Supplemented low-protein diets : are they superior in chronic renal failure?

CITATION: Herselman, M. G. et al 1995. Supplemented low-protein diets : are they superior in chronic renal failure? South African Medical Journal, 85(5):361-365.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaTwenty-two patients with chronic renal failure were randomly assigned to a conventional low-protein diet containing 0,6g protein/kg/day or a very-low-protein diet containing 0,6g protein/kg/day supplemented with essential amino acids; they were followed up for 9 months. There were no significant changes in body mass index, arm muscle area, percentage body fat, serum albumin and transferrin levels in any of the groups; neither was there any difference between the groups in respect of these parameters. Renal function, as measured by the reciprocal of serum creatinine over time, stabilised in both groups during intervention, with no significant difference between the groups. There was however no correlation between changes in renal function and changes in blood pressure, or dietary intake of protein, phosphorus, cholesterol, polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids. There were also no significant changes and no significant differences between the groups in serum levels of parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase, urine cyclic adenosine monophosphate, tubular reabsorption of phosphate, and the theoretical renal threshold for phosphate. The results of this study suggest that the supplemented very-low-protein diet was not superior to the conventional low-protein diet in terms of its effect on protein-energy status, renal function and biochemical parameters of renal osteodystrophy.Publisher’s versio

Supplemented low-protein diets : are they superior in chronic renal failure?

CITATION: Herselman, M. G. et al 1995. Supplemented low-protein diets : are they superior in chronic renal failure? South African Medical Journal, 85(5):361-365.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaTwenty-two patients with chronic renal failure were randomly assigned to a conventional low-protein diet containing 0,6g protein/kg/day or a very-low-protein diet containing 0,6g protein/kg/day supplemented with essential amino acids; they were followed up for 9 months. There were no significant changes in body mass index, arm muscle area, percentage body fat, serum albumin and transferrin levels in any of the groups; neither was there any difference between the groups in respect of these parameters. Renal function, as measured by the reciprocal of serum creatinine over time, stabilised in both groups during intervention, with no significant difference between the groups. There was however no correlation between changes in renal function and changes in blood pressure, or dietary intake of protein, phosphorus, cholesterol, polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids. There were also no significant changes and no significant differences between the groups in serum levels of parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase, urine cyclic adenosine monophosphate, tubular reabsorption of phosphate, and the theoretical renal threshold for phosphate. The results of this study suggest that the supplemented very-low-protein diet was not superior to the conventional low-protein diet in terms of its effect on protein-energy status, renal function and biochemical parameters of renal osteodystrophy.Publisher’s versio

Identification and mapping of AFLP markers linked to peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) resistance to the aphid vector of groundnut rosette disease

Groundnut rosette disease is the most destructive viral disease of peanut in Africa and can cause serious yield losses under favourable conditions. The development of disease-resistant cultivars is the most effective control strategy. Resistance to the aphid vector, Aphis craccivora, was identified in the breeding line ICG 12991 and is controlled by a single recessive gene. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis were employed to identify DNA markers linked to aphid resistance and for the development of a partial genetic linkage map. A F2:3 population was developed from a cross using the aphid-resistant parent ICG 12991. Genotyping was carried out in the F2 generation and phenotyping in the F3 generation. Results were used to assign individual F2 lines as homozygous-resistant, homozygous-susceptible or segregating. A total of 308 AFLP (20 EcoRI+3/MseI+3, 144 MluI+3/MseI+3 and 144 PstI+3/MseI+3) primer combinations were used to identify markers associated with aphid resistance in the F2:3 population. Twenty putative markers were identified, of which 12 mapped to five linkage groups covering a map distance of 139.4 cM. A single recessive gene was mapped on linkage group 1, 3.9 cM from a marker originating from the susceptible parent, that explained 76.1% of the phenotypic variation for aphid resistance. This study represents the first report on the identification of molecular markers closely linked to aphid resistance to groundnut rosette disease and the construction of the first partial genetic linkage map for cultivated peanu

Anaemia in South Africa: the past, the present and the future (Editorial)

Please help populate SUNScholar with the full text of SU research output. Also - should you need this item urgently, please send us the details and we will try to get hold of the full text as quick possible. E-mail to [email protected]. Thank you.Journal Articles (subsidised)Geneeskunde en GesondheidswetenskappeMenslike Voedin

The development of experimental machines in order to understand the demands of incremental sheet forming of titanium

The original publication is available at http://www.isem.org.za/index.php/isem/isem2011Conference of the ISEM 2011 Proceedings, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 21 - 23 September 2011.Conference theme - Innovative Systems Thinking: Unravelling Complexity for Successful SolutionsTitanium sheet-metal is extensively used for aerospace and biomedical applications. The diversified customer's demands have created a recent trend towards the small batch production. In this context incremental forming has attained great attention. Therefore, experimental machines are designed and manufactured to simulate the harsh forming conditions. In the fretting machine the combination of a normal force and small vibrations may constitute a wear phenomenon known as fretting wear. The friction and wear properties of the tool, lubrication and work piece materials are tested using the sliding test machine. The steps to evaluate and develop these machines as research tools are illustrated and discussed. The fretting- and sliding machines help to investigate suitable forming tools, forming parameters and lubricant strategies for incremental forming of titanium. It is concluded that these simulation tools provide more efficient and cost effective ways to understand the effects of changing the forming conditions.The Industrial, Systems and Engineering Management (ISEM) conference is a joint initiative between the Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering (SAIIE), INCOSE (South Africa) and the Graduate School for Technology Management at the University of Pretori

