Limited reactivity of pyroxene and plagioclase in batch experiments with supercritical CO in the presence of NaCl and NaHCO in the context of CO sequestration via carbonation.

One-step high-pressure and high-temperature direct aqueous mineral carbonation of tailings derived from mining of Platinum Group Metals in South Africa requires a fundamental understanding of the reactivity of the most dominant mineral phases, i.e. pyroxene and plagioclase (66 wt.

Same-Slide Spatial Multi-Omics Integration Reveals Tumor Virus-Linked Spatial Reorganization of the Tumor Microenvironment.

The advent of spatial transcriptomics and spatial proteomics have enabled profound insights into tissue organization to provide systems-level understanding of diseases. Both technologies currently remain largely independent, and emerging same slide spatial multi-omics approaches are generally limited in plex, spatial resolution, and analytical approaches. We introduce IN-situ DEtailed Phenotyping To High-resolution transcriptomics (IN-DEPTH), a streamlined and resource-effective approach compatible with various spatial platforms.

Field and laboratory microplastics uptake by a freshwater shrimp.

Microplastics are widespread pollutants, but few studies have linked field prevalence in organisms to laboratory uptakes. Aquatic filter feeders may be particularly susceptible to microplastic uptake, with the potential for trophic transfer to higher levels, including humans. Here, we surveyed microplastics from a model freshwater shrimp, common caraidina () inhabiting the Crocodile River in South Africa to better understand microplastic uptake rates per individual.

Low pre-existing endemic human coronavirus (HCoV-NL63)-specific T cell frequencies are associated with impaired SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in people living with HIV.

Background: Understanding how HIV affects SARS-CoV-2 immunity is crucial for managing COVID-19 in sub-Saharan populations due to frequent coinfections. Our previous research showed that unsuppressed HIV is associated with weaker immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We investigated how pre-existing T cell immunity against an endemic human coronavirus HCoV-NL63 impacts SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses in people living with HIV (PLWH) compared to uninfected individuals, and how HIV-related T cell dysfunction influences responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Motivational interviewing and problem-solving therapy intervention for patients on antiretroviral therapy for HIV in Tshwane, South Africa: A randomized controlled trial to assess the impact on alcohol consumption.

Background And Aims: Reduction of alcohol consumption is important for people undergoing treatment for HIV. We tested the efficacy of a brief intervention for reducing the average volume of alcohol consumed among patients on HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Design, Setting And Participants: This study used a two-arm multi-centre randomized controlled trial with follow-up to 6 months.

Impact of Dolutegravir-Based Antiretroviral Therapy on Piperaquine Exposure following Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnant Women Living with HIV.

Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, an artemisinin-based combination therapy, has been identified as a promising agent for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy. However, in pregnant women living with HIV (PLWH), efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly reduces the plasma exposure of piperaquine. In an open-label, nonrandomized, fixed-sequence, pharmacokinetic study, we compared piperaquine plasma concentrations in 13 pregnant women during a 3-day treatment course of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine when coadministered with efavirenz-based versus dolutegravir-based ART in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.

Preventing antenatal stillbirths: An innovative approach for primary health care.

Background: In South Africa (SA), approximately 16 000 stillbirths occur annually. Most are classified as unexplained and occur in district hospitals. Many of these deaths may be caused by undetected foetal growth restriction.

CD8 lymphocytes mitigate HIV-1 persistence in lymph node follicular helper T cells during hyperacute-treated infection.

HIV persistence in tissue sites despite ART is a major barrier to HIV cure. Detailed studies of HIV-infected cells and immune responses in native lymph node tissue environment is critical for gaining insight into immune mechanisms impacting HIV persistence and clearance in tissue sanctuary sites. We compared HIV persistence and HIV-specific T cell responses in lymph node biopsies obtained from 14 individuals who initiated therapy in Fiebig stages I/II, 5 persons treated in Fiebig stages III-V and 17 late treated individuals who initiated ART in Fiebig VI and beyond.

Delays in HIV-1 infant polymerase chain reaction testing may leave children without confirmed diagnoses in the Western Cape province, South Africa.

Background: Early diagnosis and confirmation of HIV infection in newborns is crucial for expedited initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Confirmatory testing must be done for all children with a reactive HIV PCR result. There is no comprehensive data on confirmatory testing and HIV PCR test request rejections at National Health Laboratory Service laboratories in South Africa.

The impact of HIV infection on the frequencies, function, spatial localization and heterogeneity of T follicular regulatory cells (TFRs) within human lymph nodes.

Background: HIV eradication efforts have been unsuccessful partly due to virus persistence in immune sanctuary sites such as germinal centres within lymph node (LN) tissues. Recent evidence suggests that LNs harbour a novel subset of regulatory T cells, termed follicular regulatory T cells (TFRs), but their role in HIV pathogenesis is not fully elucidated.

Results: Paired excisional LN and peripheral blood samples obtained from 20 HIV-uninfected and 31 HIV-infected treated and 7 chronic untreated, were used to determine if and how HIV infection modulate frequencies, function and spatial localization of TFRs within LN tissues.

Engineering extracellular vesicles by three-dimensional dynamic culture of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown therapeutic potential in recent studies. However, the corresponding therapeutic components are largely unknown, and scale-up production of hMSC EVs is a major challenge for translational applications. In the current study, hMSCs were grown as 3D aggregates under wave motion to promote EV secretion.

"You see this thing is hard… ey, this thing is painful": The burden of the provider role and construction of masculinities amongst Black male mineworkers in Marikana, South Africa.

In this paper we examine men's insights on how migration and minework affect their perceptions and performances of masculinity in the settings of minework and in their "real home" communities and explore the potential consequences of masculinity constructions for their own and their family's health. This study used qualitative methodology. Findings are based on 13 in-depth interviews conducted over two phases of data collection with adult men who were either working or seeking work in the mines in North-West province, South Africa.

Tcf1 is essential for initiation of oncogenic Notch1-driven chromatin topology in T-ALL.

NOTCH1 is a well-established lineage specifier for T cells and among the most frequently mutated genes throughout all subclasses of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). How oncogenic NOTCH1 signaling launches a leukemia-prone chromatin landscape during T-ALL initiation is unknown. Here we demonstrate an essential role for the high-mobility-group transcription factor Tcf1 in orchestrating chromatin accessibility and topology, allowing aberrant Notch1 signaling to convey its oncogenic function.

Hypermethylation at the CXCR5 gene locus limits trafficking potential of CD8+ T cells into B-cell follicles during HIV-1 infection.

CD8+ T cells play an important role in HIV control. However, in human lymph nodes (LNs), only a small subset of CD8+ T cells express CXCR5, the chemokine receptor required for cell migration into B-cell follicles, which are major sanctuaries for HIV persistence in individuals on therapy. Here, we investigate the impact of HIV infection on follicular CD8+ T cell (fCD8) frequencies, trafficking patterns, and CXCR5 regulation.

Growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of pigs fed diets containing amarula (Sclerocarya birrea A. Rich) nut cake as replacement to soybean meal.

This experiment evaluated varying levels of Amarula (Sclerocarya birrea A. Rich) nut cake (ANC) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in pigs. Thirty Large White × Landrace (LW × LR) pigs were stratified by weight (average live weight of 20 ± 5 kg) and randomly allocated to the five experimental diets that contained 0 (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 g ANC/kg DM.

A Study Protocol to Assess the Respiratory Health Risks and Impacts amongst Informal Street Food Vendors in the Inner City of Johannesburg, South Africa.

The overall unemployment rate in South Africa was impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which led many people to resort to informal work such as street trading opportunities in big cities. However, this work is located in the same cities where air pollution is of concern. Furthermore, literature has indicated the lack of regulation of the informal trading sector as compared to the formal sector.

Epstein-Barr Virus LMP1 Modulates the CD63 Interactome.

Tetraspanin CD63 is a cluster of cell surface proteins with four transmembrane domains; it is associated with tetraspanin-enriched microdomains and typically localizes to late endosomes and lysosomes. CD63 plays an important role in the cellular trafficking of different proteins, EV cargo sorting, and vesicle formation. We have previously shown that CD63 is important in LMP1 trafficking to EVs, and this also affects LMP1-mediated intracellular signaling including MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, and mTOR activation.

Epstein-Barr virus LMP1 manipulates the content and functions of extracellular vesicles to enhance metastatic potential of recipient cells.

Extracellular vesicles (EV) mediate intercellular communication events and alterations in normal vesicle content contribute to function and disease initiation or progression. The ability to package a variety of cargo and transmit molecular information between cells renders EVs important mediators of cell-to-cell crosstalk. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is a chief viral oncoprotein expressed in most Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancers and is released from cells at high levels in EVs.

The application of FTO-CuO/AgPO heterojunction in the photoelectrochemical degradation of emerging pharmaceutical pollutant under visible light irradiation.

We report the photoelectrochemical application of a visible light active FTO-CuO/AgPO photoanode for the abatement of sulfamethoxazole in water. The as-synthesised photoanodes were characterised using XRD, field emission SEM, EDX, diffuse reflectance UV-vis, impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. The results obtained confirmed a successful formation of p-n heterojunction at the CuO/AgPO interface.

Participant understanding of informed consent in a multidisease community-based health screening and biobank platform in rural South Africa.

Background: In low- and middle-income settings, obtaining informed consent for biobanking may be complicated by socio-economic vulnerability and context-specific power dynamics. We explored participants experiences and perceptions of the research objectives in a community-based multidisease screening and biospecimen collection platform in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods: We undertook semi-structured in-depth interviews to assess participant understanding of the informed consent, research objectives and motivation for participation.

Effect of replacing soybean meal with marula nut meal on rumen dry matter and crude protein degradability.

In situ rumen degradability of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) in ruminant diets composed of graded inclusion levels of marula nut meal (MNM) as a protein source to replace soybean meal were evaluated. The five diets denoted as diet 1 (0.0 g kg MNM: control), diet 2 (45.

"They have this not care - don't care attitude:" A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Community Readiness for Oral PrEP in Adolescent Girls and Young Women in a Rural Area of South Africa.

Introduction: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) remain disproportionately affected by HIV. In a rural area of South Africa with an annual incidence (2011-2015) of 5 and 7% per annum for 15-19 and 20-24-year olds respectively, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could provide AGYW with a form of HIV prevention they can more easily control. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, we describe findings from a study conducted in 2017 that assessed knowledge of and attitudes toward PrEP to better understand community readiness for an AGYW PrEP rollout.

Lessons from the evaluation of the South African National Female Condom Programme.

Background: Understanding of the facilitators and challenges to female condom (FC) uptake has been limited due to lack of evaluation of national FC programmes.

Setting: The FC has been an integral component of South Africa's (SA) HIV prevention programme for 20 years and is the largest government-funded FC programme worldwide.

Methods: The national FC evaluation used a mixed-methods approach and consisted of key informant interviews and a telephone survey in a national sample of public and non-public sites.

Epstein-Barr Virus LMP1 Promotes Syntenin-1- and Hrs-Induced Extracellular Vesicle Formation for Its Own Secretion To Increase Cell Proliferation and Migration.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important mediators of cell-to-cell communication that are involved in both normal processes and pathological conditions. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is a major viral oncogene that is expressed in most Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancers and secreted in EVs. LMP1-modified EVs have the ability to influence recipient cell growth, migration, and differentiation and regulate immune cell function.