Priority water research questions for South Africa developed through participatory processes

This paper describes a collaborative process of identifying and prioritising current and future water research questions from a wide range of water  specialists within South Africa. Over 1 600 questions were collected,  reduced in number and prioritised by specialists working in water research and practice. A total of 59 questions were finally proposed as an outcome of the study and are categorised under the themes of change, data, ecosystems, governance, innovation and resources. The questions range in scale, challenge and urgency, and are also aligned with prevailing  paradigms in water research. The majority of the questions dealt with relatively short- to medium-term research requirements and most focused on immediate issues such as water supply, service delivery and technical solutions. Formulations of long-term research questions were sparse,  partly because some of the principles and methods used in this study were difficult to apply in the South African context, and also because researchers are influenced by addressing what are believed to be the more immediate, short-term water-related challenges in South Africa. This is the first  initiative of its kind to produce a comprehensive and inclusive list of research priorities for water in South Africa.Keywords: research, questions, collaboration, prioritisation, South Afric

Physicochemical Characterization of Passive Films and Corrosion Layers by Differential Admittance and Photocurrent Spectroscopy

Two different electrochemical techniques, differential admittance and photocurrent spectroscopy, for the characterization of electronic and solid state properties of passive films and corrosion layers are described and critically evaluated. In order to get information on the electronic properties of passive film and corrosion layers as well as the necessary information to locate the characteristic energy levels of the passive film/electrolyte junction like: flat band potential (Ufb), conduction band edge (EC) or valence band edge (EV), a wide use of Mott-Schottky plots is usually reported in corrosion science and passivity studies. It has been shown, in several papers, that the use of simple M-S theory to get information on the electronic properties and energy levels location at the film/electrolyte interface can be seriously misleading and/or conflicting with the physical basis underlying the M-S theory. A critical appraisal of this approach to the study of very thin and thick anodic passive film grown on base-metals (Cr, Ni, Fe, SS etc..) or on valve metals (Ta, Nb, W etc..) is reported in this work, together with possible alternative approach to overcome some of the mentioned inconsistencies. At this aim the theory of amorphous semiconductor Schottky barrier, introduced several years ago in the study of passive film/electrolyte junction, is reviewed by taking into account some of the more recent results obtained by the present authors. Future developments of the theory appears necessary to get more exact quantitative information on the electronic properties of passive films, specially in the case of very thin film like those formed on base metals and their alloys. The second technique described in this chapter, devoted to the physico-chemical characterization of passive film and corrosion layers, is a more recent technique based on the analysis of the photo-electrochemical answer of passive film/electrolyte junction under illumination with photons having suitable energy. Such a technique usually referred to as Photocurrent Spectroscopy (PCS) has been developed on the basis of the large research effort carried out by several groups in the 1970’s and aimed to investigate the possible conversion of solar energy by means of electrochemical cells. In this work the fundamentals of semiconductor/electrolyte junctions under illumination will be highlighted both for crystalline and amorphous materials. The role of amorphous nature and film thickness on the photo-electrochemical answer of passive film/solution interface is reviewed as well the use of PCS for quantitative analysis of the film composition based on a semi-empirical correlation between optical band gap and difference of electronegativity of film constituents previously suggested by the present authors. In this frame the results of PCS studies on valve metal oxides and valve metal mixed oxides will be discussed in order to show the validity of the proposed method. The results of PCS studies aimed to get information on passive film composition and carried out by different authors on base metals (Fe, Cr, Ni) and their alloys, including stainless steel, will be also compared with compositional analysis carried out by well-established surface analysis techniques

Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study)

Background: This study provides a global overview of the management of patients with acute cholecystitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: CHOLECOVID is an international, multicentre, observational comparative study of patients admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on management were collected for a 2-month study interval coincident with the WHO declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared with an equivalent pre-pandemic time interval. Mediation analysis examined the influence of SARS-COV-2 infection on 30-day mortality. Results: This study collected data on 9783 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to 247 hospitals across the world. The pandemic was associated with reduced availability of surgical workforce and operating facilities globally, a significant shift to worse severity of disease, and increased use of conservative management. There was a reduction (both absolute and proportionate) in the number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 3095 patients (56.2 per cent) pre-pandemic to 1998 patients (46.2 per cent) during the pandemic but there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality after cholecystectomy comparing the pre-pandemic interval with the pandemic (13 patients (0.4 per cent) pre-pandemic to 13 patients (0.6 per cent) pandemic; P = 0.355). In mediation analysis, an admission with acute cholecystitis during the pandemic was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (OR 1.29, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 1.79, P = 0.121). Conclusion: CHOLECOVID provides a unique overview of the treatment of patients with cholecystitis across the globe during the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study highlights the need for system resilience in retention of elective surgical activity. Cholecystectomy was associated with a low risk of mortality and deferral of treatment results in an increase in avoidable morbidity that represents the non-COVID cost of this pandemic

