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Current management of solid waste from pulp and paper activities represents an environmental and economic burden worldwide due to pollution emissions. This study investigates the potential of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) treatment as a sustainable alternative for producing cleaner and energy-dense solid fuel from paper mill sludge. The effect of process parameters (temperature, reaction time and solid load) on hydrochar fuel formation from paper sludge was evaluated and, for the first time, the paper sludge-derived hydrochar was optimised to maximise the mass yield and calorific value using response surface methodology (RSM). The physicochemical characteristics, thermal fuel behaviour, energy recycling efficiency and electricity generation potential were assessed by proximate and ultimate analysis, thermogravimetry, bomb calorimeter, scanning electron microscopy and process energy assessment. Results showed that hydrochar fuel formation and properties were mainly influenced by the process temperature and residence time, and governed by dehydration and decarboxylation reactions which reduced the atomic H/C and O/C ratios by 35.5% and 64%, respectively. The produced hydrochars presented low sulphur, nitrogen and ash content with a maximum calorific value (HHV) of 22.9 MJ/kg, equivalent to the HHV of coal for commercial utility in South Africa. The HHV of the hydrochar corresponded to a 49.80% increase over the HHV of the initial feedstock. The optimum operating conditions were 231 ± 1 °C and 1.99 h for a hydrochar yield of 74.4% and calorific value of 18.5 MJ/kg. The energy assessment showed that up to 58.34% of the energy produced by hydrochar fuel combustion may be recycled as heat or power, while the remaining 41.66% of the combustion energy could be utilised to sustain the HTC treatment of paper sludge. The substantial water demand was concluded to be a drawback. Thus, water recirculation and the potential to catalyse the HTC reactions to increase overall process efficiency will constitute a future study to make the process more environmentally friendly for industrial-scale application. [Display omitted] • Dehydration and decarboxylation were predominant. • Optimum energy yield of 18.5 MJ/kg and 74.4% hydrochar was achieved under 231 ± 1 °C and 1.99 h. • Higher HTC reaction severity enhanced the physicochemical properties of the hydrochar. • Hydrochars produced have low nitrogen and sulphur (<1%) content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Should the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) lower the inflation target (IT) band? Does lowering the IT band impact the relationship between GDP growth and inflation? This paper explores these questions considering the SARB Governor, Lesetja Kganyago statements that there is a need to lower the IT band from 3–6% to a point target of 3%. We estimate the VAR model to determine whether the passthrough of positive GDP growth shocks to inflation is nonlinear in South Africa. The inflation effects are delineated into bands (i) above 6% (ii) between 4.5% and 6% (iii) between 3% and 4.5% (iv) between 0% and 3% and (v) when there are no IT bands. Evidence reveals that the passthrough is elevated when inflation exceeds 6% and is lower when inflation is within the (i) 3 to 4.5% and (ii) 0 to 3% IT bands. The passthrough from positive GDP growth shocks is more than halved when inflation is less than 3%. The policy implication is that lowering the IT band from 3 to 6% to 0 to 3% will reduce the passthrough of GDP growth shocks to inflation. It allows expansionary monetary to have more real effects as prices are more rigid in the low inflation environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sisonke 2 study provided a homologous boost at least 6 months after administration of the priming dose of Ad26.COV2.S for healthcare workers enrolled on the Sisonke phase 3b implementation study. Safety monitoring was via five reporting sources: (i.) self-report through a web-link; (ii.) paper-based case report forms; (iii.) a toll-free telephonic reporting line; (iv.) healthcare professionals-initiated reports; and (v.) active linkage with National Disease Databases. A total of 2350 adverse events were reported by 2117 of the 240 888 (0.88%) participants enrolled; 1625 of the 2350 reported events are reactogenicity events and 28 adverse events met seriousness criteria. No cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopaenia syndrome were reported; all adverse events including thromboembolic disorders occurred at a rate below the expected population rates apart from one case of Guillain Barre Syndrome and one case of portal vein thrombosis. The Sisonke 2 study demonstrates that two doses of Ad26.COV2.S is safe and well tolerated; and provides a feasible model for national pharmacovigilance strategies for low- and middle-income settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Background rates of maternal foetal and neonatal adverse events in South Africa have been assessed to support safety assessment of vaccines. • Retrospective review of paper-based medical records is challenging and time-consuming. • Missing data hampered alignment between clinically-reported adverse events and adverse events confirmed with GAIA case definitions. • Brighton Collaboration GAIA case definitions are useful, but some require amendments to improve utilization in real world settings. Background epidemiologic population data from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), on maternal, foetal and neonatal adverse outcomes are limited. We aimed to estimate the incidence of maternal, foetal and neonatal adverse outcomes at South African maternal vaccine trial sites as reported directly in the clinical notes as well as using the 'Global Alignment of Immunization Safety Assessment in Pregnancy' case definitions (GAIA-CDs). GAIA-CDs were utilized as a tool to standardise data collection and outcome assessment, and the applicability and utility of the GAIA-CDs was evaluated in a LMIC observational study. We conducted a retrospective record review of maternity and neonatal case records for births that occurred in Soweto, Inner City- Johannesburg and Metro-East Cape Town, South Africa, between 1st July 2017 and 30th June 2018. Study staff abstracted data from randomly selected medical charts onto standardized study-specific forms. Incidence (per 100,000 population) was calculated for adverse maternal, foetal and neonatal outcomes, which were identified as priority outcomes in vaccine safety studies by the Brighton Collaboration and World Health Organization. Outcomes reported directly in the clinical notes and outcomes which fulfilled GAIA-CDs were compared. Incidence of outcomes was calculated by combining cases which were either reported in clinical notes by attending physicians and/ or fulfilled GAIA-CDs. Of 9371 pregnant women enrolled, 27·6% were HIV-infected, 19·9% attended antenatal clinic in the 1st trimester of pregnancy and 55·3% had ≥1 ultrasound examination. Fourteen percent of women had hypertensive disease of pregnancy, 1·3% had gestational diabetes mellitus and 16% experienced preterm labour. There were 150 stillbirths (1·6%), 26·8% of infants were preterm and five percent had microcephaly. Data available in clinical notes for some adverse outcomes, including maternal- & neonatal death, severe pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia, were able to fulfil GAIA-CDs criteria for all of the clinically-reported cases, however, missing data required to fulfil other GAIA-CD criteria (including stillbirth, gestational diabetes mellitus and gestational hypertension) led to poor correlation between clinically-reported adverse outcomes and outcomes fulfilling GAIA-CDs. Challenges were also encountered in accurately ascertaining gestational age. This study contributes to the expanding body of data on background rates of adverse maternal and foetal/ neonatal outcomes in LMICs. Utilization of GAIA-CDs assists with alignment of data, however, some GAIA-CDs require amendment to improve the applicability in LMICs. This study was funded by Pfizer (Inc). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Seriphium plumosum L. is a taxonomically recalcitrant complex of paper daisies distributed in southern Africa. • The complex has been shown to comprise at least seven independent species. • Stoebe burchellii Levyns, Stoebe virgata Thunb. and Stoebe vulgaris Levyns are reinstated in Seriphium. • Four species new to science are described in Seriphium. • Seriphium vulgaris (Levyns) Z.Shaik is the only species in the S. plumosum complex that is an agricultural weed on millions of hectares of South African rangeland. Seriphium plumosum L. from southern Africa has been shown to comprise at least seven distinct species based on analysis of morphological, environmental, and multilocus DNA sequence data. On that evidence, Stoebe burchellii Levyns, Stoebe virgata Thunb., and Stoebe vulgaris Levyns are reinstated in Seriphium , and four new species are described, viz., Seriphium alto-argillaceum Z.Shaik , Se. burrowsii Z.Shaik , Se. crypticum Z.Shaik , and Se. dunensis Z.Shaik. Four of these species are endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, and one is so far known from a single high-elevation locality. We present a key to species in the Seriphium plumosum complex, and for each species provide a formal description with accompanying images, typification and synonymy, with distribution maps based on verified field-collected and herbarium specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Taxonomic description of new and little known Indigofera species from South Africa. • Four new Indigofera species, one new variety and two little known species are described. • One established taxon is raised to specific status and described with a new name. • An earlier name is found which has priority over an established species name. • All taxa are associated with the Pondoland Centre of Endemism, ranging to surrounding floristic areas. This second paper describes and clarifies new and poorly known Indigofera species, belonging to sect. Pinnatae (E.Mey.) Harv., from the Pondoland Centre of Endemism and associated neighbouring areas in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, South Africa. Five new species (one with two infraspecific taxa) are recognized: Indigofera abbottii Schrire and K.W.Grieve , I. hillburttii Schrire and K.W.Grieve , I. tysonii Schrire and K.W.Grieve , I. herrstreyi Schrire and K.W.Grieve var. herrstreyi and I. herrstreyi var. helodes K.W.Grieve and Schrire, and I. ngwenyana Schrire and K.W.Grieve. Descriptions are provided for the poorly known I. corniculata E.Mey. and I. gerrardiana Harv., taxa rarely taken up in the literature and both having been mostly synonymised under I. dregeana E.Mey. that occurs outside the area of the present study. The name I. tenuissima E.Mey. was found to be the earliest, correct, name for the widespread species I. longipes N.E.Br. ex Baker f., leaving the coastal Zululand taxon – currently named I. tenuissima E.Mey. – requiring further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate crop mapping is of great significance for crop yield forecasting, agricultural productivity development and agricultural management. Thanks to its all-time and all-weather capability, integrating multi-temporal synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for crop mapping has become essential and challenging task in remote sensing. In recent years, deep learning (DL) has demonstrated excellent crop mapping accuracy to interpret crop dynamics. However, existing DL-based methods tend to be incapable of capturing spatial and temporal features at different scales simultaneously, and this often leads to severe mis-classification due to the complex and heterogeneous distribution of crops and diverse phenological patterns. In this paper, we propose a novel spatio-temporal multi-level attention method, named as STMA, for crop mapping using time-series SAR imagery in an end-to-end fashion to increase the capability of crop phenology retrieval. Specifically, the multi-level attention mechanism is designed to aggregate multi-scale spatio-temporal representations on crops via cascaded spatio-temporal self-attention (STSA) and multi-scale cross-attention (MCA) modalities. To ensure a fine extraction of multi-granularity features, a learnable spatial attention position encoding is proposed to adaptively generate the position priors to facilitate multi-level attention learning. Experimental results on Brandenburg Sentinel-1 dataset, public PASTIS-R dataset and South Africa dataset demonstrated that STMA can achieve state-of-the-art performance in crop mapping tasks, with the accuracy of 96.54% in the Brandenburg Sentinel-1 dataset, 86.77% in the PASTIS-R dataset and 83.37% in the South Africa dataset, validating its effectiveness and superiority. Further comparison of spatio-temporal generalization capability reflected its excellent performance in spatio-temporal modeling on different crops and scenarios. This research provides a viable and intelligent spatio-temporal framework for large-area crop mapping using time-series SAR imagery in complex agricultural systems. The Brandenburg Sentinel-1 dataset and the STMA code will be publicly available at https://github.com/hanzhu97702/ISPRS_STMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutron monitor (NM) observations provide a unique, long-term record of galactic cosmic ray intensities, from which many valuable insights have been drawn as to the transport and modulation of these particles. In this paper, the African Neutron Monitor Network, which provides NM observations for broad range of cutoff rigidities, and spanning an exceptional period of time, is introduced. Aspects of these NM observations from this network are discussed, followed by a demonstration of time-dependent numerical cosmic ray modulation modelling done at the North-West University in South Africa, which hosts this network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the asymmetric impact of renewable electricity energy usage and industrialization on the environmental sustainability of South Africa. The load capacity factor (LF) is a more extensive measure of environmental deterioration when compared to carbon emissions and the ecological footprint, which cover a range of both the demand on and supply of nature. The series dataset used for the empirical analysis spans between 1990 and 2019. The study also investigates the effect of human capital, industrialization, and economic growth on load capacity factor. The result of the NARDL estimator reveals that the increase in renewable electricity energy usage increases LF in the long and short term. However, the decline in renewable electricity energy usage has a neutral impact on LF. Furthermore, the results indicate that industrialization and economic growth impact LF negatively. Lastly, human capital improves environmental quality due to the increasing effect on LF. The spectral Granger causality approach outcomes show that all the parameters can forecast load capacity factors in the long term. Some policy implications, restrictions, and potential future study pathways have been explored in light of this paper's results. • The nonlinear autoregressive distributive lag is employed. • Asymmetric impact of renewable electricity consumption on environmental sustainability. • A broad environmental indicator is used, load capacity factor. • The positive change in renewable electricity consumption promotes environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a new wave of health, infrastructure and built environment challenges and opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic induced environment presents a divide between the "new and old normal" with policy and planning implications for health, transport and general socio-economic growth and development. Multiple and complex nuanced transport matters cascade all geographic scales and pervade all sectors of the economy. The extent to which existing transport systems capacities are resilient, adaptive, and optimized for complete disaster planning, management and sustainability is questioned. This paper critically reviews how the COVID-19 pandemic has stretched the resilience and adaptive transport systems capacities in South Africa. A critical question interrogated is whether on-going policy and planning interventions constitute imperfect or perfect attempts at closing COVID -19 policy and planning emergent gaps. The paper makes use of South Africa as a case study, referencing the Disaster Management Act (No. 57 of 2002) and logical Disaster Management Act: Regulations relating to COVID-19 (Government Notice 318 of 2020), 1 1 As amended from time to time i.e., Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002), having declared a national state of disaster published by Government Notice No 313 of 15 March 2020, and extended by Government Notices Nos 646 of 5 June 2020. 765 of 13 July 2020, 889 of 15 August 2020, 995 of 14 September 2020, 1090 of 14 October 2020, 1225 of 14 November 2020 and 1341 of 11 December 2020, No. R. 15 of 13 January 2021 and No. R69 of 1 February 2021. with specific reference to the transport sector lockdown regulations in unravelling policy and planning implications. Drawing from the complex systems adaptive theory (CSAT), sustainability theory (ST), innovation theory (IT), transitions theory (TT), thematic COVID -19 transport planning and policy adaptation, mitigation measures in the South African transportation sector are discussed. Emergent lessons with respect to developing and advancing a new generation of resilient, adaptive, and optimized transport proof infrastructure and services including revising transport and related policies that navigates through various waves and cycles of induced pandemic and shocks is suggested. • The transport divide between the "new and old normal" planning and policy regimes. • COVID-19 transport complexities, challenges, and tensions in policy (re)formulation. • Questions whether policy and planning interventions constitute (im)perfect attempts at closing COVID -19 emergent gaps. • Emergent lessons for resilient, adaptive, and optimized transport proof COVID -19 infrastructure and services are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Later Stone Age of southern Africa sees the succession of varied lithic traditions. The Wilton (8ka BP – second millennium AD) corresponds to the last techno-complex of the LSA in South Africa. It has been typologically recognised over vast geographical areas and seems to last until the progressive disappearance of stone tool industries, while experiencing chronological and geographical variations. While Wilton formal tools, mainly small scrapers and microliths, have received much attention, the ways in which the stone tools themselves were produced are still unknown. This paper provides keys to describe mid-Holocene Wilton microlithic productions at the reference site of Rose Cottage Cave (Free-State). The lithic technological analysis highlights the integrated production of 'ready-made' blanks from one volume, including bladelets. The scraper and backed piece typologies are analysed and reveal an interesting diversity. These results provide a foundation for the building of the technological understanding of the Wilton in southern Africa. This paper ultimately aims to facilitate the exploration of regional and chronological variations at Wilton sites, and, by contrast, to differentiate other lithic traditions in southern Africa. • This paper provides keys for better understanding Wilton lithic technologies in South Africa • The knapping methods allowed for the production of various 'ready-made' blanks from one volume. • Different knapping techniques could have been used within one operational sequence. • The scraper and backed piece typology are more diverse than revealed by previous studies. • The paper provides a base line for future comparative studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of stock assessment is to provide managers with an understanding of the biomass and age-/size-composition of a stock, stock status (ideally relative to target and reference points), and to support management decision making, often through projections and application of harvest control rules. Stock assessments are increasingly being used to form the basis for the operating models used to evaluate the ability of management strategies to achieve the goals of fisheries management. Stock assessments for rock lobsters were among the first to adopt size-structured population models as the basis for stock assessment, and population model-based stock assessments have been used extensively to evaluate management strategies for rock lobster stocks in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. This paper identifies how closely population model-based stock assessments for rock lobsters satisfy the guidelines identified for best practices for conducting stock assessments during meetings of, for example, the Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology and papers identifying best practice guidelines for stock assessment. The paper highlights some key directions for stock assessment science for rock lobsters, including considerations related to environmental variation and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• South Africa is not spared from the adverse effects of climate change which alters the ecosystem and have a ripple effect on food security. • This paper reviewed the impacts of climate change on the phenology, physiology, and economic benefits of wild fruits and vegetables in South Africa. • The possible productivity of wild fruits and vegetables was evaluated with spatial-based data through land use/land cover which showed that South Africa had varied vegetation and land cover dynamics. • There is a need to develop cultivation strategies for edible wild fruits and vegetables to expand knowledge and create options in utilizing the wild species. • This will boost the country's economy, help to improve diet, and can play a crucial role in food security. Overdependence on exotic plant species constitutes a major setback for the consumption of wild fruits and vegetables among South Africans. The country is not spared from the adverse effects of climate change which play a substantial role in altering the ecosystem and have a ripple effect on food security. Wild fruits and vegetables have been identified to be underutilized despite the country's struggle in nourishing its population. This paper reviewed the impacts of climate change on the phenology, physiology, and economic benefits of wild fruits and vegetables in South Africa. Furthermore, spatial-based data was used to evaluate the possible productivity of wild fruits and vegetables through land use/land cover (LULC) assessment. The result showed that South Africa had varied vegetation and land cover dynamics. For example, Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces are dominated by shrubland and barren land, thus unsuitable for fruit and vegetable production. In contrast, Limpopo, North-West, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Free State, some parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Provinces are covered with grassland and cultivated areas which made them good for vegetable farming and potential ground for wild fruit and vegetable cultivation. Thus, there is a need to develop cultivation strategies for edible wild fruits and vegetables with known nutritional characteristics to expand knowledge about nutritional benefits and options in utilizing the wild species. This will boost the country's economy, help to improve diet, and can play a crucial role in food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and global warming have led to an increased incidence of flooding across the world. Against the backdrop of the recent devastating floods in the Kwazulu-Natal province of South Africa, this paper explores psychotraumatology of natural disasters. In particular, we explore the impact of internal migration in South Africa, as well as apartheid spatial planning and inequality on the consequences of the flooding. We also focus on the psychotraumatology resulting from flooding, in general, and in particular on the victims of the flooding in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. We conclude that the psychopathological consequences of such natural disasters are ignored even though they seriously affect the people concerned. The development of specific trainings for psychologists in psychotraumatology and the care of victims should be a priority in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines factors associated with the likelihood of healthy ageing and the propensity to utilise health care resources for a rural community in South Africa and the associated policy implications. Our results suggest education exerts a positive influence, and its marginal impact is more prominent for females than males. Further, we show that better childhood health is associated with increased likelihood of ageing well. We also demonstrate an inverse relationship between health care utilisation and healthy ageing. The results presented here suggest that strategic policy investments across life courses in education and child-health fosters not only broader development goals but also enhances healthy ageing trajectories and improve the health and wellbeing of individuals across life stages. This study contributes to informing on the UN's healthy ageing global strategic agenda in the context of a poor rural region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• From 2010 to 2017, chinese imports in south africa's manufacturing sector grew rapidly from 5 per cent of total domestic consumption to over 8 per cent. • Chinese imports have negatively affected employment growth, sales growth and the survival rate of manufacturing firms in south africa. • Chinese import competition has a systemic impact on the south african manufacturing sector, propagating from one firm to another through domestic input–output linkages. • Within industries, firms that invest relatively more intensively in capabilities development tend to be less hard hit by chinese import penetration than other firms. Using firm-level tax administrative data from 2010 to 2017, we study the extent to which Chinese import penetration has affected the growth performances of manufacturing firms registered in South Africa. By instrumenting Chinese imports to South Africa with Chinese exports to other developing countries, this paper analyses both the systemic and heterogeneous impact of Chinese import penetration on South Africa-based manufacturing firms. First, we study whether China's import competition has been associated with a downsizing of manufacturing firms in terms of decreasing employment and sales growth, and higher probability of exiting the market, both within the same sector (direct import penetration's effect) and across sectors along domestic value chains through input–output linkages (indirect import penetration's effect). Second, we test whether firms investing more intensively in their capabilities development—notably in their skills development, production technologies and related process upgrading —are better able to cope with such direct and indirect competitive pressure. Our results indicate that rising exposure to Chinese imports—not only direct one, but also in downstream segments of the domestic value chain—leads to slower sales and employment growth for the entire sample of surviving firms and to a higher probability of shutdown for firms not undertaking significant investments in their capabilities development. However, we also find that, within industries, firms investing relatively more intensively in skills development, production technologies and related process upgrading are more likely to survive and grow despite rising import competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of ageing on pavement performance are significant, particularly in terms of fatigue cracking. South Africa has the 10th longest road network in the world, requiring innovative approaches to road construction due to severe budget constraints. Innovative solutions such as thin asphalt concrete layers for surfacing, result in unique ageing rates of the layers, which, in general, have a higher incidence of fatigue cracking than, for example, thicker asphalt concrete layers used in other parts of the world. The objective of this paper is to evaluate how ageing mechanisms affect various asphalt binder properties, and whether they affect them to the same extent or not. Furthermore, the objective of the paper is also to determine the accuracy of the Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT) in simulating short-term ageing in the field. The RTFOT provides a relatively good indication of short-term ageing, according to this multi-decade ageing study, and the effect on the asphalt binder properties used as ageing indices depends on the specific property chosen for comparison before and after ageing. • From 2001 to 2012, the prevalent surfacing in South Africa was a dense-graded asphalt mix with 50/70-grade asphalt binder. • Asphalt binders were consistent over 2001 to 2012, originating from four South African refineries. • A short-term ageing method in the laboratory cannot emulate the reaction kinetics during manufacturing and placement. • Binder properties such as penetration and softening are affected to different extents in an oxidation / ageing environment. • The rolling thin film oven provides a good indication of ageing under typical conditions of manufacturing and laying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bambara groundnut productivity in South Africa is low (0.62 t/ha) compared to the attainable yield of the crop reaching up to 3 t/ha. • The low productivity is attributable to a lack of improved and high yielding cultivars that are locally bred and adapted in the country. • This paper presents baseline information on Bambara groundnut genetic profile of South African collections for effective breeding and conservation. • The magnitude of the genetic diversity and population structure of Bambara groundnut collections of South Africa using high throughput single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers are highlighted to guide current and future Bambara groundnut research and development by selection genetically unique genotypes for breeding. Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea [L.] Verdc) is a highly nutritious grain legume with a significant potential to develop various commercial food and feed products. It is a resilient crop able to grow under harsh climates and poor soil conditions. Bambara groundnut productivity in South Africa is low (0.62 t/ha) compared to the attainable yield of the crop reaching up to 3 t/ha. The low productivity is attributable to a lack of improved and high yielding cultivars that are locally bred and adapted in the country. Genetically diverse and locally adapted Bambara groundnut landrace varieties and exotic collections are present in South Africa for strategic breeding to improve yield and yield-related traits and nutritional quality. The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of the genetic diversity and population structure of Bambara groundnut collections of South Africa using high throughput single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers. Ninety-three genotypes were assessed using genotyping with 2286 SNP markers and some unique complementary morpho-agronomic traits of the crop. The mean genetic diversity value was 0.32, revealing moderate genetic differences among the assessed genotypes. Cluster and structure analyses grouped the test genotypes into two distinct categories. Further, the analysis of molecular variance partitioned the total genetic variation into among genotypes (90%), within genotypes (8%) and among populations (2%). The results revealed two heterotic groups for hybridization and selection programs. The following unique genotypes were selected: ARC Bamb 37 (with spreading growth type), ARC Bamb 49 (bunch type), ARC Bamb 61 (semi-bunch) and ARC Bamb 83 (spreading) using the SNP markers and desirable agronomic traits. The study provided new insight on Bambara groundnut genetic profiles of South African collections which will assist in conservation strategy and management of the crop for effective breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sappi Saiccor mill in Umkomaas, KwaZulu Natal (KZN) Province, is a global pulp producer. It is also a major emitter of noxious substances in the heavily polluted and historically marginalised South Durban area. Taking a qualitative, narrative approach, this paper examines Saiccor's legacy of contamination, community opposition to the mill, and responses of state actors responsible for governing industrial risk. Through a conceptual framework combining theories around participatory environmental governance, legitimacy and state capture, the article explores the extent to which measures deployed by/on behalf of the Sappi Saiccor mill to engage with local residents and activists can be considered legitimate. The paper argues that prevalent corporate instrumentalism and a lack of political will continue to undermine the legitimacy of community engagement processes, which remain characterised by mistrust. It concludes the South African state cannot be relied upon to support genuinely inclusive, deliberative, empowering and reflexive governance practices. It is therefore left to organised civil society to force discourse beyond hegemonic, ecologically-modernised, technocentric ideals, and to bring issues of power, agency, and social justice to the fore of public and policy debate. The way might then be paved for strong political leadership committed to transparent, equitable environmental governance processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mallomonas corymbosa, M. kenyana and M. porte-ferreae were found in the Vaal River, South Africa. • Cell morphology and geographical distribution of each species are presented. • Water quality of the Vaal river at the time of sampling is presented. • The finding of M. corymbosa represents the first record of this species in Africa. • M. kenyana, a tropical/subtropical species, were found in temperate regions in South Africa. This paper reports on the presence of three Mallomonas species (Phylum Ochrophyta) in the Vaal River, South Africa. Scanning electron microscope observations of entire cells with intact scales and bristles allowed accurate identifications of M. corymbosa, M. kenyana and M. portae-ferreae. Descriptions and dimensions of each of the three species are given, their geographical distribution is discussed and physico-chemistry of the water at the time of their finding is presented. M. corymbosa was recorded for the first time in Africa, expanding its known geographical distribution to an additional continent. The climatic preferences of the tropical and subtropical species, M. kenyana were extended to temperate regions in South Africa. These species were present under eutrophic to hypertrophic conditions, a water temperature of 25.4 °C, neutral to slightly alkaline water (pH 7.25) and a conductivity value of 440 µS/cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the connection between water supply and energy consumption in a circular economy is crucial for managing the demands of these resources. Sankey diagrams have the potential to enhance the visualisation of resource flows. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding the effective use of Sankey diagrams to capture the water-energy nexus and circularity of water. This study focused on effectively utilizing Sankey diagrams to model the nexus of water and energy flows and to assess the circularity of water. A comprehensive literature review was conducted on major studies on water material flows and modelling. This was supported by a review of approaches for modelling circularity, which have evolved from the material circularity index. The newly developed framework in this paper models water resource flows at all stages of the water supply chain, embedding the nexus as an interaction and considering resource intensity and material circularity index at each node. A city-level case study in South Africa was then used to apply the recommendations, model circularity, and the water-energy nexus using Sankey diagrams. In terms of circularity, the results indicate that water loss in the study area was very high, accounting for up to 40% of the total water supply and the water recycle rate was still very low, ranging from 3% to 7%. In terms of the nexus, the residential sector was found to have the highest energy intensity for water supply, primarily due to energy demand for water heating. Exploring the use of renewable or solar energy for water heating will be of interest and value. The new approach presented in this study allows for the simultaneous consideration of objectives, enabling a more robust analysis of energy-effective water use and water circularity along the water supply chain. [Display omitted] • A new framework for modelling the water energy nexus enriched by circularity options, energy intensity factors and confidence modelling. • Options for embedded circularity through the water supply chain. • The urgent challenge to address massive water loses in water supply systems for water scarce regions. • New Sankey diagrams showcasing how to model nexus and circularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the critical challenge of sizing hybrid renewable energy systems over their lifespan while accounting for uncertainties in energy sources and load demands. By leveraging stochastic programming, we introduce a novel modeling technique that ensures robust optimization without compromising numerical tractability. Unlike conventional methods, which determine system parameters for the entire project duration upfront, our approach enables annual adjustments to the renewable components' sizing. This dynamic strategy alleviates early-stage under-utilization, aligning system capacity with evolving demand patterns. Central to our approach is the reformulation of the two-stage stochastic program as a quasi-optimal control. This reduces the number of optimization variables significantly, simplifying the solution process. Moreover, thousands of constraints are replaced with a system of differential equations, enhancing computational efficiency. By minimizing capital costs and dynamic operating expenses, we achieve an optimal system size. Through a real-world application in a rural area of South Africa, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. The results showed a remarkable improvement in problem-solving efficiency, reduced under-utilization, and heightened adaptability to unpredictable weather conditions. This innovative framework represents a substantial leap forward in hybrid renewable energy systems design, offering a more agile and efficient solution for sustainable energy generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense medium separation circuits use a dense medium to separate low density waste material from high density valuable minerals. Since the dense medium is an expensive consumable, it is recovered after separation of the valuable minerals from waste. A dynamic nonlinear model of a dense medium separation circuit of an iron ore plant in South Africa is developed to track the flow of medium in the circuit. An extended Kalman filter is designed for estimating observable but unmeasured states. The model is validated using online plant data. This paper serves as a precursor for further work to detect and mitigate expensive medium losses in the circuit. • A dense medium separation circuit is modelled from first principles. • Each unit process model is evaluated for state observability. • The states are estimated from industrial data using an extended Kalman filter. • The results indicate how the estimates can be used to detect medium losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the concept of social-ecological resilience gains increasing policy attention, there is growing demand for approaches that operationalise it. Amongst these demands is the need to empirically assess absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacities that underpin resilience to better understand the ways in which social-ecological systems can navigate change and uncertainty. We explore the application of a capitals approach for assessing resilience capacities, using an example of deciduous fruit farming operations in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, thematically coded, and analysed using causal loop diagrams and co-occurrence analyses to identify changes experienced by farming operations, their responses to these changes, and the effects of both on capital resources. We then apply the criteria developed for the classification of resilience capacities. A variety of changes affect farming operations at multiple points across the value chain, and have effects across capital resources. Most significant to farmers are changes which impact the amount of water available and the cashflow they require to sustain their operations. The most common responses employed by farmers consisted of activities which either increase the availability of an affected resource, or decrease its demand in order to maintain the same functions (adaptive capacity). In fewer cases, farming operations were able to absorb the depletion of their capital resources due to pre-emptive management (absorptive capacity). In similarly few cases, the potential or realised resource deficiencies caused by changes were either corrected or decoupled from the farming operation through structural reorganisation towards a different or additional function and types of output being delivered (transformative capacity). Evidence of changes being anticipated prior to their onset were also identified, leading to responses which are used in conjunction with the preceding three capacities. Our findings suggest that the criteria we developed for classifying resilience capacities offer a useful means of operationalising resilience. In particular, the approach we pilot in this paper enables the application of a systems perspective to identify interactions between changes and responses, which broadens the options for identifying management strategies and interventions. The approach we propose can be used to identify key leverage points to strengthen the capacities of vulnerable farmers. Further work is required to integrate consideration of cross-scale effects of farm-scale resilience strategies on the broader social-ecological system. [Display omitted] • Empirical examples of studies which operationalise social-ecological resilience are in high demand. • We assess resilience identifying the capital effects of change and responses in farming operations. • The interaction between changes and responses are used to infer capacities of resilience. • Most response strategies reveal adaptive capacity, with other capacities utilised to a lesser extent. • The criteria employs a systemic outlook which broadens considerations for responses and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the Holocene climatic dynamics of South Africa's southern Cape, a region that supports a large proportion of the Greater Cape Floristic Region and contains an array of important archaeological sites. While South African climates are generally characterised by marked rainfall seasonality, the southern Cape is currently situated at the interface between tropical and temperate climate systems, resulting in a largely aseasonal rainfall regime. This regime, however, is thought to have been particularly sensitive to past changes in late Quaternary boundary conditions, meaning that variability in either tropical or temperate systems could have significant environmental impacts. Evidence of past climate change, however, remains limited. We present a 9000-year record of hydroclimatic variability obtained from rock hyrax midden stable nitrogen records, from Papkuilsfontein, on the southern slope of the Anysberg Mountains. Resolved to an average 6-year resolution and spanning the period c. 9050 cal yr BP to 1990 CE, this is the highest resolution Holocene record from southern Africa and presents a unique opportunity for the detailed study of the primary drivers and spatial gradients of Holocene climate change in the southern Cape. The data indicate a long-term decrease in aridity across the Holocene and a pattern of variability that reveals remarkable similarities with records from the South African tropics and El Niño–Southern Oscillation proxies, highlighting the significance of tropical systems as drivers of Holocene climate change in the region. This substantially expands what has been previously considered to be the zone of tropical influence, extending from a coastal phenomenon associated with heat transport via the Agulhas Current to encompass much, if not all, of the Agulhas Plain south of the Cape Fold Mountains. These findings provide a valuable new climatic framework for contextualizing changes in ecological and archaeological records in the southern Cape, and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics of climate systems in southern Africa. • Sub-decadal 9000-year record of aridity from South Africa's southern Cape. • Reveals dominance of tropical forcing across the southern Cape and Agulhas Plain. • ENSO variability indicated to be important driver of regional climate change. • Presents high-resolution framework for study of human-environment interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Five discharge datasets have median correlation coefficients > 0.6 with the observations. • Overestimation of monthly mean flow is more common than underestimation. • GRFR showed the best estimate at around 40% of the locations. • None of the models provides good estimates for rivers and streams in arid regions. High-resolution global flow discharge datasets are critical to understand the terrestrial water cycle and river ecosystem services. Recently, a number of global hydrological models have been developed to capture global river flow dynamics at locally relevant scales. However, the relative accuracy of these simulated flow discharges is largely unknown. In this paper, using the largest observed streamflow datasets from > 26,000 gauging stations, we evaluated the performance of monthly and sub-monthly flow variation (1980–2014) generated from five major global hydrological models, Catchment-based Macro-scale Floodplain model (CaMa-Flood), Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS-reanalysis), Global Reach-level Flood Reanalysis (GRFR), PCRaster GLOBal Water Balance model (PCR-GLOBWB), and Water Global Assessment and Prognosis (WaterGAP). Significant spatial heterogeneity in model performance was identified. We found that estimates by all five discharge datasets have a relatively high correlation with the observations (medians > 0.6). But none of them showed adequate correlations between simulated and observed flows for systems in Southwest or Central U.S.A., South Africa, or South Australia. Across all models, overestimation of monthly mean flow was more common than underestimation and high flows at a sub-monthly scale were more accurately characterized than low flows. Performance of all models was poor in Africa and Oceania. No single model performed universally best at all gauging stations, but GRFR showed the best estimate at around 40 % of the locations. None of the models provided satisfying estimates for rivers and streams in arid regions. We also found a significant negative effect of flow regulation on the predictive accuracy of all models. Our study highlights the importance of thorough evaluation of global discharge datasets before their local and regional application and provides guidance for future enhancement of global hydrological models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase equilibria modelling techniques can constrain the equilibrium conditions of major rock-forming minerals, however current thermodynamic databases and activity-composition models do not accommodate minor and trace elements as chemical components in modelled systems. This paper presents the integration of trace element partitioning routines between melt and solid phases in the thermodynamic modelling tool Rcrust in order to effectively estimate the trace element composition of stable phases when melt is present. Since trace elements occur in large abundances in accessory phases for which we do not currently have activity-composition models this paper further presents the integration of accessory phase saturation routines for apatite and monazite, two commonly occurring accessory phases in granitic rocks. This provides a novel methodology for approximating trace element distribution among thermodynamically constrained phases with thermodynamically unconstrained accessory phases, apatite and monazite. A case study of the Peninsula Pluton granodiorite, South Africa, is used to validate the use of accessory phase saturation and trace element partitioning with phase equilibria modelling. The results highlight the importance of major element components that also contribute to accessory phase formation such as calcium in apatite (which can accommodate a non-trivial quantity of the available calcium) and the resultant effect on phase equilibria of major phases. Saturating apatite can alter phase equilibria, mainly for calcium-bearing phases, that is equivalent to up to 20°C change in temperature. Modelling results for the Peninsula Pluton predicts LREE concentrations of apatite and monazite that match the natural samples at temperatures below 725°C, corroborating previous findings for emplacement P-T constraints. However, phase assemblages predicted through phase equilibria modelling show that the rock equilibrated to P-T below the emplacement estimates of previous studies. By modelling both major and accessory phases we provide constraints on the formation and crystallisation of crustal magmas which has important implications on geothermobarometry and thermochronology in the crust. • Rcrust phase equilibria modelling tool. • Approximating trace element compositions. • Integration of phase equilibria modelling and accessory phase saturation. • Accessory phase saturation routines for apatite and monazite. • Consideration for calcium in apatite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing consensus among applied linguists from the Global South that orthodox linguistic and applied linguistic paradigms, theoretical frameworks and methodologies do not adequately serve these contexts. As a result, there has been an increase in interest in challenging Global North paradigms, theoretical perspectives and methodologies. In line with these concerns, in this critical reflective paper, I interrogate the notion of cross-linguistic transfer, which remains popular in some studies on language and literacy learning and teaching in linguistically and culturally complex Global South contexts, including the South African context. Using two studies drawn from two complex multilingual South African universities as illustrative cases (Dyers and Antia, 2019; Makalela, 2014), and framing these studies from a decolonial lens and a translanguaging perspective, I show that the concept of cross-linguistic transfer is problematic because it fails to capture a range of the communicative repertoires, both linguistic and non-linguistic, of multilingual students in these universities, and by extension, in similar contexts. I also contend that the notion of "transfer" in cross-linguistic transfer undermines the multidimensional interdependence of communicative resources of multilingual users. Following this critical analysis, I call for the reconceptualization of cross-linguistic transfer, arguing that this conceptual vocabulary is not consistent with the ontological realities and epistemological perspectives of multilingual students in a complex multilingual South African context. I conclude the paper by briefly discussing the implications of the reconceptualization of cross-linguistic transfer for multilingual educational settings and language and literacy research in the geographic African context, in general, and the South African context, in particular. • Reconceptualising cross-linguistic transfer from a Global South perspective. • Ubuntu translanguaging as an analytic framework for understanding multilingual practices in two South African universities. • Reanalysis of the cases shows that linguistic fluidity is tied to non-human resources. • Decolonial scholars should interrogate received frameworks, while proposing alternative ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and global warming create considerable problems for people, such as intense droughts. One of the biggest causes of global warming is the preference for fossil fuels in energy production. In this context, renewable energy has been considered an effective way to promote environmental quality. Several empirical studies have evaluated the impact of economic growth and energy on environmental quality. However, the possible influence of banking development on carbon emissions in South Africa has been ignored. Thus, this study contributes to the extant literature by assessing the impact of banking sector development on the environmental quality in South Africa over the period 1986–2017. For this purpose, the linkage between energy, economic growth, banking sector development and C 0 2 emissions are assessed by using the new technique of bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag. The findings from the ARDL estimations affirm that renewable energy consumption affects negatively C 0 2 emissions. However, the main conclusion of this study is that banking sector development has a negative influence on the environmental quality in South Africa through GDP and energy factors. The finding reveals that an increase in credit from banks to markets will lead to a rise in projects and investments, as well as strengthen risk management systems, potentially affecting economic growth and energy consumption and therefore increasing C 0 2 emissions. Hence, the outcome suggests that policymakers in South Africa must use the growth of the banking sector to enhance environmental quality by promoting investment in energy and production through renewable energy. • This paper examines the impact of banking sector development and renewable energy on environmental quality. • Renewable energy promotes environmental quality. • Banking sector development reduces environmental quality. • South Africa must increase the usage of renewable energy to have economic growth accompanied by a sustainable environment. • South Africa must use the growth of the banking sector to minimise environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cowpea is a highly valued fruit and leafy vegetable crop contributing to food, nutrition, and health security. • Low cowpea production and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and globally are due to a lack of improved cultivars with multiple disease, and insect pest resistance and drought tolerant; moreover, there is a lack of seed system research in cowpea. • The extensive phenotypic and genotypic variation found in cowpea genetic resources is useful for the development of cultivars with enhanced grain yield, leafy yield and nutritional values as well as drought tolerant. Despite the contribution of cowpeas to food security and the crop's numerous nutritional and health attributes, consumers in South Africa have labelled cowpeas, among other leguminous crops as a "poor people's food" ; this contributed to the gradual decline in the cultivation and use of the crop. This, in turn, resulted in the observed high reliance on limited number of plant based protein crops and excessive consumption of livestock products. In this paper, three aspects are interrogated, i.e., genetic resource management, production constraints as well as the trade performance and consumption of cowpeas in South Africa. A clear understanding of these aspects renders an informed decision upon which recommendations for the necessary practical interventions that are needed to be put in place to spur the development of target products and cowpea's value chain. The assessment of genetic resource management and seed production constraints of cowpeas was based on a review of relevant literature, while descriptive analysis of secondary data spanning a period of 10 years (2010-2019) obtained from Trade Map and FAOSTAT databases was used to interrogate the trade performance and consumption of cowpeas. Findings reveal that seed production constraints are largely anchored on the limited attention government and policy making institutions have accorded to the seed system of orphaned crops, thereby compromising their potential by failing to supply affordable good quality seeds to smallholder and commercial farmers. However, South Africa has one of the largest and most diverse collections of cowpea germplasm housed at the Agricultural Research Council. With regard to trade performance and consumption, results show that South Africa is a net exporter of cowpeas, with a 10 years' period annual average worth R2.9 million. Given that South Africa does not re-export cowpeas, yet on average 4848 tonnes are produced annually, it is a clear indication that the country produces lightly more than what is consumed domestically – on average 4634 tonnes per annum. Therefore, recommendation is made to bolster cowpea production and productivity through mainstreaming the legume seed system towards boosting local and export markets as well as strongly enhancing local consumption by creating awareness of the nutritional and health benefits of cowpeas. Furthermore, there is a need to increase awareness about the nutritional and health benefits of cowpeas and other leguminous crops, among other socio-economic benefits. This is important in spurring cowpeas consumption domestically, while countering the over reliance on animal products as protein sources and the associated risks such as such as high greenhouse gas emissions and obesity for people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South Africa, there is currently no legislation that addresses animal experimentation directly. There is, however, a complex framework that consists of laws, national standards, and institutional guidelines governing the use of animals in scientific settings. Consequently, this paper starts by unpacking this framework, both legal and voluntary, in the South African context. Thereafter, it examines some criticisms against this framework. It subsequently proposes that an African ethic could respond to these criticisms, and so unpacks the central tenets of an African ethic in order to demonstrate how it may do this. Finally, it will argue that there are convincing moral reasons, from within an African framework, to significantly reduce, and even abolish, the use of animals in research, and that it should be enacted in legal regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper sought to examine institutional commitment to community engagement (CE) in South African public university libraries. The research approach adopted was qualitative using three methods, interviews with Library Heads (LHs), focus groups discussions with Librarians and content analysis of the libraries' strategic plans. Data were collected, analysed and interpreted thematically using ATLAS.ti and according to the objectives of the study. Findings revealed that most libraries in South Africa reflect CE in their strategic objectives. However, having CE in the strategies objectives does not often translate to its funding and assessment by the universities. This points to a dissonance between policy and implementation. The study recommends that South African academic libraries should strive to utilise more quantitative and qualitative methods to assess their CE initiatives. Similar to other main functions of universities, such as teaching, learning and research; government should consider introducing a competitive funding model for the CE mandate to stimulate practical, academic and research interest in this niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wonderwerk Cave, in South Africa, is an exceptional site that has yielded a large collection of small mammal fossils in a stratigraphic sequence reaching back ca. 2 million years. Taphonomic studies undertaken to date, show that Tytonidae (likely Tyto alba) was the dominant predator during the Earlier Stone Age. They produced masses of pellets that formed a dense carpet-like surface that covered the cave floor at intervals throughout the sequence. This paper compares the taphonomic signatures of five different Earlier Stone Age small mammal assemblages from Wonderwerk Cave, including assemblages not studied before, as well as a modern pellet assemblage collected from inside the cave. These samples were examined using taphonomic signatures, bone density and spatial distribution which confirm that the main predator in all periods of cave occupation were members of the Family Tytonidae, most likely Barn owls. The Wonderwerk small mammals have enabled us to clarify site formation processes and confirm that there was no transport or mixing of fossils, neither spatially (re-sedimentation) nor chronologically (reworking). This has confirmed the integrity of the stratigraphic sequence in the cave, reinforcing interpretations of palaeoecology, and elucidating intensity of occupation by hominins versus predators, and the behaviour of the predators vis a vis their prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first insight into the interpretation of the wood charcoal from the Holocene layers of Wonderwerk Cave. Situated in the Northern Cape Province in the arid interior of South Africa, the site provides a unique and valuable chronological record of past environmental fluctuations and responding human behavioural adaptations spanning the last two million years. The Holocene strata have been dated to cover the last 12.5 ka cal BP years, but exclude the last 100 years because of contamination. A sizeable amount of charcoal was recovered from these strata and remnants have been identified, described and the species composition amongst the strata compared. Most identified species are those that tolerate hot, dry conditions, signalling an arid trend during the Holocene. Comparison with present day species distributions suggests an eastwards shift in modern vegetation. The charcoal data also indicate that during the mid Holocene there was a wetter period from 6.2 to 4.5 ka cal BP, coinciding with stratum 4a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg mountains in the west of KwaZulu-Natal have been home to people for over 25ka years. The primary occupation has, however, been within the last 3ka. Settled primarily by hunter-gatherers, there appears to have been a possible ephemeral pastoralist presence around 2ka and an increasing agriculturist presence during the last 1ka. This paper outlines these occupations, focusing primarily on the northern uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, where most archaeological research has taken place. The emphasis is on the rock shelter excavations at Diamond 1, Driel Shelter, Clarke's Shelter, Collingham Shelter, Good Hope Shelter 1 and Mhlwazini Cave, complemented by reference to open-air and rock shelter surface scatters and rock paintings. Data about the subsistence and material cultural of all these occupants is synthesised to show that the people of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, but primarily the hunters-gatherers, had a varied diet complemented by rich material cultural assemblages. The Discussion considers, (i), the notion of hunter-gatherer seasonality concluding that the mountains could have been occupied on an all-year basis and, (ii), the possible presence of pastoralists in and adjacent the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg around 2ka years ago, which might have involved the practice of feasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A techno-economic assessment (TEA) tool was developed for AD technology. • Tool is demonstrated specifically in the context of smallholders in South Africa. • Probabilistic simulation of feasibility indicators using a Monte Carlo method. • Risk assessment was conducted using sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo method. • Stochastic TEA can be used to assessing other AD technologies. Anaerobic digestion (AD) technology holds numerous potential benefits for farmers, however, challenges persist in terms of implementation costs and sustainability in developing countries. This paper presents a probabilistic techno-economic assessment tool for AD. A clear distinction is made between direct financial feasibility and wider (socio) economic feasibility. The tool identifies the technical- and economic factors influencing the returns of a particular AD process as well as the sensitivity of model predictions to variations in the value of the identified factors using a Monte Carlo approach. The tool is applied to assess the feasibility of a smallholder farm-based AD installation under a variety of substrates and operating conditions as an illustrative case study, where on-going flows of costs and benefits were considered over a 15-year period and discounted at a rate of 8%. The results of the case study revealed that the installation of a 10 m3 smallholder farm-based anaerobic digester are likely to be financially and economically viable with a financial benefit-cost ratio of 1.30–1.38 and an economic benefit-cost ratio ranged from 5.49 to 6.01. Risk assessment results confirmed the strong economic feasibility of a smallholder farm-based AD implementation: under the most conservative cost estimates, there is a 73% probability of achieving a financial benefit-cost ratio > 1, while there is a 96.6% probability of achieving an economic benefit-cost ratio > 1. The case study demonstrated the utility of probabilistic techno-economic assessments for informed decision making, a tool which can be readily generalized to other settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper adopted a qualitative research approach to assess the formation of partnerships towards community engagement (CE) in South African public university libraries. Online interviews with Library Heads and Community Participants as well as focus group discussions with Librarians were the two data collection methods used. Data were collected, analysed and interpreted thematically using ATLAS.ti. Findings revealed that in conducting CE, South African libraries foster several internal and external partnerships. These partnerships help the libraries to bridge the gap between the university libraries and the external communities as well as to strengthen bonds between the libraries and internal communities. Barries to partnerships include lack of commitment, non-sustainability of some partnerships, differences in organisational culture and internal processes, and poor or lack of communication. Strengths include sharing responsibility and resources, and an opportunity to create long-lasting bonds based on mutual benefits and trust. None of the academic libraries have an explicitly stated exclusion criteria for partners which may expose them to the danger of partnering with unscrupulous organisations and individuals. Therefore, it is recommended that, in forming partnerships, academic libraries should develop clear guidelines on the type of organisations and individuals to collaborate with to protect themselves from the possibility of partnering with unscrupulous organisations. Therefore, all academic library partnerships must be based on shared vision and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travelling long distances to access public service facilities is costly and time consuming, especially to those who suffer the burden of poverty and deprivation. Assessing accessibility based on route-based distances does not work well in rural areas of Africa where people often travel along footpaths and dirt roads (in and out of vehicles) that are not mapped, not necessarily well-defined, could vary based on the season or change over short periods of time. The South African government therefore recommended that geographic accessibility be assessed based on a road network that is augmented by connecting communities to the main road network via a triangulated irregular network (TIN). While this method is recommended, a study about its suitability has not been published. We do this by describing an implementation, analysing the results and comparing these to other techniques. In this paper we present and compare the recommended method to geographic accessibility results of two other frequently used distance measuring techniques: 1) straight-line distances; 2) route-based distances in the road network. We applied the techniques to South African Police Service stations in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa, which is characterized by rural villages scattered across the landscape, not connected to the road network and where data for footpaths and dirt roads does not exist. The results confirm that in the absence of a completely mapped travel network, the recommended method is a suitable alternative for measuring geographic accessibility in rural areas of Africa without having to spend time and money on mapping footpaths and dirt roads that keep on changing anyhow. However, the results reveal sensitivity to the threshold distance and significant local variation depending on distance from urban areas and proximity to natural barriers such as rivers. The latter must be considered when deciding whether to apply the recommended distance measurement technique in rural accessibility studies. Further research could compare the techniques for other study areas and also refine the method, e.g., by experimenting with different algorithms for centroids of populated areas and finding ways to estimate travel speeds on TIN arcs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There are diverse paradigms of practice for management of anterior abdominal stab wounds. • Pooling data in a meta-analysis is reductionist for heterogeneous topics. • The utility of trauma laparoscopies depends on experience, patient factors and resource availability. Anterior abdominal stab wounds (AASW) are a heterogeneous presentation with evolving management over time and heterogenous practice between centres. The aim of this scoping review was to identify, characterise and classify paradigms for trauma laparoscopies for AASW. Studies were screened from Embase, Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science from 1 January 1947 until 1 January 2023. Extracted data included indications for trauma laparoscopies vs laparotomies, and criteria for conversion to an open procedure. Of 72 included studies, 35 (48.6 %) were published in the United States, with an increasing number from South Africa since 2014. Screening tests to determine an indication for surgery included local wound exploration, computed tomography, and serial clinical examination. Two studies proposed no absolute contraindications to laparoscopy, whereas most papers supported trauma laparoscopies over laparotomies in hemodynamically stable patients with positive or equivocal screening tests. However, clinical decision trees were used inconsistently both between and within many hospital centres. Triggers for conversion to laparotomy were diverse. Older studies typically reported conversion if peritoneal breach was identified. More recent studies reported advances in technical skills and technology allowed attempt at laparoscopic repair for organ and/or vascular injury. This review emphasises that there are many different paradigms of practice for AASW laparoscopy, which are evolving over time. Significant heterogeneity of these studies highlights that meta-analysis of outcomes for trauma laparoscopy is not appropriate unless the included studies report homogenous treatment paradigms and patient cohorts. The decision to perform a trauma laparoscopy should be based on surgeon/hospital experience, patient factors, and resource availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Primary repair is increasingly being used to manage rectal injuries, however, faecal diversion remains the main stay of rectal trauma management in our environment. • Rectal injuries are associated with high levels of morbidity such as sepsis and urogenital complications. • Rectal injury must be actively excluded in patients sustaining penetrating injuries to the pelvis, buttocks, perineal, or inguinal region or those who have experienced significant blunt trauma to the pelvis and perineum. This paper provides an overview of a single centre's experience with rectal injury over a decade. It hopes to use this data to provide context to our current approach to managing these injuries in the civilian setting. All patients with rectal trauma were identified from the Hybrid Electronic Medical Registry (HEMR). During the study period, a total of 88 patients with rectal injuries were admitted to Grey's Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. There were 80 (91 %) males and 8 (9 %) females. The median age was 31 (15–63) years. There were 9 (10 %) blunt mechanisms, 76 (86 %) penetrating mechanisms and 3 (4 %) combined blunt and penetrating mechanisms. Gunshot wounds accounted for the majority of sustained rectal trauma (71 %). There were 57 (65 %) extra-peritoneal injuries, 24 (27 %) intraperitoneal injuries and 7 (8 %) combined injuries. The grade of injury, according to the AAST grading system, was as follows, AAST 1: 16 (18 %), AAST 2: 63 (72 %), AAST 3: 7 (8 %), and AAST 4: 2 (2 %). Pre-sacral drainage and distal rectal washout were not performed. Almost all (55/57) of the extra-peritoneal rectal injuries were managed with proximal diversion (PD). There were five primary repairs (PR) performed in the extra-peritoneal rectal injury cohort. In four of these cases, this was accompanied by a PD. Of the 24 intraperitoneal rectal injuries, 15 underwent PR, of which 11 were performed in conjunction with PD. In total, 20 intraperitoneal rectal injuries underwent PD. All seven combined rectal injuries underwent PD, and three of the combined rectal injuries underwent PR with PD. There was urogenital tract associated morbidity in 8 %, gastrointestinal tract related morbidity in 8 % and septic complications in 11 %. Rectal trauma is still associated with a high rate of rectal/urogenital and infection related morbidity. Although pre-sacral drainage and distal stump washout have been largely abandoned in civilian practice, faecal diversion currently remains the cornerstone of the management of rectal trauma in our environment. Although there was a low rate of intra-abdominal septic complications in patients who had undergone diversion, this needs to be balanced against the low rate of stoma reversal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stratigraphic association of late Precambrian glacial deposits with shallow-marine carbonate successions, which are biased toward the warmer parts of the surface ocean, was known in Africa and elsewhere since the 1930's, but geologists under-appreciated it as a paradox in physical climatology. A physical explanation for global freeze-up emerged from one-dimensional energy-balance climate models in 1969, after which it was widely discussed and refined. In 1981, it was suggested that a global freeze-up could be self-terminating after millions of years through slow accumulation of atmospheric CO 2 , a greenhouse gas. The idea of a self-reversing global freeze-up, or 'snowball Earth,' was first applied geologically by Kirschvink (1992) based on paleomagnetic evidence in South Australia. He cited no paper in physical climatology and geologists remained unaware of developments in that science until after 2000. A self-reversing global freeze-up involves strong predictions in duration, synchroneity and termination state that have now been tested in the geological record. Inflections in growth rate and disciplinary diversity of peer-reviewed papers in 1997 implies that climate physics and geology were galvanized to test both the Siderian (ca 2430 Ma) and Cryogenian (717−635 Ma) snowball Earth hypotheses by new field research conducted in South Africa and northern Namibia, respectively. • A Siderian snowball Earth (SBE) was first inferred from African paleomagnetic data. • Tandem Cryogenian SBEs were most forcefully posed by African carbonate stratigraphy. • SBEs have been tested by geochronology, geochemistry, sedimentology & climate models. • SBEs followed supercontinent break-up and flood-basalt volcanism on the paleoequator. • Preexisting polar−alpine biota survived SBEs and were ancestral to later surface life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between managerial qualities and risk management is unclear, particularly for small and medium-sized organizations (SMEs) in developing market economies such as South Africa, because much research has focused on big enterprises in industrialized nations. To address this knowledge gap, this paper investigates the relationship between SME owner-manager characteristics and risk management, using upper echelons theory in a novel approach to provide a better understanding of how owner-manager characteristics may be linked to risk management strategies. This was achieved by the distribution of questionnaires to 320 purposely selected SMEs in Cape Town as well as personal interviews with two risk experts. The results show that risk avoidance is SMEs' most prevalent risk management strategy. The findings also show that SME owner-manager characteristics and risk management strategies are firmly and significantly linked, revealing the key determinants of effective risk management in SMEs. This paper is unique because it focuses on the often-overlooked topic of applying echelons theory to SMEs. Aside from bridging this knowledge gap, it has significant implications, such as informing SME owner-managers and policymakers on key variables that influence SME risk management strategies and making recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security is threatened in Southern Africa, because of unpredictable droughts and higher summer temperatures brought on by climate change and global warming. Durable and hardy plants that grow easily and quickly in such conditions must be adopted to ensure sustainable and reliable food supplies. The young cladodes (nopalitos) from the cactus pear plant, which adapts to hot and dry climates, is an underutilised alternative food source that can serve as a healthy vegetable. It thrives in many environments such as deserts, below sea level, high altitude regions and tropical regions with temperatures above 50°C. Nopalitos are a traditional staple vegetable and have been consumed in Mexico for over 9000 years. However, it is underutilised and unknown as an alternative vegetable in Africa. Research on the physiochemical and nutritional content has been conducted. However, the information on harvesting nopalitos from cultivars available in South Africa for optimal edible quality is not available. Good quality nopalitos are young, thin, bright green, soft, fresh and not too sour or slimy. This paper aims to identify the effect of and the interaction between size, cultivar and harvesting season to obtain optimal eating quality. Data were obtained for two cultivars (Morado and Fusicaulis) at 9 cm, 12 cm, 15 cm, 18 cm, 21 cm and 24 cm, which were harvested in spring (October) and autumn (March) over two years. The quality characteristics were translated into the measurable attributes of morphology (weight, width, diameter, volume and surface area), texture (firmness and compressibility), colour (L*, a*, b*, C*and h°), turgidity (moisture content, mucilage yield and viscosity) and gustatory (percentage titratable acidity, pH and total soluble solids). ANOVA and Principal Component Analyses were performed to determine significant differences and interactions between the length groups, two cultivars and two seasons. The results showed that the size, cultivar and season influenced the edible characteristics. Both cultivars were most tender at 15 cm and presented the best edible qualities in spring. Morado showed better colour, turgidity and gustatory qualities. Morado was thinner, a brighter green colour, less sour and less slimy compared to Fusicaulis nopalitos. • Nopalito quality is highly influenced by harvest size, cultivar and season. • At 15 cm, nopalitos from both Morado and Fusicaulis were the most tender. • Morado nopalitos was the preferred cultivar, but Fusicaulis also performed satisfactorily. • Spring harvest was preferable, but autumn harvest nopalitos were acceptable. • Morado was thinner, a brighter green colour, less sour and less slimy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the Sibudu Cave habitat that is dated to the late Pleistocene using archaeological wood charcoal, in order to reconstruct the environment and the activity of the people who interacted with the landscape. Standard anthracology procedures were applied in this qualitative study to analyse charcoal remains from the cave. A representative subset of charcoal remains was subsampled from a larger assemblage and environmental data, as well as evidence of wood use, are interpreted from 72 charcoal types that include 42 types that we identified taxonomically. We highlight that the environment at Sibudu supported a multi-layered Forest with Savanna vegetation based on the presence of many important taxa of these vegetation communities. The wood of the identified taxa has much rot fungi and was also burrowed by pests; however, it is not possible to infer at this stage if the fungi seen here were pathogenic. The presence of fungi is indicative of an environmental setting with high humidity and warm temperatures, such as is optimal for these types of fungi to flourish. Climatic conditions interpreted here agree with previous interpretations that were made from other environmental proxies. These conditions were only intense enough to disturb the microhabitat at Sibudu and did not change the vegetation near the cave. Also noted during the analysis, is that burning wood logs that were infected with brown rot consistently from c.73 to 72 ka probably produced very warm fires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With increasing caesarean section (c-section) rates, personalized communication of risk has become paramount. A reliable tool to predict complications would support evidence-based discussions around planned mode of birth. This systematic review aimed to identify, synthesize and quality appraise prognostic models of maternal complications of elective c-section.Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library were searched on 27 January using terms relating to 'c-section', 'prognostic models' and complications such as 'infection'. Any study developing and/or validating a prognostic model for a maternal complication of elective c-section in the English language after January 1995 was selected for analysis. Data were extracted using a predetermined checklist: source of data; participants; outcome to be predicted; candidate predictors; sample size; missing data; model development; model performance; model evaluation; results; and interpretation. Quality was assessed using the Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST) tool.Results: In total, 7752 studies were identified; of these, 16 full papers were reviewed and three eligible studies were identified, containing three prognostic models derived from hospitals in Japan, South Africa and the UK. The models predicted risk of blood transfusion, spinal hypotension and postpartum haemorrhage. The study authors deemed their studies to be exploratory, exploratory and confirmatory, respectively. From the three studies, a total of 29 unique candidate predictors were identified, with 15 predictors in the final models. Maternal age (n = 3), previous c-section (n = 2), placenta praevia (n = 2) and pre-operative haemoglobin (n = 2) were found to be common predictors amongst the included studies. None of the studies were externally validated and all had a high risk of bias due to the analysis technique used.Conclusion: Few models have been developed to predict complications of elective c-section. Existing models predicting blood transfusion, spinal hypotension and postpartum haemorrhage cannot be recommended for clinical practice. Future research should focus on identifying predictors known before surgery and validating the resulting models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most inhabitants of rural communities in Africa lack access to clean and reliable electricity. This has deprived the rural dwellers access to modern healthcare delivery. In this paper, an off-grid renewable energy system consisting of solar PV and wind turbine with hydrogen storage scheme has been explored to meet the electrical energy demands of a health clinic. The health clinic proposed is a group II with 10 beds located in a typical village in South Africa. First, the wind and solar energy resources of the village were analysed. Thereafter, the microgrid architecture that would meet the energy demand of the clinic (18.67 kWh/day) was determined. Some of the key results reveal that the average annual wind speed at 60 m anemometer height and solar irradiation of the village are 7.9 m/s and 4.779 kWh/m2/day, respectively. The required architecture for the clinic composes of 40 kW solar PV system, 3 numbers of 10 kW wind turbines, 8.6 kW fuel cell, 25 kW electrolyser and 40 kg hydrogen tank capacity. The capital cost of the microgrid was found to be $177,600 with a net present cost of $206,323. The levelised cost of energy of the system was determined to be 2.34 $/kWh. The project has a breakeven grid extension distance of 8.81 km. Since this distance is less than the nearest grid extension distance of 21.35 km, it is established that the proposed renewable energy microgrid with a hydrogen storage system is a viable option for the rural community health clinic. • PV/Wind microgrid with hydrogen storage has been designed for a rural health clinic. • The microgrid was compared with grid extension for decision making purpose. • The capital and net present cost of the microgrid were $177,600 and $206,323. • The project has a breakeven grid extension distance of 8.81 km. • The renewable microgrid is a better option compared to grid extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hybrid grid-photovoltaic (PV) power system for urban household. • Cost of Energy is reduced from 0.14 to 0.0842. • Emission of green house gases is reduced by 26%. • Energy purchased from the grid is reduced as the price of energy is increased. In this paper, the effectiveness of an hybrid grid-photovoltaic (PV) power supply for an urban household is investigated. Two parameters are used for the evaluation: (1) the cost of buying electricity and (2) the environmental benefits. Yearly energy utilisation of a household and solar irradiation are collected and used in this study. A model of a hybrid grid-PV system is developed in HOMER software to investigate the efficacy of the system in the selected site. The results show that almost 26% of operating costs could be saved yearly by implementing the hybrid supply. The emission of greenhouse gasses in service to the particular site is also reduced by 26%. The sensitivity analysis results show that the grid-PV system can be more favourable as the price of energy increases. That is, the energy purchased from the grid declines as the cost of energy purchased increases. This is also observed with the increment of both price of energy and its utilisation. A reduction of cost of energy is also observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study assessed the ambient temperatures, and those selected, by captive adult Nile crocodiles on a commercial farm in South Africa. Non-invasive data capture techniques were developed to ensure the crocodiles natural behaviours were not disrupted or altered. Thermal and climate data, over summer and winter seasons, were collected from local weather stations, an on-site Internet of Things system, and a Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual drone. The method developed in this paper transformed relative thermal maps (produced by a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual drone) into a predictive model in which temperatures were derived to within 2.6°C per pixel of a processed orthophoto. Crocodile thermal and behavioural data were extracted from the drone imagery and juxtaposed with climate and thermal data from the pen. The greatest number of crocodiles were counted during early morning winter flights and the lowest number during late afternoon summer flights. Material (concrete, water, nest, grass/sand) selection by crocodiles varied with season, time of day and daily climatic conditions. Crocodile back temperature (10.2–49.6°C, µ = 30.4°C) ranges fell within those of their positional/environmental (10.6–66.6°C, µ = 28.7°C) temperature range selections. Strong, positive, significant correlations were found between crocodile back temperatures and positional temperatures for both winter and summer seasons, highlighting ectothermy. Application of this methodology on a commercial crocodile farm facilitated the inspection of potential shortfalls of the pens design from a thermal perspective, as well as suggestions for improvements that would ameliorate crocodile thermal discomfort (relating to hyperthermia). • Hyperthermia concerns raised for commercially farmed Nile crocodiles. • Thermal drone mapping for crocodile temperature and thermal behaviour assessments. • Internet of things system of abiotic temperature and humidity loggers. • Current thermal experiences of farmed Nile crocodiles in South Africa. • Crocodile thermal and behavioural comfort and potential commercial pen design shortfalls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioregionalization of the Devonian fauna in southwest Gondwana has been extensively studied, focusing on the occurrences of brachiopods and trilobites, however, little attention has been given to Conulariids. The main goal of this paper is to propose a bioregionalization for the Conulariids (Conularia albertensis , C. quichua , C. sp., Paraconularia africana , P. ulrichana , and Reticulaconularia baini) from the Lower-Middle Devonian in southwest Gondwana. After a clustering analysis and diversity tests we have identified two distinct bioregions for Conulariids: the Amazon and southwest Gondwana, in the Amazon region the diversity is low, and can be attributed to scarcity of palaeontological data on the area. On the other hand, in the southwest Gondwana bioregion, diversity ranges from moderate to relatively high, which helps define a second-order bioregion, the Andeo-South Africa and Interior Gondwana. The first includes areas where diversity has higher values bordering southwest Gondwana (Bolivian Chaco-Peru, Zorritas-NOA-South Bolivia, South Africa and Malvinas areas). Further, in the Interior Gondwana bioregion are the Parnaíba (Parnaíba Basin), Alto Garças (north and northwest of Paraná Basin), Paraná (south of Paraná Basin, Uruguay and Paraguay) areas, where the diversity is slightly lower when compared to the Andeo-South Africa bioregion. • Paleobiogeography of Devonian Conulariids from southwest Gondwana. • During the Devonian, the inland seas of Gondwana hosted similar fauna of Conulariids. • The seas bordering Gondwana had a high diversity of Conulariids during the Devonian. • Cluster analyzes show different bioregions in Gondwana during the Devonian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klipfonteinrand 1 (KFR1) is a foundational but poorly documented Middle Stone Age (MSA) site located in the south west of South Africa. Originally excavated by John Parkington in 1969 but undated for more than 50 years, the MSA component of the sequence formed a part of Thomas Volman's influential culture-historic technocomplex scheme. Renewed excavations identified four distinct MSA stratigraphic units at the site, the oldest two of which date to ∼85 ka and ∼156 ka. This paper presents an analysis of ∼4500 artefacts from the oldest units to test the viability of Volman's scheme and its derivatives. Coeval assemblages from other regional sites are also reviewed to test alternative models of regional technological variability driven by demographic dynamics in MIS 6 and MIS 5. We find that assemblages from neither of the deepest two stratigraphic units at KFR1 map perfectly to prevailing technocomplex schemes for southern Africa, and that they are also distinct from nearby assemblages of comparable age. Ultimately, KFR1 provides an important data point furthering the identification of variable technological adaptations during an important phase in the evolution of human behaviour. • Re-excavation and reassessment of Klipfonteinrand 1's Early Middle Stone Age units. • Validity testing of the relevancy of Thomas Volman's technocomplex scheme. • We find that the deepest two units do not map perfectly to Volman's determination. • Basal units from Klipfonteinrand 1 are distinct from coeval assemblages. • Typologically based assessments result in generalisations and mask variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]