Stellenbosch University

Recovering the precolonial population structure of Khoe-San descendant populations

San populations from Botswana and Namibia retain exceptional linguistic, cultural and genetic diversity, but few Khoisan-speaking groups remain south of the Kalahari Desert. However, historically, far southern Africa was home to many San and Khoekhoe groups. Popular opinion often...

Population genomics, resistome and plasmidome of invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in adults hospitalised in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPn) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections in adults in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted laboratory-based surveillance between 2023 and 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and analysed 508 KPn whole genomes isolated f...

Decoding complex gold mineralization in the Pitangui Greenstone Belt, Brazil: overprinting systems revealed by pyrite trace elements and sulfur isotopes

Tracing the sources of metals and sulfur in orogenic gold deposits remains debated due to the diversity of these systems. This study constrains the origin and evolution of mineralizing fluids through trace element and sulfur isotope (δ34S) analyses of pyrite from the Papagaios go...

Milvexian with Antiplatelet Therapy after Acute Coronary Syndrome Event

BackgroundPatients are at increased risk for recurrent ischemic events after an acute coronary syndrome event. Milvexian, an oral factor XIa inhibitor, may reduce the risk of major adverse clinical events with minimal bleeding risk. MethodsIn this phase 3, randomized, placebo-con...

miR-142-3p in cancer: intracellular tumor suppression and extracellular vesicle- mediated microenvironmental signaling

miR-142-3p has emerged as an important regulator of cancer progression and treatment response, exhibiting predominantly tumor-suppressive functions. Intracellularly, miR-142-3p inhibits proliferation, promotes apoptosis, suppresses epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and enh...

L’épopée d’El Hadj Omar. Récits oraux de Gambie

Ce compte rendu est une promenade transversale du cadre narratif expressément esquissé par Samba Diop dans son ouvrage, L’épopée d’El Hadj Omar. Récits oraux de Gambie. En effet, la trajectoire per...

Feasibility and acceptability of a compassion-focused program to support staff, improve workflows and enhance the clinic environment in South African primary health clinics with low ART retention

South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic globally. Despite improvement, retention on antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains challenging. We used a positive deviance (PD) approach to develop a program called Connect designed to increase retention in HIV care by improving the staff...

Utility of Face2Gene’s DeepGestalt and D-Score applications in paediatric neurodevelopmental disorders in South Africa

Abstract Face2Gene is a clinical tool that leverages facial features to aid genetic diagnosis. The DeepGestalt application suggests potential diagnoses based on facial similarity, while the D-Score evaluates likelihood of an individual having dysmorphic features suggestive of a p...

Between expertise and engagement: a qualitative study of Namibian geoscientists' views, attitudes, motivations, and objectives regarding public engagement with science

Abstract. Geoscientists are increasingly expected to engage with society on issues such as mining, groundwater management, energy transitions, and environmental sustainability, yet public engagement in the geosciences remains limited. This is largely due to reliance on one-way co...

Upstream policymaking in Africa: a case study analysis of the district to national alcohol sachet bans policy transfer in Uganda

Background High rates of heavy episodic drinking in Uganda have been linked to alcohol sachets due to their affordability and widespread availability. The Gulu district enacted a local sachet ban in 2016 which transferred to a national ban in 2019 to protect population health. Th...

Regime Shifts and Transformations in Social-Ecological Systems: Advancing Critical Frontiers for Safe and Just Futures

Current research challenges in sustainability science require us to consider nonlinear changes—shifts that do not happen gradually but can be sudden and difficult to predict. Central questions are therefore how we can prevent harmful shifts, promote desirable ones, and better ant...

One in seven has severe pain: a point-prevalence study of hospitalised patients across Africa

ABSTRACT: Acute pain in hospitalised patients is common, yet African data are scarce. We conducted a prospective point-prevalence study of hospitalised adult patients across Africa to determine acute pain prevalence and severity and investigate associations of pain with critical...

Exploring the effect of a science-themed career exhibition on South African children’s perceptions of scientists

Abstract Background The Draw-a-Scientist Test (DAST) has been widely employed to explore individuals' perceptions of scientists, aiming to identify stereotypical images that could influence attitudes towards science-related career decisions. Purpose This study examines young chil...

Perennial Crop Type Discrimination with AVIRIS-NG Hyperspectral Imagery and Machine Learning

Accurate maps of perennial crop types support agricultural monitoring, water-use accounting, and strategic decisions on climate adaptation. Hyperspectral imagery offers the fine spectral detail needed to separate spectrally similar plant species, but its high dimensionality compl...

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, calcium, phosphate, and magnesium levels in association with bone mineral density at the hip and lumbar spine in African breastfeeding women: a longitudinal evaluation

The relationship between vitamin D status and serum calcium, phosphate, and magnesium levels, as well as bone mineral density, in African breastfeeding women remains understudied. Bone resorption is essential for maintaining mineral balance when demand for calcium, phosphate, and...

Floods and Food Security in Rural South Africa: Lived Experiences of Households, Farmers, and Food Entrepreneurs in Hamakuya Village

Abstract Floods disrupt food and nutrition security by affecting food availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. This study examined the effects of flooding on household food accessibility, availability, and stability, and identified coping and adaptation strategies...

Site-specific optimisation of soybean seeding rates: evidence from local on-farm trials

Limited research exists on optimal soybean (Glycine max L.) seeding rates and plant populations in South Africa. This study utilised on-farm precision experimentation data to evaluate the impact of three management approaches on productivity and profitability. Variable seeding ra...

Distinct Sex-Specific Characteristics of Apoe Deficient and Ldlr Deficient Mice in Atherosclerosis: Implications for Model Selection and Therapy Development

The progression of cardiovascular disease shows significant sexual dimorphism: although females generally develop the disease later in life, they exhibit a higher age-related incidence than males. While current studies have separately reported sex differences in atherosclerotic d...

The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Guideline on Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Management for Low- and Middle-Income Countries

There is a pressing need to address the unique challenges of managing Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), where mental health resources are scarce and unevenly distributed. To develop this evidence-based guideline, we conducted a sy...

Baseline characterization of inshore reef soundscapes and noise dynamics along the southeast coast of South Africa

Underwater noise has risen in certain parts of the world, driven by continued growth of maritime economic activity. In South Africa, increasing economic development threatens to elevate underwater noise levels in marine habitats, yet knowledge of marine soundscapes remains very l...