A detailed petrographic and oxygen isotope study of metamorphic rocks and archean basement complex Gneisses from the Vredefort dome, South Africa

Bibliography: leaves 112-120.Metamorphism observed in the Vredefort structure increases in grade on a regional scale from lower greenschist facies in the outer perimeter of the Potchefstroom syncline, throughupper greenschist and amphibolite grades within rocks of the Witwatersrand Supergroupand Dominion Group in the collar of the Vredefort dome, to granulite grades in the core ofthe dome. In the collar, two metamorphic assemblages have been identified, one representing a peak metamorphic event pre-impact in age and constrained to temperatures >420-620°C at 3.0-4.0 kbar, and a younger retrograde event, constrained to 500-540 ± 15°C, which overprints the latter assemblage and overgrows pseudotachylite in a small number of samples

Rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) and their environments : δ13Ccollagen and δ15Ncollagen as environmental indicators

Rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis) are a common component of faunal assemblages at South African archaeological sites. Previous studies have focused on their remains as proxies for aspects of diet and mobility in prehistoric human populations. They have also been recognized as valuable palaeoenvironmental indicators due to the fact that their stratified communal middens record shifts in stable isotopes, palynology, and molecular biomarkers that appear to reflect environmental change. Previous studies conducted in east Africa have concluded that rock hyraxes are preferential grazers. There is comparatively little evidence, however, for the dietary preference of South African rock hyraxes, although it has been suggested that they consume more browse. This research aims to quantify the carbon isotopic ratios in their bone collagen to reconstruct diet

Die erkenning van die noodsaaklikheid van natuurbewaring ten opsigte van basiese grondgebruiksbeplanning in dierepubliek van Suid-Afrika

The concept of a natural resource is explained and nature conservation as a form of land use is discussed in some detail. Special reference is made to the National Physical Development of Planning and the Environment on the role played by nature conservation in basic usage of the soil as planned by the state in the Republic of South Africa

A new advance in alternative splicing databases: from catalogue to detailed analysis of regulation of expression and function of human alternative splicing variants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most human genes produce several transcripts with different exon contents by using alternative promoters, alternative polyadenylation sites and alternative splice sites. Much effort has been devoted to describing known gene transcripts through the development of numerous databases. Nevertheless, owing to the diversity of the transcriptome, there is a need for interactive databases that provide information about the potential function of each splicing variant, as well as its expression pattern.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>After setting up a database in which human and mouse splicing variants were compiled, we developed tools (1) to predict the production of protein isoforms from these transcripts, taking account of the presence of open reading frames and mechanisms that could potentially eliminate transcripts and/or inhibit their translation, i.e. nonsense-mediated mRNA decay and microRNAs; (2) to support studies of the regulation of transcript expression at multiple levels, including transcription and splicing, particularly in terms of tissue specificity; and (3) to assist in experimental analysis of the expression of splicing variants. Importantly, analyses of all features from transcript metabolism to functional protein domains were integrated in a highly interactive, user-friendly web interface that allows the functional and regulatory features of gene transcripts to be assessed rapidly and accurately.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In addition to identifying the transcripts produced by human and mouse genes, fast DB <url>http://www.fast-db.com</url> provides tools for analyzing the putative functions of these transcripts and the regulation of their expression. Therefore, fast DB has achieved an advance in alternative splicing databases by providing resources for the functional interpretation of splicing variants for the human and mouse genomes. Because gene expression studies are increasingly employed in clinical analyses, our web interface has been designed to be as user-friendly as possible and to be readily searchable and intelligible at a glance by the whole biomedical community.</p

Personality and Cognitive Ability as Predictors of the Job Performance of Insurance Sale People

The purpose of this study was to determine whether personality and a measure of cognitive ability (’verbal reasoning ability’) would significantly predict the job performance (’managerial ratings’) of sales people in a large South African insurance company. The Customer Contact Styles Questionnaire (CCSQ 5.2) and the Verbal Evaluation Test (VCC 3) were administered to 170 broker consultants, and their managers rated their job performance on the Customer Contact Competency Inventory (CCCI). By making use of multiple regression analysis it was found that certain personality dimensions significantly predict job performance, and that ’verbal reasoning ability’ did not have any significant predictive power. These findings, the implications thereof and suggestions for possible further research are discussed

Servant as leader : critical requirements for the appointment and training of retirement fund trustees

Abstract: The South African retirement fund industry ranks among the 15 largest retirement fund industries internationally, with some 8 million members and assets under management of close to R2 trillion. However, to be successful, retirement funds need good governance. Research purpose: To explore the most critical servant leadership qualities required that can serve as profile in the selection, appointment and training of retirement fund trustees (RFTs) to serve on boards of trustees of retirement funds in the South African context. Motivation for the study: The South African National Treasury’s retirement reform proposal clearly articulates government’s concern for the poor governance of retirement fund assets by appointed boards of trustees and the broader implications on social and economic security in retirement. It promotes the regulation of standards relating to the minimum qualifications and expertise needed to be appointed to serve on a board of trustees (BoTs). Although the measures proposed by government to improve fund governance and the role of the RFTs are sound in principle, it does not inform the character, leadership qualities or leadership competence desired for RFTs, thus leaving the management of funds in the hands of people who must make investment decisions when they themselves are not fully committed..

A case of vulval schistosomiasis

While schistosomiasis is endemic in South Africa, cutaneous manifestations are relatively uncommon. This case report describes the clinical findings in a patient with vulval schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of genital lesions in residents in endemic areas or visitors to these areas.South African Family Practice Vol. 49 (9) 2007: pp. 42-4