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South Africa has been fortunate in raising significant funding for invasive alien plant control programmes in recent years, through a combination of economic argument and strong political support.(n1) The Working for Water programme (the name captures the essence of job creation to enhance an ecosystem service -- the provision of water) has led to the establishment of over 200 alien giant control projects countrywide. Overcoming the growing problem of invading alien plants is imperative to prevent enormous impacts. An integrated approach is required, with a range of methods to deal with the problem. These include mechanical methods (felling, removing or burning invading alien plants), chemical methods (using a range of approved herbicides), and biological control, or biocontrol (using species-specific insects or other invertebrates, and diseases, from the alien plant's country of origin). The Working for Water programme is placing special emphasis on integrated control and is investing substantially in research on biological control. The current research initiative builds on a history of biological control research that dates back to 1913, and is executed by the Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI) of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and scientists at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Historically, 103 biocontrol agents have been released in South Africa against 46 weed species; of these, 22 are now under complete or substantial biocontrol.(n2) It is hoped to continue these successes, and the programme has been expanded to include species, such as Acacia and Pinus, historically excluded from biocontrol research because of their commercial value.(n3) The total cost of the biocontrol research initiative over the past 3 years was R19 million, of which the Working for Water programme invested R9 million; with cutbacks in funding to the ARC, it may be necessary to increase the contribution from Working for Water to over R7 million annually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To exploit the potential benefits of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in patients with short obstructive lesions in the lower extremity, it is preferable to select patients suitable for PTA before proceeding to hospital admission and angiography. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the role of color-coded duplex scanning in the correct selection of patients for PTA and its influence on planning the approach to the lesion.Methods: On the basis of clinical history, physical examination, pressure indices, and ultrasound duplex scanning, 109 patients were scheduled for PTA.Results: The indication for PTA was correct in 103 patients (94%), while the procedure was performed successfully in 98 patients (90%). The approach to the lesion was planned successfully in the majority of patients.Conclusion: This study shows that it is justifiable to plan PTA on the basis of information obtained by duplex scanning. Results of the duplex scan may guide the catheterization route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]