The reasons for the low market penetration of banking services in South Africa

It is estimated 16-million out of a potential 30-million adults in South Africa are currently unbanked. A number of collaborative initiatives between the banking sector and the government have been introduced to address the problem with limited results. This study focuses on interrogating the data obtained through the FinScope 2005 survey to challenge the assumptions on which these initiatives are based.The FinScope 2005 survey interviewed 3885 individuals across all nine provinces in South Africa. In addition to the banking status of the respondent, information was gathered on financial literacy, employment and trust in the banking segment. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, tests of independence and correlation matrices were used to determine the relationships between financial literacy, employment and trust and the banking status of the respondent.The respondent’s banking status was found to be dependent on financial literacy and employment but there was no evidence of dependence on trust in the banking segment. The correlation between the dependent variables was found to be low indicating that individually they do not fully explain the banking status. Further research is recommended to create a representative model.Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)unrestricte

Exploring the benefits of outdoor activity participation in national parks: a case study of the Peak District National Park, England

This study aims to explore the role that regular outdoor activity participation in national parks plays in subjective wellbeing (SWB). It also considers the influences on SWB, including the national park environment, resilience-building, coping skills, mental health and stress alleviation. There is a wealth of research on the benefits of outdoor recreation in natural settings, yet studies which specifically examine the impacts of regular activity engagement in national parks are scarcer. Using the Peak District National Park (England) as a case study, fifteen online stakeholder interviews were conducted, probing participants about their outdoor recreation experiences both during and before the onset of the pandemic. Findings suggest that frequent outdoor activity participation in the Park positively influences coping, resilience and subjective wellbeing, and, relatedly, helps to improve mental health, and alleviate stress. These outcomes are valuable for dealing with the vicissitudes of everyday life and in facilitating long term SWB

TIE1 and TEK signalling, intraocular pressure, and primary open-angle glaucoma: a Mendelian randomization study

Background: In primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only proven way of slowing vision loss. Schlemm’s canal (SC) is a hybrid vascular and lymphatic vessel that mediates aqueous humour drainage from the anterior ocular chamber. Animal studies support the importance of SC endothelial angiopoietin-TEK signalling, and more recently TIE1 signalling, in maintaining normal IOP. However, human genetic support for a causal role of TIE1 and TEK signalling in lowering IOP is currently lacking. Methods: GWAS summary statistics were obtained for plasma soluble TIE1 (sTIE1) protein levels (N = 35,559), soluble TEK (sTEK) protein levels (N = 35,559), IOP (N = 139,555) and POAG (Ncases = 16,677, Ncontrols = 199,580). Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed to estimate the association of genetically proxied TIE1 and TEK protein levels with IOP and POAG liability. Where significant MR estimates were obtained, genetic colocalization was performed to assess the probability of a shared causal variant (PPshared) versus distinct (PPdistinct) causal variants underlying TIE1/TEK signalling and the outcome. Publicly available single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data were leveraged to investigate differential expression of TIE1 and TEK in the human ocular anterior segment. Results: Increased genetically proxied TIE1 signalling and TEK signalling associated with a reduction in IOP (− 0.21 mmHg per SD increase in sTIE1, 95% CI = − 0.09 to − 0.33 mmHg, P = 6.57 × 10–4, and − 0.14 mmHg per SD decrease in sTEK, 95% CI = − 0.03 to − 0.25 mmHg, P = 0.011), but not with POAG liability. Colocalization analysis found that the probability of a shared causal variant was greater for TIE1 and IOP than for TEK and IOP (PPshared/(PPdistinct + PPshared) = 0.98 for TIE1 and 0.30 for TEK). In the anterior segment, TIE1 and TEK were preferentially expressed in SC, lymphatic, and vascular endothelium. Conclusions: This study provides novel human genetic support for a causal role of both TIE1 and TEK signalling in regulating IOP. Here, combined evidence from cis-MR and colocalization analyses provide stronger support for TIE1 than TEK as a potential IOP-lowering therapeutic target

TIE1 and TEK signalling, intraocular pressure, and primary open-angle glaucoma: a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND: In primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only proven way of slowing vision loss. Schlemm's canal (SC) is a hybrid vascular and lymphatic vessel that mediates aqueous humour drainage from the anterior ocular chamber. Animal studies support the importance of SC endothelial angiopoietin-TEK signalling, and more recently TIE1 signalling, in maintaining normal IOP. However, human genetic support for a causal role of TIE1 and TEK signalling in lowering IOP is currently lacking. METHODS: GWAS summary statistics were obtained for plasma soluble TIE1 (sTIE1) protein levels (N = 35,559), soluble TEK (sTEK) protein levels (N = 35,559), IOP (N = 139,555) and POAG (Ncases = 16,677, Ncontrols = 199,580). Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed to estimate the association of genetically proxied TIE1 and TEK protein levels with IOP and POAG liability. Where significant MR estimates were obtained, genetic colocalization was performed to assess the probability of a shared causal variant (PPshared) versus distinct (PPdistinct) causal variants underlying TIE1/TEK signalling and the outcome. Publicly available single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data were leveraged to investigate differential expression of TIE1 and TEK in the human ocular anterior segment. RESULTS: Increased genetically proxied TIE1 signalling and TEK signalling associated with a reduction in IOP (- 0.21 mmHg per SD increase in sTIE1, 95% CI = - 0.09 to - 0.33 mmHg, P = 6.57 × 10-4, and - 0.14 mmHg per SD decrease in sTEK, 95% CI = - 0.03 to - 0.25 mmHg, P = 0.011), but not with POAG liability. Colocalization analysis found that the probability of a shared causal variant was greater for TIE1 and IOP than for TEK and IOP (PPshared/(PPdistinct + PPshared) = 0.98 for TIE1 and 0.30 for TEK). In the anterior segment, TIE1 and TEK were preferentially expressed in SC, lymphatic, and vascular endothelium. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel human genetic support for a causal role of both TIE1 and TEK signalling in regulating IOP. Here, combined evidence from cis-MR and colocalization analyses provide stronger support for TIE1 than TEK as a potential IOP-lowering therapeutic target

The gender paradox: understanding the role of masculinity in suicidal ideation

It is important to understand the role of social determinants, such as gender, in suicidal ideation. This study examined whether conformity to specific masculine norms, particularly high self-reliance and emotional self-control, moderated the relationship between psychological distress and suicidal ideation for men. The other norms explored were those pertaining to behavioral–emotional or social hierarchy status aspects of masculinity, and whether they moderated the psychological distress–suicidal ideation relationship for men and women. The Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale were administered to an Australian community sample in an online survey ( n = 486). As predicted, higher psychological distress was associated with higher suicidal ideation. Self-reliance enhanced the relationship and was the only moderator among men. High self-reliance levels might be an important indicator of risk, which can be used when assessing and working with men who are hesitant to openly discuss suicidal ideation with clinicians. For female participants, higher endorsement of behavioral–emotional norms and lower conformity to social hierarchy status norms appear to increase suicide risk in the presence of psychological distress. Our findings suggest that high self-reliance is of particular concern for men experiencing psychological distress. It is also important to consider the roles of masculine norm endorsement in the psychological distress–suicidal ideation relationship among women

Social connectedness and suicidal ideation: the roles of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness in the distress to suicidal ideation pathway

Background Suicide is a serious public health issue. Distress has been identified as a common risk factor, with research also suggesting that a lack of social connectedness is involved. Methods This quantitative, cross-sectional study investigated the role of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness in the psychological distress/suicidal ideation pathway in a community sample of 480 Australian adults. Results As expected, distress was found to be a strong predictor of suicidal ideation. Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness both moderated and mediated the relationship between distress and suicidal ideation. Specifically, distress was more strongly linked to suicide ideation when burdensomeness or thwarted belongingness were also high. This moderating effect was stronger for thwarted belongingness than it was for burdensomeness. These variables also mediated the pathway, in that higher distress related to higher burdensomeness and thwarted belonging, which in turn related to higher suicide ideation. This mediating effect was stronger for burdensomeness than for thwarted belonging. Conclusions Overall, the findings confirm the importance of our social relatedness in suicide. Increasing belongingness and reducing the perception of being a burden on others may be an important intervention strategy for weakening the link between distress and suicide ideation

Challenging homophobic bullying in schools: the politics of progress

In recent years homophobic bullying has received increased attention from NGOs, academics and government sources and concern about the issue crosses traditional moral and political divisions. This article examines this ‘progressive’ development and identifies the ‘conditions of possibility’ that have enabled the issue to become a harm that can be spoken of. In doing so it questions whether the readiness to speak about the issue represents the opposite to prohibitions on speech (such as the notorious Section 28) or whether it is based on more subtle forms of governance. It argues that homophobic bullying is heard through three key discourses (‘child abuse’, ‘the child victim’ and ‘the tragic gay’) and that, while enabling an acknowledgement of certain harms, they simultaneously silence other needs and experiences. It then moves to explore the aspirational and ‘liberatory’ political investments that underlie these seemingly ‘common-sense’ descriptive discourses and concludes with a critique of the quasi-criminal responses that the dominant political agenda of homophobic bullying gives rise to. The article draws on, and endeavours to develop a conversation between, critical engagements with the contemporary politics of both childhood and sexuality

Linking Auxin with Photosynthetic Rate via Leaf Venation

International audienceLand plants lose vast quantities of water to the atmosphere during photosynthetic gas exchange. In angiosperms, a complex network of veins irrigates the leaf, and it is widely held that the density and placement of these veins determines maximum leaf hydraulic capacity and thus maximum photosynthetic rate. This theory is largely based on interspecific comparisons and has never been tested using vein mutants to examine the specific impact of leaf vein morphology on plant water relations. Here we characterize mutants at the Crispoid (Crd) locus in pea (Pisum sativum), which have altered auxin homeostasis and activity in developing leaves, as well as reduced leaf vein density and aberrant placement of free-ending veinlets. This altered vein phenotype in crd mutant plants results in a significant reduction in leaf hydraulic conductance and leaf gas exchange. We find Crispoid to be a member of the YUCCA family of auxin biosynthetic genes. Our results link auxin biosynthesis with maximum photosynthetic rate through leaf venation and substantiate the theory that an increase in the density of leaf veins coupled with their efficient placement can drive increases in leaf photosynthetic capacity