33074 research outputs found
Sort by
Characterising the urinary acylcarnitine and amino acid profiles of HIV/TB co‑infection, using LC–MS metabolomics.
Get PDFJournal Article. Human Metabolomics, North-West University, PotchefstroomIntroduction
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection presents significant challenges due to the complex interplay between these diseases, leading to exacerbated metabolic disturbances. Understanding these metabolic profiles is crucial for improving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Objective
This study aimed to characterise the urinary acylcarnitine and amino acid profiles, including 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), in patients co-infected with HIV and TB using targeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) metabolomics.
Methods
Urine samples, categorised into HIV, TB, HIV/TB co-infected, and healthy controls, were analysed using HPLC–MS/MS. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA and a Kruskal-Wallis test to determine significant differences in the acylcarnitine and amino acid profiles between groups.
Results
The study revealed significant metabolic alterations, especially in TB and co-infected groups. Elevated levels of medium-chain acylcarnitines indicated increased fatty acid oxidation, commonly associated with cachexia in TB. Altered amino acid profiles suggested disruptions in protein and glucose metabolism, indicating a shift towards diabetes-like metabolic states. Notably, TB was identified as a primary driver of these changes, affecting protein turnover, and impacting energy metabolism in co-infected patients.
Conclusion
The metabolic profiling of HIV/TB co-infection highlights the profound impact of TB on metabolic pathways, which may exacerbate the clinical complexities of co-infection. Understanding these metabolic disruptions can guide the development of targeted treatments and improve management strategies, ultimately enhancing the clinical outcomes for these patients. Further research is required to validate these findings and explore their implications in larger, diverse populations
ZnO nanoparticles modified with g-C3N4: Optical and structural properties
No full textJournal Article. Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mafikeng CampusHerein, ZnO nanoparticles were incorporated into graphitic-carbon nitride (g-C3N4) sheets to modify their optical properties and structural characteristics. The effects of different calcination temperatures on the structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the nanocrystalline ZnO were investigated. The g-C3N4 sheets were decorated by a simple reflux method and their physicochemical properties were studied using different characterization techniques. Finely bonded interfaces were generated between the ZnO and g-C3N4, which confirmed the successful formation of the composite. A microscopic analysis of the surface and internal morphologies of the composite revealed nanoparticles with an average diameter of 25 nm, whose size increased with temperature due to the self-assembly of smaller nanocrystallites. Optical measurement showed a reduction in the band gap energies that occurred in the composite as the percentage of ZnO decreased. This modification of structural and optical properties can be effectively utilized in the application of these materials in photocatalysis or optoelectronics
Parental experiences of caring for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, Limpopo Province: a descriptive qualitative study exploring the cultural determinants
Get PDFJournal Article, NuMIQ Research Focus Area, North-West University, Potchefstroom,Background
Parent-infant interaction is highly recommended during the preterm infant hospitalisation period in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Integrating culturally sensitive healthcare during hospitalisation of preterm infants is critical for positive health outcomes. However, there is still a paucity of evidence on parental experience regarding cultural practices that can be integrated into preterm infant care in the NICU. The study explored and described the cultural determinants of parents that can be integrated into the care of preterm infants in the NICU.
Methods
A descriptive qualitative research design was followed where twenty (n=20) parents of preterm infants were purposively selected. The study was conducted in the NICU in Limpopo using in-depth individual interviews. Taguette software and a thematic analysis framework were used to analyse the data. The COREQ guidelines and checklist were employed to ensure reporting standardisation.
Results
Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis: 1) Lived experienced by parents of preterm infants, 2) Interactions with healthcare professionals, 3) Cultural practices concerning preterm infant care, and 4) Indigenous healthcare practices for preterm infants.
