The consistency of merger decisions at the South African Competition Commission

The South African Competition Commission’s merger decisions for fiscal year (FY) 2002 through FY2009 are analysed to empirically identify the factors historically influencing prohibition, conditional approval and unconditional approval, as well as the factors historically influencing whether merger applications are deemed non-complex, complex or very complex. The focus of the analysis is on whether or not the historical process has remained consistent through time, and whether or not that process can be obviously linked to the provisions of the 1998 Competition Act. Initial results point to behaviour that is not consistent over the time period considered; however, those inconsistencies are removed, once additional measures of market contestibility, associated with the 1998 Competition Act are included in the analysis. The final results suggest that the commission is less likely to approve mergers that they link to markets that are less contestable. In addition to protecting competition, the commission is simultaneously protecting other public interests. Therefore, our research supports the hypothesis that the commission consistently applies its legislative remit.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1813-6982hb201

Personality traits, brie' recurrent depression and attempted suicide

This study investigated the relationship between attempted suicide, personality factors and brief recurrent depression. Over a period of 1 year, the demographic and psychiatric factors of 307 patients who had attempted suicide and subsequently been hospitalised at H. F. Verwoerd Hospital and referred to its Department of Psychiatry were recorded. Their personality traits were evaluated clinically. After 5 years, 205 respondents were traced to complete a follow-up questionnaire and, where possible, a personality assessment was completed on clinical grounds. They were also evaluated for brief recurrent depression. Among the men, antisocial, dependent and histrionic personality traits, in that order, were most commonly noted and among the women, histrionic, dependent and antisocial traits. A clear relationship between suicidal behaviour and the syndrome of brief recurrent depression was established. The latter was also found to be related to histrionic personality traits in women. This underscores the relationship between suicide attempts and histrionic personality traits

Water stress affects the germination, emergence, and growth of different sorghum cultivars

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of water deficit stress on the germination, emergence and seedling growth of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] using Completely Randomised Block Design in four replications. Five sorghum cultivars (Jigurti, Gambella 1107, Meko, 76 T1 #23 and P9403) were evaluated under three water deficit stress treatments (0, -0.20 and -0.85 MPa) using PEG as an osmoticum (Experiment I) and under four varying growing media water contents (100, 60, 40 and 20% of field capacity) using sand (Experiment II). In both experiments, water deficit stress significantly reduced the rate and percentage of germination and emergence and early seedlings growth. Coleoptile, mesocotyl, radicle, and seedling shoot and root lengths, as well as root area were adversely affected by water deficit stress. Cultivars differed in the rate and percentage of germination, and emergence and seedling growth. Gambella 1107, Meko and P9403 had significantly (

Haulout site selection by southern elephant seals at Marion Island

Using data from an ongoing mark-resight programme at Marion Island, we tested empirically whether southern elephant seals prefer certain terrestrial sites to others during the breeding, moulting and winter haulouts, and whether the pattern of site use is the same for different age and sex groups. Southern elephant seals preferred some sites, while discriminating against other sites, with different age and sex classes using different sites for certain haulout events. Wintering young animals did not show strong site selection. Some popular sites were used for all haulouts by all age and sex groups, and apparently have all the requirements of a good site for terrestrial haulout by southern elephant seals. Site selection becomes more apparent with age, suggesting the role of haulout experience in site selection

Measurement of perceptions of educational environment in evidence-based medicine

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in measuring perceptions regarding different aspects of the medical educational environment. A reliable tool was developed for measuring perceptions of the educational environment as it relates to evidence-based medicine as part of a multicountry randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a clinically integrated evidence- based medicine course. Participants from 10 specialties completed the questionnaire. A working dataset of 518 observations was available. Two independent subsets of data were created for conducting an exploratory factor analysis (n=244) and a confirmatory factor analysis (n=274), respectively. The exploratory factor analysis yielded five 67-item definitive instruments, with five to nine dimensions; all resulted in acceptable explanations of the total variance (range 56.6–65.9%). In the confirmatory factor analysis phase, all goodnessof- fit measures were acceptable for all models (root mean square error of approximation ≤0.047; comparative fit index≥0.980; normed χ² ≤1.647; Bentler-Bonett normed fit index ≥0.951). The authors selected the factorisation with seven dimensions (factor-7 instrument) as the most useful on pragmatic grounds and named it Evidence-Based Medicine Educational Environment Measure 67 (EBMEEM-67). Cronbach’s α for subscales ranged between 0.81 and 0.93. The subscales are: ‘Knowledge and learning materials’; ‘Learner support’; ‘General relationships and support’; ‘Institutional focus on EBM’; ‘Education, training and supervision’; ‘EBM application opportunities’; and ‘Affirmation of EBM environment’. The EBMEEM-67 can be a useful diagnostic and benchmarking tool for evaluating the perceptions of residents of the environment in which evidence-based medicine education takes place.http://ebm.bmj.comhb201

Eye Movements and the Associative Basis of Contingent Color Aftereffects: A Comment on Siegel, Allan, and Eissenberg (1992)

One of S. Siegel, L. G. Allen, and T. Eissenberg's (1992) recent arguments in support of associative-learning explanations of colored aftereffects (CAEs) is that the contingencies underlying these effects are not constrained by simple stimulus dimensions, such as contour orientation. Specifically, the authors claim to have generated CAEs contingent on sets of spatiotopic relationships between orientation components of a pattern (as opposed to orientation components per se). The present article illustrates how Siegel et al.'s claims are compromised by their failure to adequately address the role of fixation and eye movements during CAE induction

Midwifeled obstetric units working ‘CLEVER’: Improving perinatal outcome indicators in a South African health district

Background. South Africa did not meet its Millennium Development Goals with regard to the reduction in maternal and under-5 mortality. Furthermore, many birthing women do not receive intrapartum care with empathy and endure disrespect­ful and abusive care.Objectives. To implement a multicomponent, context-specific intervention package to change the complex interplay between preventable maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity and poor clinical governance and supervision in midwife-led labour units.Methods. A mixed-methods intervention study was conducted in Tshwane District, South Africa, in 10 midwife-led obstetric units (MOUs), from which a purposive sample consisting of five units was selected for the intervention. The intervention took place in three phases: (i) baseline measurement; (ii) implementation of the so-called ‘CLEVER’ intervention package in the five intervention units, based on the results of the first phase; and (iii) a review of health systems improvements and perinatal outcomes. The intervention had three pillars: (i) feedback of the baseline measurement to the intervention units to raise awareness and solicit participation; (ii) health systems strengthening; and (iii) intensive weekly engagement for 3 months, with further monthly support afterwards. Observation of barriers during baseline activities contributed to the health systems strengthening and improvement strategies during implementation.Results. Perinatal outcome indicators for the year before the intervention were compared with data for the year in which the intervention took place and the year after the intervention. Significant declines were observed in in-facility fresh stillbirths, meconium aspiration and birth asphyxia in the intervention MOUs from 2015 to 2017. The control group showed some decline during the period owing to support from district clinical specialist team members.Conclusions. CLEVER as a context-specific, multicomponent, clinically focused intervention package may have contributed to improved perinatal morbidity and mortality rates in MOUs. Â

CLEVER maternity care : a before-and-after study of women's experience of childbirth in Tshwane, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Birthing care matters to women and some women experience mistreatment during childbirth. AIM: To determine the effect the ‘CLEVER Maternity Care’ package, a multi-faceted intervention to improve respectful, quality obstetric care. SETTING: Ten midwife-led obstetric units in Tshwane health district, South Africa; five intervention and five control units. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous baseline and end-line survey to measure the change in women’s perceptions and experiences of childbirth care after the implementation of the CLEVER package. A convenience sample of women returning for a postnatal follow-up visit was obtained at baseline (n = 653) and after implementation of CLEVER (n = 679). RESULTS: Six survey items were selected as proxies for respectful clinical care. There was no significant change in proportions of responses regarding one question, and with regard to patients receiving attention within 15 min of arrival, both the intervention and control group units showed a significant increase in positive responses (odds ratios of 8.4 and 6.1, respectively, and p values of 0.0001 and 0.0007). For the remaining four items (asking permission before doing an examination, positive communication, respectful treatment and overall satisfaction), only the intervention group showed a significant positive change (odds ratios ranging from 2.4 to 4.3; p ≤ 0.0018), with no significant change for the control group (odds ratios between 1.0 and 1.8; p ≥ 0.0736). CONCLUSION: After the implementation of CLEVER Maternity Care, women reported a more positive experience of childbirth. The CLEVER intervention is a potential strategy for addressing respectful, quality obstetric care that warrants further investigation.South African National Department of Health; South African Medical Research Council Unit for Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies; Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria.http://www.phcfm.orgpm2021Family MedicineObstetrics and Gynaecolog