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Mandatory reviews in criminal cases in Malawi : the recent understanding and its implications
Chipofya, Martin Visuzgo (Cambridge University Press, 2026-01)
The procedure for mandatory reviews, also known as confirmations, has existed in Malawi since the colonial period. It requires that when a subordinate court convicts a person and imposes a punishment that passes a prescribed threshold, the case record be forwarded to a higher court for review. This article examines the evolution of this procedure in Malawi from the colonial era to how it is being currently understood and applied. It argues that the understanding that courts have recently attached to the procedure does not align with how this procedure has historically developed. Moreover, this understanding diminishes the procedure’s effectiveness in its function of protecting convicts’ rights. The article suggests ways of improving the procedure to ensure it remains relevant and suitable for the purpose for which it was originally established.
Impact of animal socioecology on gut microbial communities : insights from wild meerkats in the Kalahari
Balasubramaniam, Krishna; Mueller-Klein, Nadine; Vink, Tim; Clutton-Brock, Timothy H.; Manser, Marta B.; Sommer, Simone (Wiley, 2025-12)
1. The social organisation of animals likely shapes the composition, diversity and stability of microbiomes, giving rise to the concept of the 'social microbiome'-microbial communities shared within and across social units, or 'islands', ranging from individuals to entire ecosystems. Understanding the connections and their underlying drivers is crucial for revealing how socioecology influences microbiomes and associated health outcomes. However, empirical assessments are still limited, and the relative influence of social organisation compared to intrinsic (biological) and extrinsic (environmental) factors in shaping microbiomes is particularly unclear. 2. Here, we used a long-term, individual-based study of Kalahari meerkats (Suricata suricatta) to test predictions from the social microbiome concept. We assessed the relative influence of social factors, biological traits and environmental variables on gut microbial communities, while also accounting for the effects of microbial phylogenetic relatedness and within-host associations or co-occurrence independent of phylogeny. 3. Meerkat microbiomes exhibited highly 'nested' and weakly 'modular' structures: individuals with lower diversity hosted amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) that were subsets of the overall community, though some bacterial taxa clustered distinctly among hosts. Microbiomes were more similar within social groups than between them. 4. Group membership strongly influenced the co-occurrence of many beneficial ASVs, as well as a few potentially harmful ones. This effect was stronger than that of kinship, though closer relatives shared more similar microbiomes within some groups. While a range of social, biological and environmental factors influenced bacterial abundance, group membership, individual age and sampling time since sunrise had the most significant impact. ASV-ASV co-occurrence within hosts, independent of phylogeny, also played a major role. In contrast, individual-level social traits (e.g. dominance, immigration), other environmental (e.g. sampling temperature, rainfall, hours since foraging), demographic (sex) and health-related factors (body condition, disease status) had weaker effects on bacterial abundance. 5. We show that gut microbiomes are shaped by a combination of factors, highlighting the importance of separating the effects of social organisation from individual social traits, biological factors, environmental influences and microbe-microbe interactions. By identifying drivers of both beneficial and detrimental bacterial co-occurrence, we provide a foundation for assessing how the social microbiome affects animal health and fitness.
Atmospheric PM2.5 and its trace element compositions in Bloemfontein, South Africa : an inhalation health risk assessment
Nkelende, Roland Tshibwabwa; Van der Westhuizen, Deidre; Boman, Johan; Molnar, Peter; Von Eschwege, Karel G.; Howlett-Downing, Chantelle Margaret; Wichmann, Janine (Taylor and Francis, 2026)
Please read abstract in the article.
Defect engineering with group III dopants in 2D monolayer SiC for improved electronic devices
Igumbor, Emmanuel; Ajeh, Patience; Mapasha, Refilwe Edwin; Omotoso, Ezekiel; Raji, Abdulrafiu (Elsevier, 2026-06)
Please read abstract in the article. HIGHLIGHTS • Hybrid DFT was used to study the effects of group III dopants on 2D SiC.. • Group III dopant in 2D monolayer SiC distorts its lattice, inducing varying strain. • Group III dopants at C sites induce magnetism, enabling spintronic 2D SiC devices. • This study reveals how group III dopants tune electronic and magnetic properties of 2D SiC.
Fake news on the farm : how misinformation shapes cocoa farmers’ decisions in Jukwa, Ghana
Adjei-Mensah, James; Tham-Agyekum, Enoch Kwame; Ndosi, Jacqueline; Ankuyi, Fred; Nimoh, Fred; Ankrah, Daniel Adu (Taylor and Francis, 2026)
Cocoa is vital to Ghana’s economy, yet misinformation threatens productivity by distorting farmers’ decision-making. This study examined how misinformation affects cocoa farmers in Jukwa District using a cross-sectional survey of 390 farmers. Farmers accessed information from multiple sources, but extension officers were the most frequently used. However, a considerable number of farmers had acted on false information in pruning, pricing, fertilizer application, and pest control. Misinformation spread mainly through peer interactions, cooperatives, and radio/television. Logistic regression showed radio/television, community information centers, and social media increased susceptibility. Strengthening extension services is essential to counter misinformation and promote informed decisions.