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Judicial management as a technique for corporate rescue. A comparison with English and Australian law

Thesis (LLM)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Judicial management has been part of South African company law since 1926. It was introduced as a procedure to provide for a corporate rescue. Judicial management has changed little since its introduction. This is in stark contrast with the position in other jurisdictions where the need for improved corporate or business rescue procedures has received considerable attention in the last few decades. This thesis examines the suitability of judicial management as a business rescue procedure for the current South African circumstances and compares it to similar mechanisms in England and Australia. The modem economy relies on credit. Furthermore the globalisation of markets and the increase in competition between enterprises add to the unpredictability of an enterprise's economic circumstances. Thus, one of the important objectives of a corporate insolvency regime is the preservation of viable economic enterprises. A business rescue procedure such as judicial management is therefore an essential component of a corporate insolvency regime. However, judicial management needs reform. The existing shortcomings of judicial management include its high cost, the appointment of professional liquidators as business rescuers, the lack of a business rescue culture, the absence of an approved rescue plan, the treatment of judicial management as an extraordinary measure in corporate insolvency and the use of section 311 of the Companies Act as a corporate rescue mechanism. This thesis proposes that judicial management should commence with a mere resolution by the directors. This is less cumbersome than the existing procedure to commence judicial management comprising a court order. Judicial management triggers a stay of limited duration on legal proceedings that provides an essential breathing space to devise and implement a rescue plan. Once judicial management commences the creditors should hold the power to decide on the future of the company. They can therefore accept or reject a rescue plan (prepared by the judicial manager) for the restructuring of current rights and obligations and for the future management of the company. During judicial management and the execution of the rescue plan, control of the company's assets vests in the judicial manager and directors lose their powers of management. Judicial managers should be encouraged to make a success of judicial management by providing that the judicial manager cannot be appointed as the liquidator in a subsequent liquidation. Furthermore, the burden of the costs of judicial management could be eased by providing a more flexible system for the remuneration of the judicial manager. A statutory business rescue procedure interacts with other components of an insolvency regime and other areas of law. In order to optimise the positive effects of a business rescue procedure certain changes are proposed regarding statutory provisions on insolvent trading, the phenomenon of phoenix companies, section 311 of the Companies Act and tax legislation. The thesis also proposes a smooth transition from judicial management to voluntary liquidation. The thesis has an annexure with draft legislation to give effect to the principal changes proposed by it for the Companies Act.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geregtelike bestuur is reeds sedert 1926 deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappyereg. Dit is ingestel as 'n prosedure om maatskappye van ondergang te red. Geregtelike bestuur het sedertdien min verander. Dit is in skerp teenstelling met ander jurisdiksies wat die afgelope paar dekades toegewy gewerk het aan prosedures om korporasies en besighede te red. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die toepaslikheid van geregtelike bestuur as 'n prosedure om in die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse omstandighede besighede van ondergang te red en vergelyk dit met soortgelyke prosedures in Engeland en Australië. Moderne ekonomieë se afhanklikheid van krediet, die globalisering van markte en die toename in mededinging tussen ondernemings dra by tot die wisselvallige ekonomiese omstandighede van 'n onderneming. Die redding van lewensvatbare ondernemings is gevolglik 'n belangrike doelstelling van korporatiewe insolvensiereg. Daarom is 'n prosedure soos geregtelike bestuur om ondernemings te red 'n onontbeerlike element van korporatiewe insolvensiereg. Geregtelike bestuur moet egter hervorm word. Geregtelike bestuur het verskeie tekortkominge waaronder hoë regskoste, die aanstelling van professionele likwidateurs as persone om ondernemings te red, die gebrek aan 'n kultuur om ondernemings te red, die afwesigheid van 'n goedgekeurde reddingsplan, die hantering van geregtelike bestuur as 'n buitengewone remedie in korporatiewe insolvensiereg en die gebruik van artikel 311 van die Maatskappywet as 'n meganisme om maatskappye van likwidasie te red. Die tesis stel voor dat geregtelike bestuur met 'n blote direksiebesluit in werking gestel word. Dit is minder belemmerend as die hofbevel waarmee geregtelike bestuur tans begin word. Geregtelike bestuur stel'n moratorium van beperkte duur in werking waartydens geen geregtelike prosesse teen die maatskappyaanhangig gemaak of voortgesit kan word nie. Dit gee die maatskappy die nodige grasie om 'n reddingsplan uit te werk en te implementeer. Opsomming Geregtelike bestuur is reeds sedert 1926 deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappyereg. Dit is ingestel as 'n prosedure om maatskappye van ondergang te red. Geregtelike bestuur het sedertdien min verander. Dit is in skerp teenstelling met ander jurisdiksies wat die afgelope paar dekades toegewy gewerk het aan prosedures om korporasies en besighede te red. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die toepaslikheid van geregtelike bestuur as 'n prosedure om in die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse omstandighede besighede van ondergang te red en vergelyk dit met soortgelyke prosedures in Engeland en Australië. Moderne ekonomieë se afhanklikheid van krediet, die globalisering van markte en die toename in mededinging tussen ondernemings dra by tot die wisselvallige ekonomiese omstandighede van 'n onderneming. Die redding van lewensvatbare ondernemings is gevolglik 'n belangrike doelstelling van korporatiewe insolvensiereg. Daarom is 'n prosedure soos geregtelike bestuur om ondernemings te red 'n onontbeerlike element van korporatiewe insolvensiereg. Geregtelike bestuur moet egter hervorm word. Geregtelike bestuur het verskeie tekortkominge waaronder hoë regskoste, die aanstelling van professionele likwidateurs as persone om ondernemings te red, die gebrek aan 'n kultuur om ondernemings te red, die afwesigheid van 'n goedgekeurde reddingsplan, die hantering van geregtelike bestuur as 'n buitengewone remedie in korporatiewe insolvensiereg en die gebruik van artikel 311 van die Maatskappywet as 'n meganisme om maatskappye van likwidasie te red. Nadat geregtelike bestuur in aanvang geneem het behoort die krediteure die mag te hê om oor die toekoms van die maatskappy te besluit. Krediteure sou 'n reddingsplan (voorberei deur die geregtelike bestuurder) wat vir die herstrukturering van die regte en verpligtinge van die maatskappy en vir sy toekomstige bestuur voorsiening maak kon aanvaar of verwerp. Gedurende geregtelike bestuur en die uitvoering van die reddingsplan vestig die beheer oor die bates van die maatskappy in die geregtelike bestuurder. Die direksie verloor terselfdertyd alle bestuursbevoegdhede. Geregtelike bestuurders behoort aangemoedig te word om 'n sukses van die geregtelike bestuur te maak deur te bepaal dat 'n geregtelike bestuurder nie as likwidateur aangestel kan word indien die maatskappy uiteindelik gelikwideer word nie. Die las van hoë koste kan verlig word deur 'n buigsame stelsel van vergoeding vir die geregtelike bestuurder in te stel. 'n Statutêre reddingsprosedure vir ondernemings staan in wisselwerking met ander elemente van korporatiewe insolvensiereg en ander regsgebiede. Ten einde die positiewe uitwerking van 'n reddingsprosedure vir ondernemings te optimaliseer word sekere veranderinge ten opsigte van die wetgewing met betrekking tot handeldryf in insolvente omstandighede, die verskynsel van "phoenix" maatskappye, artikel 311 van die Maatskappywet en belastingwetgewing voorgestel. Die tesis stelook 'n gladde oorskakeling van geregtelike bestuur na vrywillige likwidasie voor. Die tesis sluit ook 'n aanhangsel met voorgestelde wetgewing in om uitvoering te gee aan die belangrikste veranderinge aan die Maatskappywet wat in die tesis voorgestel word