Molecular epidemiology of South African serotype 3 and serotype 19A pneumococcal isolates

The clonality of a random sample of 102 invasive pneumococcal serotype 3 strains isolated from Gauteng Province during January 2000 to December 2003 was investigated. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed a heterogeneous population with several PFGE clusters and sequence types (STs). The largest PFGE cluster comprised 36/102 (35%) isolates including seven that belonged to ST458, a clone that is not common in other parts of the world. The global clone (ST180) which is common in the United States and other countries was found in a cluster that represented only 14/102 (14%) of isolates examined. The first multidrug-resistant pneumococcal serotype 19A strain that was isolated in South Africa in 1977 was compared with invasive serotype 19A multidrug-resistant strains isolated in South Africa during June 1999 to December 2004. PFGE analysis of these isolates demonstrated clonal diversity among the isolates. MLST of 16 randomly selected isolates revealed several STs, none of which was the same ST as the 1977 clone. Both serotype 3 and 19A were not associated with increased mortality or HIV seropositivity compared to other serotypes

THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF UNCONTROLLED TEACHER ABSENTEEISM IN SELECTED PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN MANGAUNG METRO MUNICIPALITY (BLOEMFONTEIN)

Published ThesisThis study investigated the causes and effects of uncontrolled teacher absenteeism in selected public primary schools in Mangaung Metro Municipality (Bloemfontein). The focus area was to find out how various factors like personal factors, school factors and environmental factors contribute to uncontrolled teacher absenteeism in selected public primary schools in Mangaung Metro Municipality. The study used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. This was in the quest of understanding the views of various stakeholders such as teachers, principals and Human Resources (HR) personnel from the district and also to identify the main causes and effects of uncontrolled teacher absenteeism in public primary schools in Mangaung Metro Municipality. Purposive sampling techniques were used to sample 10 school principals, 60 teachers and one HR personnel from the district office. Ethical considerations such as volunteerism, anonymity and confidentiality were adhered to. Data were collected using questionnaires, one- on- one interview with principals and HR personnel dealing with the application of various types of leave, as well as documentary analysis. The interviews were aided by use of field notes and a tape recorder. Data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods of analyzing data. The findings of the study revealed that there is an urgent need to engage in critical discussion about the various types of leave such as study leave; sick leave; family responsibility leave and special leave for urgent private matters. Normally, an institution – based educator may during a scheduled working hours period, be granted a special leave to attend to an urgent private matter. The study also uncovered the challenges created by the management of the misuse of sick leave at schools by the teachers. The study found that uncontrolled teacher absenteeism impacts the smooth running of the school negatively as it affects delivery of the curriculum and incomplete syllabus coverage. It also creates disciplinary problems and unnecessary tension between the teachers who are always present at school and those who are frequently absent. In the quest for a conducive environment for the management of teacher absenteeism the study also alludes to the pivotal role that the unions and principals can play in order to regulate uncontrolled teacher absenteeism in schools as academic institutions. Based on the findings it is recommended that Free State Department of Education must ensure that they hold leave policy management workshops to stop this scourge of habitual absenteeism. It further recommends proper management and strict monitoring of attendance registers by Senior Management Teams as this could assist to curb the high rate of uncontrolled teacher absenteeism in public primary schools

Factors influencing utilization of voluntary counselling and testing of HIV among pregnant women in Lesotho.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.Voluntary Counselling and Testing for HIV is an effective and important strategy for prevention, care and support. The study examines factors affecting utilization of VCT among pregnant women in Lesotho. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was employed. The quantitative part of the study utilized the 2004 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey data and the qualitative study drew on data from focus group discussions among women attending antenatal clinics in Maseru and Leribe. The majority of pregnant women have never been tested for HIV/AIDS. Married women were less likely to go for VCT as compared with those who are not married. The study also established that place of residence, education and marital status were significantly associated with knowledge of HIV/AIDS and ever been tested for HIV. Stigma and discriminations and fear associated with HIV testing were highlighted as the main factors hindering the use of VCT services among pregnant women. However, knowing one’s status in order to access early treatment was the main reason for utilizing VCT. The VCT promotion programme for pregnant women in Lesotho has to focus on enhancing positive perception of VCT and alleviating perceived barriers related to the use of VCT services

The effect of maternal nicotine exposure on cell proliferation on the lungs of the offspring

>Magister Scientiae - MScTobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke is one of the biggest contributing factors to a growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), primarily cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic lung diseases which account for 63% of all deaths worldwide (WHO, 2011). An increased concern is in pregnant women who smoke. They not only expose themselves to nicotine, but also their unborn child. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with many developmental and growth complications. There are critical periods within the “program” that directs normal growth and development, during which the fetus is vulnerable to the effects of external factors. During these critical periods of development the program can be changed to increase the susceptibility of the fetal organs to disease and increased risk of adverse health consequences in adulthood. Health care professionals have tried to reduce the consumption of tobacco smoke by prescribing nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to pregnant females as an alternative to smoking, without considering the effects of nicotine on the developing embryo and the health risk that might arise after birth. It is known that nicotine induces oxidant formation with resulting oxidative effects. This induces an overload of oxidants in the fetus and a decrease in the antioxidant capacity thereof. This may interfere with normal lung development

High Levels of Recombination among Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates from the Gambia

We carried out multilocus sequence typing (MLST) on 148 pneumococcal carriage isolates collected from children <24 months old in the Upper River Division, the Gambia. MLST revealed a diverse population. Seventy-six different sequence types (STs) were found, the most common of which were 802 and 919, associated with 23F and 6A serotypes, respectively. Comparison with the MLST database showed that only 11 of the STs found in the present sample had been reported outside Africa. Six STs showed evidence of capsular switching (172, 802, 847, 1730, 1736, and 1737). Serotype switches were confirmed by microarrays that detected capsule genes. Of isolates analyzed by using microarrays, 40/69 (58%) harbored the tetM resistance determinant. A statistical genetic analysis to detect recombination found that 49/144 (34%) isolates showed significant (P < 0.05) evidence of admixture, which is greater than that observed in similar samples from the United Kingdom (5%) and Finland (2%). We hypothesize that large amounts of admixture could reflect the high prevalence of multiple carriage in this region, leading to more opportunities for homologous recombination between strains. This could have consequences for the population response to conjugate vaccination

Meningococcal Factor H Binding Proteins in Epidemic Strains from Africa: Implications for Vaccine Development

Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis are common in sub-Saharan Africa. Most are caused by encapsulated serogroup A strains, which rarely cause disease in industrialized countries. A serogroup A polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccine recently was introduced in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The antibodies induced, however, may allow replacement of serogroup A strains with serogroup W-135 or X strains, which also cause epidemics in this region. Protein antigens, such as factor H binding protein (fHbp), are promising for prevention of meningococcal serogroup B disease. These proteins also are present in strains with other capsular serogroups. Here we report investigation of the potential of fHbp vaccines for prevention of disease caused by serogroup A, W-135 and X strains from Africa. Four fHbp amino acid sequence variants accounted for 81% of the 106 African isolates studied. While there was little cross-protective activity by antibodies elicited in mice by recombinant fHbp vaccines from each of the four sequence variants, a prototype native outer membrane vesicle (NOMV) vaccine from a mutant with over-expressed fHbp elicited antibodies with broad protective activity. A NOMV vaccine has the potential to supplement coverage by the group A conjugate vaccine and help prevent emergence of disease caused by non-serogroup A strains

Language endangerment and language documentation in Africa

Non peer reviewe

The effect of maternal nicotine exposure on cell proliferation on the lungs of the offspring

>Magister Scientiae - MScTobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke is one of the biggest contributing factors to a growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), primarily cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic lung diseases which account for 63% of all deaths worldwide (WHO, 2011). An increased concern is in pregnant women who smoke. They not only expose themselves to nicotine, but also their unborn child. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with many developmental and growth complications. There are critical periods within the “program” that directs normal growth and development, during which the fetus is vulnerable to the effects of external factors. During these critical periods of development the program can be changed to increase the susceptibility of the fetal organs to disease and increased risk of adverse health consequences in adulthood. Health care professionals have tried to reduce the consumption of tobacco smoke by prescribing nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to pregnant females as an alternative to smoking, without considering the effects of nicotine on the developing embryo and the health risk that might arise after birth. It is known that nicotine induces oxidant formation with resulting oxidative effects. This induces an overload of oxidants in the fetus and a decrease in the antioxidant capacity thereof. This may interfere with normal lung development

THE SYNTACTIC FUNCTIONS OF WH- AND THAT-NOMINAL CLAUSES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE WITH REFERENCE TO ANIMAL FARM BY GEORGE ORWELL: THE CASE OF DIALOGUE SECTION

&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;The present study analyses the syntactic functions of&lt;strong&gt; Wh-&nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;and &lt;strong&gt;That-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses in English Language with reference to Animal Farm by George Orwell. The study employed documentary research method for data collection. This paper also employed the interpretivist paradigm and has analysed the data both qualitatively and quantitatively. The study further used the descriptive and case study designs. In this study, the descriptive research employed the George Orwell's novel, Animal Farm. The focus of the study was to analyse syntactic functions of the &lt;strong&gt;Wh-&nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;and &lt;strong&gt;That-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses as used in the novel. The findings of the study show a total number of thirty four (34) &lt;strong&gt;Wh-&nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;and &lt;strong&gt;That-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses in the dialogue section. There are five (5) &lt;strong&gt;Wh-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses and a total of twenty nine (29) &lt;strong&gt;That-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses. The study concludes that the dialogue section reflects a wide range of &lt;strong&gt;That-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses relative to their &lt;strong&gt;Wh-&lt;/strong&gt; counterparts. The study further demonstrates that the dialogue section of Animal Farm demonstrates a variety of syntactic functions of &lt;strong&gt;Wh-&nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;and &lt;strong&gt;That-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses. The data illustrates four (4) syntactic functions, subject, object, adjective complement and appositive. The &lt;strong&gt;Wh-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses are indicated as subject and object while &lt;strong&gt;That-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses are observed as subject, object, adjective complement and appositive. The study thus illustrates that &lt;strong&gt;That-&lt;/strong&gt;nominal clauses show more variety of syntactic functions than the &lt;strong&gt;Wh-&nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;ones.&nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt