Effect Of Air Velocity On The Quality Of Kiln-Dried Rubberwood (Hevea Brasiliensis)

The objective of this study is to address the effect of air velocity manipulation on drying quality of the rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) timber. The study involved three researches. First the industrial assessment of the commercially kiln dried rubberwood, secondly the experimental research to look into the drying behaviour of rubberwood with regard to the air velocity and finally the third research to investigate further the drying behaviour observed in the second research. The industrial study shows that only a quarter of the timber pieces examined are free from any drying defects. Warping was the major defects observed, where spring was highest, followed by bowing and twist defects. Other defects such as end checks and surface checks were also noticed. Although this assessment was not part of the scientific study, the data and the information collected become useful for the next laboratory work. The experimental drying tests performed on the rubberwood produces nonlinear exponential relationship between moisture content (Y) and the drying time (X). Timber subject to 1.52 m/s low air velocity produces Y = 112.87 e -0.0141X (R2 = 0.9395) relationship, while the 3.56 m/s high velocity schedule produces Y = 102.49e -.0.0412X (R2 = 0.9542) relationship and the variable velocity of 3.56 & 1.52 m/s shows Y = 97.10e -0.0145X (R2 = 0.9506). The drying time calculated using these relationships shows that manipulation of air velocity could not improve the drying time of the 3 cm thick timber. The drying time was found to be same irrespective whether it was dried using the 1.52 m/s low air velocity or at higher velocity of 3.56 m/s or varied from 3.56 m/s to 1.52 m/s. Application of higher air velocity during the initial drying period was beneficial. However, the moisture extraction rates become relatively slower at the latter stage and this off-set the time saved during the early period. It was also found that the slower drying rate during the latter drying stage particularly at higher velocity, is mainly due to the moisture being held deep in the wood. The analysis of the moisture content difference between the core and the shell shows that the high velocity drying schedule result in the steepest gradient compared to the other schedules. The observation of the ultra-structure of rubberwood samples by using the Scanning Electron Microscope indicates that the anatomical features particularly the pit aspiration could not account for slowing down the drying rate at the latter stage. Based on the above observations, it is believed that if the temperature is increased higher than what is required by the standard schedule especially at the latter stage of drying, the rate of moisture diffusion from the core can be expedited. In these drying trials, it was observed that rubberwood can be dried without much drying defects by using the standard drying schedule. The quality of the timber that had being subjected to higher air velocity was also not adversely affected. However, the moisture gradient and the drying residual stress increase significantly when higher velocity was used. Analysis of the final moisture content shows “good” relative dispersion among the samples dried at low air velocity schedule compare to the samples from the high velocity and variable velocity schedule. In term of energy saving, the result shows that, when the air velocity is reduced from 3.56 m/s to 1.52 m/s, the corresponding electricity saving is 26 percent. When high velocity schedule is replaced by variable velocity schedule, electrical saving of 16 percent was recorded

Mikroprop Agasi Dan Penghasilan Biji Benih Tiruan Anubia Sp.

Shoot tips (0.5 - 1.0 cm) of Allubia nalla were cultured in 1I2MS media containing different combinations of NAA dan BA to produce multiple shoots. AI/ubia nana in 1/2MS medium containing 4 mg/L BA without NAA produced the maximum number of shoots per explant. Shoots produced per explant in 112MS was twice more than in MS but the shoots were smaller in size. Shoot tips cultered in solid medium produced more multiple shoots than in liquid medium. Multiple shoot production of other Anubia species such as Allllhia cOl1gellsis and Al1l1bia lanceolala was also successfhlly done on 112MS + 3.0 mg/L BA. ~rhis showed tbat different species of Anubia can also be propagated using this medium. Rooting of Al1lfbia l7a11a was easy in 1I2MS medium without NAA or BA. Pueuk apeks (0.5 - 1.0 em) Anubia nana dikulturkan di daIam media 112MS dengan pelbagai kombinasi NAA dan BA untuk menentukan media propagasi. Media ] 12MS dengan 3 mg/l BA didapati menghasilkan bilangan pueuk per eksplan yang maksimum. Apabila media MS penuh dengan separuh MS (1I2MS) dibandingkan didapati bilangan pueuk yang dihasilkan pada media 112MS adalah dua kali ganda tetapi saiz pucuknya adalah keci!. Pueuk yang dilkulturkan di dalam media pepejal juga menghasilkan lebih pueuk berbanding dengan media eeeair. Penghasilan pueuk berbilang oleh spesies Anubia yang lain seperti Anubia congensis dan Al1ubia lanceo/ala dientukan. Didapati spesies Anubia yang lain juga dapat dipropagasikan dengan media yang sarna. Penghasilan akar pada pucuk yang dikultur tisu dapat dilakukan dengan mudah pada media 1I2MS tanpa hormon NAA ataupun BA

Progress in diabetes care in the KwaZulu-Natal public health sector: A decade of analysis

Aims: This study analysed diabetes-related information routinely collected by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Health (DOH).Methods: Primary data were obtained for all public health facilities through the District Health Information System (DHIS) for the period 2006–2016 inclusive (11 years). Additional open source data on population estimates were obtained from Statistics South Africa.   Quantitative analysis of DHIS data was performed using Microsoft Excel before graphical representations were generated using the ThinkCell software.Results: The number of clinical visits by diabetic patients in KZN increased by 305% in the 10 years between 2006 and 2015. According to the data collected by the Department of Health, a large majority of patients diagnosed with diabetes are seeking medical care in the more populated district of eThekwini. The number of patients not returning for scheduled treatment (defaulters) has reduced since recording began in 2012. According to the data, the incidence of diabetes in KZN is oscillating; however, a strong correlation is found between incidence and patient screening.Conclusion: The largest number of diabetic patients were seen in the highly urbanised district of eThekwini. The screening of high-risk patients has increased in frequency and exhibits strong correlations with incidence, further supporting the effectiveness of screening and its inclusion in a new primary healthcare protocol. There was a sharp reduction in number of defaulting patients in 2016, probably indicating improved compliance. The inconsistency of data input is a limitation of the study. However, this study within these constraints highlights the importance of ‘big data’ for healthcare policy and more effective health care in KZN

Effects of demographic factors on provision of feedback in postgraduate medical education

A key element in the process of clinical medical education is the process of providing feedback by comparing the directly observed performance of postgraduate doctors training to become specialists to that of a previously identified and communicated ‘gold standard’ and incorporating a plan for improvement. This is regarded as crucial to enhance clinical competencies. Hence, a greater understanding of the clinical educational environment and the various factors that impact on the giving and receiving of feedback within such a setting is required.A mixed methods approach was adopted for this observational study regarding the perceptions of the quality of feedback given and received at a large multicultural teaching hospital. Relationships between demographics and certain important aspects of the provision of feedback were observed which impact on the context in which feedback is given and received. The study found that appropriate strategies should be implemented to improve teaching capacity of consultants, together with gender empowerment and academic support programmes for registrars.

Use of The American Society of Anaesthesiologists Physical Status Classification in non-trauma surgical versus trauma patients: a survey of inter-observer consistency

Background: The American Society of Anaesthesiologists-Physical Status (ASA-PS) Classification is a grading system for classifying surgical patients based on their comorbid background. Despite numerous benefits, its highly subjective nature has led to marked inconsistency when used. The purpose of this study was to assess consistency when public sector anaesthetists score trauma and non-trauma surgical patients using the Classification.Methods: A three-part questionnaire, with 18 clinical scenarios, was administered to 98 anaesthetists requiring them to grade the scenarios using the Classification and give their opinion on its usage.Results: We received 97 completed questionnaires. Eighty-eight percent of respondents routinely use the Classification. Fifty-two percent had read the Classification within the last six months. Many limitations of the use of the ASA System were identified. There was a lack of consistency in the scoring of the scenarios, with each scenario receiving at least three different gradings. Scenarios involving trauma, paediatrics, neurosurgery and the airway were associated with greater inconsistency. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.01) difference in inter-rater variability between the trauma and non-trauma scenarios.Conclusion: The ASA-PS Classification shows poor inter-rater consistency when trauma patients are scored compared to nontrauma patients. Anaesthetists found it an overall inadequate tool to be used perioperatively in its current state. There has been suggestion for a possible multifactorial modification with an aim to improve preoperative physical status and risk assessment of patients

Exploring demographic influences on students' academic performance over a five-year programme

Introduction: This mixed-method interpretive study examines the influence of five demographic characteristics or factors on the academic achievements of a cohort of 202 students through a five-year medical degree programme. Methodology: A quantitative analysis was performed, analysing a series of 32 summative assessments according to racial grouping (as defined in South Africa), first language, sex, age at entry, and source of finance for study. During the cohort’s third year, a stratified sample of 19 students and six staff members was interviewed, individually or in groups. Their opinions on these five factors were elicited using, as stimuli for discussion, graphs showing the performance of a previous cohort. Results: Quantitative analysis of assessment marks demonstrated statistical differences between groups of students when examined according to race, first language, or financial support, the differences being maintained over the full five years. No significant differences were seen according to sex or age. Qualitative investigation revealed a number of opinions on, and explanations of, the differences observed. Some respondents’ comments and proposed explanations seemed, at first, counterintuitive, yet appropriate to the pertaining circumstances. Conclusions: This study has implications for academic development, and advances the literature on diversity and demographic factors influencing student achievement, beyond mere statistics by exploring the details of students’ lives as they relate to the factors investigated.

A diabetes profile of the eight districts in the public health sector, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Background. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) recently reported that there are 1.8 million South Africans with diabetes, and estimates an additional undiagnosed population of 69% of the total number of diabetics. The African continent is expected to see the highest increase in diabetes globally by 2045. Healthcare measures to manage this surge in diabetes and its related complications should be tailored to Africa’s unique challenges; however, the epidemiolocal data essential for policy development are lacking. Bridging the data gap will guide funding distribution and the creation of evidence-based initiatives for diabetes.Objectives. To investigate the frequency, age proportion and distribution of new patients diagnosed with diabetes in the public healthcare sector of Eastern Cape (EC) Province, South Africa (SA).Methods. All data collected to date were obtained from the EC District Health Information System. According to the information collected from the Department of Health, diabetes-related data collection fields were implemented in 2013, which resulted in this 4-year study. Additional open-source data on population estimates, mortality and medical aid coverage were provided by Statistics SA.Results. Of the eight districts in the province, O R Tambo was recorded as having the highest average proportion of new patients diagnosed with diabetes. A positive correlation was found between the calculated incidence of disease and the diabetes mortality rate.Conclusions. The study showed an annual growth in the incidence of diabetes in the EC since 2014, and highlights the issue of an increasing burden of diabetes in the rural population. This increase is consonant with predictions by authoritative bodies on the growing burden of diabetes in Africa. The pattern of distribution highlights the deprived district of O R Tambo contradicting the well-known link between diabetes and urbanisation

Coaptation and functional bracing of adolescent humeral shaft spiral fracture: a case report and review of literature

Adolescent humerus shaft fractures are uncommon. Direct injuries lead to transverse fractures and indirect injuries lead to spiral and most oblique fractures. There is fracture displacement, angulation and internal rotation of the proximal fragment. There is difficulty in maintaining reduction after closed manipulation of spiral fractures. Paediatric humeral shaft fractures are treated by elastic intramedullary nails more often nowadays. We present a case of isolated spiral fracture of the middle1/3rd and distal 1/3rd junction of the humerus shaft with displacement and angulation treated successfully with closed reduction, coaptation U slab followed by functional orthosis

Finding the first among equals: role of cognitive styles in entrepreneurial decision-making of novices

Effectuation theory explains how expert entrepreneurs differ in decision-making during situations of high uncertainty and low information availability. Exploring the cognitive reasoning behind effectual decision-making offers fertile ground for research as well as teaching entrepreneurship. Cognitive styles have proved to be useful in studying information processing and decision-making of individuals. With increasing attention being paid to entrepreneurial, cognition, researchers have also studied the role cognitive styles in entrepreneurial decision-making. Using a sample of 400 university students from Germany and the Netherlands we investigate the relationship between the participants' cognitive style and their preference for making Causal versus Effectual decision-making. We find a strong relationship between the causal decision-making and the cognitive style index score as well as the affordable loss aspect of effectuation through our ANOVA analysis. We present our case for why these relationships matter in designing entrepreneurship education

Doctorates by thesis and publication in clinical medicine: an analysis of examiners' reports

National and institutional policies to escalate the production of doctorates have raised concerns about the quality of PhDs in South Africa. This study evaluates examiner reports of doctorates by thesis and publication in clinical medicine to ascertain the criteria that examiners used to define a successful doctoral thesis. A qualitative hermeneutic approach through document analysis was taken, involving 54 national and international examiner reports of 18 doctoral theses, half of which were by publication. The examiners rated the majority (81%) of these theses to be of a high quality. Our results show a scatter of positive and negative aspects distributed across all 18 theses, with corresponding commendations and criticisms. Notably, almost equal emphasis was placed on conceptual and communication issues. Ratings per thesis were not always concordant, with five theses each given widely divergent ratings by three respective examiners. The study also found differences in ratings between examiners, based on whether they were medical or non- medical, international or national, and with or without PhDs themselves. While no single criterion was identifiable as being diagnostic of doctoral quality, the identified strengths and shortcomings of these theses serve as a useful platform for supervisors and students aspiring to cross the doctoral threshold