Placental Heterogeneity in Stillbirth and Its Relations to Maternal Exogenous Characteristics

2021 ◽  
pp. 109352662110631
Author(s):  
Nompumelelo Z. Mtshali ◽  
Steven M. Burgess ◽  
Salome Maswime ◽  
Colleen A. Wright
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Intrauterine Infection ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
Generalized Patterns ◽  
Maternal Hiv ◽  
Consensus Classification ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Heterogeneous patterns of placental lesions in stillbirth signal important variations in placental histopathology that may be diagnostic in stillbirth. We explore placental heterogeneity and its associations with maternal characteristics (including HIV) using latent class analysis. Methods: Placental and maternal data and slides were assessed retrospectively for 122 confirmed stillbirths (gestational age ≥ 28 weeks) delivered at a major South African academic hospital between January 2016–July 2018. The slides were reviewed by 2 pathologists and classified using the Amsterdam Consensus Classification System. Latent class analyses were conducted on raw data. Results: We identify 5 latent placental classes in stillbirth based on similarity in patterns of observed diagnostic criteria and their associations with maternal characteristics. Three classes bear similarity to generalized patterns of placental injury identified previously. Our study shows that intrauterine infection was the commonest histopathological condition associated with stillbirth in our setting. Novel findings include 2 classes, distinguished by high placental RPH and maternal HIV, respectively, and the non-emergence of a class distinguished by VUE. Conclusion: The size and content of the latent classes and their similarity/dissimilarity to the more generalized patterns identified previously suggest potential new avenues for investigation and theory development concerning the role of the placenta in stillbirth and the impact of HIV.

Towards validating a framework of adaptive schemata for entrepreneurial success

2006 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bae Amanjee ◽  
F Crous ◽  
A Crafford
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Personality Characteristics ◽  
Entrepreneurial Success ◽  
African Context ◽  
Successful Entrepreneurs ◽  
Industry Sectors ◽  
The Impact

The role of entrepreneurship within the context of an emerging economy has been well documented. Specifically within the South African context, the concept of entrepreneurship has been embraced by most industry sectors particularly for its resultant job creation and associated economic benefits. To date, psychologists have attempted to understand and define the factors that predispose individuals to embark on entrepreneurial careers, focusing primarily on the personality characteristics of entrepreneurs. However, entrepreneurial research from a cognitive psychological framework has been limited. Specifically, the impact of schemata on the success of the entrepreneur has received little exposure. A study was conducted to examine the presence and type of schemata inherent in successful entrepreneurs. The findings indicate that successful entrepreneurs display varied manifestations of adaptive schemata.

scholarly journals The role of the Square Kilometre Array in South Africa’s economic development strategy

2018 ◽  
Vol 114 (3/4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nishana Bhogal
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Knowledge Economy ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Publicly Funded ◽  
Square Kilometre Array ◽  
Funded Project ◽  
Ongoing Support ◽  
The Impact

This study was undertaken to understand factors inhibiting and enabling the impact of the Square Kilometre Array South Africa (SKA SA) on the South African knowledge economy. A critical review of relevant literature revealed four themes, which are considered to be the main pillars crucial for engendering a knowledge economy: institutions, interrelationships, innovation and individuals. These pillars form the basis for the 4I model developed in this paper, the relevance of which in stimulating a knowledge economy was investigated. This study revealed no additional pillars, thus validating the 4I model in relation to SKA SA’s contribution to the knowledge economy. SKA SA’s success is underpinned by open and inclusive institutions, fostering and leveraging interrelationships, promoting innovation that may be commercialised, and attracting, retaining and training suitable individuals. Furthermore, this study provides a deeper insight into the 4I model by revealing new sub-themes that apply in a broader context, including the role of a nation’s inherent competitive advantage in informing its competitive and innovation strategy, the nature of interrelationships that may be multidimensional, and politically astute leadership that is crucial for the ongoing support of a publicly funded project. This deeper understanding of the 4I model forms a basis for strengthening each pillar and its impact on the knowledge economy.

Enhancing Learners' Personal Resources through Narrative: Embracing Diversity

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Val Rapmund ◽  
Cora Moore
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Personal Resources ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Personal Problems ◽  
Learner Support ◽  
African Context ◽  
Strengths Approach ◽  
The Impact

A shift is proposed from the traditional ‘deficit approach’ towards a ‘strengths approach’ in learner support in the South African context. The Student Self-Empowerment and Enrichment Programme serves as an example of a strengths approach in which diversity is embraced, and where facilitators and students are engaged in the process of making new meaning in conversation with one another. The narrative research approach is followed and narrative analysis is the method adopted for the interpretations. The following themes were identified as important in enhancing learners' personal resources: Benefiting from the sharing of information and experiences; The role of different backgrounds in seeking connection; The facilitator-participant relationship; Responsibilities; Communication skills; Change; Personal problems; Strengths reflected in the narratives. The results bear evidence of the impact of the programme, and the benefit of replacing traditional methods of teaching with more egalitarian and participatory methods. Embracing diversity benefits facilitators and learners alike, and contributes to the richness of life stories and the ability to function in new ways.

scholarly journals The Impact of “Wine Country of Origin” on the Perception of Wines by South African and French Wine Consumers: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1710
Author(s):  
Dominique Valentin ◽  
Carlo Valente ◽  
Jordi Ballester ◽  
Ronan Symoneaux ◽  
Ina Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Word Association ◽  
Country Of Origin ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Cross Cultural Comparison ◽  
Chenin Blanc ◽  
Mode Of Consumption ◽  
The Impact

Culture is an important factor that influences how marketing interacts with food choice. This study aims at exploring the effect of consumers’ Country of Origin (COO) on wine representations and perception using Chenin blanc as a model. The first objective was to evaluate the role of origin in the construction of the representation. We used the theoretical framework of social representation to compare South African (SA) and French consumers’ representations via a word association task. The results indicated that SA representations are dominated by consumers’ experience of the wine (sensory and emotional dimensions), whereas French representations are dominated by the wine itself, in particular its origin and mode of consumption. The second objective was to evaluate the effect of origin on wine categorization in two conditions: with and without information concerning the two geographical origins of the samples. Results showed that providing information on the origin of the wines affected French participants more than SA participants. In both conditions, the groups of wines formed in the sorting tasks by SA participants were based on sensory descriptors and appeared not to be impacted by the information on origin. In contrast, providing information on the origin of the wines to French participants led to an increased use of the words “Loire”, “South Africa” and “familiar” suggesting a different sorting strategy more deliberately based on the origin of the wines. Our findings have important implications for the marketing and export activities within the wine industry.

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 on an employee assistance programme in a multinational insurance organisation: Considerations for the future

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Veldsman ◽  
Ninette Van Aarde
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Employee Assistance ◽  
External Context ◽  
Assistance Programme ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Education And Awareness ◽  
Value Add ◽  
The Impact

Orientation: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to an increased focus on the effectiveness of employee assistance programmes (EAPs).Research purpose: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the value, utilisation and scope of an EAP within the South African insurance sector.Motivation for the study: Higher levels of stress and anxiety experienced by employees because of COVID-19 has necessitated the need to better understand the reasons for EAPs utilisation and its effectiveness within organisations.Research approach/design and method: The study provided an overview of employee well-being and an overview of the origins and evolution of EAPs. The study utilised thematic analysis to analyse 1002 cases with a sample of n = 907, pre-and post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.Main findings: The utilisation of EAPs increased because of COVID-19, yet the reasons for accessing these programmes remained largely consistent before and during COVID-19. At a sub-theme level, the priority of themes differed across the time periods influenced by external context and circumstance.Practical/managerial implications: The study found a need to clearly define employee well-being and reposition the role of EAPs within the organisation. Organisations need to broaden the scope of EAPs and through continuous education and awareness create an environment where employees feel like they can safely access these services.Contribution/value-add: The study contributes towards the current literature on employee well-being and providing a perspective on the relevance, value and utilisation of EAPs before and during a pandemic.

The Social Economy and Role of Government in South Africa

2019 ◽  
pp. 943-955
Author(s):  
O. E. Okeke-Uzodike ◽  
Mogie Subban
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
The South ◽  
Global Recession ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Impact

Social economy, as a relatively new concept, is considered the ‘third sector' of the economy in government discourse. It plays significant roles in socio-economic and political spheres of any nation. Emphasis on social economy has been as a result of the global recession which caused economic depression in several countries all over the world. In South Africa, the impact of the economic recession has reflected mostly in increased unemployment and poverty levels resulting in maximization of discrepancies between the rich and poor with inequalities, creating disenabling environments for foreign investments. These social problems have called for an examination of the role of the social economy in liberating the South African economy from its current dire state. This chapter on tracing the developmental agenda of the South African government, will examine how the social economy has fed into the National Development Plan and the impact of implementation of government policies and regulatory frameworks to ensure achievement of various national imperatives aligned to the Millennium Development Goals in the context of the social economy. The authors state that whilst there is a growing trend towards the social economy in the current context of government, multi-faceted effects of poverty needs to be targeted through robust entrepreneurial opportunities for growth and development of the economy.

The Social Economy and Role of Government in South Africa

2016 ◽  
pp. 227-239
Author(s):  
O. E. Okeke-Uzodike ◽  
Mogie Subban
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
The South ◽  
Global Recession ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Impact

Social economy, as a relatively new concept, is considered the ‘third sector' of the economy in government discourse. It plays significant roles in socio-economic and political spheres of any nation. Emphasis on social economy has been as a result of the global recession which caused economic depression in several countries all over the world. In South Africa, the impact of the economic recession has reflected mostly in increased unemployment and poverty levels resulting in maximization of discrepancies between the rich and poor with inequalities, creating disenabling environments for foreign investments. These social problems have called for an examination of the role of the social economy in liberating the South African economy from its current dire state. This chapter on tracing the developmental agenda of the South African government, will examine how the social economy has fed into the National Development Plan and the impact of implementation of government policies and regulatory frameworks to ensure achievement of various national imperatives aligned to the Millennium Development Goals in the context of the social economy. The authors state that whilst there is a growing trend towards the social economy in the current context of government, multi-faceted effects of poverty needs to be targeted through robust entrepreneurial opportunities for growth and development of the economy.

Is the role of human female reproductive tract microbiota underestimated?

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kamińska ◽  
M. Gajecka
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Intrauterine Infection ◽  
Extensive Study ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Foetal Development ◽  
Culture Independent ◽  
The Impact

An issue that is currently undergoing extensive study is the influence of human vaginal microbiota (VMB) on the health status of women and their neonates. Healthy women are mainly colonised with lactobacilli such as Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus jensenii, and Lactobacillus iners; however, other bacteria may be elements of the VMB, particularly in women with bacterial vaginosis. The implementation of culture-independent molecular methods in VMB characterisation, especially next-generation sequencing, have provided new information regarding bacterial diversity in the vagina, revealing a large number of novel, fastidious, and/or uncultivated bacterial species. These molecular studies have contributed new insights regarding the role of bacterial community composition. In this study, we discuss recent findings regarding the reproductive tract microbiome. Not only bacteria but also viruses and fungi constitute important components of the reproductive tract microbiome. We focus on aspects related to the impact of the maternal microbiome on foetal development, as well as the establishment of the neonatal microbiomes, including the placenta microbiome, and the haematogenous source of intrauterine infection. We also discuss whether the role of the vaginal microbiome is currently understood and appreciated.

scholarly journals The impact of legislative changes in the tobacco industry on South Africans: Clearing the air

2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-418
Author(s):  
Leon De W. Fourie ◽  
Johan De Jager
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
Smoking Behaviour ◽  
National Government ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Legislative Changes ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this article is to gain insight in the South African tobacco industry, its influence on the community and the role of anti-tobacco campaigns. This is done by conducting an empirical investigation of the attitudes and behaviour of smokers and non-smokers regarding the national government campaigns against tobacco products. Consequently, it will contribute in determining the efficiency of the anti-tobacco campaigns as well as the effect of the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act, 1999 (Act 12 of 1999) on smokers and non-smokers. It is postulated that by applying the principles of marketing (demarketing and remarketing) it could contribute significantly in influencing smoking behaviour amongst South Africans.

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