an immensely popular sport around the globe. The competitiveness of golf and the livelihood it provides to the professional players has led to copious amounts of training and individuals pushing the physiological limits of their bodies in order to play the perfect stroke. Therefore, this population is prone to injury, with prevalence of injury as high as 60%. Literature has shown the lower back to be the most frequently injured anatomical region. There is still a lack of evidence regarding the cause of these high injury rates amongst the professional golfers. Furthermore, investigation of the incidence or associated risk factors of injury has not been conducted amongst the professional players from South Africa. The importance of identifying associated risk factors of injury in this population is of vital importance as this could potentially influence their livelihood directly. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of overall and region-specific injury in professional South African golfers. Furthermore, the potential risk factors leading to these injuries were investigated. Results 17 participants (60.7%) reported an injury and a total of 23 index injuries were documented. The incidence rate of injury was 3.27/1000hrs of playing golf. The most frequently injured anatomical regions were the lower back and shoulder (26.1%). There were statistically significant differences in the joint range of motion of horizontal adduction of the leading shoulder (p=0.04) between the group reporting an injury compared to the group with no injury. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found in decreased range of motion of internal rotation of the trailing shoulder (p=0.04) in the group with a shoulder injury compared to the group without a shoulder injury, and as well as in the group with hip pain compared to the group without hip pain (p=0.048). The group with hip injuries also showed a decreased range of motion of external rotation of the leading hip (p=0.048). Furthermore, a decreased range of motion of external rotation of the leading shoulder had a statistically significant difference (p=0.026) between the group that reported a wrist injury and the group that did not. The group that reported lumbar spine injuries had significant decreased range of motion of external rotation in the trailing shoulder (p=0.031), horizontal adduction of the trailing shoulder (p=0.015), horizontal adduction of leading shoulder (p=0.029), and internal rotation of the leading hip (p=0.003). Furthermore, the uninjured group spent more hours on total training in the eleventh week, which also presented a statistically significant difference (p=0.03). Conclusion In conclusion, injuries amongst professional golfers are common and the anatomical regions most affected are the lower back and the shoulder. Improving the range of motion of the leading and trailing shoulder horizontal adduction, trailing shoulder internal and external rotation, and internal rotation of the leading hip range of motion by means of mobility exercises could potentially minimize the risk of sustaining injury amongst professional golfers. Training volume did not present a statistically significant difference between the injured and uninjured groups in overall or region-specific injuries

Policies and scenarios for Cape Town's energy future: options for sustainable city energy development

This study examines a set of energy policy interventions, which can make a major contribution to sustainable development for the City of Cape Town – economically, environmentally and socially. Major energy savings can be made from modal shifts in the transport sector, and with efficient lighting. The savings make a contribution to economic development, by freeing up resources. The savings from energy efficiency also have important social benefits in energy savings, reducing energy bills for poor households. From an environmental point of view, implementing the city’s renewable energy target will have significant costs, but these can be partly off-set by selling carbon credits through the Clean Development Mechanism, and will result in indirect health benefits. Targeted interventions can reduce local air pollution, and help Cape Town become a leader in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. Apart from examining the social, economic and environmental dimensions of each policy, this paper compares policies to one another. Of particular interest for sustainable energy development are those policies which are viable in terms of costs, social benefits and the environment. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in residential, commercial and government sectors and heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in commerce and government sectors stand out as policies that have benefits from every angle. The paper builds on previous work done on the ‘state of energy’ for Cape Town and develops a tool that can paint a picture of what might happen to energy in the future. Using the Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) modelling tool, a set of energy policies have been simulated

Changes in Vitamin A and C Levels In Black Mine-Workers

An investigation of the vitamin A and C status of Black mine-workers was carried out at the request of the Anglo American Corporation of South Africa Ltd. It was found that, although there was no evidence of widespread vitamin A deficiency, there was sufficient evidence of subclinical deficiency to warrant further investigation. In spite of apparently adequate vitamin C intakes, a relatively high incidence of subclinical vitamin C deficiency was found. It is strongly recommended that further studies be undertaken to establish what are the minimum levels of vitamin A and C required daily to reduce effectively the incidence of subclinical deficiency

