The exercise of control in the diamond industry of South Africa: some preliminary remarks

African Studies Seminar series. Paper presented March, 1975Though the diamond industry would, after a relatively short period of its life, be eclipsed by the gold industry in South Africa, the discovery of diamonds on a large scale ushered in a period of wealth and prosperity which altered the social history of the country in a dramatic way. Apart from the direct wealth produced by the industry (by 1936 over £320m worth of diamonds had been produced in South Africa) (1), the diamond mining industry encouraged the development of a large-scale infrastructural network both within the country and between South Africa and Europe

Aspects in monopoly capitalism in South Africa

African Studies Seminar series. Paper presented September, 1983The main argument of this article is that capitalism in South Africa has undergone a fundamental change over the last few decades. Essentially, it would seem that the economy has been transformed over this period from being based on conditions of small-scale competitive capitalism to conditions of large-scale monopoly capitalism. As we shall see, this has involved significant changes in the structure and form of production, in the nature of the firm and in the relationship between companies and the workers

The Life-history Tactics Of The Voles, Clethrionomys Gapperi And Microtus Pennsylvanicus, At Two Elevations

The life-history tactics of Clethrionomys gapperi and Microtus pennsylvanicus were examined at two elevations (1450m; 2240m) in southwestern Alberta (Kananaskis Country) to test the hypothesis that females in environments with shorter breeding seasons should produce fewer but larger litters and survive less well than those in environments with longer breeding seasons (Spencer and Steinhoff 1968). Other life-history traits such as body weights and the energetics of reproduction were also compared between elevations.;Life-history data were collected by mark-recapture techniques, kill-trapping and from laboratory colonies.;The high elevation was colder, had fewer frost-free days and more precipitation than the low elevation. The length of the breeding season of C. gapperi averaged two days longer at the low elevation than at the high elevation. The length of the breeding season of M. pennsylvanicus averaged 27 days longer at the low elevation than at the high elevation. The shorter breeding season of M. pennsylvanicus at the high elevation may have been related to spring flooding and colder temperatures compared to the low elevation.;As predicted, the lack of a difference in the lengths of the breeding seasons of C. gapperi between elevations was not associated with any differences in the number of litters, litter size or female survival. Contrary to the hypothesis, the differences in the lengths of the breeding seasons of M. pennsylvanicus did not limit the number of opportunities for breeding for the average female, yet litter size was greater at the high elevation than at the low elevation and there was no difference in female survival between elevations. The average number of litters per season was slightly less than two in all populations; the average female did not survive long enough to produce young over the entire length of the season. Data from the literature also suggested that the length of the breeding season is not associated with litter size and the maximum number of litters per season within these species.;Few traits showed differences between elevations and these were not necessarily the same ones in both species. The maximum weights of over-wintered males, the age when young opened their eyes and one index of reproductive effort showed differences in C. gapperi between elevations. Litter size, nestling survival, maximum weights of over-wintered males, mean weights of mature, young-of-the-year males and the relative fat content of males showed differences in M. pennsylvanicus between elevations. These differences are probably phenotypic responses to environmental conditions such as food quality. Alternatively, some differences may have been fixed at random by genetic drift

Ionic interchange in stearic acid sols and the mechanism of coagulation

(1) The production of acidity in stearic acid sole by neutral salts has been investigated by means of the quinhydrone electrode.(2) The variation in the degree of ionic interchange with variation in (1) concentration of sol, (2) concentration of salt, (3) acidity, and (4) nature of salt has been studied.(3) The influence of electrolytes upon the stability of the sol has been examined, and the conclusion reached that there is a close connection between the coagulative ability of a salt and the tendency for it to liberate hydrogen ions.(4) The results have been discussed with reference to the general theory of coagulation

Using re-randomisation designs to increase the efficiency and applicability of retention studies within trials: a case study

BACKGROUND: Poor retention in randomised trials can lead to serious consequences to their validity. Studies within trials (SWATs) are used to identify the most effective interventions to increase retention. Many interventions could be applied at any follow-up time point, but SWATs commonly assess interventions at a single time point, which can reduce efficiency. METHODS: The re-randomisation design allows participants to be re-enrolled and re-randomised whenever a new retention opportunity occurs (i.e. a new follow-up time point where the intervention could be applied). The main advantages are as follows: (a) it allows the estimation of an average effect across time points, thus increasing generalisability; (b) it can be more efficient than a parallel arm trial due to increased sample size; and (c) it allows subgroup analyses to estimate effectiveness at different time points. We present a case study where the re-randomisation design is used in a SWAT. RESULTS: In our case study, the host trial is a dental trial with two available follow-up points. The Sticker SWAT tests whether adding the trial logo's sticker to the questionnaire's envelope will result in a higher response rate compared with not adding the sticker. The primary outcome is the response rate to postal questionnaires. The re-randomisation design could double the available sample size compared to a parallel arm trial, resulting in the ability to detect an effect size around 28% smaller. CONCLUSION: The re-randomisation design can increase the efficiency and generalisability of SWATs for trials with multiple follow-up time points

