Ethical trading and socioeconomic transformation: critical reflections on the South African wine industry

Newly emerging ethical trade practices in the South African wine industry are examined as a way of engaging with debates about the ability of alternative trade approaches to facilitate meaningful opportunities for socioeconomic development in the global South. The South African wine industry has undergone rapid restructuring since the end of apartheid in order to meet the demands of international markets. However, transforming racially skewed ownership and skill patterns is proving a particular challenge. In this paper we outline some of the initiatives that have been introduced to stimulate socioeconomic change within the industry. By utilising analytical tools such as commodity chains, networks, and cultural approaches we demonstrate that a complex array of forces is driving change on the ground. Such forces include national imperatives derived from the legacy of apartheid and the concerns of consumers in the global North. We conclude by considering the types of local and global constraints that need to be challenged if these initiatives are to be successful in facilitating meaningful socioeconomic transformation within the wine industry

Quantum effects in linear and non-linear transport of T-shaped ballistic junction

We report low-temperature transport measurements of three-terminal T-shaped device patterned from GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure. We demonstrate the mode branching and bend resistance effects predicted by numerical modeling for linear conductance data. We show also that the backscattering at the junction area depends on the wave function parity. We find evidence that in a non-linear transport regime the voltage of floating electrode always increases as a function of push-pull polarization. Such anomalous effect occurs for the symmetric device, provided the applied voltage is less than the Fermi energy in equilibrium

An Intriguing Array of Extrudate Patterns in Long‐Chain Branched Polymers During Extrusion

The present study highlights a range of surface and volume extrudate patterns that can be detected during the extrusion flow of long-chain branched polymers. Thus, four linear low-density polyethylenes (LDPEs) have been extruded using a single-screw extruder coupled to an inline optical imaging system. The selected LDPEs are selected to outline the influence of molecular weight and long-chain branching on the types of melt flow extrusion instabilities (MFEI). Through the inline imaging system, space–time diagrams are constructed and analyzed via Fourier-transformation using a custom moving window procedure. Based on the number of characteristic frequencies, peak broadness, and whether they are surface or volume distortions, three main MFEI types, distinct from those typically observed in linear and short-chain branched polymers, are identified. The higher molecular weight, low long-chain branching LDPEs exhibited all three instability types, including a special type volume instability. Independently of the molecular weight, higher long-chain branching appeared to have a stabilizing effect on the transition sequences by suppressing volume extrudate distortions or limiting surface patters to a form of weak intensity type

Challenges in nano-structured fluid flows for assembly into hierarchical biomaterials

Hierarchical biomaterials have their place in the context of developing novel material systems particularly in the framework of sustainability. The key to their development is in controlling their assembly into hierarchical orders at various lengthscales. Thus, flow can be an asset in e.g. controlling orientation, however, resolving the hierarchical orientation dynamics of such systems remains a challenge. We focus here mainly on cellulose nanocrystals water-based suspensions, however, the outline is representative of numerous nanostructured fluids

Attendance in a national screening program for diabetic retinopathy:a population-based study of 205,970 patients

AIMS: A nationwide diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening program has been established in Denmark since 2013. We aimed to perform an evaluation of adherence to DR screenings and to examine whether non-adherence was correlated to DR progression. METHODS: The population consisted of a register-based cohort, who participated in the screening program from 2013 to 2018. We analyzed age, gender, marital status, DR level (International Clinical DR severity scale, none, mild-, moderate-, severe non-proliferative DR (NPDR) and proliferative DR (PDR)), comorbidities and socioeconomic factors. The attendance pattern of patients was grouped as either timely (no delays > 33%), delayed (delays > 33%) or one-time attendance (unexplained). RESULTS: We included 205,970 patients with 591,136 screenings. Rates of timely, delayed and one-time attendance were 53.0%, 35.5% and 11.5%, respectively. DR level at baseline was associated with delays (mild-, moderate-, severe NPDR and PDR) and one-time attendance (moderate-, severe NPDR and PDR) with relative risk ratios (RRR) of 1.68, 2.27, 3.14, 2.44 and 1.18, 2.07, 1.26, respectively (P < 0.05). Delays at previous screenings were associated with progression to severe NPDR or PDR (hazard ratio (HR) 2.27, 6.25 and 12.84 for 1, 2 and 3+ delays, respectively). Any given delay doubled the risk of progression (HR 2.28). CONCLUSIONS: In a national cohort of 205,970 patients, almost half of the patients attended DR screening later than scheduled or dropped out after first screening episode. This was, in particular, true for patients with any levels of DR at baseline. DR progression in patients with delayed attendance, increased with the number of missed appointments