A re-evaluation of Penicillium section Canescentia, including the description of five new species

A survey of Penicillium in the fynbos biome from South Africa resulted in the isolation of 61 species of which 29 were found to be new. In this study we focus on Penicillium section Canescentia, providing a phylogenetic re-evaluation based on the analysis of partial beta-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) sequence data. Based on phylogenies we show that five fynbos species are new and several previously assigned synonyms of P. canescens and P. janczewskii should be considered as distinct species. As such, we provide descriptions for the five new species and introduce the new name P. elizabethiae for the illegitimate P. echinatum. We also update the accepted species list and synonymies of section Canescentia species and provide a review of extrolites produced by these species.South African Biosystematics Initiative (SABI); Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) of the National Research Foundation (NRF); Future Leaders - African Independent Research fellowship programme (FLAIR); Novo Nordisk Foundation; Project INTARACT.https://www.persoonia.orgpm2022BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

Phylogenetic relationships of the newly discovered sexual state of Talaromyces flavovirens, comb. nov.

Typical Talaromyces ascomata were observed on dry Quercus suber leaf litter amongst the characteristic synnemata of Penicillium aureocephalum, and they appear to represent the sexual state of the latter species. The species is a synonym of the older Lasioderma flavovirens, and we propose the new combination Talaromyces flavovirens. Lectotype and epitype specimens are designated for this name. The defining characters of the asexual state include yellow, short-stalked, mycetozoan-like synnemata with an unusual, almost closed terminal head of penicillate conidiophores intermixed with sinuous hyphae, and dark green conidia. Ascomata could not be induced in culture, but PCR amplifications of mating-type genes indicate the species is heterothallic. In nature, ascocarp initials appear to be antheridia coiled around clavate ascogonia, similar to those of T. flavus, and the thick-walled, spiny ascospores are also similar to those of T. flavus. ITS barcodes and β-tubulin sequences place T. flavovirens in a clade with T. apiculatus, T. flavus, T. funiculosus, T. galapagensis, T. pinophilus, T. macrosporus, and seven other species

Solving road (and pedestrian) safety problems through sustainable job creation in our communities

Paper presented at the 31st Annual Southern African Transport Conference 9-12 July 2012 "Getting Southern Africa to Work", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.Southern Africa faces many challenges, amongst others unemployment and road deaths, almost half of the road fatalities being pedestrians. Innovative solutions for solving road safety (and especially pedestrian safety) challenges in our rural communities can be achieved by involving the local community in the solution. This should be done in such a way that the local community members actively participate in road safety and particularly pedestrian safety education. Training is one way of achieving this goal. The experience in labour intensive construction infrastructure provision in rural and urban communities can be applied in community pedestrian safety projects. This paper will indicate how facilitating the forming of a steering committee (representing the local community, local school, SAPS, Traffic), implementing authorities (municipal, provincial, toll concessionaire), implementing agent (consultants, project managers) and training in this case a community safety/pedestrian officer, (instead of the usual community liaison officer) who can implement the community pedestrian project can be used to enhance existing road safety education in schools. The added advantages of such projects includes the creation of creating sustainable jobs, meaningful employment and sustained road safety awareness in communities, empowerment of local communities, involvement and buy-in of communities at large. Private enterprises involved in these road safety initiatives have the added advantage of funding such projects with Corporate Social Investment funding, with significant benefits for such companies. Other examples of innovative road safety projects that create employment will also be discussed. Specifically the for example the pointsmen that an insurance company has placed at intersections during peak traffic to assist with traffic flow and improved road safety.This paper was transferred from the original CD ROM created for this conference. The material was published using Adobe Acrobat 10.1.0 Technology. The original CD ROM was produced by Document Transformation Technologies Postal Address: PO Box 560 Irene 0062 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 667 2074 Fax: +27 12 667 2766 E-mail: nigel@doctech URL: http://www.doctech.co.zadm201

