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This study assessed the interactive effects of near-future coastal acidification in combination with varying sub lethal metal concentrations on the haemolymph osmolality of Dotilla fenestrata. Crabs were exposed to acute combination of near-future pH scenarios of estuarine systems (7.2, 7.4 and 7.6) by bubbling CO2 into holding tanks and metal concentrations (Cd = 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 mg/l), (Pb = 6.50, 8.50 and 10.50 mg/l) and (Cd & Pb = 4.50, 5.75 and 7.00 mg/l) at 32 psu salinity and 18 °C for 96 h and compared with the control group that were acclimated in water medium (salinity 32 psu, temperature 18 °C and pH 8.1). Mean haemolymph osmolality of crabs exposed to a combination of varying pH and metal concentrations were not significantly different (ANOVA HSD: df 9; p > 0.05) from the crabs acclimated close to background water parameters. The study showed that near-future coastal pH has no significant effect on the haemolymph osmolality of the crab Dotilla exposed to sublethal concentrations of Cd and Pb at salinity level of 32 ppt.

Changes in seawater chemistry due to anthropogenic uptake of CO2 by seawater results in a phenomenon termed ocean acidification. Ocean acidification has been predicted to substantially affect the exposure, behaviour, mobility and fate of toxicants with significant impacts on marine organisms. This study assessed the interactive effects of acidification and metal concentrations of Cd and Pb in the exoskeleton of the crab Dotilla fenestrata. Crabs were acutely exposed to varying concentrations of Cd (0.5, 0.75 and 1.00 mg/l), Pb (6.50, 8.50, and 10.50 mg/l) and Cd/Pb (4.50, 5.75 and 7.00 mg/l) and near-future pH of 7.2, 7.4 and 7.6 for 96 h and concentrations in the exoskeleton were analyzed using ICP-OES. Cadmium concentrations in the exoskeleton due to pH effects were in the order of 7.4 > 7.6 > 7.2, while concentrations in the exoskeleton exposed to pH 7.4 were significantly higher (ANOVA HSD: df 6; p < 0.01) compared to those of pH 7.2 and 7.6. Crabs exposed to varying Pb concentrations showed no common trend in Pb concentrations with varying pH. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in the exoskeleton of crabs exposed to combined Cd and Pb were significantly higher (ANOVA HSD: df 6; p < 0.01) at pH of 7.2 and 4.50 and 7.00 mg/l exposures. Crabs exposed to mixed metal concentrations showed elevated levels of Cd and Pb compared to those exposed to single metal due to their regulatory capacity when exposed to mixed metals.

Durban Bay and Richards Bay Harbours are the largest and most economically active shipping harbours in South Africa supporting a diversity of ecosystems and biota of ecological importance. This study assessed and compared levels of metals in selected tissues of the sand bubbler crab (Dotilla fenestrata), water and sediments from anthropogenically impacted Durban and Richards Bay Harbours with those of Mlalazi estuary, a considered pristine site due to its sheltered catchments. Metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) were investigated using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Metals concentrations in crab tissues were as follows; exoskeleton > gill > digestive gland, metal concentrations in tissues followed the order Cu > Zn > Pb > Cd. Metal levels in crabs from Durban Harbour (Cd 0.42, Cu 83.8, Pb 2.43and Zn 6.4 μg/g) were significantly higher than Richards Bay (Cd 0.22, Cu 27.7, Pb 1.23 and Zn 9.54 μg/g) and Mlalazi estuary (Cd 0.17, Cu 18.7, Pb 3.53 and Zn 6.91 μg/g). Metal levels in sediments followed the order Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. Mlalazi had significantly elevated metal levels in sediment (Cd 6.83, Cu 35.63, Pb 33.43 and Zn 56.27 μg/g) compared to Durban Harbour (Cd 2.73, Cu 16.07, Pb 12.20 and Zn 38.70 μg/g) and Richards Bay (Cd 3.10, Cu 16.00, Pb 11.43 and Zn 26.07 μg/g). Metal concentrations in water were Cu > Zn > Pb > Cd save Mlalazi estuary with significantly higher Zn levels. Mlalazi estuary, the considered pristine site had significantly elevated metal levels in the sediments and water compared with the impacted sites; however, had significantly lower metal levels in the crabs’ tissues due to lower metal bioavailability. Factors such as high natural metal concentrations, metal speciation, sediment grain and organic matter content could possibly account for high metal concentrations without corresponding bioaccumulation and magnification in crabs from Mlalazi estuary.

Abstract Background Uterine rupture in the non-laboring uterus is a rare occurrence, which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality for the mother and fetus. Management of this presentation is complex at pre-viable gestations. Case presentation A 35 year old primigravid woman with multiple previous myomectomies presented with spontaneous complete thickness uterine rupture at 21 weeks gestation. A 10 cm myometrial defect and iatrogenic amniotomy were surgically corrected with fetal preservation. This led to pregnancy continuation to 32 weeks gestation when elective cesarean delivery resulted in excellent neonatal outcome. Conclusions Early surgical diagnosis, multidisciplinary team approach, iatrogenic amniotomy and continuous two-layer myometrial closure were factors that contributed to pregnancy prolongation in this large myometrial rupture.

ObjectiveObesity is a major risk factor for low-grade endometrial cancer. The surgical management of patients with obesity is challenging, and they may face unique barriers to accessing care. We completed a qualitative study to understand the experiences of low-grade endometrial cancer patients with morbid obesity, from symptom onset to diagnosis to surgery.DesignSemi-structured interviews were performed with endometrial cancer patients with morbid obesity (body mass index (BMI) >40 kg/m2) referred for primary surgery. Transcribed interviews were coded line-by-line and analysed using an interpretive descriptive approach that drew on labelling theory to understand patients’ experiences. Thematic sufficiency was confirmed after 15 interviews.SettingTwo tertiary care centres in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ParticipantsFifteen endometrial cancer patients with a median age of 61 years (range: 50–74) and a median BMI of 50 kg/m2 (range: 44–70) were interviewed.ResultsThematic analysis identified that (1) both patients and providers lack knowledge on endometrial cancer and its presenting symptoms and risk factors; (2) patients with morbid obesity are subject to stigma and poor communication in the healthcare system and (3, 4) although clinical, administrative, financial, geographic and facility-related barriers exist, quality care for patients with morbid obesity is an achievable goal.ConclusionsImproved education on the prevention and identification of endometrial cancer is needed for both patients and providers. Delivery of cancer care to patients with morbid obesity may be improved through provider awareness of the impact of weight stigma and establishing streamlined care pathways at centres equipped to manage surgical complexity.

This paper investigates the insights that we, as parent-educators gained from our children's learning experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and how this impacted our approaches to learning and teaching. All authors are teacher education academics working at a regional Australian university. The rapid and extensive changes in our personal and professional circumstances provided an opportunity for us to critically examine the ways in which we promoted learning for our children and our students. Our reflections on these investigations form the basis of this article. To explore these issues we drew on a method involving narrative inquiry and the Indigenous concept of yarning that we call collaborative narrative inquiry and the theoretical framework of Antonovsky's salutogenic approach. Key findings of the research demonstrated tensions between the roles of parent and educator with a growing focus on the former and an increasing emphasis on health and well-being. These issues impacted the ways in which parent-educators facilitated learning for all students.

The combined yields of Oreochromis mossambicus and fruit crops – tomato, sweet pepper, and cucumber were investigated in a low-cost designed gravel bed aquaponic system to maximize overall yield. This study was modeled according to bioeconomic principles, which analyzed the experimental setup's system design and management, biological characteristics, and economic performance. The study was conducted from March 2018 to February 2019. The growth performance of fish was determined using growth rate parameters, length–weight relationship, and condition factor. The effect of plant density and plant stem pruning was used to determine plant yield. Tomato, sweet pepper, and cucumber were subjected to two plant densities (5 and 8 plants.m2). Tomato and cucumber plants were pruned to one and two stems, while sweet pepper plants were pruned into two and three stems. A complete randomized design in triplicate was used. The FCR of 1.25; 97.5% survival rate; specific growth rate of 1.64%, LWR r2 of 0.945, regression coefficient b of 3.1 and condition factor K of 1.93 were recorded for the fish performance. Total yield, marketable yield, unmarketable yield, fruit mass, and number fruits.m2 were recorded. Tomato and cucumber plants pruned into two stems produced significantly (p <.05) higher total and marketable yields than plants pruned to one stem. Sweet pepper plants pruned into three stems produced significantly (p <.05) higher total and marketable yields than those pruned into two stems. A plant density of 8 plants.m2 produced a higher (p <.05) total and marketable yield of tomatoes, sweet peppers, and cucumbers than 5 plants.m2. Biomass yield in aquaponics can be optimized for higher economic viability by manipulating environmental conditions, adopting strategic culture management practices, and targeting higher market prices through scheduled production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaponics provides a sustainable means of converting aquaculture effluent to nutrients for growing plant. This unconventional, but synergistic system of food production has been documented to be economically feasible and sustainable, particularly in areas with limited land and water resources availability. This study assessed the economic feasibility of a low-cost small-scale aquaponics system using production output and economic data. Price trends, cost, revenue, return on investment (ROI), net present value (NPV) using a 10-year period, internal rate of return (IRR) and profitability analyses were modeled to determine the financial performance of the aquaponic system. The result indicated that this small-scale aquaponic operation is not economically viable (Gross profit: 42%, net profit: – 22%, ROI: – 8%, NPV: R81,466, IRR: 13% and Profitability Index: 0.35) by adopting conventional aquaponics cultural practice (fish: plant revenue model 59% to 41%) due to higher operating cost of producing a kg of fish (R55) vis-à-vis the market price, compared to plant production. A revenue model of 42% to 58% fish-to-plant ratio was marginally feasible (Gross profit: 59%, net profit: 13%, ROI: 7%, NPV: R92,445, IRR: 19% and Profitability Index: 0.50). A minimum revenue model of 30% to 70% fish-to-plant ratio by adopting optimized plant yield cultural techniques to attain economies of scale and viability, is suggested. This study serves as a model for promoting viable and sustainable unconventional food production system to attain food security and local economic development in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this mental health promotion initiative was to evaluate the effectiveness of a universally delivered group behavioral family intervention (BFI) in preventing behavior problems in children. This study investigates the transferability of an efficacious clinical program to a universal prevention intervention delivered through child and community health services targeting parents of preschoolers within a metropolitan health region. A quasi-experimental two-group (BFI, n = 804 vs. Comparison group, n = 806) longitudinal design followed preschool aged children and their parents over a 2-year period. BFI was associated with significant reductions in parent- reported levels of dysfunctional parenting and parent-reported levels of child behavior problems. Effect sizes on child behavior problems ranged from large (.83) to moderate (.47). Positive and significant effects were also observed in parent mental health, marital adjustment, and levels of child rearing conflict. Findings are discussed with respect to their implication for significant population reductions in child behavior problems as well as the pragmatic challenges for prevention science in encouraging both the evaluation and uptake of preventive initiatives in real world settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]