On the horns of a dilemma: experts as communicators for property-level flood risk adaptation measures

This paper investigates the role of flood risk experts in supporting homeowners to implement property-level flood risk adaption (PLFRA). Homeowners can reduce their flood risks by implementing PLFRA. However, oftentimes they need advice on what sort of and how to implement PLFRA. This means that tailored experts advice is necessary to inform homeowners on such measures. But experience shows that mere information is often insufficient to motivate homeowners to realize measures. This contribution explores the reasons for the ineffectiveness of expert advice by investigating how expert advice responds to homeowners’ rationalities. Based on a case study from Flanders, Belgium, this paper reveals how the relation between experts and homeowners differs related to different rationalities of homeowners. The paper uses Cultural Theory to discuss strategies on how experts, providing advice on property-level risk adaption, could move beyond engineering skills by also using risk communication skills in order to involve homeowners in flood risk governance

Monitoring muscle oxygenation and myoelectric activity after damage-inducing exercise

In this thesis, three experiments were conducted to monitor: (i) muscle oxygenation and electromyographic activity of the biceps brachii after exercise-induced muscle damage (ii) muscle oxygenation after downhill walking-induced muscle damage, and, (iii) muscle oxygenation following a bout of vigorous concentric exercise. Maximal eccentric exercise (EE) of biceps brachii resulted in significantly increased mean resting oxygen saturation and decreased deoxyhaemoglobin. During isometric contractions at 50% and 80% of subjects’ maximum voluntary torque (MVT), oxygen desaturation and resaturation kinetics and volume were significantly decreased after EE, and these declines were significantly prevalent over the following 6 days. Additionally, a significant shift in median frequency intercept (measured by electromyography; EMG) towards lower frequencies was observed during isometric contractions at both 50% and 80% MVT after EE in the exercised arm. After an exhaustive session of downhill walking, another form of EE, resting total haemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin decreased. Furthermore, during isometric contractions at 30%, 50% and 80% of MVT, prolonged and significant increases were observed in oxygen desaturation and resaturation kinetics and volumes after ambulatory EE. In contrast to the two EE experiments, concentric contractions did not evoke any prolonged changes in muscle oxygenation. Collectively, the findings of this thesis revealed significant and prolonged changes in muscle oxygenation at rest and during exercise, following sessions of strenuous eccentric exercise. Although not clear, the possible mechanism responsible for the changes in muscle oxygenation after EE could be increased resting muscle oxygen utilization due to probable muscle damage and a subsequent requirement of energy demanding repair processes. Concentric exercise resulted in fatigue, but it did not affect muscle oxygenation. Although a prolonged reduction in EMG median frequency intercept was observed after EE, this was not closely time-associated with the biochemical, anthropometric or functional markers of muscle damage

Postcards from Nowhere

Socially constructed western hegemonic masculinities define man’s role in our culture. They become visually apparent in the way men dress and adorn themselves. The hegemonic male’s fashion is ‘generic’ in appearance, paralleling their social stereotype. These stereotypes are accentuated within magazines, also popular culture (music, film, entertainment etc), creating an idolised archetype. In consequence, these stereotypes create restrictions, limiting the choice and design of jewellery available to the hegemonic male. A consistent characteristic of the hegemonic male is the avoidance of beautiful things, in this case jewellery, due to its feminine connotations. This paper will analyse sub-cultures and their dress codes to develop an understanding of how and where men’s fashion jewellery fits in with western hegemonic masculinity. Through investigating three specific subcultures, hip-hop, punk and drag, the circumstance of men wearing and using jewellery is explored in conjunction with how these men represent their different ideal masculinities. This exploration raises points regarding the influences socially constructed norms have on jewellery design and how overt masculine personas seem to obtain the right to wear unconventional amounts of jewellery. My jewellery series, Artefacts From 3 Sites in Nowhere, reiterates the above research using it as a starting point to develop a collection of jewellery for men. The individual pieces are consciously designed to explore the boundaries of what is conventional and what is progressive in the fashion jewellery market. More specifically it aims to create an alternative choice for men who are willing to break social norms and decorate and beautify themselves

3. A Ceylon Embassy to Egypt

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Aspects of the biology of Mugilids in waters around Port Harcourt, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Aspects of the biology (species composition, Length - Weight relationships, condition factor, fecundity, and sex ratio) of Mugilids in waters around Port-Harcourt, Niger Delta were studied. Of the sampled population of Mugilidae, four species of mullet belonging to two genera were identified; Liza grandisquamus (33.55%), L.falcipinus (28.95%), Mugil curema (19.08%) and M. bananensis (18.42%). The mean sizes of all species ranged from 8.1 - 27.5cm total length and 6.10- 170.23g in weight. There was no significant difference P>0.05 between male and female in all four species in both length and weight. All species exhibited isometric growths while populations of L. grandisquamus and M. bananensis revealed negative allometric and positive functions respectively. There was also no significant variation P>0.05 in the Fulton condition factors between male and female in all species and among species. The highest absolute fecundity value of 211, 793 eggs was recorded in L. grandisquamus with a body weight of 71.80g and the best predictor of fecundity for all species was ovary weight, while males and females did not depart from a 1 : 1 sex ratio in all species

Food habits of Muglids from water around Port Harcourt

The food habits of four species of Muglidae, consisting of Liza grandisquamus, L falcipinus, Mugil curema and , were investigated using the frequency of occurrence and numerical methods of analysis. Also, Relative Gut Length (RGL) of fish specimen measured was calculated from fish gut length. Generally, the food consisted mainly diatoms, blue - green & green algae and detritus. Other food items included annelid, crustacea, nematode, insect parts, dinoflagellates and unidentified organisms. M. curema had the least Species Richness Index (2.827) while L grandisquamus had the highest (4.088). The Shanon - Wiener Diversity Index ranged 0.91 in M. curema to 1.03 in L. falcipinus, while Shanon's Index (HI]) ranged from 2.095 (M. curema) to 2.372(L falcipinus).The male M. bananesis had the least mean RGL of 2.48 ~c 0.17 while female L. falcipinus and L grandisquamus had the highest mean RLG of 3.31 ~c 0.13. The food items observed and the RGL suggest that the muglids studied were herbivorous or omnivorous

The Role of Council Committees in Promoting Financial Accountability

Financial accountability in municipalities is a critical aspect of municipal fiscal governance. It constitutes one of the fundamental roles exercised by the municipal council to ensure effective and efficient utilization of financial resources. Non-executive councilors organised through council committees are expected to shoulder the responsibility of exercising financial accountability. The Audit Committee is one of the committees established by municipal council to assist in holding the executive accountable for the manner in which municipal financial resources are managed.  These committees are created through various legislative regimes and municipal council Rules of Order.  The oversight committees had different outcomes with regard to financial accountability in different municipalities. The results of this research suggest that these committees they have not been very effective in exercising their responsibilities. The factors that contribute to accountability, transparency and regularity to ensure the effective functioning of these committees were explored.  Therefore, the following research question was posed to guide this research. What are the major underlying causes that contribute to financial accountability at the local level? What are the strengths and weaknesses of council committees and how they could contribute towards the strengthening of financial accountability? The Stellenbosch Municipality was used as a case study to explore the role of council committees in exercising financial accountability. The research findings revealed that there is need to establish a culture of openness, transparency and accountability.  Equally, the council committees must be empowered with the necessary authority and capacity to enable them to discharge their accountability function. Key Words: Municipal Council Committees, Financial accountability, Legislative Authority, Executive Authority, Budget process and Municipal Administration. DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-8-08 Publication date:August 31st 202

Decay Rate of Triaxially-Deformed Proton Emitters

The decay rate of a triaxially-deformed proton emitter is calculated in a particle-rotor model, which is based on a deformed Woods-Saxon potential and includes a deformed spin-orbit interaction. The wave function of the $I=7/2^{-}$ ground state of the deformed proton emitter $^{141}$Ho is obtained in the adiabatic limit, and a Green's function technique is used to calculate the decay rate and branching ratio to the first excited 2$^{+}$ state of the daughter nucleus. Only for values of the triaxial angle $\gamma$ $<5^{\circ}$ is good agreement obtained for both the total decay rate and the 2$^{+}$ branching ratio.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure

Quarantine alone or in combination with other public health measures to control COVID-19: A rapid Cochrane review

In March 2020, the South African government implemented various non-pharmacological prevention and control measures (e.g. isolation, social distancing and quarantine) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We summarise evidence from a rapid Cochrane review on the effect of quarantine alone v. quarantine plus combination measures to prevent transmission of and mortality caused by COVID-19. The findings show that when started earlier, quarantine combined with other prevention and control measures can be more effective than quarantine alone, and cost less