Altered collecting duct adenylyl cyclase content in collecting duct endothelin-1 knockout mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endothelin-1 (ET-1) inhibition of vasopressin (AVP)-stimulated water reabsorption by the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) is associated with reduced cAMP accumulation. To determine the effect of ET-1 deficiency, AVP-stimulated cAMP responsiveness was assessed in IMCD from mice with collecting duct-specific deletion of ET-1 (CD ET-1 KO) and from control animals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cyclic AMP production, adenylyl cyclase (AC) mRNA, and AC protein were measured in acutely isolated IMCD.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CD ET-1 KO IMCD had enhanced AVP-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Inhibition of calcium-stimulated AC using BAPTA did not prevent enhanced AVP responsiveness in CD ET-1 KO IMCD. Factors known to be modified by ET-1, including nitric oxide, cyclooxygenase metabolites, and superoxide did not affect the increased AVP responsiveness of CD ET-1 KO IMCD. Differential V2 receptor or G-protein activity was not involved since CD ET-1 KO IMCD had increased cAMP accumulation in response to forskolin and/or cholera toxin. CD ET-1 KO did not affect mRNA or protein levels of AC3, one of the major known collecting duct AC isoforms. However, the other known major collecting duct AC isoform (AC5/6) did have increased protein levels in CD ET-1 KO IMCD, although AC5 (weak signal) and 6 mRNA levels were unchanged.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ET-1 deficiency increases IMCD AC5/6 content, an effect that may synergize with acute ET-1 inhibition of AVP-stimulated cAMP accumulation.</p

Polyethylene Based Ionomers as High Voltage Insulation Materials

Polyethylene based ionomers are demonstrated to feature a thermo-mechanical and dielectric property portfolio that is comparable to cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), which may enable the design of more sustainable high voltage direct-current (HVDC) power cables, a crucial component of future electricity grids that seamlessly integrate renewable sources of energy. A new type of ionomer is obtained via high-pressure/high-temperature free radical copolymerization of ethylene in the presence of small amounts of ion-pair comonomers comprising amine terminated methacrylates and methacrylic acid. The synthesized ionomers feature a crystallinity, melting temperature, rubber plateau modulus and thermal conductivity like XLPE but remain melt-processable. Moreover, the preparation of the ionomers is free of byproducts, which readily yields a highly insulating material with a low dielectric loss tangent and a low direct-current (DC) electrical conductivity of 1 to 6\ub710−14\ua0S\ua0m−1 at 70\ua0\ub0C and an electric field of 30\ua0kV\ua0mm−1. Evidently, the investigated ionomers represent a promising alternative to XLPE-based high voltage insulation, which may permit to ease the production as well as end-of-use recycling of HVDC power cables by combining the advantages of thermoset and thermoplastic materials while avoiding the formation of byproducts

Neglected patellar tendon rupture: a case of reconstruction without quadriceps lengthening

Neglected rupture of the patellar tendon is a rare, can be easily missed in a group of patients. We present a 24 year old, male patient who sustained right femoral diaphyseal and tibial plateau fractures and a patellar tendon rupture following a motor vehicle accident. The fractures were treated by open reduction internal fixation but the patellar tendon rupture was missed and the diagnosis was delayed by 7 months. Patella was migrated proximally. It was moved distally to the original location and neglected patellar tendon rupture treated successfully with modified Ecker technique. Neither preoperative traction nor additional intraoperative procedures were performed to relocate the patella to its anatomic position in the extended knee and good functional result was achieved with intensive rehabilitation