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Statistical methods in the analysis of multicentre HIV randomized controlled trials in the African region: a scoping review
Full text linkDATA AVAILABILITY : The data used during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.BACKGROUND : The majority of phase 3 clinical trials are implemented in multiple sites or centres, which inevitably leads to a correlation between observations from the same site or centre. This correlation must be carefully considered in both the design and the statistical analysis to ensure an accurate interpretation of the results and reduce the risk of biased results. This scoping review aims to provide a detailed statistical method used to analyze data collected from multicentre HIV randomized controlled trials in the African region.
METHODS : This review followed the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. We searched four databases (PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science) and retrieved 977 articles, 34 of which were included in the review.
RESULTS : Data charting revealed that the most used statistical methods for analysing HIV endpoints in multicentre randomized controlled trials in Africa were standard survival analysis techniques (24 articles [71%]). Approximately 47% of the articles used stratified analysis methods to account for variations across different sites. Out of 34 articles reviewed, only 6 explicitly considered intra-site correlation in the analysis.
CONCLUSIONS : Our scoping review provides insights into the statistical methods used to analyse HIV data in multicentre randomized controlled trials in Africa and highlights the need for standardized reporting of statistical methods.As part of the PhD degree, this study was funded by the South African Medical Research Council.https://bmcmedresmethodol.biomedcentral.comhj2024StatisticsSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein
Soy protein–xanthan gum noncovalent interactions : exploring functional outcomes and food applications
No full textSoy proteins stand out as the primary choice among plant-based proteins in commercial use due to their functional characteristics, wide availability, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly nature. However, their inherent functional constraints may limit the technological applicability of commercially available soy proteins. The interaction between soy protein and charged polysaccharides through noncovalent bonds provides a straightforward and scalable method to enhance functional properties and expand the range of applications. With its anionic properties, xanthan gum possesses distinct structural and conformational attributes that effectively improve plant proteins’ properties, across various conditions. This review explores the realm of noncovalent interactions between soy protein and xanthan gum, elucidating their mechanisms and the resulting complex properties. Additionally, the utilization of these complexes in diverse applications, including encapsulating bioactive compounds, producing low-fat foods, creating meat alternatives, formulating starch-based products, and enhancing bakery and beverage formulations, is examined. The review also discusses the challenges associated with producing and applying soy protein–xanthan gum complexes while outlining the prospects. Emphasis is placed on the critical need to scale up the production and utilization of these complexes in developing calorie-conscious and elderly friendly food products.https://pubs.acs.org/journal/afsthl2025-12-29hj2024Consumer and Food SciencesSDG-02:Zero Hunge
Enhancing international business competence : how cognitive and exposure training approaches matter
Full text linkThe article is part of doctoral research by the first author at Leipzig University.Earlier versions of this article were presented at the IBR/EIBA Young IB Scholars Workshop (January 13, 2023), European International Business Association (EIBA) Conference, and JIBS Paper Development Workshop at the Norwegian Business School, Oslo (7–11 December 2022).This study draws insights from knowledge acquisition theory to examine how cognitive and exposure training approaches explain differences in international business competence (IBC). Following an interpretive phenomenological approach and in-depth interviews with 23 business school professors and 32 business executives on in-service training programs, the study finds that six major learning processes, which consolidate into cognitive-driven and exposure-driven training approaches, contribute to differences in IBC. The cognitive-driven training approach emphasizes the use of explicit knowledge activities, depth of interaction with internationally sourced academics and professionals, and breadth of international research and study contents to enhance IBC. Exposure-driven training focuses on fostering tacit knowledge activities, diversity of cultural experiences and skills, and participation in international affairs to build IBC. The implications of these findings for knowledge acquisition theory, practice, and policy are discussed.Doctoral research supported by the ACCESS Network through funding from DAAD with funds from the Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ). The Open Science Office at the Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig facilitated and coordinated funding for Open Access.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rajm20hj2024Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)SDG-04:Quality EducationSDG-17:Partnerships for the goal