Modeling management information systems' success: a study in the domain of further education and training

Capacity in and enhancement of critical, scarce and intermediate skills are seen as a national priority in South Africa. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in South Africa has prioritized the success of the Further Education and Training (FET) sector to meet this need for capacity development in critical, scarce and intermediate skills. Management information systems (MIS) are pivotal in the efficient and effective running of FET colleges. Therefore, the evaluation of MIS success is an essential spoke in the wheel of FET college success. The problem is that no MIS success evaluation model for FET colleges could be found. In this paper, we describe the development and testing of an evaluation model and tool for MIS success. Information system's evaluation theory and an analysis of FET policy documents were used to propose an initial success evaluation model and tool (questionnaire) for an educational environment (FET colleges) in South Africa. Using a quantitative approach the tool was applied in a survey at one public FET college to evaluate the success of the MIS deployed at the college. Findings from the survey lead to the refinement of the model which is also articulated in this paper and reflected as the SAFETMIS model. The paper is novel in proposing an IS theory based model and tool which can be used to evaluate MIS success at FET colleges and similar education contexts. The paper should be of interest to researchers in the field of Information Systems success evaluation and also to practitioners and managers in the field of Education.

Relative performance and efficiency of five Merino and Merino-type dam lines in a terminal crossbreeding system with Dormer or Suffolk sires

The original publication is available at http://www.sasas.co.za/ABSTRACT: The production performance of ewes was assessed in a terminal crossbreeding experiment involving five Merino and Merino-type dam lines and two terminal crossbreeding sire breeds. Dam lines were SA Mutton Merino (SAMM), SAMM rams crossed to Merino ewes (SAMM cross), Dohne Merino, as well as specialist Merino lines selected for clean fleece weight (FW+) and for an increased reproduction (Rep+). Dormer and Suffolk rams were used as sires. Dual-purpose ewes were heavier than Merinos on average and at the ultimate joining at 3.5 years. Average clean fleece weight for SAMM ewes was approximately half that of Merino ewes while clean fleece weights for Dohne and SAMM cross ewes were intermediate. Differences between progeny in slaughter age, marketing weight, dressing percentage and carcass weight could largely be attributed to the comparison of purebred Merino lines with dual-purpose lines. The slaughter age of lambs from the two Merino lines was between 14 and 21% higher than that of the dual-purpose lines. Lambs from purebred SA Mutton Merino (SAMM) dams also outperformed lambs from SAMM cross ewes for slaughter age, slaughter weight and carcass weight. Considerable variation was found between dam lines for reproduction parameters, but few significant differences were found. Lamb output, defined as total weight of lamb slaughtered per joining, averaged 42.7 kg for SAMM ewes, 44.2 kg for SAMM cross ewes, 39.3 kg for Dohne ewes, 32.9 kg for FW+ Merino ewes and 42.0 kg for Rep+ Merino ewes, but differences between lines only tended to be significant. Sire breed did not affect lamb performance or ewe productivity markedly. An economic simulation indicated large differences in gross income per small stock unit between dam lines, warranting further research on the efficiency of terminal Merino-type dam lines.Publishers' versio

Modeling management information systems' success: a study in the domain of further education and training

Paper presented at the South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT) Conference, Irene Country Lodge, Pretoria, 1-3 Octobe

Evaluation of management information systems: a study at a further education and training college

Management information systems (MIS) are pivotal in the efficient and effective running of Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. Therefore, the evaluation of MIS success is an essential spoke in the wheel of FET college success. Based on an extensive literature review it was concluded that no MIS success evaluation model for FET colleges in South Africa exists. The main objective was to propose a MIS evaluation model and evaluation tool (questionnaire), and verify the model empirically by evaluating the MIS at a selected FET college. The supporting objectives were firstly, to identify the most appropriate MIS evaluation models from literature. Secondly, to propose a MIS evaluation model for FET colleges based on the literature. Thirdly, to develop the evaluation tool (questionnaire) based on these models. Fourthly, to capture and analyse data from one FET college, in order to evaluate the performance of the MIS at the college. The final supporting objective was to evaluate the proposed model by triangulating the findings from the survey with the findings from the interviews. The proposed MIS evaluation model is based on the integration of three existing MIS evaluation models. The evaluation tool was developed by combining four empirically tested questionnaires that capture the constructs in the underlying models. A survey and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection methods. The statistical tests for consistency, scale reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and unidimensionality (Principal Component Analysis) were applied to explore the constructs in the model. Results from the empirical testing of the newly designed evaluation tool were used to refine the initial model. The qualitative data capturing and analysis added value in explaining and contextualising the quantitative findings. The main contribution is the SA-FETMIS success model and evaluation tool which managers can use to evaluate the MIS at an educational institution. The novelty of the research lies in using a mixed methods approach where previous MIS success evaluation studies mainly used quantitative methods.