A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF PROPORTIONAL ANALYSIS BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COURTS IN CIVIL-FORFEITURE JURISPRUDENCE

This article deals with civil forfeiture in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act1 (POCA) and considers the jurisprudential development of the instrumentality and exclusion analyses, considering in particular the newly introduced and limiting thirdstage, namely proportionality analysis. South African courts, appreciating the objectives of civil forfeiture, have utilized the Constitution to cushion its effects on property and liberty rights by implementing the proportionality analysis as a third criterion. The article also considers the call made by certain authorities that existing legislation ought to be amended in order to codify extant judicial precedent in this regard. In conclusion, it is recommended that civil forfeiture in South Africa should continue along the lines of the three-staged approach that has crystallized in practice by applying an approach incorporating instrumentality, exclusion and proportionality analyses.

Prognostic factors of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: A retrospective cohort of 264 patients from Japan

Background Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) develops in various underlying pulmonary conditions. There is scarce data evaluating interstitial lung disease (ILD)/abnormalities (ILA) as such conditions, and it has not been explored much whether non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is a prognostic factor for mortality in CPA patients. Few reports had investigated prognostic factors of CPA including underlying pulmonary conditions. Objectives To explore prognostic factors of CPA including pulmonary conditions. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 264 CPA patients from a center for pulmonary aspergillosis in Japan. Results Survival rates were 78.7%, 61.0%, and 47.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Of 264 patients, 53 (20.1%) and 87 (33.1%) were complicated with ILA and NTM-PD. Several independent prognostic factors were identified by multivariate Cox proportional analysis: ILA (HR 1.76, 95%CI 1.06–2.92, p = 0.029), age (1.05, 1.02–1.08, p<0.001), male sex (2.48, 1.34–4.59, p = 0.004), body mass index of <18.5 kg/m2 (1,87, 1.20–2.90, p = 0.005), presence of aspergilloma (1.59, 1.04–2.45, p = 0.033), and lower serum albumin (0.56, 0.38–0.83, p = 0.004). NTM-PD was not associated with higher mortality (0.85, 0.52–1.38, p = 0.51). Conclusions The poor prognosis of CPA and several prognostic factors were revealed. Early diagnosis and intervention is required with reference to such factors.

CT based radiomic approach on first line pembrolizumab in lung cancer

Clinical evaluation poorly predicts outcomes in lung cancer treated with immunotherapy. The aim of the study is to assess whether CT-derived texture parameters can predict overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with first line Pembrolizumab. Twenty-one patients with NSLC were prospectively enrolled; they underwent contrast enhanced CT (CECT) at baseline and during Pembrolizumab treatment. Response to therapy was assessed both with clinical and iRECIST criteria. Two radiologists drew a volume of interest of the tumor at baseline CECT, extracting several texture parameters. ROC curves, a univariate Kaplan-Meyer analysis and Cox proportional analysis were performed to evaluate the prognostic value of texture analysis. Twelve (57%) patients showed partial response to therapy while nine (43%) had confirmed progressive disease. Among texture parameters, mean value of positive pixels (MPP) at fine and medium filters showed an AUC of 72% and 74% respectively (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meyer analysis showed that MPP < 56.2 were significantly associated with lower OS and PFS (P < 0.0035). Cox proportional analysis showed a significant correlation between MPP4 and OS (P = 0.0038; HR = 0.89[CI 95%:0.83,0.96]). In conclusion, MPP could be used as predictive imaging biomarkers of OS and PFS in patients with NSLC with first line immune treatment.

Fit for the Job: Proportion and the Portrayal of Cattle in Egyptian Old and Middle Kingdom Elite Tomb Imagery

Depictions of the natural world are an intrinsic feature of Egyptian visual culture, with the vast array of imagery documenting animals a testimony to the fundamental role they played. Despite the significance of animals in Egypt, an anthropocentric bias still exists in research on the methods used by practitioners during initial scene composition. To help bridge the divide, the author herein undertook an investigation to determine if proportional guides were in place when rendering animal figures in ancient Egyptian elite tomb imagery of the Old and Middle Kingdoms. A notable outcome of the proportional analysis was the identification of two distinct body-types for domestic cattle (Bos taurus taurus). The aim of the current paper is to further examine these proportional differences to explore if variations in physique (namely the distance between the chest floor and withers) were rendered by Egyptian practitioners to reflect the conditions in which they appeared by considering two overarching factors: (1) biological factors and (2) contextual factors. As such, the study will employ proportional analysis to challenge the prevailing perspective of a deregulated approach when illustrating fauna in elite tomb imagery, highlighting the significance of animals within ancient Egypt.

International Real Estate Review

The city of Georgetown, Malaysia was listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2008 due to the diverse cultural and tourism activities. The listing has brought about an impact to the heritage properties in Malaysia. Since then, the volume of business activities has increased dramatically with a positive demand for heritage properties. This scenario has increased competition in commercial activities and business owners have struggled to offer their best products to tourists, both local and foreign. However, while investors and traders thrive to locate their businesses in heritage properties, some restrictions and externalities have influenced their activities. Among the significant factors that have influenced such activities, there is the Special Area Plan which restricts renovations and conservations, building condition and building price. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to assess the sustainability of businesses located in the heritage properties. Eighteen criteria (factors) are identified and assessed to determine the best sustainable areas in the city and the Complex Proportional Analysis (COPRAS) is utilised as the best method to assess the issue .The findings show that each alternative has its unique characteristics that support the sustainability of businesses that occupy the heritage properties. This is the first paper of its kind to assess the sustainability of business activities that are occupying the heritage properties in Malaysia.

Insights into aortic stenosis progression: factors affecting rate of progression and its impact on survival

Background Severe aortic stenosis (AS) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Little is known about the rate of progression in patients with moderate AS. Purpose Risk factors affecting the rate of progression from moderate to severe AS, and their impact on all-cause mortality were studied in this multicentre registry. Methods Based on the echocardiographic diagnosis of moderate AS (valve area &gt;1.0 and ≤1.5 cm2) at the time of first echocardiogram, 962 patients with follow-up were included. Follow-up echocardiograms were reviewed to identify those who developed severe AS (based on the current guidelines). Patients were divided into 2 groups: AS Progressors (progressed to severe AS) and Non-progressors (remained in moderate AS). Among those with AS progression, patients were subdivided into Slow versus Fast Progressors, according to the median time interval between the two echocardiograms. The clinical correlates of fast AS Progressors were analysed using the binary logistic regression. The association between rate of progression (slow versus fast) and all-cause mortality was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method using log-rank test. A multivariate Cox proportional analysis was used to identify the independent associates of all-cause mortality, with interval of AS progression between the two echocardiograms (in years) included as a continuous variable. Results Of the 962 patients with moderate AS, AS progressed to severe in 62% (n=595), while 38% (n=367) remained in moderate AS, over a mean follow-up of 6.8 [IQR 4.2–9.3] years. Older age, renal impairment (eGFR&lt;30ml/min/1.73 m2), hypertension and atrial fibrillation were significantly associated with higher risk of AS progression. Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and higher peak aortic velocity were more prevalent in AS Progressors at baseline. Among the AS Progressors (n=595), the median time of AS progression was 2.5 [IQR 1.3–3.9] years. Based on the median time of AS progression, patients were subdivided into: Slow (n=295) versus Fast Progressors (n=300). On multivariate analysis, age, renal impairment (eGFR&lt;30ml/min/1.73 m2), betablocker use, impaired LV ejection fraction and peak aortic velocity were significantly associated with Fast progression of AS. Although the rates of AV intervention were similar between Fast versus Slow Progressors (60% vs. 54%, p=0.137), Fast AS Progressors had worse survival than Slow AS Progressors (Log rank p=0.045, Figure 1), over a mean follow-up of 4.0 [IQR 1.0–6.4] years. Importantly, on multivariable Cox proportional analysis, shorter time of progression from moderate to severe AS was independently associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR=0.92, 95% CI 0.88–0.99, p=0.047). Conclusion In a large real-world registry of patients with moderate AS, fast progression to severe AS is associated with worse survival. Close surveillance should be given to those patients who are at higher risk of AS progression. AS progression and all-cause mortality Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None