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ImportanceAlthough consensus statements support the preoperative treatment of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, no prospective, quality-controlled, multicenter studies of this strategy have been conducted. Existing studies are retrospective and confounded by heterogeneity in patients studied, therapeutic algorithms used, and outcomes reported.ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility of conducting studies of multimodality therapy for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer in the cooperative group setting.Design, setting, and participantsA prospective, multicenter, single-arm trial of a multimodality treatment regimen administered within a study framework using centralized quality control with the cooperation of 14 member institutions of the National Clinical Trials Network. Twenty-nine patients with biopsy-confirmed pancreatic cancer preregistered, and 23 patients with tumors who met centrally reviewed radiographic criteria registered. Twenty-two patients initiated therapy (median age, 64 years [range, 50-76 years]; 55% female). Patients registered between May 29, 2013, and February 7, 2014.InterventionsPatients received modified FOLFIRINOX treatment (85 mg/m2 of oxaliplatin, 180 mg/m2 of irinotecan hydrochloride, 400 mg/m2 of leucovorin calcium, and then 2400 mg/m2 of 5-fluorouracil for 4 cycles) followed by 5.5 weeks of external-beam radiation (50.4 Gy delivered in 28 daily fractions) with capecitabine (825 mg/m2 orally twice daily) prior to pancreatectomy.Main outcomes and measuresFeasibility, defined by the accrual rate, the safety of the preoperative regimen, and the pancreatectomy rate.ResultsThe accrual rate of 2.6 patients per month was superior to the anticipated rate. Although 14 of the 22 patients (64% [95% CI, 41%-83%]) had grade 3 or higher adverse events, 15 of the 22 patients (68% [95% CI, 49%-88%]) underwent pancreatectomy. Of these 15 patients, 12 (80%) required vascular resection, 14 (93%) had microscopically negative margins, 5 (33%) had specimens that had less than 5% residual cancer cells, and 2 (13%) had specimens that had pathologic complete responses. The median overall survival of all patients was 21.7 months (95% CI, 15.7 to not reached) from registration.Conclusions and relevanceThe successful completion of this collaborative study demonstrates the feasibility of conducting quality-controlled trials for this disease stage in the multi-institutional setting. The data generated by this study and the logistical elements that facilitated the trial's completion are currently being used to develop cooperative group trials with the goal of improving outcomes for this subset of patients.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01821612.

Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) stay-at-home orders have had farreaching negative consequences on mental health and quality of life (QOL). This is especially true for vulnerable populations, such as those who are unhoused, as they are more likely than the general population to have been struggling with a mental illness and poor QOL well before the pandemic. This exploratory cross-sectional study explored differences in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and overall QOL among a cohort of adults who were seeking housing support services pre-COVID-19 (n = 226) compared to a cohort of adults who were seeking housing support services during COVID-19 (n =205). All data were collected upon enrollment into a permanent supportive housing program. Participants seeking housing support services during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19 were significantly more likely to report higher PTSD symptoms (t=3.14, p=0.001) and poorer QOL (χ2=9.81, p=0.001); however, differences were no longer observed at the five percent significance level once several covariates were controlled for in the analysis. Despite the lack of statistical significance at the multivariate level (which is probably due to issues with the missing data and the statistical significance level chosen, rather than a reflection of actual differences between the cohorts), the clinical significance of the findings has implications for planning behavioral health services for unhoused individuals seeking housing support services, especially as we exit the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study at Cape Technikon (South Africa) investigated college choice decision making by surveying 923 applicants during the application process and 314 enrollees during orientation. Results show demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of applicants and enrollees differ, applicants consider multiple institutions, alumni and friends are the most important information sources, and students consider schools before their high school senior year. (MSE)

Examination of the employment situation of South Africa's recent university graduates finds many are taking jobs of lower status and income than graduates of previous periods, resulting in underemployment. A study of employment levels and labor demand in 812 companies suggests strategic enrollment management could play an important role in matching graduates with labor needs. (MSE)

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.

Human capital theory postulates that investment in people represents an investment in their productive capacity, whether it be in the form of formal educational training or on-the-job training. Today few, if any, occupations require no investment in human capital. An example is marketing practitioners working in the marketing departments of businesses active in the formal sector of the economy. In this empirical research study, the relationship between the formal training that marketing practitioners receive at higher educational institutions and on-the-job training they receive from businesses employing them, are analysed in terms of their job functions and job specifications. Finally, conclusions regarding this specific relationship are made.

Marketing practitioners nowadays often have to base important management decisions on information obtained in research surveys conducted in shopping malls. The shopping mall-intercept survey is a very popular method used by research agencies to gather information of almost all kinds. While the advantages of shopping mall-intercept interviewing are considerable, their adoption without recognition of their shortcomings is not prudent. Selection error, resulting in time sampling bias, occurs in shopping mall-intercept surveys as a result of significant differences between the characteristics of persons visiting a shopping mall at different time segments during a month period. In this empirical study, the authors explain the problem of time-based selection error in mall-intercept data, the failure of common research practices to correct it, and develop a specific time-bias reduction technique.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: e-Procurement is a sound solution for companies to initiate e-business initiatives since it promises several distinct benefits, such as process cost and lead time reduction, improving strategic sourcing of commodities and enabling companies to negotiate better prices. Procurement is a broad term that touches on internal and external aspects of the company, complicating the decision to choose the most suitable e-procurement solution. An evaluation framework is proposed to assist in evaluating the susceptibility of a company’s products to e-procurement and choosing the most suitable e-procurement solution.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: e-Verkryging is ‘n goeie beginpunt vir maatskappye om hulle aan e-besigheid bloot te stel aangesien dit verskeie voordele soos proseskoste en leitydvermindering, verbetering van strategiese aanskaffing van produkte en die vermoë om beter pryse met verskaffers te onderhandel, beloof. Verkryging is ‘n breë term wat heelwat aspekte binne en buite die onderneming behels. Dit bemoeilik die besluit om die mees geskikte e-verkryging-oplossing te kies. ’n Evalueringsraamwerk word voorgestel ter ondersteuning van die evaluering van die ontvanklikheid van ‘n onderneming se produkte vir e-verkryging en die keuse van die mees geskikte e-verkrygingoplossing.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Supply planning and traffic flow planning are major activities in the automotive manufacturing environment worldwide. Traditionally, the impact of supply planning strategies on plant traffic is rarely considered. This paper describes the development of a Decision Support System (DSS) that will assist automotive manufacturers to analyse the effect of supply planning decisions on plant traffic during the supply planning phase of their logistics planning process. In essence, this DSS consists of a Supply Medium Decision Support Tool (SMDST) (an interactive MS-Excel model with Visual Basic interfacing) and a traffic flow simulation model tool (using eMPlant simulation software).AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verskaffingsbeplanning en verkeersvloeibeplanning is belangrike aktiwiteite in die motorvervaardigingsbedryf wêreldwyd. Tradisioneel word die uitwerking van verskaffings-beplanningsstrategië op aanlegverkeer selde in ag geneem. Hierdie artikel beskryf die ontwikkeling van ’n Besluitnemings Ondersteuningstelsel (DSS) wat motorvervaardigers sal ondersteun in die analise van die effek van verskaffingsbeplanningbesluite op aanlegverkeer tydens die verskaffingsbeplanningsfase van hulle logistieke beplanningsproses. Hierdie DSS bestaan hoofsaaklik uit ’n Verskaffings-vervoermiddel Besluitnemingshulpmiddel (SMDST) (’n interaktiewe MS-Excel model met “Visual Basic” koppelling) asook ’n simulasiemodel van verkeersvloei (met eM-Plant simulasiesagteware).

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A model of a perishable product inventory system operating in a random environment is studied. For the sake of simplicity, the stochastic environment is considered to alternate randomly over time between two states 0 and 1 according to an alternating renewal process. When the environment is in state k , the items in the inventory have a perishing rate k μ , the demand rate is k λ and the replenishment cost is k CR . Assuming instantaneous replenishment at the epoch of the first demand after the stock-out and associating a Markov renewal process with the inventory system, the stationary distribution of the inventory level and the performance of various measures of the system evolution are obtained. Numerical examples illustrate the results obtained.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ‘n Model van ‘n voorraadsisteem van ‘n bederfbare produk wat aangehou word in ‘n toevalsomgewing word voorgehou. Die stogastiese omgewing word vir doeleindes van vereenvoudiging beskryf deur twee toestande, nul en een, wat op toevalswyse die wisselende hernuwingsproses behandel. Wanneer die omgewing in toestand k is, is die bederftempo k μ , die vraagtempo k λ , en die aanvullingskoste k CR . As aanvulling oombliklik plaasvind na vooraaduitputting en Markov-hernuwings geassosieer word met die voorraadsisteem, word die stasionêre verdeling van voorraadvlak en ander prestasiemaatstawe van die sisteem verkry. ‘n Numeriese voorbeeld ondersteun die resultate wat verkry is.

This article concentrates on the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), as a South African public sector department, its acceptance of the Batho Pele principles and the implementation of various organisational performance improvement programmes. However, despite accepting the principles and the programmes, it is uncertain whether the SANDF institutionalised them in order to effect continuous performance improvement.

The central question to be examined revolved around an analysis of the perceptions of Human Resources Practitioners regarding their role and responsibility in the management of HIV/AIDS in industry. A convenience sample of HR Practitioners was used in a cross-sectional design. A questionnaire measuring the constructs of managing HIV/AIDS in industry, as well as a biographical questionnaire was administered. The questionnaire proved to be reliable. A Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0,82 and 0,71 was obtained. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Results indicated that HR Practitioners experienced and perceived significant differences with regard to the implementation of their companies’ policy formation and -implementation, training needs of managers and employees, mentoring/ coaching -approaches and other AIDS-related issues in terms of their perceptions regarding the management of HIV/AIDS. The findings revealed a gap of knowledge on managing HIV/AIDS existing among HR Practitioners at all levels. While some HR Practitioners had a detailed knowledge of the disease and its prevention, others were ignorant about it, but agreed that the management of HIV/AIDS can be seen as an integral part of their daily role and responsibility in industry. Recommendations were proposed for future research, policy making and practice in the area of HIV/AIDS and the management thereof.