Conclusions
The study emphasised a need for healthcare professionals to understand the challenges parents of preterm infants face in NICU care. Furthermore, healthcare professionals should know indigenous healthcare practices to ensure relevant, culturally sensitive care.Open access funding provided by North-West University. This manuscript was extracted from a funded research project by the NWU postgraduate bursary and Faculty of Health Sciences bursary (Funding code/number: not applicable)
Human Resource Productivity: Integrating Resilience Engineering, Motivation, and Health Safety
Get PDFNorth-West University, South Africa; [email protected] study investigated the multifaceted relationship between resilience engineering practices, work
motivation factors, health, safety, and environment (HSE) management to achieve employee productivity within a mining company in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Employing structural equation modelling (SEM) on data from 178 workers, intriguing results are diverged from established research.
While resilience engineering practices and work motivation factors significantly enhanced productivity, robust HSE management demonstrated a surprisingly insignificant association. This unexpected
finding necessitates a closer examination of the unique context of Indonesian mining culture and HSE
implementation practices. Several potential explanations emerge, including ingrained communal responsibility for safety, limited applicability of imported frameworks, prioritisation of immediate needs
over long-term safety due to competitive pressures, and possible erosion of trust in bureaucratic systems. These factors highlight the need to consider cultural nuances and industry challenges when designing effective HSE interventions. Moving forward, research and practice must prioritise developing
culturally sensitive HSE practices, fostering trust and employee engagement, bridging the gap between
formal systems and daily realities, and gathering qualitative data to understand employee perspectives.
By addressing these considerations, future interventions can effectively align HSE efforts with employee productivity, contributing to a safer, more productive, culturally relevant work environment for
Indonesian miners
Bringing faith to the public: Positioning church communities for social good in sub-Saharan Africa
Get PDFJournal Article, Unit for Reformed Theology and Development in South Africa, Faculty of Theology, North-West University, PotchefstroomThe Christian faith must move beyond private belief and engage more actively in public issues to promote societal well-being. Churches, as key actors in the public sphere alongside for-profit institutions and political bodies, have the potential to contribute to the common good. This involves contestation, dialogue, and collaboration with other sectors to develop approaches that enhance human welfare. While the term ‘public good’ originates in economics, its association with social good aligns it with the mission of faith communities, which focus on community well-being. The pressing question is how church communities in sub-Saharan Africa can interact with businesses and governments to advance social good. This requires churches to engage in advocacy, provide direct services, and collaborate with secular organizations while ensuring their actions promote equity and justice. Through thoughtful engagement in the public sphere, churches can influence societal structures by upholding values such as compassion, justice, and mutual respect. By doing so, they can play a significant role in addressing challenges within their local contexts.
ContributionThe article contributes to the discussions of how churches can move from private concerns to actively engaging with public issues, collaborating with various societal actors to promote social good and enhance community well-being
The cosmology of f(R, Lm) gravity: constraining the background and perturbed dynamics
Get PDFCentre for Space Research, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaThis paper delves into the late-time accelerated
expansion of the universe and the evolution of cosmic structures within the context of a specific f (R, Lm) gravity model,
formulated as f (R, Lm) = λR + βLα
m + η. To study the
cosmological viability of the model, we employed the latest cosmic measurement datasets: (i) 57 observational Hubble parameter data points (OHD); (ii) 1048 distance moduli
data points (SNIa); (iii) a combined dataset (OHD+SNIa);
and large scale structure datasets, including (iv) 14 growth
rate data points (f); and (v) 30 redshift space distortion data
points (fσ8). These datasets facilitated the constraint of the
f (R, Lm)-gravity model via MCMC simulations, followed
by a comparative analysis with the ΛCDM model. A comprehensive statistical analysis has been conducted to evaluate the f (R, Lm)-gravity model’s efficacy in explaining both
the accelerated expansion of the universe and the growth of
cosmic structures. Using large-scale structure data, we find
the best-fit values of Ωm = 0.242+0.016 −0.032, α = 1.15+0.20 −0.20,
β = 1.12+0.13 −0.30, λ = 0.72+0.30 −0.13 and γ = 0.555 ± 0.014
using f-data and Ωm = 0.284+0.035 −0.049, σ8 = 0.799+0.045 −0.086,
α = 0.766+0.026 −0.064, β = 1.08+0.40 −0.16, and λ = 0.279+0.078 −0.11
using fσ8-data at the 1σ and 2σ confidence levels, respectively, with the model showing substantial observational support based on ΔAIC values but less observational support
based on the ΔBIC values on Jeffreys’ statistical criteria. On
the other hand, from the joint analysis of the OHD+SNIa
data, we obtain α = 1.091+0.035 −0.042, β = 1.237+0.056 −0.16 and
ae-mails: [email protected];
[email protected] (corresponding author)
be-mail: [email protected]
ce-mail: [email protected]
λ = 0.630+0.031
−0.050 with the Jeffreys’ scale statistical criteria showing the f (R, Lm) model having substantial support
when using OHD data, less observational support with the
joint analysis OHD+SNIa, and rejected using SNIa data,
compared with ΛCDM at the background level
Gyrodactylus serrai n. sp. (Gyrodactylidae), from the Near‑Threatened Clanwilliam Sawfin, Cheilobarbus serra (Peters) (Cyprinidae, Smilogastrinae), in the Cape Fold Ecoregion, South Africa.