Estimating Site Performance (ESP) : can trial managers predict recruitment success at trial sites? An exploratory study

Availability of data and materials All quantitative data generated and analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files] Additional file 3. The dataset of predictions used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The transcript of the group discussion generated and analysed during the current study is not publicly available due it containing information that could compromise research participant consent (it would be a relatively simple matter to identify trials and trial managers) but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A canine-specific anti-nerve growth factor antibody alleviates pain and improves mobility and function in dogs with degenerative joint disease-associated pain

BackgroundThere is a critical need for proven drugs other than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment of degenerative joint disease (DJD) pain in dogs. Antibodies against nerve growth factor (NGF) are analgesic in rodent models and in humans with DJD. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel caninised anti-NGF antibody (NV-01) for the treatment of DJD pain in dogs. In a randomized, parallel group, stratified, double masked, placebo controlled, proof of principle clinical pilot study design, 26 dogs with DJD received NV-01 (200 mcg/kg IV) or placebo on day 0 (D0). In addition to objective accelerometry measures, owners completed clinical metrology instruments (Client-Specific Outcome Measures [CSOM], Canine Brief Pain Inventory [CBPI] and Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs Index [LOAD]) on D0, D14 and D28. CBPI subscales (pain severity [PS] and pain interference [PI]), CSOM and LOAD scores were evaluated within and between groups for change over time. Recognized success/failure criteria were applied and success compared between groups.ResultsCBPI PS and PI scores significantly improved in the NV-01 group (PS: D0-14, P = 0.012 and D0-28, P = 0.019; PI: D0-14, P = 0.012 and D0-28, P = 0.032) but not in the placebo group. CSOM scores showed similar patterns with a significant difference between within-group changes at D14 and D28 (P = 0.038 and P = 0.009, respectively), and significantly more successes at D28 (P = 0.047). LOAD scores significantly improved in the NV-01 group (D0-14, P = 0.004 and D0-28, P = 0.002) but not in the placebo group. There were significant differences between the groups for change in LOAD score at D14 (P = 0.014) and D28 (P = 0.033). No side effects were noted. Activity in the NV-01 group increased over the study period compared to placebo (P = 0.063) and the difference between the groups for change in activity over the time period 9am-5pm (8 hours) was significant (P = 0.006).ConclusionsThese pilot data demonstrate a positive analgesic effect of anti-NGF antibody in dogs suffering from chronic pain. The magnitude of the effect appeared identical to that expected with an NSAID.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0413-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Disease prevention not decolonization – a model for fecal microbiota transplantation in patients colonized with multidrug-resistant organisms

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) yields variable intestinal decolonization results for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This study showed significant reductions in antibiotic duration, bacteremia and length of stay in 20 patients colonized/ infected with MDRO receiving FMT (compared to pre-FMT history, and a matched group not receiving FMT), despite modest decolonization rates

COAST Development Group's international consensus guidelines for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis

This report describes consensus guidelines and recommendations for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis (OA) according to the “Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool excluding radiography” (COASTeR) stage of OA, by the COAST Development Group. The recommendations are based on evidence-based medicine and clinical experience and are proposed with international relevance in mind. The aim is to provide veterinarians with a practical reference to consolidated information and to support the development of patient-specific OA management protocols and informed treatment choices based on the stage of OA

Influence of diffusion weighted imaging and contrast enhanced T1 sequences on the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance enterography for Crohn's disease

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the additional diagnostic benefit of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and contrast enhanced (CE) images during MR enterography (MRE) of Crohn's disease.METHODS: Datasets from 73 patients (mean age 32; 40 male) (28 new-diagnosis, 45 relapsed) were read independently by two radiologists selected from a pool of 13. Radiologists interpreted datasets using three sequential sequence blocks: (1) T2 weighted and steady state free precession gradient echo (SSFP) images alone (T2^); (2) T2 weighted and SSFP images with DWI (T2 + DWI^) and; (3) T2 weighted images, SSFP, DWI and post-contrast enhanced (CE) T1 images (T2 + DWI + CE^), documenting presence, location, and activity of small bowel disease. For each sequence block, sensitivity and specificity (readers combined) was calculated against an outcome-based construct reference standard.RESULTS: 59/73 patients had small bowel disease. Per-patient sensitivity for disease detection was essentially identical (80 % [95 % CI 72, 86], 81 % [73,87], and 79 % [71,86] for T2^, T2 + DWI^and T2 + DWI + CE^respectively). Specificity was identical (82 % [64 to 92]). Per patient sensitivity for disease extent was 56 % (47,65), 56 % (47,65) and 52 % (43 to 61) respectively, and specificity was 82 % (64 to 92) for all blocks. Sensitivity for active disease was 97 % (90,99), 97 % (90,99) and 98 % (92,99), and specificity was also comparable between all sequence combination reads. Results were consistent across segments and newly diagnosed/relapse patients.CONCLUSION: There is no additional diagnostic benefit of adding either DWI or CE to T2 FSE and SSFP sequences for evaluating small bowel Crohn's disease, suggesting MRE protocols can be simplified safely.</p