Identification of potential sites for rainwater harvesting structures as an adaptation to drought emergencies in Eswatini
Full text linkWater scarcity is a global problem exacerbated by the ever-increasing population and climate change, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Diferent water resource management strategies, such as rainwater harvesting, have been proposed and implemented worldwide to combat water shortage. Mapping of the optimum sites where these rainwater harvesting structures can be constructed is very important. The main objective of this study was to map and identify, using GIS, optimum sites for the construction of rainwater harvesting structures (farm ponds, check dams and percolation ponds) for agricultural and peri-urban purposes in Eswatini. The optimum sites were identified by overlaying various thematic layers including land use and cover, slope, runof potential, soil texture and depth and drainage density using ArcGIS 10.8. A general rainwater harvesting suitability map was produced for Eswatini, then potential sites for diferent rainwater harvesting structures were identified. The results of the study indicated that all three rainwater harvesting structures have suitable sites where they can be constructed. Check dams have potential sites which cover 22.7% of the suitable area in Eswatini, while farm pond and percolation pond sites covers 19.7% and 65%, respectively. Information on existing structures such as dams and earth dams for water storage may need to be gathered to verify the proposed sites of the rainwater harvesting structures. This study was able to identify new sites where structures can be constructed for rainwater harvesting which can improve water availability during dry seasons. Further evaluation may need to be done before implementation of these structures. Moreover, implementing this is subject to a number of other factors, such as the economy, feasibility studies as well as social implications. However, the results of this study will assist policy and decision makers in planning for potential sites for water storage as an adaptation to drought and climate change.https://watersa.nethj2024Geography, Geoinformatics and MeteorologySDG-06:Clean water and sanitationSDG-13:Climate actio
Mechanistic study of cefixime degradation with an atmospheric air dielectric barrier discharge – influence of radical scavengers and metal ion catalyst
Full text linkDATA AVAILABILITY : Data will be made available on request.Please read abstract in the article.The Government of the United Kingdom through The Royal Society FLAIR award.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/seppurhj2024Chemical EngineeringSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructur
The readability and narrative tone of risk and risk management disclosures for South African listed companies
Full text linkPURPOSE : Risk information provides information to enable stakeholders to make informed decisions about a company. Corporate communications should be readable and unbiased so as not to hamper disclosure usefulness. This study assesses whether risk disclosures in the integrated reports are readable and unbiased.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : The readability and narrative tone of South African listed companies' risk and risk management disclosures as disclosed in their integrated reports are analysed using automated software for the Top 40 JSE listed companies from 2015 to 2019.
FINDINGS : The results show that risk and risk management disclosures are unreadable and lack any improvement in readability during the period. Additionally, these disclosures are biased toward narrative tones signalling communality and certainty.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE : The study adds to the literature on the readability of corporate reports, by focussing on the readability and narrative tone of risk and risk management disclosures during a period of increased scrutiny over the content of such disclosures. Also, by analysing risk disclosure and risk management disclosure separately, and by performing trend analysis to determine whether requirement changes related to content (specifically King IV) affect readability and narrative tones.https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/2042-1168hj2024Financial ManagementNon
History of multiple allergies and gradual onset running-related injuries in distance runners : SAFER XXXV
No full textDATA SHARING STATEMENT :
No additional data are available.OBJECTIVE :
To determine if any gradual onset running-related injury (GORRI) was associated with any allergies, multiple allergies (allergies to animals, plants, medication), and allergy medication use.
DESIGN :
Cross-sectional descriptive study.
SETTING :
Two Oceans Marathons (56 km, 21.1 km), South Africa.
PARTICIPANTS :
A total of 76 654 race entrants (2012–2015).
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES :
The prevalence (%) and prevalence ratios (PR; 95% confidence intervals) for history of (1) any allergies, (2) multiple allergies to broad categories of allergens (animal material, plant material, allergies to medication, and other allergies), and (3) allergy medication use.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES :
Using a compulsory online screening questionnaire, the outcome was a history of any GORRIs, and subcategories of GORRIs (muscle, tendon) in the past 12 months and history of GORRIs (and subtypes of GORRIs) were reported.
