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Research management project : research excellence
(Association of African Universities (AAU), 2025) Ramoutar-Prieschl, Rakeshnie
The purpose of this framework is to present approaches to shape ideas, understanding and application of Research Excellence (RE) among Science Granting Councils (SGCs) s in sub-Saharan Africa. The principles presented in this framework take account of regional and national views, perspectives, and dynamics, without losing the context within which research is conducted across the globe. The framework is informed by a comprehensive literature review, case studies, survey findings, and outcomes from a consultation meeting with SGCI stakeholders in southern, eastern, and western Africa.
Ethics in research and innovation : a guided framework for science granting councils
(Association of African Universities (AAU), 2025) Ramoutar-Prieschl, Rakeshnie
The purpose of the document is to provide a succinct set of guidelines and governance structures to inform the development and adoption of best ethical practices within science granting councils (SGCs). The framework was
informed by a comprehensive literature review and qualitative surveys with science grants councils initiative (SGCI) stakeholders. Surveys were circulated to key SGCI stakeholders including a select sample of active SGCI participating
institutions in southern, eastern and western Africa. Annex 1 gives a detailed representation of the survey participants.
Fine-scale associational effects : single plant neighbours can alter susceptibility of focal plants to herbivores
(Public Library of Science, 2025-08) Finnerty, Patrick B.; Banks, Peter B.; Shrader, A.M. (Adrian); McArthur, Clare
The neighbourhood of plants in a patch can shape vulnerability of focal plants to herbivores, known as an associational effect. Associational effects of plant neighbourhoods are widely recognised. But whether a single neighbouring plant can exert an associational effect is unknown. Here, we tested if single neighbours indeed do influence the likelihood that a focal plant is visited and eaten by a mammalian herbivore. We then tested whether any refuge effect is strengthened by having more neighbours in direct proximity to a focal plant. We used native plant species and a browser/mixed feeder mammalian herbivore (swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor)) free-ranging in natural vegetation. We found that a single neighbouring plant did elicit associational effects. Specifically, plant pairs consisting of one high-quality seedling next to a single low-quality plant were visited and browsed by wallabies later and less than pairs of two high-quality seedlings. Having more neighbours did not strengthen these associational effects. Compared with no neighbours, one or five low-quality neighbours had the same effect in delaying time taken for wallabies to first visit a plot and browse on a high-quality focal seedling. While traditionally a ‘patch’ refers to a broad sphere-of-influence neighbouring plants have on a focal plant, our findings suggest the influence of plant neighbours can range from the nearest individual neighbour to the entire plant neighbourhood. Such fine-scale associational effects are fundamentally important for understanding intricate plant-herbivore interactions, and ecologically important by potentially having knock-on effects on plant survival, in turn influencing plant community structure.
Factors contributing to visual intrapartum cardiotocograph interpretation variation among healthcare professionals : an integrative review
(Public Library of Science, 2025-01) Lukhele, Sanele; Mulaudzi, Fhumulani Mavis; Gundo, Rodwell
The reliability of cardiotocographs as diagnostic tools for fetal well-being is hampered by interpretational variations among healthcare professionals, contributing to high rates of cesarean sections and instrumental deliveries. While adjunct technologies may be used to confirm cases of fetal distress, those in resource constrained areas continue to rely on visual cardiotocograph interpretation to come up with the diagnosis of fetal hypoxia. This study investigated the factors contributing to variations in the visual interpretation of intrapartum cardiotocograph among healthcare professionals in the absence of adjunctive technologies. In this integrative literature review, we conducted a literature search of the following electronic databases: EBScohost, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The following search terms and Boolean operators were used: (Intrapartum OR Labor OR Labour OR Childbirth OR Birth OR Delivery) AND (Cardiotocography OR CTG OR "Electronic Fetal Monitoring" OR EFM) AND (Interpretation OR Analysis) AND (Variations OR Differences) AND (“Healthcare Workers” OR Nurses OR “Medical Workers” OR “Healthcare Professionals” OR Midwives OR Obstetricians). After removal of duplicates, a total of 1481 articles and titles were screened, 60 full-text articles were examined to verify whether they addressed the scope of the literature review. Nine articles addressed the factors contributing to variations in the visual interpretation of intrapartum cardiotocographs among healthcare professionals. The quality of the studies was appraised using the Quality Appraisal Tool for Studies of Diagnostic Reliability. Thematic analysis identified the following themes: 1) Interpretational variations in cardiotocograph characteristics among health professionals, and 2) factors leading to increased interpretational variation among healthcare professionals. Our results highlight the need for increased cardiotocograph training to improve consistency among health professionals, especially for suspicious and pathological traces, which often lead to cesarean section.
Factors affecting integration of an early warning system for antimalarial drug resistance within a routine surveillance system in a pre-elimination setting in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Public Library of Science, 2025-06) Kagoro, Frank M.; Allen, Elizabeth; Raman, Jaishree; Mabuza, Aaron; Magagula, Ray; Kok, Gerdalize; Malatje, Gillian; Guerin, Philippe J.; Dhorda, Mehul; Maude, Richard J.; Barnes, Karen I.
To address the current threat of antimalarial resistance, countries need innovative solutions for timely and informed decision-making. Integrating molecular surveillance for drug-resistant malaria into routine malaria surveillance in pre-elimination contexts offers a potential early warning mechanism for further investigation and response. However, there is limited evidence on what influences the performance of such a system in resource-limited settings. From March 2018 to February 2020, a sequential mixed-methods study was conducted in primary healthcare facilities in a South African pre-elimination setting to explore factors influencing the flow, quality and linkage of malaria case notification and molecular resistance marker data. Using a process-oriented framework, we undertook monthly and quarterly data linkage and consistency analyses at different levels of the health system, as well as a survey, focus group discussions and interviews to identify potential barriers to, and enhancers of, the roll-out and uptake of this integrated information system. Over two years, 4,787 confirmed malaria cases were notified from 42 primary healthcare facilities in the Nkomazi sub-district, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Of the notified cases, 78.5% (n = 3,758) were investigated, and 55.1% (n = 2,636) were successfully linked to their Plasmodium falciparum molecular resistance marker profiles. Five tangible processes—malaria case detection and notification, sample collection, case investigation, analysis and reporting—were identified within the process-oriented logic model. Workload, training, ease of use, supervision, leadership, and resources were recognized as cross-cutting influencers affecting the program’s performance. Approaching malaria elimination, linking molecular markers of antimalarial resistance to routine malaria surveillance is feasible. However, cross-cutting barriers inherent in the healthcare system can influence its success in a resource-limited setting.