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The effect of Tyloxapol on the metabolome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Get PDFArticle, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (Human Metabolomics)--Northwest University, Potchefstroom CampusThe use of detergents when culturing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) are essential to prevent clumping. However, these detergents may influence research outcomes by impacting bacterial morphology and metabolism. This study aimed to assess the metabolome of a M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain cultured with Tyloxapol (H37RvTyloxapol), compared to a control group of H37Rv strain cultured without detergent (H37RvControl) to evaluate Tyloxapol’s suitability for metabolomic studies. Distinct metabolic alterations were observed in H37RvTyloxapol compared to H37RvControl, primarily associated with fatty acid, sugar and pentose phosphate metabolic pathways. These changes are associated with the surface stress exerted by Tyloxapol on the bacteria, prompting an adaptation of M. tuberculosis metabolism to that usually observed in stress environments. Nevertheless, the effect of Tyloxapol is less pronounced than that of a previous investigation using Tween 80, indicating its potential as the more favourable choice for culturing M. tuberculosis for metabolomic analysis, with due consideration to dosage and result interpretation
A framework for tourism value chain ownership in rural communities
Get PDFArticle, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (Tourism Research In Economic Environs and Society (TREES)--Northwest University, Potchefstroom CampusTourism is prevalent in rural areas of South Africa, where natural settings provide attractive opportunities. Despite tourism’s potential to improve societies, many surrounding rural populations struggle with poverty. They have low involvement in tourism activity and need more access to empowerment programmes, and there need to be community-based structures that encourage equitable tourism engagement. This conceptual paper presents a framework for action designed for rural communities’ participation in a business or earning capacity in the local area’s tourism potential. The framework draws on published secondary data sources related to community-based tourism, community involvement, and potential rural community ownership of the tourism value chain. The literature is used to inform the development of our tourism value chain ownership framework, which can be applied in rural communities for poverty reduction and community empowerment
Utilisation of botanicals for the management of pests and diseases affecting crops in sub-Saharan Africa: A review.
Get PDFJournal Article. Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, PotchefstroomIn sub-Saharan Africa, most food crop losses are caused by pests and diseases, prompting small-scale farmers to explore the use of botanicals as an environmentally friendly, accessible, and affordable alternative. This review presents a critical appraisal of current trends in the use of botanicals to manage crop pests and diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic search (covering January 2010 until June 2023) for eligible studies was done by exploring different databases, which yielded 13 eligible studies. An inventory of 177 plant species belonging to 54 families was recorded as botanicals used to control 28 pests and 15 crop diseases. Azadirachta indica A.Juss, Allium cepa L., and Allium sativum L. were the top-cited plants. The families with the highest reported plants were Fabaceae (27), Asteraceae (18), Solanaceae (14), and Euphorbiaceae (10). In terms of life form, the recorded plants were shrubs (40%), trees (38%), and herbs (22%). The plants were mainly used to manage pests and diseases affecting Brassica oleracea L., Solanum lycopersicum L., Zea mays L., Spinacia oleracea L., Brassica oleracea var. sabellica, and Phaseolus vulgaris L. A total of 14 plant parts were recorded, with the leaves (34%) and stem (15%) being the dominant parts used. In most cases, the preparation routes were unspecified (51%), which was followed by decoction (14%) and infusion (14%). The major method of administration was topical (55%), while approximately 39% of reports were unspecified. The pests consisted of vertebrates (28%) and invertebrates (72%) while the three (3) disease categories included fungal (77%), bacterial (17%), and viral (6%). The review revealed an ongoing dependence on the use of botanicals. However, extensive studies must be conducted that apply and adhere to good practice associated with ethnobotanical field surveys. This will aid in generating a comprehensive inventory of botanicals with potential for environmentally friendly pest and disease management
Urinary drug metabolite profiling of tuberculosis treatment failure using proton nuclear magnetic resonance
Get PDFArticle, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (Human Metabolomics)--Potchefstroom CampusThe underlying cause of tuberculosis (TB) treatment failure is still largely unknown. A 1H NMR approach was applied to identify and quantify a subset of TB drugs and drug metabolites: ethambutol (EMB), acetyl isoniazid (AcINH), isonicotinic acid, pyrazinamide (PZA), pyrazinoic acid and 5-hydroxy-pyrazinoic acid, from the urine of TB patients. Samples were collected before, during (weeks one, two and four) and after standardised TB treatment. The median concentrations of the EMB and PZA metabolites were comparable between the samples from patients with eventually cured and failed treatment outcomes. The INH metabolites showed comparatively elevated concentrations in the treatment failure patients during and after treatment. Variation in INH metabolite concentrations couldn’t be associated with the varying acetylator genotypes, and it is therefore suggested that treatment failure is influenced more so by other conditions, such as environmental factors, or individual variation in other INH metabolic pathways
A model-based control strategy for batch coffee roasting processes using a novel controlled variable
Get PDFJournal Article. School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom,It is desirable that batch coffee roasters be fully automated. This article offers an automation solution for industrial practitioners in the coffee industry, namely a control strategy for rotating-drum batch coffee roasters. The control strategy can be applied to standard PI-PID controller systems to automate artisan coffee roasters. It can consequently be implemented with minor adjustments to artisan batch coffee roasters that are currently in use. Controller parameters were experimentally determined using IMC, Cohen-Coon, and ITAE-based parameter techniques, and they were validated using Simulink®. Bode plots confirmed controller stability. The roasting process was classified as a lag-dominant, first-order plus time delay process and approximated; therefore, it was modeled as a pure integrating system. The batch roasting process was successfully controlled using a novel controlled variable, namely the roast profile derivative, and a final control strategy that switches between two loops is proposed for real-world application
ON LIMITED COMMUNITARIANISM: MATOLINO’S THINKING AND THE CHANGING AFRICAN WORLD
Get PDFArticle, Faculty of Humanities (Social Transformation)--Northwest University, Potchefstroom CampusIn the corpus of African philosophy, Bernard Matolino has made a substantial contribution to the development of communitarian theory, offering a fresh perspective on the concept. While his predecessors, such as Ifeanyi Menkiti and Kwame Gyekye, proposed radical and moderate forms of communitarianism, Matolino argues that these accounts are inadequate in capturing the rapidly evolving African reality. For instance, Menkiti’s radical communitarianism emphasized the community’s role in shaping individual identity, whereas Gyekye’s moderate approach sought to strike a balance between individual and communal interests. In response, Matolino introduces the concept of limited communitarianism, which acknowledges the dynamic nature of African societies and offers a more nuanced understanding of communitarianism. This concept recognizes that communities are not static entities but rather adapt to changing circumstances, and, thus, our understanding of communitarianism must also evolve. This article serves as a timely reminder to scholars and theorists of communitarianism to re-examine their assumptions and approaches to the African reality with a more nuanced and adaptable perspective. It underscores the importance of recognizing the complexities of our past, acknowledging the diversity of our present, and envisioning a future that is responsive to the changing needs and aspirations of African communities. By doing so, we can move beyond dogmatic and rigid interpretations of communitarianism and instead embrace a more inclusive and dynamic understanding of African reality
Surviving early marriage: Lived experiences of young women in Zimbabwe's Makonde District
Get PDFArticle, Faculty of Health Sciences (Community Psychosocial Research (Compres)--Northwest University, Potchefstroom CampusThe paper ascertained the lived experiences of young women who survived early marriage in Zimbabwe`s Makonde District. A rapid review and qualitative research approach frames this study. Researchers used methodological triangulation that promoted the use of several data collection methods to increase trustworthiness of the data. Atlas Ti version 22 was used to manage and support the qualitative thematic data analysis of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The findings of this study revealed that young women who survived early marriage in Zimbabwe experienced abused life, poor living conditions, and growth and development vulnerabilities. The authors concluded that on-going support is highly recommended until young women who survived early child marriage have shown high levels of independence in their socioeconomic, mental, psychological, and financial wellbeing. It is therefore recommended that extensive research is needed in the areas of practice, teaching, literature, philosophy, and provision of welfare support and empowerment programs for young women who survived child marriages across the country. Thus, creating an enabling environment to change stereotypes that diminish efforts put forward by government in striving gender-inclusive human development opportunities
A multivariate dataset on water-energy-food nexus: multi-actor governance for social justice
Get PDFJournal Article. Faculty of Law, North-West University, PotchefstroomThe article presents and validates an extensive multivariate dataset that offers insights into water–energy–food (WEF) nexus governance for social justice at the intrahousehold, household, and community levels. The lack of insights in the WEF nexus debate that take social justice and governance into account is what spurred the data collection. The initial process involved scoping the originally selected investigated sites and their suitability. Once the research areas were identified, the data were collected from 1184 households in the Matatiele, Magareng, and Greater Taung Local Municipalities in South Africa, using a semi-structured questionnaire and KoboCollect software. The freely available software was installed on Android Tablets which were used by the enumerators. The questionnaires were initially piloted in Matatiele Local Municipality, testing for internal validity and skip patterns, as well as time to complete the questionnaire. The reliability of the Likert responses from the questionnaire was evaluated using Cronbachʼs alpha. The questionnaire was then refined for data collection and utilized a total of twenty-two (22) locally trained enumerators who were employed at the investigated sites. These enumerators were trained in administering the questionnaire and the use of the KoboCollect software used in data collection. The enumerators also received training on how to conduct the survey ethically, including informed permission, confidentiality, and the option to withdraw from the interview. The design of the data collection process was a cross-sectional survey that was conducted between 6 June and 4 August 2022, using purposive sampling. At the end of each data collection day, the enumerators uploaded their collected data into the KoboTool cloud, which allowed the lead in the survey to assess the data and effect any correctional measures on the questionnaire if the need arose. The enumerators also used a WhatsApp chat group to communicate real time opportunities and challenges in the questionnaire, which allowed the lead in the survey to constantly update the questionnaire. The multivariate questionnaire was divided into sections of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, community-level governance, decision-making, food, energy, and water security, social justice, legal knowledge, and rights to utilize these resources. The dataset will be of significance to multi-disciplinary researchers focusing on WEF security, governance, and social justice in Southern Africa. Furthermore, environmental and sustainability practitioners can find valuable insights from the provided data. The employed methodology is replicable and adaptable, enabling real-time monitoring of social justice and governance in the context of food, energy, and water security. The real time monitoring of governance and social justice in water, energy and food allows for the possibility of continual data collection and updating, and if a longitudinal design is adopted, it can be used for impact inquiry of any interventions or policies
Endothelial Dysfunction in Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes: A Clinical Translational Study
Get PDFJournal Article. Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease (A.W.), North-West University, Potchefstroom.BACKGROUND: Youth-onset type 2 diabetes (Y-T2D) is associated with increased risk for coronary atherosclerotic disease, but the timing of the earliest pathological features and evidence of cardiac endothelial dysfunction have not been evaluated in this population. Endothelial function magnetic resonance imaging may detect early and direct endothelial dysfunction in the absence of classical risk factors (severe hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia). Using endothelial function magnetic resonance imaging, we evaluated peripheral and coronary artery structure and endothelial function in young adults with Y-T2D diagnosed ≤5 years compared with age-matched healthy peers. We isolated and characterized plasma-derived small extracellular vesicles and evaluated their effects on inflammatory and signaling biomarkers in healthy human coronary artery endothelial cells to validate the imaging findings.
METHODS: Right coronary wall thickness, coronary artery flow–mediated dilation, and brachial artery flow–mediated dilation were measured at baseline and during isometric handgrip exercise using a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging. Human coronary artery endothelial cells were treated with Y-T2D plasma–derived small extracellular vesicles. Protein expression was measured by Western blot analysis, oxidative stress was measured using the redox-sensitive probe dihydroethidium, and nitric oxide levels were measured by 4-amino-5-methylamino-2’,7’-difluororescein diacetate.
RESULTS: Y-T2D (n=20) had higher hemoglobin A1c and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, but similar total and LDL (low-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol compared with healthy peers (n=16). Y-T2D had greater coronary wall thickness (1.33±0.13 versus 1.22±0.13 mm; P=0.04) and impaired endothelial function: lower coronary artery flow–mediated dilation (−3.1±15.5 versus 15.9±17.3%; P<0.01) and brachial artery flow–mediated dilation (6.7±14.7 versus 26.4±15.2%; P=0.001). Y-T2D plasma–derived small extracellular vesicles reduced phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide levels, increased reactive oxygen species production, and elevated ICAM (intercellular adhesion molecule)–mediated inflammatory pathways in human coronary artery endothelial cells.
CONCLUSIONS: Coronary and brachial endothelial dysfunction was evident in Y-T2D who were within 5 years of diagnosis and did not have severe hyperglycemia or dyslipidemia. Plasma-derived small extracellular vesicles induced markers of endothelial dysfunction, which corroborated accelerated subclinical coronary atherosclerosis as an early feature in Y-T2D.
REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02830308 and NCT01399385.
GRAPHIC ABSTRACT: A graphic abstract is available for this article.S.T. Chung, A.M. Gharib, J. Edwan, K. Z. Abd-Elmoniem, M. Stagliano, and L. Mabundo were supported by the Intramural Program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. C. Hadigan was supported by the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Anaemia at mid-pregnancy is associated with prehypertension in late pregnancy among urban women
Get PDFJournal Article, Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, Faculty of Health
Sciences, North-West University, PotchefstroomBackground: Antenatal iron deficiency and anaemia are associated with gestational hypertension and diabetes mellitus, but so are elevated iron stores and haemoglobin. In South Africa, pregnant women receive routine iron supplementation regardless of iron status.
Aim: This study aimed to assess associations of antenatal iron status and anaemia with blood pressure in pregnant women in urban South Africa. Secondary to this, associations with heart rate, fasting glucose and glucose tolerance were also investigated.
Methods: A total of 250 pregnant women, aged 27 (24–32) years, were recruited using consecutive sampling. The authors measured biomarkers of iron status and anaemia at< 18 and±22 weeks’, blood pressure and heart rate at±36 weeks’, and fasting glucose and glucose tolerance between 24 and 28 weeks’ gestation. Associations were determined using multivariable regression models adjusted for confounders.
Results: The odds of prehypertension in late pregnancy among women with anaemia at±22 weeks’ gestation were three times higher than among women without anaemia (odds ratio [OR]: 3.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22, 7.42). Participants with anaemia at±22 weeks’gestation had 2.15 times higher odds of having elevated mean arterial pressure than women without anaemia (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.01, 4.60).
Conclusion: Anaemia at mid-pregnancy could be a predictor of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The cause of antenatal anaemia may need further investigation apart from iron deficiency. The effective management of anaemia in pregnant women living in urban South Africa remains a challenge.
Contribution: This study provides evidence about the health impact of pregnant women regarding antenatal supplementation practices in South Africa.This work is based on the research supported in part by the National Research Foundation of South Africa for the grant, Unique Grant No.: 99374 (https://www.nrf.ac.za/) and the South African Medical Research Council under a Self-Initiated Research Grant (CMS) (http://www.mrc.ac.za/). The work has received further financial support from the University of South Africa’s Research Department for the grant Academic Qualification Improvement Programme. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript