Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genesis and anatomy of the industrial biofuels strategy of South Africa

III LIST OF TABLES VIII LIST OF FIGURES VIII ACRONYMS AND INITIALISMS IX RACIAL CLASSIFICATIONS AND NOMENCLATURE XI PREFACE XIII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS XVII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND THESIS OUTLINE 1 SETTING THE SCENE: BIOFUELS (POLICIES) AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN BIOFUELS STRATEGY 3 Hype, Mobilising Metaphors and the Meta-narrative of Biofuels to the Rescue 7 Confronting Complexities: Policy Perspectives and the Example of South Africa 8 RATIONALE AND AIMS OF THE THESIS 11 The Crux of the Matter 18 THESIS SUMMARY 21 CHAPTER 2: POLICY MATTERS . BIOFUELS POLICY REVIEWS, THEORIES OF POLICYMAKING AND THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 25 A BRIEF EXCURSION INTO EXISTING BIOFUELS POLICY RESEARCH 27 The First Axis: Silhouettes and Situational Analyses 27 The First Axis Continued: Recommendations for Effective Biofuels Policies (and Policymaking? ) 29 The Second Axis: Interrogating the Making of Biofuels Policies Internationally 31 INTRODUCING POLICY RESEARCH AND STUDYING THE POLICY PROCESS 34 An Initial Mapping of the Policy Process 35 Philosophical and Epistemological Considerations in Researching Policy 38 Positivistic Approaches to Policy and the Quest for Causality 40 The ‘Interpretive Turn’ and Interpreting Policy Knowledge and Political Legitimisation 44 Policy Development the Role of Policy and Policymaking in/for Development 52 PUTTING THEORY INTO PRACTICE: THE RESEARCH METHODS 55 Methodology and Methods 57 Reflecting on the Research Approach: Some Procedural Strengths and Weaknesses 62 CONCLUSION 68 CHAPTER 3: SOUTH AFRICA’S PEOPLE AND POLICYMAKING 71 GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNED IN SOUTH AFRICA 72 Apartheid and its Consequences in Brief 73 The Institutional and Administrative Structures of Government 75 POLICYMAKING PROCESSES IN SOUTH AFRICA 82 Models of Policymaking in South Africa 84 Policymaking and the Domination of the African National Congress 86 Wider Influences on Policy: Enter the Developmental State and Development Planning 88 CONCLUSION 99 CHAPTER 4: PROVINCIAL BIOFUELS ‘POLICIES’ AND A SNAPSHOT OF BIOFUELS PROJECTS IN SOUTH AFRICA 101 CONTEXTUALISING ‘WIN-WIN’ NARRATIVES: RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROPOSED, PAST AND PRESENT BIOFUEL PROJECTS IN SOUTH AFRICA 103
Evaluating the Hedging Performance of Oil and Oilseeds Futures in India

The risk of commodity price volatility impacts almost everyone from individuals to companies and the economy as a whole. Hedging with derivative instruments is a way to insure against such risks. In the present study, the risk reduction function of commodity futures has been evaluated for commodities in the oil and oilseeds segment, namely, refined soya oil, mustard seed, mentha oil and crude palm oil (CPO). The choice of these commodities is made because in India, oilseeds’ trading has grown phenomenally due to massive increase in its domestic consumption which is being met by imports. To attain self-sufficiency and to enhance domestic production, besides other measures, commodity futures help to improve price realization and thereby encourage farmers to increase the area under cultivation. The minimum variance hedge ratio (MVHR) is calculated using the ordinary least square (OLS) method, OLS with additional variables and error correction model (ECM). Hedging effectiveness is quantified using MVHR. The estimates of hedging effectiveness are satisfactory for more liquid futures contracts of refined soya oil and CPO which gave variance reduction to the extent of 55 and 71 per cent, respectively. On the other hand, risk reduction with mustard seed and refined mentha oil futures is only around 28 per cent. According to market reports, the latter are narrow commodities with a small market size and greater susceptibility to price manipulation and cartelization. Measures, such as, better regulatory framework, wider participation of actual users in the commodity value chain and suitable contract specifications, are most essential for lucrative commodity markets.
Prophylactic phenylephrine for caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: systematic review and meta‐analysis

We conducted a systematic review to determine the harm and benefit associated with prophylactic phenylephrine for caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. We included 21 randomised controlled trials with 1504 women. The relative risk (95% CI) of hypotension with phenylephrine infusion – as defined by authors – before delivery was 0.36 (0.18–0.73) vs placebo, p = 0.004; 0.58 (0.39–0.88) vs an ephedrine infusion, p = 0.009; and 0.73 (0.55–0.96) when added to an ephedrine infusion, p = 0.02. After delivery, the relative risks of hypotension and nausea and vomiting with phenylephrine compared with placebo were 0.37 (0.19–0.71), p = 0.003, and 0.39 (0.17–0.91), p = 0.03, respectively. There was no evidence that hypertension, bradycardia or neonatal endpoints were affected. Phenylephrine reduced the risk for hypotension and nausea and vomiting after spinal doses of bupivacaine generally exceeding 8 mg, but there was no evidence that it reduced other maternal or neonatal morbidities.
The interactive effects of conscientiousness, openness to experience, and political skill on job performance in complex jobs: The importance of context

