Key Challenges and Potential Urban Modelling Opportunities in South Africa, with Specific Reference to the Gauteng City-Region

Urban growth and land use change models, supported by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and increased digital data availability, have the potential to become important tools for monitoring and guiding urban spatial planning and development. Five broad categories of urban models are utilised internationally, that is, land use transportation models, cellular automata, system dynamics, agent-based models and spatial economics/econometric models. This paper provides a broad overview of South African modelling projects that monitor or simulate urban spatial change. The review identified a variety of government and academic urban modelling initiatives. These initiatives mostly track trends, rather than simulating future scenarios, and analyse historical land cover change using GIS and remote sensing software. There is a risk within Gauteng, however, that out-dated data, different population projections, duplicated tools, limited spatial data infrastructure (SDI) and a lack of resources; could compromise urban spatial change modelling efforts within government institutions. As such, the paper discusses key challenges and opportunities for modelling urban spatial change, with specific reference to the Gauteng City-Region – the heartland of the South African economy and the Southern African region

Implementation of liquid culture for tuberculosis diagnosis in a remote setting: lessons learned.

Although sputum smear microscopy is the primary method for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in low-resource settings, it has low sensitivity. The World Health Organization recommends the use of liquid culture techniques for TB diagnosis and drug susceptibility testing in low- and middle-income countries. An evaluation of samples from southern Sudan found that culture was able to detect cases of active pulmonary TB and extra-pulmonary TB missed by conventional smear microscopy. However, the long delays involved in obtaining culture results meant that they were usually not clinically useful, and high rates of non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolation made interpretation of results difficult. Improvements in diagnostic capacity and rapid speciation facilities, either on-site or through a local reference laboratory, are crucial

Digital Rights Management: Improving Online Digital Images Copy Rights Management through an Enhanced Least Significant Bit Steganographic Algorithm

Digital media no doubt presents numerous advantages compared to the traditional analog media. Of the most importance is the fact that digital content (images, graphics, audio and video) can be easily copied, transmitted, retrieved and distributed over private and open access networks. The global availability of the internet- certainly the most impactful information exchange tool today- plus the numerous file sharing tools freely available have made the distribution of copyrighted digital media files simple and straightforward. Duplication of exact copies of original images, for example can be easily done and circulated without authentication. As much as this is an advantage in trying to enhance sharing of information, it certainly creates problems of ownership and authenticity and digital rights protection. There already exists copyright laws that provide for protection of all online content but the task of continuously guarding the web and correctly identifying those that infringe against these laws is increasingly becoming enormous. There is therefore need to continuously invest in development of new technologies and algorithms that will make it more and more difficult to illegally copy or use someone else content. To improve security of copyrighted online digital images, this paper proposes the use of an enhanced LSB steganographic algorithm that employs a selective and randomized approach in picking specific number of target image bits to swap with the owners signature authentication bits using a pseudo random number generator (PRNG). The carefully selected password seed is used to determine the set of selected numbers used for targeting specific image bits for the signature hiding. An experimental design is setup to determine the effectiveness of the method by comparing and analyzing the stego images’ statistical characteristics and the ability of steganalysis methods to detect the hidden signature. The experimental results indicate improved levels of imperceptibility and hence improved security against illegal copying. Keywords: Digital Media, Steganography, Copyright, Steganalysis, Stego image, imperceptibilit

Challenges of Enforcing English as the Medium of Instruction in Upper Primary Classes in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges of enforcing English as the medium of instruction in upper primary classes based on Vygotsky’s social constructivism and language theory. Mixed methods approach was used in the study. The focus of this study was on public primary schools because they use mother tongue in lower primary school classes. Simple random sampling was used to select 21 out of 70 public primary schools that took part in the study. Purposive sampling was used to select standard seven classes on the premise that they have already had an experience with various languages in school and are also already aware that the official language of communication in school is English. Twenty standard 7 pupils from the selected schools were randomly selected to take part in the pupils’ focus group interviews and one teacher of English language from the selected class in each school was automatically selected to take part in the study. Data was collected using pupils’ focus group interviews and teacher questionnaires. The study found out that teachers face challenges in enforcing English as the medium of instruction in upper primary schools, all the teachers agreed that they make efforts to make their pupils aware of the need to use English for communication both in and outside class and finally most of the pupils reported that they experience difficulties in using English only during English lessons. Keywords: Challenges, Enforcing, English, Medium of Instruction, Upper Primar

Role of Leadership Behaviour in Sustainability: Financial Services Sector Players

The financial and economic crises that have been witnessed in many parts of the globe over the last two decades coupled with climatic and environmental changes, have necessitated new and innovative approaches by financial services sector players to create a better future. This paper addresses the missing link between economic, social and environmental sustainability on the one hand; and corporate social responsibility, green internal processes and green product development on the other. The paper reviews extant literature on progress already achieved in this area and proposes a new conceptual framework to guide modeling and measurement of sustainability and its predictor variables, going forward. It introduces leadership behaviour as a moderator of the mediated relationship between corporate social responsibility, green internal processes and green product development; and sustainability. In conclusion, the paper discusses the impact of leadership behaviour and recommends that empirical studies be carried out in order to escalate the sustainability agenda from a mere theoretical concept, to a practical level. Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Green Internal Processes, Green Product Development, Green Finance, Economic Sustainability, Social Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, Leadership Behaviou

Spatial statistical analysis of dissatisfaction with the performance of local government in the Gauteng City-Region, South Africa

South Africa in general, and the Gauteng City-Region in particular, are grappling with rising service delivery protests and increasing levels of dissatisfaction with government performance. Besides internal government performance measures, citizen satisfaction surveys are useful in providing citizen-based measurement of satisfaction with service delivery and the performance of government. With 27 490 respondents across Gauteng, the 2013 Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) Quality of Life (QoL) survey provides an interesting snap shot of attitudes towards government. A spatial statistical approach is applied to the 2013 QoL survey data to analyse patterns of dissatisfaction with the performance of local government. The analysis reveals spatial clustering in the level of dissatisfaction with the performance of local government. It also reveals percentage of respondents dissatisfied with dwelling, mean sense of safety index, and percentage agree the country is going in the wrong direction, as significant predictors of the level of local dissatisfaction. Other predictors include the percentage of respondents that think lack of maintenance is the biggest problem facing the community, and percentage agree that politics is waste of time. These results imply the need for incorporating spatial analysis and targeting in the formulation of policy aimed at improving government performance

An Investigation into Factors Affecting Implementation of The Balanced Score Card in State Corporations in Kenya: A Case Study of Kenya Bureau of Standards

The study aimed to investigate factors affecting implementation of balanced scorecard in state corporations in Kenya, a case study of Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). The specific objectives were; to assess the mechanisms in place within the organization aimed at having successful implementation of balanced Score card; to determine whether job description, management employees’ supervisions and allocation of financial resources affect successive implementation of balanced score card. The study adopted a descriptive research design, the study population comprised of 120 staff working at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). The study applied a probability sampling design and stratified random sampling technique to select a sample size of 60 respondents. The data collected through questioning method where questionnaires were used as the main data collection instrument. The study used descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the gathered data using a Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The analyzed findings were finally presented in tables. The study found out that implementation of balanced score card in many Kenyan state corporations was the major problem that also affected the level of state corporations performance in terms of effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery. The study drew conclusion that the key notable factors hindering the success of BSC implementation in includes; poor employees job description, low level of top management support, poor employee supervision and inadequate financial resources. The study recommended that the management should undertake effective job analysis in order to effectively carry out employee’s job description. The implementation of a BSC should always be organized as a separate project should follow the nine steps as outlined by Balanced Score Card Institute

Moderating Variables On SMEs Strategies And Competitiveness For International Trade: A Survey Of Horticultural Traders In Urban And Peri-Urban Areas In Kenya

Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME) strategy and competitiveness in international trade in developing countries context have not been fully explored. This paper posits that SMEs competitiveness as a result of its strategy is moderated by an array of internal and external factors. Accordingly, this paper examines key moderating variables on the SMEs strategies as a construct that influence enterprise competitiveness. The objectives of the paper are three fold: to identify the moderating factors on SME strategies and competitiveness, to evaluate the level and extent of moderation of such variables and to evaluate the relationship between enterprise strategy and competitiveness. The hypotheses were developed and tested using data collected using survey of traders in the urban and peri-urban areas of Uasin Gishu District, Kenya. Systematic random sampling technique was used to pick 50 of the 200 traders in the market. Data was collected using self-administered structured questionnaire to the respondents. Factor analysis was used to extract latent factors and provide an understanding of structures and identify the moderating factors. Further, linear multiple regression analysis was performed on the extracted factors against sales volume as a measure of competitiveness. This was used in the assessment of various dimensions of the enterprise performance of SMES. Ten factors with high eigen values of more than one were extracted. The regression model could not provide conclusive results on the effect of strategy on competitiveness, but could be indicative of the complexity of the underlying interactions

The Optimization of Maize yield Production Using Simplex Lattice Design for Third Degree Mixture Model

This study involved mixture experiment for fertilizer components in maize crop production. Researchers in agriculture have conducted research on maize plants with different levels of single fertilizers with a view of obtaining an appropriate amount for optimal yield. However, studies based on fertilizer blending are not very common. This has left farmers with no option other than to continue applying fertilizer in random proportions that may not guarantee the optimal yield with respect to fertilizer components available. The objectives was to determine appropriate statistical models expressing the maize yield as response variable and to evaluate optimal sets of mixture of fertilizer components that could maximize the response variables of interest. Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Poultry manure (guano), Sheep manure, and Farmyard manure were the four independent variables to optimize the response value of the maize yield. Mixture experiments entail the blending of these components to determine if synergism exists in the mixture or blends of these fertilizer components. The statistical model formulated for the maize yield demonstrates the effects of each component and the interaction with other components displaying the trend of the response parameter. From the model, it can be concluded that farmyard manure and poultry manure have greater effect on the production of maize yield and hence, this study conclusively attained the optimal conditions of 6.67 tons ha-1of farmyard manure mixed with 1.3467 tons ha-1 of poultry manure. Under these conditions, the farmer achieves maximum output of 12.17 tons ha-1 of maize yield. The study upholds that mixture experiments are appropriate in modeling agricultural production involving various independent parameters that produces synergetic effect on the output parameter. KEY WORDS: Maize yield; Fertilizer; Model; Mixture experiment; Simplex Lattice Design. DOI: 10.7176/MTM/9-7-07 Publication date: July 31st 201

Application of Simplex Lattice Design in Maize Fodder Production

This study involved mixture experiment using simplex lattice design approach in cultivation of Maize crop with the view of optimizing the fertilizer components (dependent variables) on the output parameter (maize fodder). The objective of this study was to evaluate optimal sets of mixture of fertilizer components that could maximize the response variables of interest. Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Poultry manure, Sheep manure, and Farmyard manure components mixed in various proportions in accordance with simplex lattice design were applied in planting hybrid maize seeds. With the application of the special cubic statistical model formulated, it was found that farmyard manure and poultry manure produced the optimal fertilizer condition. However, the this study further provided specific optimal fertilizer blend for maize fodder production as 8.0 tons ha-1of farmyard manure mixed with 1.212 tons ha-1 of poultry manure. Under these conditions, a maximum outputs 42 tons ha-1 of maize fodder were realized. The study concluded that the formulation of statistical model for crop production could be useful for prediction and evaluation of the effects of experimental factors. KEY WORDS: Maize fodder; Fertilizer components; Model; Mixture experiment; Simplex Lattice Design; DOI: 10.7176/MTM/9-7-05 Publication date: July 31st 2019