A new Paecilomyces from wooden utility poles in South Africa

During a survey of fungi on electricity utility poles in South Africa, a diverse range of fungi were discovered. Paecilomyces was frequently isolated, with five species identified using ITS and β-tubulin (BenA) sequences. These were P. brunneolus, P. dactylethromorphus, P. lecythidis, P. paravariotii and a potential new species. The genomes of 30 of these strains were subsequently sequenced and used in a phylogenomic analysis with 45 previously published genomes of the genus. Phylogenetic analyses were also conducted using ITS, BenA, calmodulin (CaM), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), the genes coding for the theta subunit of the TCP-1 chaperonin complex (Cct8), and for a putative ribosome biogenesis protein (Tsr1). Both phylogenomic and phylogenetic analyses supported the 15 Paecilomyces species currently accepted and confirmed the novelty of the new species, which we describe as P. lignorum. The latter is the sister species of P. brunneolus and belongs to a clade also containing P. variotii and P. paravariotii. Morphologically, the new species produces longer ellipsoidal conidia and grows more restricted on malt extract agar at 30 °C compared to its closest relatives.The National Research Foundation (NRF), Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), the THRIP initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (RISE) under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant.https://fuse-journal.orghj2024BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologySDG-15:Life on lan

Policies and scenarios for Cape Town’s energy future: Options for sustainable city energy development

This study examines a set of energy policy interventions, which can make a major contribution to sustainable development for the City of Cape Town – economically, environmentally and socially. Major energy savings can be made from modal shifts in the transport sector, and with efficient lighting. The savings make a contribution to economic development, by freeing up resources. The savings from energy efficiency also have important social benefits in energy savings, reducing energy bills for poor households. From an environmental point of view, implementing the city’s renewable energy target will have significant costs, but these can be partly off-set by selling carbon credits through the Clean Development Mechanism, and will result in indirect health benefits. Targeted interventions can reduce local air pollution, and help Cape Town become a leader in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. Apart from examining the social, economic and environmental dimensions of each policy, this paper compares policies to one another. Of particular interest for sustainable energy development are those policies which are viable in terms of costs, social benefits and the environment. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in residential, commercial and government sectors and heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in commerce and government sectors stand out as policies that have benefits from every angle. The paper builds on previous work done on the ‘state of energy’ for Cape Town and develops a tool that can paint a picture of what might happen to energy in the future. Using the Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) modelling tool, a set of energy policies have been simulated

A survey of xerophilic Aspergillus from indoor environment, including descriptions of two new section Aspergillus species producing eurotium-like sexual states

Volume: 19Start Page: 1End Page: 3

Da Vinci’s yeast : Blastobotrys davincii f.a., sp. nov.

A new species of the yeast genus Blastobotrys was discovered during a worldwide survey of culturable xerophilic fungi in house dust. Several culture dependent and independent studies from around the world detected the same species from a wide range of substrates including indoor air, cave wall paintings, bats, mummies, and the iconic self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci from ca 1512. However, none of these studies identified their strains, clones or OTUs as Blastobotrys. We introduce the new species as Blastobotrys davincii f.a., sp. nov. (holotype CBS H-24879) and delineate it from other species using morphological, phylogenetic, and physiological characters. The new species of asexually (anamorphic) budding yeast is classified in Trichomonascaceae and forms a clade along with its associated sexual state genus Trichomonascus. Despite the decade-old requirement to use a single generic name for fungi, both names are still used. Selection of the preferred name awaits a formal nomenclatural proposal. We present arguments for adopting Blastobotrys over Trichomonascus and introduce four new combinations as Blastobotrys allociferrii (≡ Candida allociferrii), B. fungorum (≡ Sporothrix fungorum), B. mucifer (≡ Candida mucifera) and Blastobotrys vanleenenianus (≡ Trichomonascus vanleenenianus). We provide a nomenclatural review and an accepted species list for the 37 accepted species in the Blastobotrys/Trichomonascus clade. Finally, we discuss the identity of the DNA clones detected on the da Vinci portrait, and the importance of using appropriate media to isolate xerophilic or halophilic fungi.The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Program on the Microbiology of the Built Environment.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10970061hj2022BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog