Soweto CTC

Starting a career in teaching is accompanied by much excitement for many newly qualified teachers. Nonetheless, novice teachers working in special educational needs schools for learners with physical disabilities face several adversities. These include lack of competence, psychological distress and anxiety. However, there are protective factors that enable their resilience despite the adversities. This qualitative study investigated the resilience of newly qualified teachers in special educational needs schools for learners with physical disabilities. Individual semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted with eight newly qualified teachers from two special schools in one district in Gauteng, South Africa. Thematic data analysis revealed key resources that foster teacher resilience, including individual traits (sense of purpose, coping mechanisms, and adaptability); interpersonal relationships (support from family, friends, colleagues, and learners); and contextual elements (spirituality, role models, and access to social services). The findings of this study revealed that a combination of these social-ecological resources fosters the resilience of newly qualified teachers. Thus, interventions targeted at enabling the resilience of these teachers should consider these resources to enhance their well-being and their retention in special schools. • 7 % of the country's population of 60 million are estimated to have a physical disability. • Newly qualified teachers face several adversities as they enter the teaching profession, schools for learners with physical disabilities. • To adjust to their new careers, it is critical for newly qualified teachers to persist despite the adversities. • Social ecological resources promote newly qualified teachers’ resilience in schools for learners with physical disabilities.

Despite the success of COVID-19 vaccines, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern have emerged that can cause breakthrough infections. Although protection against severe disease has been largely preserved, the immunological mediators of protection in humans remain undefined. We performed a substudy on the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccinees enrolled in a South African clinical trial. At peak immunogenicity, before infection, no differences were observed in immunoglobulin (Ig)G1-binding antibody titers; however, the vaccine induced different Fc-receptor-binding antibodies across groups. Vaccinees who resisted COVID-19 exclusively mounted FcγR3B-binding antibodies. In contrast, enhanced IgA and IgG3, linked to enriched FcγR2B binding, was observed in individuals who experienced breakthrough. Antibodies unable to bind to FcγR3B led to immune complex clearance and resulted in inflammatory cascades. Differential antibody binding to FcγR3B was linked to Fc-glycosylation differences in SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. These data potentially point to specific FcγR3B-mediated antibody functional profiles as critical markers of immunity against COVID-19.

This white paper describes the OpenLidar initiative for collaborative research on wind lidar hardware and software. We welcome feedback. Please see https://github.com/IEA-Wind-Task-32/white-paper-openLidar for ways you can get in touch with us.

Improvements in surgery have resulted in more women with repaired congenital heart disease (CHD) surviving to adulthood. Women with CHD, who wish to embark on pregnancy require prepregnancy counselling. This consultation should cover several issues such as the long-term prognosis of the mother, fertility and miscarriage rates, recurrence risk of CHD in the baby, drug therapy during pregnancy, estimated maternal risk and outcome, expected fetal outcomes and plans for pregnancy. Prenatal genetic testing is available for those patients with an identified genetic defect using pregestational diagnosis or prenatal diagnosis chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Centralisation of care is needed for high-risk patients. Finally, currently there are no recommendations addressing the issue of the delivery. It is crucial that a dedicated plan for delivery should be available for all cardiac patients. The maternal mortality in low-income to middle-income countries is 14 times higher than in high-income countries and needs additional aspects and dedicated care.