RESULTS :
In 68 258 records with injury and allergy data, the following were significantly associated with reporting any GORRIs: a history of any allergy (PR = 2.2; P < 0.0001), a history of allergies to broad categories of allergens (animal, plant, medication allergy, other) (P < 0.0001), and the use of allergy medication (P < 0.0001). A history of any allergies (PR = 2.4; P < 0.0001), all broad categories of allergies, and allergy medication use were significantly associated with muscle (P < 0.0001) and tendon injuries (P < 0.0001). The risk of reporting a GORRI increased as the number of reported categories of allergies increased (P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS :
A novel finding was the cumulative risk effect with a history of multiple allergies. Further studies should aim to determine the underlying mechanism relating allergies and GORRIs.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Research Centre (South Africa) at the University of Pretoria, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the National Research Foundation of South Africa.https://journals.lww.com/cjsportsmed/pages/default.aspx2025-07-09hj2024Sports MedicineSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein
Nonstandard finite difference schemes for some epidemic optimal control problems
Full text linkWe construct and analyse nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes for two epidemic optimal control problems. Firstly, we consider the well-known MSEIR system that can be used to model childhood diseases such as the measles, with the vaccination as a control intervention. The second optimal control problem is related to the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, that came with the unprecedented challenge of the disease spreading simultaneously in three different countries, namely Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, where it was difficult to control the considerable migrations and travels of people inbound and outbound. We develop an extended SEIRD metapopulation model modified by the addition of compartments of quarantined and isolated individuals. The control parameters are the exit screening of travelers and the vaccination of the susceptible individuals. For the two optimal control problems, we provide the results on: (i) the (global) stability of the disease-free and/or endemic equilibria of the state variable systems; (ii) the positivity and boundedness of solutions of the state variables systems; (iii) the existence, uniqueness and characterization of the optimal control solutions that minimizes the cost functional. On the other hand: (iv) we design Euler-based nonstandard finite difference versions of the Forward-Backward Sweep Method (NSFD-FBSM) that are dynamically consistent with the state variable systems; (v) we provide numerical simulations that support the theory and show the superiority of the nonstandard approach over the classical FBSM. The numerical simulations suggest that significantly increasing the coverage of the vaccine with its implementation for adults as well is essential if the recurrence of measles outbreaks is to be stopped in South Africa. They also show that the optimal control vaccination for the 2014-2016 EVD is more efficient than the exit screening intervention.The National Research Foundation (NRF) under the Competitive Programme for Rated Researchers and the University of the Witwatersrand under the Science Faculty Start-up Funds for Research and the Postdoctoral Programme.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/matcomhj2024Mathematics and Applied MathematicsSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein
Local responses to climate change : navigating mainstreaming and transformative adaptation
Full text linkDATA AVAILABILITY :
The authors do not have permission to share data.This article is based on the study done to explore the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation into municipal planning The study used the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality and Thulamela Local Municipality as comparative case studies in South Africa. It identified six key factors that influenced the effectiveness of adaptation mainstreaming: leadership arrangements; networks and knowledge-sharing; information access and use; capacity, resources, and skills; institutional coordination structure and process; and intergovernmental relations and coordination. The study showed how organisational dynamics and institutional arrangements impacted on the integration of climate change adaptation into planning processes, and it indicated that balancing long-term transformative objectives with immediate concerns required a dual approach that strategically embedded transformational goals within existing systems. The study offered insights into the complexity of reconciling transformative adaptation and development priorities through mainstreaming and it expanded the current understanding of how municipalities could navigate effective mainstreaming within the context of practical governance.The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/citieshj2024Town and Regional PlanningSDG-11:Sustainable cities and communitiesSDG-13:Climate actio
Generalised envelope spectrum-based signal-to-noise objectives: Formulation, optimisation and application for gear fault detection under time-varying speed conditions
No full textIn vibration-based condition monitoring, optimal filter design improves fault detection by enhancing weak fault signatures within vibration signals. This process involves optimising a derived objective function from a defined objective. The objectives are often based on proxy health indicators to determine the filter’s parameters. However, these indicators can be compromised by irrelevant extraneous signal components and fluctuating operational conditions, affecting the filter’s efficacy. Fault detection primarily uses the fault component’s prominence in the envelope spectrum, quantified by an envelope spectrum-based signal-to-noise ratio. New optimal filter objective functions are derived from the proposed generalised envelope spectrum-based signal-to-noise objective for machines operating under variable speed conditions. Instead of optimising proxy health indicators, the optimal filter coefficients of the formulation directly maximise the envelope spectrum-based signal-to-noise ratio over targeted frequency bands using standard gradient-based optimisers. Four derived objective functions from the proposed objective effectively outperform five prominent methods in tests on three experimental datasets.The Research and Development Programme of the University of Pretoria, South Africa and the FWO - Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Belgium - Vlaanderen.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/ymssphj2024Mechanical and Aeronautical EngineeringSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructur