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The low genetic diversity in Andean common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) presents opportunities to improve stress tolerance and increase productivity. Thus, this study aimed to develop Andean bean breeding populations and evaluate them in suboptimal environments. Phaseolus Improvement Cooperative (PIC) populations were developed by crossing 53 Andean and five Middle American bean parents using bulk breeding. Selection and evaluation in Puerto Rico, South Africa, Tanzania, and Washington State resulted in 384 superior PIC lines used in subsequent studies. The PIC lines and the parents were genotyped using the common bean 12K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip, which yielded an initial set of 10,457 polymorphic SNPs. Population structure analyses using 2334 high‐quality SNPs indicated the strongest separation between heat tolerant landrace Indeterminate Jamacia Red (ADP‐0683)‐derived PIC lines and a group of lines derived from North American parents. The PIC lines and parents were grown under water stress in Puerto Rico in 2019 (n = 288) and 2020 (n = 176) to assess agronomic traits including seed yield. The best linear unbiased predictions for seed yield ranged from 31 to 388 kg ha−1 in 2019 and from 169 to 1762 kg ha−1 in 2020. Almost all the PIC lines matched or outperformed the parents in 2019, showing the utility of crossing lines from various origins. Genome‐wide association analysis identified SNPs associated with yield under drought stress at 44.2 Mb on Pv10, which could inform genetic studies for yield and drought tolerance. Overall, the PIC populations were useful for improving the genetic diversity and agronomic performance of Andean beans in suboptimal environments. Core Ideas: Phaseolus Improvement Cooperative (PIC) populations were developed from Andean bean bulk breeding populations.PIC populations were selected in Tanzania, South Africa, Puerto Rico, and Washington to reflect local preferences.Several Andean Diversity Panel accessions were frequently represented as parents in pedigrees of superior lines.Bulk breeding populations serve as an efficient resource for improvement of stress tolerance and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of Phyllosticta citricarpa (causal agent of citrus black spot [CBS]) inoculum in orchards has previously been performed using volumetric spore traps. However, volumetric traps are nonspecific, and only capture ascospores (not pycnidiospores) of different Phyllosticta species. This research aimed to monitor and quantify the DNA of P. citricarpa using young citrus plants as a spore trap combined with quantitative PCR (qPCR), as well as quantify the number of ascospores and pycnidiospores, and to correlate results with weather variables. Citrus nursery plants were placed as traps under and outside tree canopies during fruit developmental stages (from October to July) in two seasons in commercial 'Valencia' sweet orange orchards. DNA was extracted from trap leaves to quantify P. citricarpa inoculum by qPCR of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1 rRNA) region of P. citricarpa (Pc‐ITS). Correlations of Pc‐ITS to rainy days, leaf wetness and temperature were performed. Overall, the highest numbers of 400 Pc‐ITS/cm2 of leaf tissue, which represented up to 12 ascospores or pycnidiospores per cm2, were detected on leaves sampled from October to March, regardless of the trap position, season and orchard. Trap plants placed under canopies had up to 20‐fold more Pc‐ITS than those placed outside. Rainy days and leaf wetness were the variables most positively correlated with Pc‐ITS. Both results in the fluctuation of P. citricarpa inoculum in orchards and the most favourable weather variables associated with inoculum production contribute to better understanding of the critical periods for CBS management in citrus‐growing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low‐grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) is a cystic dilatation of the appendix resulting from the accumulation of mucinous secretions caused by a luminal obstruction. Although usually benign, pseudomyxoma peritonei may occur in the event of rupture, and 10% of cases may be secondary to appendiceal cystadenocarcinoma. A LAMN is both more common and more likely to have a malignant association in women, making it an entity with which practitioners of gynaecological ultrasound should be familiar. Although not the primary aim, early pregnancy ultrasound assessments can offer the diagnostic opportunity to identify pelvic pathology. A LAMN can be identified on ultrasonography by visualisation of an adnexal mass separate to the ovary, which due to the layers of secretions has a distinctive appearance previously likened to 'onion‐skin' or 'whipped‐cream'. Here, we describe an incidental finding of a LAMN during an early pregnancy assessment. Practitioners of early pregnancy ultrasound should be familiar with the characteristic morphology of this rare but important finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macadamia cultivation plays significant role in the economy of South Africa. Despite its importance, the industry grapples with disease‐related challenges, notably flower blight, which threatens substantial economic losses by affecting yield and nut quality. In 2022, diagnostic services at the Agricultural Research Council and the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute received macadamia flowers displaying blight symptoms. Employing two methods for fungal isolation, 25 isolates were obtained which were classified into one group based on morphological characteristics. DNA analysis identified the isolates as Botrytis cinerea. The pathogenicity testing was conducted on macadamia flowers to confirm Koch's postulates. This is the first report of B. cinerea affecting Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche in South Africa, underlining its potential threat to the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Appendicitis is one of the most common emergency surgical conditions worldwide. Delays in accessing appendectomy can lead to complications. Evidence on these delays in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is lacking. The aim of this review was to identify and synthesise the available evidence on delays to accessing appendectomy in LMICs. Methods: This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews framework. The delays and their interconnectivity in LMICs were synthesised and interpreted using the Three Delays framework. We reviewed Africa Wide EBSCOhost, PubMed–Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Bioline databases. Results: Our search identified 21 893 studies, of which 78 were included in the final analysis. All of the studies were quantitative. Fifty per cent of the studies included all three types of delays. Delays in seeking care were influenced by a lack of awareness of appendicitis symptoms, and the use of self and alternative medication, which could be linked to delays in receiving care, and the barrier refusal of medical treatment due to fear. Financial concerns were a barrier observed throughout the care pathway. Conclusion: This review highlighted the need for additional studies on delays to accessing appendectomy in additional LMICs. Our review demonstrates that in LMICs, persons seeking appendectomy present late to health-care facilities due to several patient-related factors. After reaching a health-care facility, accessing appendectomy can further be delayed owing to a lack of adequate hospital resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent observations and geophysical studies at the Vredefort impact