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management-- Potchefstroom CampusA new species of Gyrodactylus is described from the gills of the near-threatened Clanwilliam sawfin, Cheilobarbus serra (Smiliogastrinae) collected from the Matjies River, Cape Fold Ecoregion, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Morphometry and morphology of the haptoral hard parts (hamuli, bars and marginal hooks) of Gyrodactylus serrai n. sp. differ from the other known species of the genus in the smaller size of hamuli and the shape and size of marginal hooks. Furthermore, ITS rDNA for the new species is unique among available Gyrodactylus spp. data in GenBank. Based on the uncorrected p-distances, G. serrai n. sp. is genetically most closely related to Gyrodactylus moroccensis Rahmouni, 2023 and Gyrodactylus pseudomoroccensis Rahmouni, 2023 from two species of Luciobarbus (Barbinae) from northern Africa, with interspecific divergence of 8.7% and 8.8%, respectively. The presence of a median ridge in the terminal part of the ventral bar membrane at G. serrai n. sp. most probably represents a morphological link to the North African Gyrodactylus spp. that suggests a morphogenetic association across the African continent as a result of ancient waterways that facilitated the dispersion of cyprinids and their parasite fauna or an independent evolution event retaining similarities from a common ancestor. The description of Gyrodactylus serrai n. sp. represents only the second species of Gyrodactylus described from an endemic South African cyprinid host, underscoring the need for focused research on this group of fishes to provide a sound understanding of the parasitic communities of these highly threatened and poorly studied hosts.Acknowledgements The authors are grateful towards the CapeNature ecologists Martine Jordaan and Jeanne Gouws, and the Cederberg conservation manager, Monique Ruthenberg, for their guidance during field surveys and assistance in fish collections. Linda van der Spuy and Rudolf Gouws are acknowledged for their assistance in parasite specimen collection. This is publication number 911 from the NWU Water Research Group.
Funding
Open access funding provided by University of Limpopo. The use of infrastructure and equipment provided by the NWU-WRG and the NRF-SAIAB Research Platform, and funding channelled through the NRF-SAIAB Institutional Support system is acknowledged. This work forms part of the REFRESH project funded by the Foundational Biodiversity Initiative Programme (FBIP) of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa (Grant Number 138573). Opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed are those of the authors, and the NRF accepts no liability whatsoever in this regard. MT acknowledges funding from the North-West University (NWU) Postdoctoral fellowship programme and the NRF-Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) Professional Development Programme (Grant UID 144831). IP and WJL-P were partially supported by the NRF of South Africa (Grant Number 101054).
