A computational study of a lifting wing in close proximity to a moving ground plane

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-96).Commercial software packages Fluent® and Gambit® were used to develop a 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of a DHMTU lifting wing flying in ground effect. In particular, the performance of the wing in the presence of waves was of interest. But first a reliable computational model had to be developed to simulate waves flowing past the wing. Therefore the objective of this study was to develop such a model

Prospective students' and parents' attitudes towards a graduate-entry medical degree

No Abstract

How many years do students study before graduating in medicine?

Objectives. The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand is considering  changing from a 6-year medical degree to a mainly graduate-entry 4-year degree. The objective of this study was to determine how long students currently take to qualify and how many years are spent studying for each medical graduate produced.Design. A retrospective study of 691 students registered in medicine at the University of the  Witwatersrand in 1988, 1989 and 1990 was conducted by examining student progress records.Results. The study found that an average of 7.89 years was spent studying for each graduate produced,  including tertiary studies before medicine, repeated years and intercalated science degrees. Five hundred and eighty-nine students (85%) graduated and 102 (15%) did not. Fortyeight per cent studied for 7 or more years before graduating, 21% completed degrees before or during their medical studies, and 21% of students repeated years.Conclusion. The costs to the individual and society of the new 3 + 4-year degree structure would not be very  different from those of the current 6-year structure

Molecular Characterization of the 16S rRNA Gene of Helicobacter fennelliae Isolated from Stools and Blood Cultures from Paediatric Patients in South Africa

Forty strains of H. fennelliae collected from paediatric blood and stool samples over an 18 year period at a children's hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, were amplified by PCR of the 16S rRNA. Two distinct genotypes of H. fennelliae were identified based on the phylogenetic analysis. This was confirmed by sequencing a portion of the beta subunit of the RNA polymerase (rpoB) gene. All isolates from South Africa clustered with a proposed novel Helicobacter strain (accession number AF237612) isolated in Australia, while three H. fennelliae type strains from the northern hemisphere, NCTC 11612, LMG 7546 and CCUG 18820, formed a separate branch. A large (355bp) highly conserved intervening sequence (IVS) in the 16S rRNA was found in all isolates. Predicted secondary structures of the IVS from the 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA were characterised by a primary stem structure formed by base pairing of the 3′ and 5′ ends and internal loops and stems. This phylogenetic analysis is the largest undertaken of H. fennelliae. The South African H. fennelliae isolates are closely related to an Australian isolate previously reported to be a possible novel species of Helicobacter. This study suggests that the latter is strain of H. fennelliae

High prevalence of TT virus in a rural community of South Africa

To the Editor: The development of new molecular techniques in recent years has resulted in the discovery of a number of novel viruses. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was the first to be discovered in 1989 using immunoscreening methods 1 and since 1995 a further five new viruses have been identified using the same or modified technologies: GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV), 2,3 human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8),4 TT virus (TTV),5 SEN virus (SEN-V)6 and human metapneumovirus.7 In each case the prevalence of the virus in different communities, its association with disease and therefore its relevance in the hospital and blood transfusion settings needed to be established

Spinal cord stimulation for the management of pain: Recommendations for best clinical practice

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an accepted method of pain control. SCS has been used for many years and is supported by a substantial evidence base. A multidisciplinary consensus group has been convened to create a guideline for the implementation and execution of an SCS programme for South Africa (SA). This article discusses the evidence and appropriate context of SCS delivery, and makes recommendations for patient selection and appropriate use. The consensus group has also described the possible complications following SCS. This guideline includes a literature review and a summary of controlled clinical trials of SCS. The group notes that, in SA, SCS is performed mainly for painful neuropathies, failed back surgery, and chronic regional pain syndrome. It was noted that SCS is used to treat other conditions such as angina pectoris and ischaemic conditions, which have therefore been included in this guideline. These recommendations give guidance to practitioners delivering this treatment, to those who may wish to refer patients for SCS, and to those who care for patients with stimulators in situ. The recommendations also provide a resource for organisations that fund SCS. This guideline has drawn on the guidelines recently published by the British Pain Society, and parts of which have beenreproduced with the society’s permission. These recommendations have been produced by a consensus group of relevant healthcare professionals. Opinion from outside the consensus group has been incorporated through consultation with representatives of all groups for whom these  recommendations have relevance. The recommendations refer to the current body of evidence relating to SCS. The consensus group wishes to acknowledge and thank the task team of the British Pain Society for their help and input into this document

Evaluation of community-based growth monitoring in rural districts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa

Background: The Health Systems Trust implemented a community-based growth monitoring intervention project that fits into the Integrated Nutrition Programme focus areas and commissioned an evaluation of this project. Objective: To assess project volunteers’ knowledge on infant and young child nutrition and growth monitoring, and evaluate communitybased growth monitoring activities.Design: Five randomly selected growth monitoring sites per sub-district were evaluated. Project volunteers (n = 45) and caregivers (n = 186)attending the growth monitoring sites were interviewed by means of a questionnaire. Growth monitoring and nutrition education activities were observed at the growth monitoring sites. Setting: Two rural districts in KwaZulu-Natal (Umkhanyakude: sub-district Jozini; and Zululand: sub-district Phongola), and one rural district in the Eastern Cape (OR Tambo), South Africa. Results: Project volunteers were mostly women (87%), 38 ± 10 years old, and 27% had matric/Grade 12. There was a high turnover of project volunteers. Their nutrition knowledge varied. Forty-six per cent of the project volunteers and 39% of the caregivers could correctly identify the growth curve of a healthy growing child. Seven of the 13 sites that were visited were at a crèche. There was a referral system between the growth monitoring site and the local clinic, and links with the Department of Agriculture and, to a lesser extent, the Department of Social Welfare. Weighing methods were inconsistent and the steps of growth monitoring were not followed through. Nutrition education to the caregivers was lacking at several of the sites. Conclusion: The study highlighted both strengths and limitations of the project. Areas that need improvement include the selection, training and supervision of project volunteers performing community-based growth monitoring.