Rex Trueform in the age of globalization

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-72).This thesis focuses on the closure of the Rex Trueform manufacturing plant in Salt River in 2005. Although of a contemporary nature, it draws from the historical experience of the South African economy, the clothing industry in general and Rex Trueform in particular. This thesis argues that the claims made by companies in the clothing sector including Rex Trueform about globalization were disingenuous. It shows that although South Africa's economy had a long history of tariff protection and government incentives; this did not prejudice exports. Despite the lack of an export culture within the national economy, Rex Trueform supplied out an export market even in times of national economic stagnation. The research shows that Rex Trueform's claim that the reason for leasing its Salt River manufacturing plant was its unprofitability due to 'unhealthy competition', caused by globalization should not be accepted at face value. Rather Rex Trueform migrated up the value chain into retailing cheaper imported garments and needed to shed its manufacturing arm. To support this hypothesis, the research examined the company's involvement in the international market up to 1994 when South Africa rejoined the global market economy by way of comparison with its activities between 1994 and 2005 when it finally leased its Salt River manufacturing plant for five years to the House of Monatic. The study shows that although Rex Trueform was forced by changing market conditions to move up the value chain and shed its manufacturing division, many questions remain unanswered

Hsp90 as a molecular target

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), a highly conserved molecular chaperone, has been proposed to play a vital role in tumorigenesis. Hsp90 has two isoforms, of which Hsp90α is the major isoform of the Hsp90 complex and has an inducible expression profile. The molecular chaperone Hsp90α has been recognized in different cancers and it is implicated to play a role in cell cycle progression, apoptosis, regulates invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. It is being recognized as a promising target in cancer treatment. Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated hsp90α expression in both primary glioma tissue and cell lines, but not in normal healthy brain tissues and cell lines. Enhanced chemosensitivity was observed upon specific inhibition of hsp90α expression by siRNA, suggesting that inhibiting hsp90α expression could possibly be a favourable therapeutic approach compared to conventional chemotherapies. In this novel study, Hsp90 was inhibited by either treatment with 17AAG or shRNA oligonucleotide targeting hsp90α (shhsp90α) in the U87-MG glioma cell line. The inhibition profile of Hsp90α was observed at the protein levels in control and treated cells by FACS analysis (quantitative) using a flow cytometer and Hsp90α ELISA kit. The results demonstrated a significant reduction of Hsp90α protein levels post treatment with 17AAG and shhsp90α. The activity of Hsp90α was assayed by quantifying the levels of Akt/PKB in the samples. Significant reductions (>50 %) of Akt/PKB levels were observed post hsp90α inhibition. Cell cycle analysis carried out reported S and G2 phase arrest, post Hsp90 inhibition by either 17AAG or shhsp90α. Interestingly, it was reported that 17AAG shows a better silencing profile compared to shhsp90α. To analyse the downstream effects of Hsp90 inhibition and to determine the client proteins affected, proteomic analysis was performed. Proteomic analysis identified several proteins which were either upregulated/downregulated post Hsp90 inhibition. IPA analysis further identified “cancer” as the top network significantly transformed post Hsp90 inhibition. Upregulated proteins include Hsp70 family members, Hsp27 and gp96, thereby suggesting the role of Hsp90 co-chaperones in compensating for Hsp90 function post Hsp90 inhibition. Moreover, members of the glycolysis/glucogenesis pathway were also upregulated, demonstrating increased dependency on glycolysis for energy supply by the treated glioma cells. Considering Hsp70 and its role in anti-apoptosis, it was postulated that a combination therapy involving a multi-target approach could be carried out. Subsequently, inhibition of both Hsp90 and Hsp70 in U87-MG glioma cell line was carried out resulting in 60 % cell death along with S and G2 phase arrest. Thus, in the effective treatment of glioma, the inhibition of multiple targets needs to be taken into consideration. Conclusion: It can be thus concluded that, combination therapy involving silencing of Hsp90 and Hsp70 could be of possible significance in glioma therapy

Could Upregulated Hsp70 Protein Compensate for the Hsp90-Silence-Induced Cell Death in Glioma Cells?

The molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 alpha (Hsp90α) has been recognized in various tumours including glioma. This pilot study using a proteomic approach analyses the downstream effects of Hsp90 inhibition using 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17AAG) and a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) oligonucleotide targeting hsp90α (shhsp90α) in the U87-MG glioma cell line. Preliminary data coupled with bioinformatic analysis identified several known and unknown Hsp90 client proteins that demonstrated a change in their protein expression after Hsp90 inhibition, signifying an alteration in the canonical pathways of cell cycle progression, apoptosis, cell invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Members of the glycolysis pathway were upregulated, demonstrating increased dependency on glycolysis for energy source by the treated glioma cells. Upregulated proteins also include Hsp70 and members of its family such as Hsp27 and gp96, thereby suggesting the role of Hsp90 co-chaperones in compensating for Hsp90 function after Hsp90 inhibition. Considering Hsp70’s role in antiapoptosis, it was postulated that a combination therapy involving a multitarget approach could be carried out. Consequently inhibition of both Hsp90 and Hsp70 in U87-MG glioma cells resulted in 60% cell death indicating the importance of combination therapy for glioma therapeutics

The lack of parent involvement as hindrance in selected public primary schools in South Africa: The voices of educators

Although parent involvement is fundamental for school functioning, the nature and extent of such involvement is debatable and contested amongst stakeholders. A qualitative based study underpinned by the interpretive paradigm was undertaken to explore the voices of educators regarding parent non-involvement and its implications for learner experiences and performance in a disadvantaged community in South Africa. Data was gathered through individual and focus group interviews, involving 3 principals and 12 teachers respectively. The paper is buttressed by Epstein’s model of school-family-community partnerships that advocates for genuine collaboration between stakeholders. The findings show that educators’ perceptions concerning parent non-involvement do not take into consideration the contextual realities that restrict involvement, and this serves to alienate parents further. The paper also reveals the gap that exist between policy and practice in terms of school-parent relationships. Existing relations, especially in disadvantaged communities emphasizes the need for schools to initiate and implement strategies that are context friendly, taking into consideration challenges experienced by parents. In this regard, empowering teachers on school-parent relationships is a vital ingredient to ensure the initiation and implementation strategies towards a sustainable parent involvement

Could Upregulated Hsp70 Protein Compensate for the Hsp90-Silence-Induced Cell Death in Glioma Cells?

The molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 alpha (Hsp90α) has been recognized in various tumours including glioma. This pilot study using a proteomic approach analyses the downstream effects of Hsp90 inhibition using 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17AAG) and a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) oligonucleotide targeting hsp90α (shhsp90α) in the U87-MG glioma cell line. Preliminary data coupled with bioinformatic analysis identified several known and unknown Hsp90 client proteins that demonstrated a change in their protein expression after Hsp90 inhibition, signifying an alteration in the canonical pathways of cell cycle progression, apoptosis, cell invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Members of the glycolysis pathway were upregulated, demonstrating increased dependency on glycolysis for energy source by the treated glioma cells. Upregulated proteins also include Hsp70 and members of its family such as Hsp27 and gp96, thereby suggesting the role of Hsp90 co-chaperones in compensating for Hsp90 function after Hsp90 inhibition. Considering Hsp70’s role in antiapoptosis, it was postulated that a combination therapy involving a multitarget approach could be carried out. Consequently inhibition of both Hsp90 and Hsp70 in U87-MG glioma cells resulted in 60% cell death indicating the importance of combination therapy for glioma therapeutics

Exploring stem cell heterogeneity in chronic myeloid leukemia

Until very recently, understanding the complexity of the stem cell (SC) compartment in both normal and leukemic hematopoiesis has been challenging due to the inability to separate and study normal and leukemic SCs at the single-cell level. Recent advances in cell-sorting techniques and single-cell technologies now make this possible, with the identification of a population of highly quiescent chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) SCs that is enriched following therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)

A capability analysis on the implementation of the school progression policy and its impact on learner performance

This paper focuses on the extent and consequences of learner progression in the form of ‘automaticpromotion’ or grade promotion for reasons other than academic achievement, as propagated by theexisting School Progression Policy (SPP) and how its implementation affects learner performance.The paper argues that, although the advantages and disadvantages of grade retention and automaticpromotion, or the promotion of learners that do not possess the required content knowledge, arehighly contentious, the SPP produces numerous complexities and unfreedoms on learners whenexamined through the lens of the Capabilities Approach (CA). Based on a study of three Quintile-1(Q-1) primary schools in Cape Town, the paper argues that, although the SPP is ambitious and wellintentioned, critical implementation and monitoring challenges negatively reconfigures theeducational aspirations of primary school learners. The paper also reveals that the implementationof the SPP imposes many unfreedoms for both learners and teachers in high poverty level areas.The study revealed that the CA, despite its limitations in terms of conceptualisation, does provide aunique framework to investigate real freedoms and unfreedoms of the SPP