Open Access
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Nanoclays in water treatment: Core concepts, modifications, and application insights
Get PDFArticle, Faculty of Engineering (Unit for Energy and Technology Systems)--Northwest University, Potchefstroom CampusWater treatment faces significant challenges due to the presence of diverse and persistent pollutants, necessitating the development of effective and eco-friendly materials. Therefore, nanoclays (NCs) have emerged as promising nanomaterials for water treatment applications. The efficacy of various NCs as adsorbents is attributed to their remarkable properties, such as high specific surface areas (up to 950 m2/g) and significant cation exchange capacities (up to 150 meq/100 g). This review encompasses the synthesis methods, modification techniques, and characterization approaches utilized in the development of NCs adsorbents, with an emphasis on understanding the structural complexity of NCs and their composites. NCs with exfoliated nanosheets demonstrate markedly improved efficacy due to the full exposure of their reactive sites. The NCs role in the simultaneous adsorption of various pollutants is highlighted, showcasing their capacity to effectively remove multiple contaminants from water in a single treatment process. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanisms and efficiency of NCs in removing varied contaminants are explored. Literature findings indicate that 2:1 clay exhibits superior removal capabilities compared to 1:1 clay for a majority of aquatic pollutants. Various techniques, including chemical treatment, thermal, and biological degradation, have been reviewed for the regeneration of spent NCs, demonstrating differing regeneration performance depending on the technique employed. The review also delves into the potential challenges and future outlook of utilizing NCs in water treatment, offering suggestions for further research, thereby emphasizing the crucial role of NCs in addressing water pollution and their promise in developing sustainable water remediation systems
Molecular Detection of Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli O177 Isolates, Their Antibiotic Resistance, and Virulence Profiles From Broiler Chickens
Get PDFJournal Article. Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, PotchefstroomThe World Health Organization (WHO) describes Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) as a bacterium that can cause severe food‐borne diseases. Common sources of infection include undercooked meat products and faecal contamination in vegetables. This study aimed to isolate, identify and assess the virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles of STEC isolates from broiler chicken faeces. Faecal samples were cultured, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was utilized to identify the isolates. Subsequently, the confirmed isolates were screened for seven virulence markers using PCR. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates to 13 different antibiotics was determined using the disk diffusion method. PCR was also employed to screen for antibiotic resistance genes. The uidA gene, which encodes the beta‐glucuronidase enzyme, was detected in 62 (64.6%) of the 91 presumptively identified E. coli isolates. Of these, 23 isolates (37.1%) were confirmed to be E. coli O177 serogroup through amplification of wzy gene. All E. coli O177 isolates possessed the virulence stx2 gene, while 65% carried the stx1 gene. Among the E. coli O177 isolates, three harboured a combination of vir + stx2 + stx1 + hlyA genes, while one isolate contained a combination of eaeA + stx2 + stx1 + hlyA genes. All E. coli O177 isolates carried one or more antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, with 17 isolates (73.7%) identified as multidrug resistance (MDR). This is the first study to report the presence of E. coli O177 serotype from broiler chickens in South Africa. The findings reveal that broiler chicken faeces are a significant reservoir for MDR E. coli O177 and a potential source of AMR genes. These results underscore the importance of continuous surveillance and monitoring of the spread of AMR infectious bacteria in food‐producing animals and their environments. The study also emphasizes that monitoring and control of poultry meat should be considered a major public health concern
Quality Planning, Assurance and Control in Manufacturing, Industrial Projects and Services Environments
Get PDFBook Chapter, Faculty of Engineering, North--West UniversityThe role of quality planning, assurance and control is well established in manufacturing and production environments; however, the same cannot be said for industrial projects and the services environment. It is evident that the tangibility of the output is different and, as a result, evaluated differently. In a project environment, many projects exceed budget, schedule and performance. One may argue that quality planning, control and assurance have a significant role in ensuring projects meet their budget, schedule and performance objectives. In contrast, in a services environment, quality planning, assurance and control procedures are used to ensure that the set of quality criteria meets the customer’s requirements so that the customer gets a better service experience. There are differences in how quality planning, assurance and control are implemented and perceived in these three environments. This chapter explores the differences and similarities in the implementation, perception and maturity of quality planning, assurance and control. This chapter provides interesting opportunities for quality planning, assurance and control in a manufacturing, projects and services environmen