The USA maritime enforcement regime: a model for South Africa?

There has been much public debate within South Africa (RSA), especially since 1994, concerning the role of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) now that peace is the order of the day. Coupled to this is the perennial issue of insufficient funds to pay for all the services the government is expected to provide, and at the level with which all are satisfied. One of the hardest hit departments, from a budgetary point of view, is the Department of Defence (DoD), with funds been shifted to meet the ever increasing demand for socio-economic upliftment at the expense of defence. At the base of any argument concerning the issue of defence versus socio-economic upliftment, is the question of whether massive expenditure for defence in a peacetime environment is justifiable, seen in the light that many South Africans still do not have secure homes, access to acceptable education, medical facilities and potable water

The current university focus: an emphasis on providing customer service over engagement?

Given the economic constraints placed on many higher education institutions, some universities have started to implement customer service orientation strategies in their marketing activities in order to solidify value exchange perceptions, differentiate themselves from their competitors and improve retention rates. However, the student as a ‘customer’ model can cause universities to start viewing students as sources of revenue, treat faculty as providers of a service and students can be cast in the role of consumer with students taking on many customer behaviours. If students are to get the most out of their academic experiences, they need to become meaningfully and psychologically involved in their studies. Using multiple steps and different statistical techniques, this thesis investigated the dangers of institutions of higher education viewing students as “customers” and the importance of getting students more involved in the co-creation of their university experiences through the use of two phases of research. The findings from Phase One offered new insight into some key areas that are emerging as meaningful such as: college transfer students’ problems with transitioning to university, the impact of helicopter parenting practices, students not finding their classes intellectually stimulating and issues created by not severing ties to prior support systems, among others. While the ensuing conceptual Student Engagement Work Design Model (SEWDM) and the empirical findings discovered as a result of the Phase Two testing provides a roadmap of how the engagement elements of autonomy, feedback, skill variety, task identity and customer services can be utilized by universities when attempting to predict institutional commitment and personal growth needs.These findings are important as information about which factors help to predict postsecondary student institutional commitment and personal growth needs can assist with the development of targeted student recruitment strategies and the development of support systems. Being able to assess these outcomes could help to reduce funding outlays to lower impact areas so synergies can be encouraged and resources can be concentrated on critical factors.Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Studie

Part I: Co-telomerisation reactions of fluorinated olefins Part II: Physical and chemical properties of some fluorinated aromatic compounds

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Machine learning -- based diffractive imaging with subwavelength resolution

Far-field characterization of small objects is severely constrained by the diffraction limit. Existing tools achieving sub-diffraction resolution often utilize point-by-point image reconstruction via scanning or labelling. Here, we present a new imaging technique capable of fast and accurate characterization of two-dimensional structures with at least wavelength/25 resolution, based on a single far-field intensity measurement. Experimentally, we realized this technique resolving the smallest-available to us 180-nm-scale features with 532-nm laser light. A comprehensive analysis of machine learning algorithms was performed to gain insight into the learning process and to understand the flow of subwavelength information through the system. Image parameterization, suitable for diffractive configurations and highly tolerant to random noise was developed. The proposed technique can be applied to new characterization tools with high spatial resolution, fast data acquisition, and artificial intelligence, such as high-speed nanoscale metrology and quality control, and can be further developed to high-resolution spectroscop

The efficacy and safety of enzalutamide with trastuzumab in patients with HER2+ and androgen receptor-positive metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer

PURPOSE: Androgen receptor (AR) expression occurs in up to 86% of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancers. In vitro, AR inhibitors enhance antitumor activity of trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 antibody, in trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ cell lines. This open-label, single-arm, phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of enzalutamide, an AR-signaling inhibitor, in patients with advanced HER2+ AR+ breast cancer previously treated with trastuzumab. METHODS: Eligible patients had measurable or non-measurable evaluable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status ≤ 1, no history of brain metastases, and previously received ≥ 1 anti-HER2 regimen for advanced disease. Patients received 160 mg oral enzalutamide daily and 6 mg/kg intravenous trastuzumab every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary end point was clinical benefit rate at 24 weeks (CBR24); secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS) and safety. RESULTS: Overall, 103 women were enrolled [median age 60 years (range 34-83)]; 62% had received ≥ 3 lines of prior anti-HER2 therapy. CBR24, comprising patients with confirmed partial responses (5%) and durable stable disease at 24 weeks (19%), was 24% in the efficacy evaluable set (n = 89). CBR24 did not seem related to AR-expression levels or hormone receptor status. Median PFS was 3.4 months (95% confidence interval 2.0-3.8). Overall, 97 (94%) patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), with fatigue most common (34%). Dyspnea (4%) and malignant neoplasm progression (3%) were the only TEAEs grade ≥ 3 reported in ≥ 3 patients. 22 patients (21%) reported serious TEAEs. Four patients (4%) experienced fatal, non-drug-related TEAEs. CONCLUSIONS: Enzalutamide plus trastuzumab was well tolerated, and a subset of patients in this heavily pretreated population had durable disease control. Determination of biomarkers is needed to identify patients most likely to benefit from this combination. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV NUMBER: NCT02091960

Perspectives on the Future of Growth

In this last paper in a series of four, we will enquire into key developments affecting economic growth in the near future, consider potential restructuring effects that current and future economic events could cause and survey suggestions from literature for long-term sustainability of growth trends. Discussing climate change, COVID-19 economic recovery, automation, and future growth with a view to global development, we explore where growth may take economies, and how we may foster growth in a rapidly changing international economic landscape