A capability analysis of performance in quintile-1 schools in Cape Town

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDLearner underperformance, especially in poor school communities has been an issue of contestation since 1994, and remains a major challenge in South Africa. Learner performance in this category of schools continues to plummet amidst government efforts to reallocate resources, and adjust policies to meet the needs of these schools, as well as efforts made by researchers to identify the causes of underperformance. The variances in performance exhibited by schools within this category, often within the same community, and with shared features indicate the need for further exploration of the phenomenon. This study examined three Quintile-1 (Q-1) schools within a particular informal settlement in Cape Town using the Capability Approach (CA) pioneered by the economist and philosopher, Amartya Sen as a conceptual framework to understand the nature of learner performance. An investigation was undertaken in the three Q-1 schools using a qualitative research paradigm. The investigation was underpinned by the constructs of the CA which include; Freedoms, Unfreedoms, Capabilities, Conversion, and Functionings. These components were used in the investigation to understand the nature of learner performance in the schools, and how each of these constructs influenced the gap between available resources and learner performance. This approach was guided by the assumption that these schools accumulate a similar amount of resources, face similar challenges and have learners from similar backgrounds. The investigation revealed that capability limitations and unfreedoms interplay to limit learner abilities to learn and perform. As such, a framework is proposed for understanding learner performance in a Q-1 school community via the capability sets of Amartya Sen. The findings of the study reveal that learner capabilities, as well as their abilities to perform, were limited by existing unfreedoms present in the school community where role players are challenged to convert resources into valued functionings. Notable was the fact that learner backgrounds and circumstances contributed to unfreedoms experienced in the classrooms. The findings also reveal that efforts made through the reallocation of resources are under pressure, because of the plethora of factors at play in the community, the school and the Department of Basic Education. The study emphasizes the usefulness of the CA in educational spaces, considering its importance in the understanding of significant variables that are often neglected in performance discourses, with a focus on the explication of capability sets

FNAC, cell block and core needle biopsy in diagnosis of lung masses: a necessity or choice?

Background: Lung cancer is the commonest cancer mortality in the world. In targeted therapy era, precise cytohistological diagnosis is offered traditionally by FNAC, Cell Block (CB) and Core Needle Biopsy (CNB). However, little is known whether one technique is superior to other or all the three techniques complement each another. Therefore, this is a unique study as no other study has compared these techniques together till date. The objective of the study was to evaluate performance of FNAC, Cell block (CB) and Core Needle Biopsy (CNB) individually and comparing them with each other.Methods: This was a prospective study of 50 cases who underwent two passes-1st for FNAC smears and Cell Block and 2nd for CNB.Results: Material was Inadequate in 8 cases by FNAC 16 with Cell Block and 02 with CNB. When adequate, diagnosis and typing was possible by Cell Block (32) and CNB (48). In 08 FNAC cases having adequate material, cytological typing wasn’t possible. These 08 cases were typed by cell block as 07 malignant and 01 pre-malignant. The combined inadequate cases with cyto-technique (FNAC and Cell Block) were 04 compared to 02 cases on CNB. Combined sensitivity of Cyto-techniques was 95.4% compared to 97% on CNB. The specificity was 100% for both Cyto-techniques and CNB.Conclusions: Diagnostic adequacy and test parameters improved and approached CNB when both cyto-techniques are combined. So, we strongly recommend that Cell Block be made routine diagnostic procedure in all the government institutions especially for guided FNAC

A capability analysis on the implementation of the school progression policy and its impact on learner performance

This paper focuses on the extent and consequences of learner progression in the form of ‘automatic promotion’ or grade promotion for reasons other than academic achievement, as propagated by the existing School Progression Policy (SPP) and how its implementation affects learner performance. The paper argues that, although the advantages and disadvantages of grade retention and automatic promotion, or the promotion of learners that do not possess the required content knowledge, are highly contentious, the SPP produces numerous complexities and unfreedoms on learners when examined through the lens of the Capabilities Approach (CA). Based on a study of three Quintile-1 (Q-1) primary schools in Cape Town, the paper argues that, although the SPP is ambitious and well intentioned, critical implementation and monitoring challenges negatively reconfigures the educational aspirations of primary school learners. The paper also reveals that the implementation of the SPP imposes many unfreedoms for both learners and teachers in high poverty level areas. The study revealed that the CA, despite its limitations in terms of conceptualisation, does provide a unique framework to investigate real freedoms and unfreedoms of the SPP.DHE