Summary Caveats concerning the ability of personality to predict job performance have been raised because of seemingly modest criterion-related validity. The goal of the present research was to test whether narrowing the context via the type of job (i.e., jobs with complex task demands) and adding a social skill-related moderator (i.e., political skill) would improve performance prediction. Further, along with political skill, the broad factor of personality demonstrated in prior research to have the strongest criterion validity (i.e., conscientiousness) was joined with a narrow construct closely related to openness to experience (i.e., learning approach) in a three-way interactive prediction of supervisor-rated task performance. With the employee–supervisor dyads among professionals, but not with the control group of non-professional employees, task performance was predicted by the three-way interaction, such that those high on all three received the highest performance ratings. Implications, strengths and limitations, and directions for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report:Assessment of global-scale model performance for global and regional ozone distributions, variability, and trends

The goal of the Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR) is to provide the research community with an up-to-date scientific assessment of tropospheric ozone, from the surface to the tropopause. While a suite of observations provides significant information on the spatial and temporal distribution of tropospheric ozone, observational gaps make it necessary to use global atmospheric chemistry models to synthesize our understanding of the processes and variables that control tropospheric ozone abundance and its variability. Models facilitate the interpretation of the observations and allow us to make projections of future tropospheric ozone and trace gas distributions for different anthropogenic or natural perturbations. This paper assesses the skill of current-generation global atmospheric chemistry models in simulating the observed present-day tropospheric ozone distribution, variability, and trends. Drawing upon the results of recent international multi-model intercomparisons and using a range of model evaluation techniques, we demonstrate that global chemistry models are broadly skillful in capturing the spatio-temporal variations of tropospheric ozone over the seasonal cycle, for extreme pollution episodes, and changes over interannual to decadal periods. However, models are consistently biased high in the northern hemisphere and biased low in the southern hemisphere, throughout the depth of the troposphere, and are unable to replicate particular metrics that define the longer term trends in tropospheric ozone as derived from some background sites. When the models compare unfavorably against observations, we discuss the potential causes of model biases and propose directions for future developments, including improved evaluations that may be able to better diagnose the root cause of the model-observation disparity. Overall, model results should be approached critically, including determining whether the model performance is acceptable for the problem being addressed, whether biases can be tolerated or corrected, whether the model is appropriately constituted, and whether there is a way to satisfactorily quantify the uncertainty.
Pharmacokinetics Population pharmacokinetic modelling to assess clinical drug–drug interaction between AZD7325 and midazolam

What is known and objective: AZD7325 is a selective gammaamino-butyric acid (GABAA)a2, 3 receptor modulator. The aims of this analysis were to develop population pharmacokinetic (PPK) models of AZD7325 and midazolam and to assess the induction effect of AZD7325 on CYP3A4 with midazolam as a substrate. Methods: Drug–drug interaction data of AZD7325 and midazolam from 24 healthy subjects were available for model development. PPK models were developed in a sequential manner using NONMEM. Both AZD7325 and midazolam pharmacokinetics were described by two-compartment models, and a transit compartment absorption model and a first-order absorption model were applied for the absorption of AZD7325 and midazolam, respectively. The induction of CYP3A by AZD7325 was described by a transit enzyme model, where the elimination of midazolam was proportionally linked to the enzyme amount. Simulations were performed to predict dosing regimens to account for the induction of CYP3A4. Results and discussion: The population estimates for AZD7325 clearance, intercompartmental clearance, central and peripheral volume were 36, 29 2 L/h, 169 and 392 L, respectively, with interindividual variability (IIV) of 35% and 24% for clearance and central volume. Midazolam clearance, intercompartmental clearance, central and peripheral volume were estimated to be 62 7, 34 7 L/h, 133 and 146 L, respectively, with 43% IIV for clearance. The estimated mean transit time for induction of the CYP3A4 enzyme was 197 h, with 57% IIV. What is new and conclusion: The PPK models developed adequately described the clinical observation of AZD7325mediated CYP3A4 enzyme induction with midazolam as a probe. The model could provide basis for the rational dosing of AZD7325 in clinical practice.
The role of interleukin-17 in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Abstract Objective: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common pregnancy-specific liver disease, is characterized by pruritus, abnormal liver function and elevated serum bile acid levels. The main cause of ICP has not yet been identified. We aimed to provide a new perspective to the pathogenesis of by investigating the possible association of circulating interleukin-17 (IL-17) that is a recently discovered proinflammatory cytokine levels with ICP. Materials and methods: In this controlled cross-sectional study, maternal venous blood samples were obtained from 33 consecutive pregnant women with ICP (15 with mild and 18 with severe forms of the disease) and 25 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies (as the control group) and IL-17 levels were compared among the groups. Results: Although serum IL-17 levels were significantly higher in the severe ICP group than in the control group (p = 0.022), there were no significant differences between the mild and severe ICP groups or between the control and mild ICP groups. Conclusion: Explaining the mechanisms of hepatocyte injury might contribute to the existing therapeutic strategies for treating cholestatic diseases. Changes in IL-17 levels may shed light on the pathogenesis of ICP.
Analysis on the Rapid Recovery of Irradiated VDMOSFETs by the Positive High Electric Field Stress

High electric field stress (HEFS) and annealing effects on irradiated (by <sup>60</sup>Co <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\gamma$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-ray) vertical double-diffused MOSFETs (VDMOSFETs) are investigated. The behaviors of the oxide-trapped charges and interface traps during the stress are measured by using a simplified midgap technique. Rapid recovery of the threshold voltage (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$V_{\mathrm {th}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) for the irradiated VDMOSFET is observed under a positive high electric field stress (PHEFS). The results show that the densities of oxide-trapped charges and interface traps decreased more rapidly for the PHEFS than that for postirradiation annealing. Repeated irradiation results of PHEFS-recovered VDMOSFETs indicate the possibility of reusing the irradiated VDMOSFETs.
Modern management of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma in HIV‐infected patients

Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at greater risk of developing non‐Hodgkin lymphoma than the general population and aggressive B‐cell lymphoma has become one of the most common of the initial acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)‐defining illnesses. This review considers the prognostic factors and new approaches to the treatment of patients with AIDS‐related lymphoma (ARL). As highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) became available, the survival of many ARL patients has become comparable to that of HIV‐negative patients. This is partly due to the decrease in the incidence of opportunistic infections and improved prognosis. Both developments can also be attributed to new treatment strategies for ARL, such as the use of effective infusional regimens, Rituximab combinations and high‐dose therapy with autologous stem‐cell transplantation for relapsed disease. However, unresolved issues persist, such as the optimal therapy for patients with Burkitt ARL or central nervous system involvement.
Use of multiple drugs among adolescents who use anabolic steroids.

BACKGROUND Because adolescent users of anabolic steroids are concerned with increasing muscle size and strength, they may be unique among substance users and unlikely to use other drugs. Alternatively, if the factors that cause the use of anabolic steroids are similar to those associated with the use of other substances, adolescents who use anabolic steroids would be expected to report use of other drugs as well. METHODS We administered a questionnaire based on the 1989 Secondary School Health Risk Survey and the 1990 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to 1881 students enrolled in compulsory health-science classes (mean [+/- SD] age, 14.9 +/- 1.0 years) in the Richmond County, Georgia, school system. RESULTS A higher percentage of boys (6.5 percent) than girls (1.9 percent, P < or = 0.001) reported using anabolic steroids without a doctor's prescription. Among ninth-grade students only, 5.4 percent of boys and 1.5 percent of girls reported using anabolic steroids (P < or = 0.001). Among users of anabolic steroids, 25 percent reported sharing needles to inject drugs. The frequency of anabolic-steroid use was significantly (P < 0.001) associated with the frequency of use in the previous 30 days of cocaine (r = 0.44), injectable drugs, alcohol (r = 0.23), marijuana (r = 0.42), cigarettes (r = 0.25), and smokeless tobacco (r = 0.40). On the basis of multiple regression analysis, the use of marijuana, shared needles, smokeless tobacco, and cocaine accounted for 33 percent of the variation in anabolic-steroid use among the ninth-grade students. CONCLUSIONS In our study, adolescent users of anabolic steroids were likely to use other drugs as well, and many were sharing needles.
Suppression of bleb formation, locomotion, and polarity of Walker carcinosarcoma cells by hypertonic media correlates with cell volume reduction but not with changes in the F-actin content.

The putative role of cellular or solvent volume in protrusive activity and locomotion has been investigated in blebbing Walker carcinosarcoma cells using hypertonic media. Blebbing, locomotion, and cell polarity are completely suppressed by 0.2 M sorbitol. The response occurs in two steps. In a first step, i.e. within 10 sec after the addition of sorbitol, blebbing and locomotion are inhibited and this is associated with an average cell volume reduction by 17% (corresponding to a reduction in solvent volume by 38%). It clearly precedes suppression of cell polarity (pre-existing protrusions, tail) occurring in a second step within 5 to 10 min after addition of sorbitol without additional reduction in the cell or solvent volume. The relative amount of F-actin does not correlate with the decrease in cell volume, suppression of blebbing, locomotion, and cell polarity. A significant decrease in the relative amount of F-actin is found only at volume reductions which are higher than those required to completely suppress blebbing, locomotion, and cell polarity. F-actin staining occurs preferentially along the cell membrane in isotonic as well as in hypertonic media. The results are best compatible with the hypothesis that hydrostatic pressure rather than actin polymerization at the front is the direct force driving the membrane forward during bleb formation. Cells with lamellipodia show a similar response to hypertonic media, suggesting that basically similar mechanisms may operate in both forms of protrusions.
Screening with serum galactomannan might be associated with better outcome than symptom-triggered galactomannan testing in allogeneic HSCT recipients with invasive aspergillosis.

TO THE EDITOR—We read with interest the article by Fisher and colleagues about use of the galactomannan index (GMI) in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with invasive aspergil-losis (IA) [1]. The authors reported that the serum GM level at the time of IA diagnosis was significantly associated with the risk of overall and respiratory mortality. In their cohort, GM testing was performed upon clinical suspicion of IA; at our center, GM screening has been used even before clinical suspicion. Briefly, patients are tested at least twice weekly during the first 100 days after transplant or later in case of graft versus host
Study of Laser Plasmas Dynamics Through Real and Virtual Langmuir Probes

A novel technique for laser produced plasmas (LPPs) investigation is proposed. It combines high time resolved measurements using a compact Langmuir probe (LP) with simulated data obtained with a numerical model designated as hybrid laser ablation simulations (HYBLAS). The code simulates charged particle collection with what we will refer to as a virtual LP. With the use of an appropriate experimental setup and with a MATLAB software, which analyzes the experimental I-V curves, LPPs can be investigated properly even if the probe is placed very close to the target surface. The method permits to study the plume expansion with a high temporal resolution and to correctly estimate the self-generated Coulomb electric field inside the plume. It permits to detect the inner structure of the first upcoming expanding plasma. HYBLAS is able to describe the plume expansion at relatively low power densities if the initial conditions are set properly. A direct comparison of the theoretical data with the experimental ones realized on different metal targets shows that this method is able to predict properly the overall plasma expansion in the nanosecond laser pulse duration regime. The virtual probe method was moreover tested by comparing the numerical results with the numerical code called MULTI.
Subependymomas: clinicopathologic study of 14 tumors, including comparative MIB-1 immunohistochemical analysis with other ependymal neoplasms.

BACKGROUND Subependymomas are uncommonly encountered ependymal tumors, which are important to distinguish from ordinary ependymomas because of their generally better prognosis. OBJECTIVE To review the clinicopathologic features and MIB-1 labeling indices (marker of cell proliferation) of 14 subependymomas. DESIGN Retrospective review of 14 subependymomas encountered in a tertiary care setting. RESULTS Fourteen ependymomas presenting in 8 men and 6 women between the ages of 18 and 78 years (mean, 53.6 years) comprise the study group. The most common clinical presentations included ataxia (n = 4), dizziness/vertigo (n = 3), nausea/vomiting (n = 3), headaches (n = 3), and incidental finding at autopsy (n = 2). Tumor locations included fourth ventricle (n = 7), lateral ventricle (n = 4), third ventricle (n = 2), and thoracic spinal cord (n = 1). Eight patients underwent gross total resection, and 4 had subtotal resection. Tumors were characterized by clustering of cell nuclei arranged against a fibrillary background. Focal cystic degeneration was seen in 10 tumors, hemosiderin deposition in 8 tumors, sclerotic vessels in 8 tumors, calcifications in 5 tumors, and focal nuclear pleomorphism in 2 tumors. Mitotic figures, vascular endothelial proliferation, and necrosis were not seen in any of these tumors. Cell proliferation marker MIB-1 labeling indices (percentage of positive staining tumor cells) ranged from 0 to 1.4 (mean, 0.3). In comparison, 13 myxopapillary ependymomas had labeling indices ranging from 0 to 5.5 (mean, 1.1). Thirty-nine low-grade ependymomas had MIB-1 labeling indices of 0.1 to 5.4 (mean, 1.1). Fourteen anaplastic/malignant ependymomas had MIB-1 labeling indices ranging from 0.4 to 34.0 (mean, 12.8). One subependymoma was treated with radiation therapy. Six patients were alive with no evidence of tumor at a mean follow-up of 94.4 months. Two patients were alive with residual tumor (follow-up of 4 and 53 months). Two patients died with tumor at 0.67 and 43.4 months. One patient was lost to follow-up, 1 is a recent case, and 2 were incidental findings at autopsy. None of the patients developed tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Subependymomas are generally low-grade lesions, as evidenced by their benign clinical course and low MIB-1 labeling indices. Compared with other ependymal tumors, subependymomas have the lowest rate of cell proliferation as evidenced by MIB-1 immunostaining.