structure have indicated that the impact melt dikes in the central uplift of the structure have small depth extents. In this study, we performed magnetic and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys of the Lesutoskraal granophyre dike (LGD) and trenched to confirm its depth extent. The ERT survey showed that outcrops of the LGD are associated with shallow resistive zones with <3 m depth extent, but such zones do not occur where outcrops are absent. Visual observations in the trench confirmed that the dike has a small depth extent (~0.75 m) at this location. However, the magnetic survey revealed anomalies along the entire strike of the dike, even where no outcrops occur. We suggest that remagnetization of the host rock within a metamorphic contact aureole could explain the presence of magnetic anomalies in the absence of outcrops. Considering the results of the ERT survey, the observations made in the trench, and the surface distribution of outcrops of the LGD, we confirm that this dike has a small depth extent (<3 m) along its entire length and propose that outcrops represent the intersection of the dike terminus with the current erosional surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper respiratory tract infections are a significant cause of social‐ and disease burden worldwide. Currently, invasive and uncomfortable molecular detection methods are used for respiratory pathogen detection. We aimed to assess the ability and bearability of a rhinorrhea swab (RS) to detect respiratory pathogens in comparison to the combined nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab (NP/OP). This study was performed at a Public Health Service severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) testing facility between November and December 2022 in the Netherlands. Adults aged 16 years and older, being subjected to a standard of care NP/OP swab with nasal discharge, were included and received an additional RS. Respiratory pathogen detection was evaluated using SARS‐CoV‐2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA) PCR. Bearability was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) scores and a questionnaire. A total of 100 adults with a mean age ± SD of 46 ± 16 years were included. The NP/OP swab detected 104 pathogens, the RS 83 pathogens (p < 0.001), and in total 108 respiratory pathogens were identified in 89 adults (89%). The ability to detect respiratory pathogens compared between the RS and the combined NP/OP swab revealed a sensitivity of 82% (95% CI 73%–89%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI 72%–100%). RS were significantly more bearable than the combined NP/OP swab (p value < 0.001). Therefore, nasal discharge found in adults can be used as an adequate reliable medium for respiratory pathogen detection using SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR and MLPA PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large literature on favouritism argues that leaders favour their own ethnicity or administrative birthplace. We question the assumption that these leaders are exogenously selected for office. Using historical censuses from 11 African countries, we show that leaders are selected from more advanced regions. In other words, our sample shows that African leaders were created by colonial (and pre‐colonial) institutions, which often meant large educational differences between regions. Our paper's historical perspective shows that these often‐overlooked institutions can account for much of the variation in post‐colonial outcomes. Favouritism was at least partially endogenous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: In this work of creative nonfiction, I use a visit to an Ethiopian shoe factory, where I observed the application of Japanese methods of productivity, as a lens to reflect on the ambiguities, inconsistencies, and ethical dilemmas thrown up both by such fieldwork and the larger project of promoting industrialization in Ethiopia. The reader is introduced to the cast of characters present that day and invited to follow many of them into settings beyond the factory floor. In listening to this polyphony of voices and trying to shape them into something legible in my writing, I find a parallel in the efforts of my academic field—development studies—to formulate interventions and policy prescriptions in the face of incomplete and conflicting information. The result is a cautious step towards hope and optimism and away from paralysis and despair: perhaps we can do no more than stitch together the collected parts and offer them for others to try on, but perhaps this is enough. This reflection can be read as a companion piece to my full‐length research article on the subject (Fourie 2020). [fieldwork, ethnography, Ethiopia, development studies, creative nonfiction] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Europeans at the end of the eighteenth century had settled across the globe, from North and South America to Australia to the southern tip of Africa. While theories of institutional persistence explain the 'reversal of fortunes' between settled and unsettled regions, few studies consider the large differences in early living standards between settler societies. This paper uses newly transcribed household‐level tax censuses from the Dutch and British Cape Colony and the United States shortly after independence to show comparative levels of income and wealth over four decades both between the two regions and within them. Cape farmers were, on average, more affluent than their American counterparts. While crop output and livestock were more unequally distributed at the Cape, ownership of enslaved people in America was more unequal. There was little indication of an imminent reversal of fortunes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory tract infections (RTI) in children remain a cause of disease burden worldwide. Nasopharyngeal (NP) & oropharyngeal (OP) swabs are used for respiratory pathogen detection, but hold disadvantages particularly for children, highlighting the importance and preference for a child friendly detection method. We aimed to evaluate the performance and tolerability of a rhinorrhea swab (RS) in detecting viral pathogens when compared to a combined OP(/NP) or mid‐turbinate (MT) nasal swab. This study was conducted between September 2021 and July 2022 in the Netherlands. Children aged 0−5 years, with an upper RTI and nasal discharge, were included and received a combined swab and a RS. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 PCR were used for viral pathogen detection. Tolerability was evaluated with a questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS) scores. During 11 months 88 children were included, with a median age of 1.00 year [interquartile range 0.00−3.00]. In total 122 viral pathogens were detected in 81 children (92%). Sensitivity and specificity of the RS compared to a combined swab were respectively 97% (95% confidence interval [CI] 91%−100%) and 78% (95% CI 45%−94%). Rhinorrhea samples detected more pathogens than the (combined) nasal samples, 112 versus 108 respectively. Median VAS scores were significantly lower for the RS in both children (2 vs. 6) and their parents (0 vs. 5). A RS can therefore just as effectively/reliably detect viral pathogens as the combined swab in young children and is better tolerated by both children and their parents/caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: Les auteurs analysent la façon dont le cadre du droit du travail s'est constitué dans les pays de la Communauté de développement de l'Afrique australe (SADC), en cherchant à faire apparaître les cas de segmentation juridique. En parallèle, ils donnent un aperçu des caractéristiques démographiques de l'économie informelle dans les pays en question. Ils concluent que, par les mécanismes qu'il met en œuvre dans la région, le droit du travail contribue dans une large mesure à la segmentation économique qu'on peut y observer, et ce alors même que les principes qu'il promeut ont été inscrits dans les constitutions des pays en question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen: En el presente artículo se examina cómo han evolucionado las funciones reguladoras de la legislación laboral en la región de la Comunidad de África Meridional para el Desarrollo (SADC) y se señalan casos de segmentación legal del mercado de trabajo. Los autores explican las características demográficas de la economía informal en los Estados miembros de la SADC y concluyen que, a pesar de la constitucionalización del derecho del trabajo, los mecanismos de legislación laboral de la región contribuyen sustancialmente a la segmentación legal de la economía. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers how the regulative functions of labour law have been developed within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and seeks to identify instances of legal segmentation. The authors provide an overview of the demographic nature of the informal economies in SADC Member States, drawing the conclusion that the labour law mechanisms employed in the region substantially contribute to the legal segmentation of the regional economies. This has occurred despite the constitutionalization of labour law in the SADC region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus black spot (CBS) symptom expression on sweet oranges has been reported to be affected by the fruit developmental stage and inoculum concentration in greenhouse conditions. However, there is little information concerning the period in which the fruit is susceptible in commercial orchards. This study assessed the influence of fruit age and inoculum concentration of Phyllosticta citricarpa on CBS intensity and fruit drop in the field. Two field trials were conducted in commercial 'Valencia' orchards in São Paulo state, Brazil. Fruit were inoculated from October (petal fall stage) to July (c.6.5 cm diameter), with 101, 103 and 105 pycnidiospores/ml. CBS symptoms and fruit drop were observed in higher levels for fruit inoculated from October to February than from March to July. In both trials, when fruit were inoculated 10 times from October to July or single‐inoculated in November or December, high CBS severities of 11%–22% were observed and the proportion of fruit remaining on the tree was 48%–77%; in contrast, noninoculated fruit had severity below 1.1% and 90% remained on the tree. Inoculations in November or December of green fruit with 1.5–3.0 cm diameter using 105 pycnidiospores/ml were associated with higher CBS intensity and fruit drop and shorter incubation period than inoculations with lower concentrations. This work provides a better understanding of fruit stages and P. citricarpa inoculum concentrations most related to symptom expression and losses under natural conditions and may be helpful for improvement of CBS management in the São Paulo citrus belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepidopteran pests are of major economic importance to macadamia growers worldwide. In South Africa, four species have been associated with macadamia nut damage. Detailed information regarding species composition of the borer larvae in the nuts and the genetic diversity of these species is not however available.Lepidoptera obtained from nuts from the KwaZulu‐Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces were identified based on COI sequencing.Thaumatotibia batrachopa represented 95% of the larvae collected in damaged nuts across all growing regions.The population genetic diversity and structure of the dominant species were determined using a 650 bp section of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I gene to construct a parsimony network.Rapid diagnostic tools were developed, which included a polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) assay for the identification of all four species and species‐specific primers for T. batrachopa and T. leucotreta.Population studies of T. batrachopa showed a dominant COI haplotype present in all growing regions, although several unique haplotypes were also present in each region. Overall, the high haplotype diversity observed in this study is in agreement with that of a native population. The populations between the growing regions are, however, not clearly separated and might reflect recent gene flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs are reservoir hosts for Leishmania infantum, a protozoan parasite transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. The anti‐feeding and fast‐killing efficacy of Scalibor® deltamethrin collars against experimental Phlebotomus perniciosus challenges on dogs was determined over 1 year. Two groups of 8 dogs each were fitted with placebo (control) or deltamethrin collars (treated) on Day 0 and exposed to sand flies approximately every 28 days up to Day 364. After each exposure, anti‐feeding and fast‐killing efficacy rates were determined by comparing blood‐fed or live insects, respectively, in the treated vs. the control group. Blood‐fed and live sand flies were significantly less in treated dogs as compared to control dogs at each assessment. The anti‐feeding efficacy rate exceeded 90% except on Day 337 (89%) but increased again (96%) on Day 364. Fast killing efficacy was <74% over the study when considering all flies. However, this value increased cumulatively to 98% when only blood‐fed flies were compared between groups. Scalibor® collars are highly effective at preventing P. perniciosus blood‐feeding and in fast‐killing flies taking a blood meal for up to 1 year after application. These strong and long‐lasting effects are an important strategic component for L. infantum transmission control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are by‐products of cellular metabolism and can be either beneficial, at low levels, or deleterious, at high levels, to the cell. It is known that several viral infections can increase oxidative stress, which is mainly facilitated by viral‐induced imbalances in the antioxidant defence mechanisms of the cell. While the exact role of ROS in certain viral infections (adenovirus and dengue virus) remains unknown, other viruses can use ROS for enhancement of pathogenesis (SARS coronavirus and rabies virus) or replication (rhinovirus, West Nile virus and vesicular stomatitis virus) or both (hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and influenza virus). While several viral proteins (mainly for hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus) have been identified to play a role in ROS formation, most mediators of viral ROS modulation are yet to be elucidated. Treatment of viral infections, including hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and influenza virus, with ROS inhibitors has shown a decrease in both pathogenesis and viral replication both in vitro and in animal models. Clinical studies indicating the potential for targeting ROS‐producing pathways as possible broad‐spectrum antiviral targets should be evaluated in randomized controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the mechanisms of inflammation‐induced left ventricular (LV) remodeling and effects of blocking circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) in a model of systemic inflammation. Methods: Seventy Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into three groups: the control group, the collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) group, and the anti‐TNF‐α group. Inflammation was induced in the CIA and anti‐TNF‐α groups. Following the onset of arthritis, the anti‐TNF‐α group received the TNF‐α inhibitor, etanercept, for 6 weeks. LV geometry and function were assessed with echocardiography. Circulating inflammatory markers were measured by ELISA and LV gene expression was assessed by comparative TaqMan® polymerase chain reaction. Results: The LV relative gene expression of pro‐fibrotic genes, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) (p = 0.03), collagen I (Col1) (p < 0.0001), and lysyl oxidase (LOX) (p = 0.002), was increased in the CIA group compared with controls, consistent with increased relative wall thickness (p = 0.0009). Col1 and LOX expression in the anti‐TNF‐α group were similar to controls (both, p > 0.05) and tended to be lower compared to the CIA group (p = 0.06 and p = 0.08, respectively), and may, in part, contribute to the decreased relative wall thickness in the anti‐TNF‐α group compared to the CIA group (p = 0.03). In the CIA group, the relative gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and MMP9 was increased compared to control (p = 0.04) and anti‐TNF‐α (p < 0.0001) groups, respectively. Conclusion: Chronic systemic inflammation induces fibrosis and dysregulated LV extracellular matrix remodeling by increasing local cardiac pro‐fibrotic gene expression, which is partially mediated by TNF‐α. Inflammation‐induced LV diastolic dysfunction is likely independent of myocardial fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the following systematic review and meta‐analyses, we report several conclusions about resistance to carbapenem and polymyxin last‐resort antibiotics for treating multidrug‐resistant bacterial infections among pregnant women and infants. Resistance to carbapenems and polymyxins is increasing, even in otherwise vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, toddlers, and infants, for whom therapeutic options are limited. In almost all countries, carbapenem‐/polymyxin–resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii infect and/or colonize neonates and pregnant women, causing periodic outbreaks with very high infant mortalities. Downregulation of plasmid‐borne blaNDM, blaKPC, blaOXA‐48, blaIMP,blaVIM, blaGES‐5, and ompK35/36 in clonal strains accelerates the horizontal and vertical transmissions of carbapenem resistance among these pathogens. New Delhi metallo‐β‐lactamase (NDM)–positive isolates in infants/neonates have been mainly detected in China and India, while OXA‐48–positive isolates in infants/neonates have been mainly detected in Africa. NDM‐positive isolates in pregnant women have been found only in Madagascar. Antibiotic therapy, prolonged hospitalization, invasive procedures, mechanical ventilation, low birth weight, and preterm delivery have been common risk factors associated with carbapenem/polymyxin resistance. The use of polymyxins to treat carbapenem‐resistant infections may be selecting for resistance to both agents, restricting therapeutic options for infected infants and pregnant women. Currently, low‐ and middle‐income countries have the highest burden of these pathogens. Antibiotic stewardship, periodic rectal and vaginal screening, and strict infection control practices in neonatal ICUs are necessary to forestall future outbreaks and deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to determine whether people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWHIV) have increased measures of arterial injury [carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT)] and large artery stiffness [carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV)] when compared with their counterparts without HIV, and whether baseline markers of endothelial activation and cardiovascular risk are associated with cIMT and cfPWV after 5 years. Methods: We matched 126 PWHIV from North West Province, South Africa, to 126 without HIV according to age, sex and locality. Cardiovascular risk and endothelial function markers [soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM‐1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM‐1)] were measured at baseline and cIMT and cfPWV at follow‐up. Results: This study included 21.4% men. The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) increased from 44.1% at baseline to 81.4% at follow‐up. At follow‐up, cIMT (P = 0.90) and cfPWV (P = 0.35) were similar in the groups. Despite elevated ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 in the PWHIV (all P < 0.001) at baseline, these markers did not associate with cIMT and cfPWV after 5 years. In multivariable‐adjusted regression analysis, cIMT associated positively with age (β = 0.31, P = 0.002) and triglyceride: high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (β = 0.23, P = 0.016) in PWHIV. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) (β = 0.28, P = 0.010) associated positively with cfPWV in the PWHIV. In the people without HIV, sex (β = 0.31, P = 0.004) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (β = 0.24, P = 0.026) associated with cIMT while age (β = 0.17, P = 0.049), sex (β = 0.29, P = 0.003), MAP (β = 0.31, P = 0.001) and HbA1c (β = 0.21, P = 0.041) associated positively with cfPWV. Conclusions: Measures of arterial structure and function were similar in Africans with HIV and their age, sex and locality matched controls. Traditional cardiovascular risk markers rather than elevated endothelial activation at baseline were independently associated with cIMT and cfPWV over 5 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the demographic and economic correlates of the 1918 influenza or "Spanish flu" that killed an estimated 6% of South Africa's population. While the pandemic has received some attention in South African historiography and from social scientists in other contexts, little is known about its long‐term impact on the country. Bringing together data from a range of new sources, including population and agricultural censuses, household surveys, and the voters' rolls, we provide analyses that show, first, the factors that (do and do not) predict flu mortality across South Africa's magisterial districts, and, second, suggest some important consequences of the flu. Our results reveal a large but short‐lived demographic shock, and detectable, if small scale, long‐term economic consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest disadvantage of modern day minimally invasive surgery is the required use of X‐ray or fluoroscopic imaging for locating or tracking medical catheters and tubes. The implications are increased costs and effort, limited availability for instance in less developed countries, and the cumulative exposure to contrast dyes and ionizing radiation are detrimental to health, especially in young patients and neonates with increased sensitivity. In order to reduce the use of X‐ray imaging and provide a wider accessibility, a facile magnetic system is proposed for subcutaneous medical device localization. It consists of a lightweight and flexible, biocompatible, and permanent magnet at the tip of the subcutaneous device and a sensing device to scan the dermal surface and locate the magnetic tip. The mechanical and magnetic properties of the magnetic tip are tailored to fit the requirements of the delicate catheter application. Evaluation of the tracking system using a 5 Fr magnetic tip resulted in a depth‐dependent position and orientation error of 0.75 mm and 3.7°. Additionally, a maximum placement depth error of 0.96 mm is achieved. Evaluation of the system in vivo revealed its practicality and accuracy as well as the influence of potential user errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that L-homoarginine, an endogenous analogue of the amino acid L-arginine, may have beneficial effects on vascular homeostasis. We examined whether L-homoarginine is associated with 10-year risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a black South African population. Methods: We included 669 black South African participants (mean age 59.5 years), 143 of whom died during the 10-year follow-up period. Mortality data were acquired via verbal autopsy. Plasma L-homoarginine (and other related markers) were analysed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Survivors had higher L-homoarginine levels compared with nonsurvivors (1.25 µM vs. 0.89 µM; P < .001). Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed that higher plasma L-homoarginine predicted a reduction in 10-year cardiovascular (hazard ratio [HR] per SD increment, 0.61; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.75) and all-cause (hazard ratio [HR] per SD increment, 0.59; 95% CI 0.41 to 0.84) mortality risk. Conclusion: Higher L-homoarginine levels are associated with reduced risk of 10-year cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Regulation of L-homoarginine levels as a therapeutic target in the management of cardiovascular disease should be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leadership is inextricably intertwined with the notion of influence. When examining the most prominent contemporary approaches to leadership, notably neo‐charismatic leadership theories, trait‐based approaches to leadership and leader‐member exchange theories, the factors that determine leaders' influence are sought in the individual leader. This paper uses social identity approaches to leadership as a basis for constructing a conceptual argument for investigating factors beyond the individual leader that impact on leaders' influence. We focus on group‐level factors that impact on leader influence. Using a minimal definition of social groups as point of orientation and framed by the philosophy of social constructionism, we show that two factors beyond the individual leader can be identified: group entitativity, or 'groupiness', is identified as a group‐level factor, and group identification is identified as a member‐level factor. This research contributes to a wider understanding of leader effectiveness by devoting closer attention to the effect of group dynamics on leader influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piglets must acquire passive immunity through colostrum within hours after birth to survive. How colostral macromolecules traverse the small intestinal epithelium may include nonselective pinocytosis and paracellular transport through tight junction proteins located between epithelial cells. Claudin proteins‐3 and ‐4 contribute to the epithelial tight junctions (TJs) on the apical aspect of lateral surfaces of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) where they help regulate ion and macromolecule movement across the intestinal epithelium. Throughout the small intestine of newborn piglets, Claudin‐3 was localized to the lateral and basolateral surface of intestinal epithelial cells as well as the membrane of large vacuoles. In the duodenum and jejunum, Claudin‐4 was localized to the apical surface independent of tight junction regions. In the ileum, Claudin‐4 was localized to the lateral and basolateral surfaces indicating region‐specific differences and noncanonical patterns of Claudin‐4 localization independent of tight junction regions. Understanding the timing of changes in surface localization of Claudin‐3 and Claudin‐4 and how they may coincide with changes in small intestinal permeability may help develop new protective strategies against infectious diseases within newborn piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to systematically review monetary data related to management of incontinence‐associated dermatitis (IAD) in an adult population. Six electronic databases were searched: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library and EconLit. The search string combined index terms and text words related to IAD and monetary data. The quality of the articles was assessed using the consensus on Health Economic Criteria. Results were synthesised narratively because of methodological heterogeneity. Nine studies were included. Only direct medical costs were reported. The product cost per application for prevention ranged between $0.05 and $0.52, and for treatment between $0.20 and $0.35. The product cost per patient/day for prevention ranged between $0.23 and $20.17. The product cost of IAD prevention and treatment per patient/day ranged between $0.57 and $1.08. The cost to treat IAD did not consider the treatment of secondary infection. The calculation of labour cost and total cost differed considerably between studies. Summarising monetary data is a challenge because of heterogeneity in currencies, settings, samples, time horizons, health‐ and cost outcome valuation, IAD definition and measurements, and included costs. Procedures for health economic evaluations are to be clarified to guarantee valid interpretation and comparison with other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public expenditure shifts that took place following the discovery of diamonds and gold during the second half of the nineteenth century had far‐reaching consequences for southern Africa's development. Using new data for public expenditure and foreign debt in the Cape Colony and evidence from Cape parliamentary budget debates, we trace and explain the growth of the public sector. We find that the coincidence of mineral discovery in 1867 and the granting of responsible government status rapidly accelerated the growth of the public sector. Owing to strong mining interests, railways accounted for more than 70% of the public works expenditure from the 1880s onwards. Spending on human capital and welfare enhancement remained limited. Both the quantitative and qualitative evidence suggests that the mining elites managed to build coalitions that swayed public expenditure decisions towards self‐serving ends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An international effort was initiated with the evaluation of a diverse set of large‐seeded Andean common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), the Andean Diversity Panel, in sub‐Saharan Africa. Several entries in the panel have been selected for extensive characterization on the basis of high performance across multiple location × year trials in Tanzania—conducted both on station and on farm. Baetao‐Manteiga 41, tested as ADP‐190, has a commercial Kablanketi (light purple speckled) seed type, and 'Yunguilla', tested as ADP‐447, has a commercial Calima (red mottled) seed type. Both lines exhibited yield stability, vigorous growth under low fertility conditions, angular leaf spot resistance, and moderate common bacterial blight resistance; Yunguilla also possessed rust resistance. These two lines were tested, selected, and characterized cooperatively by Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), the USDA‐ARS, and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa, and in collaboration with local farmers in Tanzania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use intensification and climate change are two prominent drivers of variation in biological communities. However, we know very little about how these two potential environmental stressors interact. Here we use a stable isotope approach to quantify how animal communities respond to urban and agriculture land use, and to latitudinal variation in climate (rainfall and temperature), in 29 streams across South Africa.Community structure was shaped by both land use and climatic factors. The taxonomic diversity of invertebrates was best explained by an independent negative effect of urbanization, while abundance declined in summer. However, we could not use our variables to predict fish diversity (suggesting that other factors may be more important).Both trophic functional diversity (quantifed using isotopic richness) and food chain length declined with increasing temperature. Functional redundancy (quantifed using isotopic uniqueness) in the invertebrate community was high in wet areas, and a synergistic interaction with urbanization caused the lowest values in dry urban regions. There was an additive effect of agriculture and rainfall on abundance‐weighted vertebrate functional diversity (quantified using isotopic dispersion), with the former causing a decline in dispersion, with this partially compensated for by high rainfall.In most cases, we found that a single dominant driver (either climate or land use) explained variation between streams. We only found two incidences of combined effects improving the model, one of which was amplified (i.e. the drivers combined to cause an effect larger than the sum of their independent effects), indicating that management should first focus on mitigating the dominant stressor in stream ecosystems for successful restoration efforts.Overall, our study indicates subtle food web responses to multiple drivers of change, only identified by using functional isotope metrics—these are a useful tool for a whole‐systems biology understanding of global change. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) agenda is regarded as the principal instrument to ensure the coherent alignment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with domestic policies. Due to PCSD's genesis in the foreign aid donor–recipient relationship, there is a shortage of research on policymakers in developing countries' perspective on PCSD. In this article, interviews with South African policymakers are used to evaluate the applicability of PCSD beyond the donor–recipient relationship critically. Emphasis is placed on vertical coherence. Policymakers are found to emphasise (a) the need to prioritise the SDGs' targets in terms of national priorities, (b) the importance of attending to institutional issues such as a lack of accountability and efficiency, (c) addressing the skills mismatch of capacity development interventions, and (d) engaging party politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, gut microbiota distortions are being implicated in the pathogenesis of several infectious and noninfectious diseases. Specifically, in the absence of an eubiotic microbiota, mice are more prone to colonization and infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In this qualitative analysis, the following were observed: (1) antimicrobials cause long‐term gut microbiota perturbations; (2) Mtb causes limited and transient disturbances to the lung–gut microbiota; (3) pathogens (e.g., Helicobacter hepaticus) affect microbiota integrity and reduce resistance to Mtb; (4) dysbiosis depletes bacterial species regulating proper immune functioning, reducing resistance to Mtb; (5) dysregulated immune cells fail to express important pathogen‐recognition receptors (e.g., macrophage‐inducible C‐type lectin; MINCLE) and Mtb‐killing cytokines (e.g., IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, and IL‐17), with hampered phagocytic capability; (6) autophagy is central to the immune system's clearance of Mtb, control of inflammation, and immunity–microbiome balance; (7) microbiota‐produced short‐chain fatty acids, which are reduced by dysbiosis, affect immune cells and increase Mtb proliferation; (8) commensal species (e.g., Lactobacillus plantarum) and microbiota metabolites (e.g., indole propionic acid) reduce tuberculosis progression; and (9) fecal transplants mostly restored eubiosis, increased immune resistance to Mtb, restricted dissemination of Mtb, and reduced tuberculosis‐associated organ pathologies. Overuse of antimicrobials, as shown in mice, is a risk factor for reactivating latent or treated tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Our primary aim was to report the incidence of enhanced myometrial vascularity (EMV) in consecutive women attending our early pregnancy assessment unit, following first-trimester miscarriage. We aimed further to evaluate the clinical presentation and complications associated with expectant and surgical management of EMV in these women.Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted in a London teaching hospital between June 2015 and June 2018, including consecutive patients with an observation of EMV on transvaginal ultrasonography following first-trimester miscarriage. The diagnosis was made following the subjective identification of EMV using color Doppler ultrasonography and a peak systolic velocity (PSV) ≥ 20 cm/s within the collection of vessels. Women were followed up with repeat scans every 14 days. Management was expectant unless intervention was indicated because of excessive or prolonged bleeding, persistent presence of retained tissue in the endometrial cavity or patient choice. The final clinical outcome was recorded. Time to resolution of EMV was defined as the interval from detection of EMV until resolution.Results: During the study period, there were 2627 first-trimester fetal losses in the department and, of these, 40 patients were diagnosed with EMV, hence the incidence of EMV following miscarriage was 1.52%. All cases were associated with ultrasound evidence of retained products of conception (RPOC) at presentation (mean dimensions, 22 × 20 × 20 mm). Thirty-one patients opted initially for expectant management, of which 18 had successful resolution without intervention, five were lost to follow-up and eight subsequently had surgical evacuation due to patient choice. No expectantly managed case required emergency intervention. Nine patients chose surgical evacuation as primary treatment. No significant correlation was seen between PSV within the EMV at presentation and blood loss at surgery. Median PSV was 47 (range, 20-148) cm/s. The estimated blood loss in all cases managed surgically ranged from 20-300 mL. Presence of RPOC was confirmed in all specimens that were sent for analysis following surgery. For cases successfully managed expectantly, the mean time to resolution was 48 (range, 21-84) days. In the nine cases managed surgically from the beginning, the mean time to resolution of EMV was 10.6 (range, 3-29) days.Conclusions: This study suggests that EMV is an uncommon finding following miscarriage and is associated with the presence of RPOC. Expectant management was a safe option in our cohort, with minimal bleeding, although it was associated with protracted time to resolution. In patients who opted for surgery, the maximum blood loss was 300 mL and no patient required blood transfusion or embolization. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess whether sonographic diagnosis of intrauterine hematoma (IUH) in the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with first-trimester miscarriage and antenatal, delivery and neonatal complications.Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study of women with an intrauterine singleton pregnancy between 5 and 14 weeks' gestation recruited at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, UK, between March 2014 and March 2016. Participants underwent serial ultrasound examinations in the first trimester, and the presence, location, size and persistence of any IUH was evaluated. First-trimester miscarriage was defined as pregnancy loss before 14 weeks' gestation. Clinical symptoms, including pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding, were recorded at each visit using validated symptom scores. Antenatal, delivery and neonatal outcomes were obtained from hospital records. Logistic regression analysis and the chi-square test were used to assess the association between the presence and features of IUH and the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome. Odds ratios (OR) were first adjusted for maternal age (aOR) and then further adjusted for the presence of vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain in the first trimester.Results: Of 1003 women recruited to the study, 946 were included in the final analysis and of these, 268 (28.3%) were diagnosed with an IUH in the first trimester. The presence of IUH was associated with the incidence of preterm birth (aOR, 1.94 (95% CI, 1.07-3.52)), but no other individual or overall antenatal, delivery or neonatal complications. No association was found between the presence of IUH in the first trimester and first-trimester miscarriage (aOR, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.44-1.50)). These findings were independent of the absolute size of the hematoma and the presence of vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain in the first trimester. When IUH was present in the first trimester, there was no association between its size, content or position in relation to the gestational sac and overall antenatal, delivery and neonatal complications. Diagnosis of a retroplacental IUH was associated with an increased risk of overall antenatal complications (P = 0.04).Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that there is no association between the presence of IUH in the first trimester and first-trimester miscarriage. However, an association with preterm birth, independently of the presence of symptoms of pelvic pain and/or vaginal bleeding, is evident. Women diagnosed with IUH in the first trimester should be counseled about their increased risk of preterm birth and possibly be offered increased surveillance during the course of their pregnancy. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South African societal stakeholders are in general not satisfied with the work preparedness of newly graduated food science and technology students. There is currently little local literature available that defines the graduate capabilities required of newly graduated food scientists and technologists in South Africa. Therefore, the outcomes of an empirical analysis conducted through stakeholder engagement to identify the required graduate capabilities of newly graduated students in food science and technology are reported in this article. A self‐developed questionnaire, administered as a web‐based survey, was used to conduct a needs analysis to identify the required graduate capabilities. The results of this study showed that the identified graduate capabilities composed of generic graduate attributes, including the related employability skills and characteristics of graduateness, the desirable personal attributes, and the foundational food science and technology knowledge, skills, and competencies required to be an effective food science and/or technology graduate that meets the expectations of stakeholders within the South African context. Comparison with the minimum educational requirements of international food science and technology organizations, including the Institute of Food Technologists 2018 "Standards and Essential Learning Outcomes," showed considerable overlap with the required graduate capabilities identified in this study. However, it was also shown that within the South African context some additional skills and competencies in food science and technology are required from South African graduates and that existing curricula must be aligned to fully prepare students to be workplace ready. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterise vaginal bacterial composition in early pregnancy and investigate its relationship with first and second trimester miscarriages. Design: Nested case–control study. Setting: Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London. Population: 161 pregnancies: 64 resulting in first trimester miscarriage, 14 in second trimester miscarriage and 83 term pregnancies. Methods: Prospective profiling and comparison of vaginal bacteria composition using 16S rRNA gene‐based metataxonomics from 5 weeks' gestation in pregnancies ending in miscarriage or uncomplicated term deliveries matched for age, gestation and body mass index. Main outcome measures: Relative vaginal bacteria abundance, diversity and richness. Pregnancy outcomes defined as first or second trimester miscarriage, or uncomplicated term delivery. Results: First trimester miscarriage associated with reduced prevalence of Lactobacillus spp.‐dominated vaginal microbiota classified using hierarchical clustering analysis (65.6 versus 87.7%; P = 0.005), higher alpha diversity (mean Inverse Simpson Index 2.5 [95% confidence interval 1.8–3.0] versus 1.5 [1.3–1.7], P = 0.003) and higher richness 25.1 (18.5–31.7) versus 16.7 (13.4–20), P = 0.017), compared with viable pregnancies. This was independent of vaginal bleeding and observable before first trimester miscarriage diagnosis (P = 0.015). Incomplete/complete miscarriage associated with higher proportions of Lactobacillus spp.‐depleted communities compared with missed miscarriage. Early pregnancy vaginal bacterial stability was similar between miscarriage and term pregnancies. Conclusions: These findings associate the bacterial component of vaginal microbiota with first trimester miscarriage and indicate suboptimal community composition is established in early pregnancy. While further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism, vaginal bacterial composition may represent a modifiable risk factor for first trimester miscarriage. Vaginal bacterial composition in first trimester miscarriage is associated with reduced Lactobacillus spp. abundance and is independent of vaginal bleeding. Vaginal bacterial composition in first trimester miscarriage is associated with reduced Lactobacillus spp. abundance and is independent of vaginal bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Several Phyllosticta species are known as pathogens of Citrus spp., and are responsible for various disease symptoms including leaf and fruit spots. One of the most important species is P. citricarpa, which causes a foliar and fruit disease called citrus black spot. The Phyllosticta species occurring on citrus can most effectively be distinguished from P. citricarpa by means of multilocus DNA sequence data. Recent studies also demonstrated P. citricarpa to be heterothallic, and reported successful mating in the laboratory. Since the domestication of citrus, different clones of P. citricarpa have escaped Asia to other continents via trade routes, with obvious disease management consequences. This pathogen profile represents a comprehensive literature review of this pathogen and allied taxa associated with citrus, focusing on identification, distribution, genomics, epidemiology and disease management. This review also considers the knowledge emerging from seven genomes of Phyllosticta spp., demonstrating unknown aspects of these species, including their mating behaviour. Taxonomy: Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Aa, 1973. Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Class Dothideomycetes, Order Botryosphaeriales, Family Phyllostictaceae, Genus Phyllosticta, Species citricarpa. Host range: Confirmed on more than 12 Citrus species, Phyllosticta citricarpa has only been found on plant species in the Rutaceae. Disease symptoms: P. citricarpa causes diverse symptoms such as hard spot, virulent spot, false melanose and freckle spot on fruit, and necrotic lesions on leaves and twigs. Useful websites: DOE Joint Genome Institute MycoCosm portals for the Phyllosticta capitalensis (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycap1), P. citriasiana (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycit1), P. citribraziliensis (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phcit1), P. citrichinaensis (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phcitr1), P. citricarpa (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycitr1, https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycpc1), P. paracitricarpa (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phy27169) genomes. All available Phyllosticta genomes on MycoCosm can be viewed at https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phyllosticta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess prospectively the association between pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, and nausea and vomiting occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy and the incidence of later adverse pregnancy outcomes.Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study of consecutive women with confirmed intrauterine singleton pregnancy between 5 and 14 weeks' gestation recruited at Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital, London, UK, from March 2014 to March 2016. Serial ultrasound scans were performed in the first trimester. Participants completed validated symptom scores for vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, and nausea and vomiting. The key symptom of interest was any pelvic pain and/or vaginal bleeding during the first trimester. Pregnancies were followed up until the final outcome was known. Antenatal, delivery and neonatal outcomes were obtained from hospital records. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between first-trimester symptoms and pregnancy complications by calculating adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with correction for maternal age.Results: Of 1003 women recruited, 847 pregnancies were included in the final analysis following exclusion of cases due to first-trimester miscarriage (n = 99), termination of pregnancy (n = 20), loss to follow-up (n = 32) or withdrawal from the study (n = 5). Adverse antenatal complications were observed in 166/645 (26%) women with pelvic pain and/or vaginal bleeding in the first trimester (aOR = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.17-2.76) and in 30/181 (17%) women with no symptoms. Neonatal complications were observed in 66/634 (10%) women with and 11/176 (6%) without pelvic pain and/or vaginal bleeding (aOR = 1.73; 95% CI, 0.89-3.36). Delivery complications were observed in 402/615 (65%) women with and 110/174 (63%) without pelvic pain and/or vaginal bleeding during the first trimester (aOR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.81-1.65). For 18 of 20 individual antenatal complications evaluated, incidence was higher among women with pelvic pain and/or vaginal bleeding, despite the overall incidences being low. Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy showed little association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.Conclusions: Our study suggests that there is an increased incidence of antenatal complications in women experiencing pelvic pain and/or vaginal bleeding in the first trimester. This should be considered when advising women attending early-pregnancy units. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the dynamic nature with which independent accountability mechanisms operate. Focusing on the World Bank, the authors argue that its Inspection Panel evolves according to internal and external pressures. In seeking to achieve equilibrium, and protect its authority and independence, the Panel has gone through several distinct phases: negotiation, emergence, protracted resistance, assertion of independence and authority, renewed tension, and contestation. The core novelty of the article is its application of concepts from outside the field of development studies — notably institutional accountability from the governance literature, and judicialization from the legal studies literature — to the topic of the Inspection Panel. Examining the Panel in this way demonstrates that accountability mechanisms represent a hybrid of transnational governance influenced by a range of actors including project‐affected peoples, national governments, managers and development donors. Accountability in development finance is about competing interests as well as competing conceptions and expectations of accountability. In such a complex and multi‐scalar system, the Panel is not only concerned with delivering well‐researched investigation reports; it is also an entity seeking to ensure its own survival, as well as an arbiter of its own brand of legitimacy and accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granophyre dykes in the central part of the Vredefort impact structure are believed to be the remnants of the impact melt sheet, which intruded downwards along the fractures in the crater floor. Little is known about their original penetration depth, dip, structural relationships with the host rocks, and their general geophysical characteristics. This information is critical to understand the emplacement history of the granophyre dykes, as it relates to the formation and modification of large impact structures. We conducted magnetic and resistivity surveys across the Daskop granophyre dyke (DGD), one of the impact melt dykes in the structure's core. The magnetic survey revealed that the DGD gives a strong magnetic response at positions where the dyke outcrop exceeds the surface topography, but a very weak response where the outcrop is nearly at the same elevation as the surrounding topography. The magnetic anomaly is thus predominantly due to the outcrop protruding above ground level, suggesting a limited volume of dyke material in the subsurface and a small penetration depth. The resistivity survey performed on two profiles, set perpendicularly across the DGD, indicated a shallow penetration depth (<3 m), consistent with the magnetic interpretation. Thus, our geophysical study demonstrates that the DGD is currently at the very bottom of its original emplacement. This may either be an erosional coincidence, or it may be controlled by a fundamental process of impact cratering. Further studies are warranted to determine if other granophyre dykes at Vredefort are similarly at their lowermost terminations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium circinatum is a highly virulent invasive pathogen that causes the disease commonly known as pine pitch canker (PPC). On mature trees, the most common symptoms of PPC include resin bleeding, resinous cankers, wilting of needles and dieback. In nurseries the main symptoms are yellowish needles, and wilting of foliage and shoots. PPC is considered one of the most important diseases of conifers globally and at least 60 species of Pinus along with Pseudotsuga menziesii are known to be susceptible. Quarantine regulations are crucial to minimize the risk of new introductions into disease‐free countries. However, if these measures fail, implementation of environmentally friendly control methods is currently encouraged in an integrated management approach that minimizes the use of chemicals in forests. This review therefore summarizes current knowledge of biological control using endophytic fungi, bacteria and viruses, and other environmentally friendly methods to control PPC, including thermotherapy, natural products with fungicidal effects, promoters of innate host resistance mechanisms and breeding for resistance. Key research gaps to be addressed for improvement of effective management of this disease are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]