22 research outputs found
Policy making and energy infrastructure change: A Nigerian case study of energy governance in the electricity sector
This paper focusses on investigating the underlying mechanisms and influences of the policy decision making
process and how it affects and impacts the governance of the Nigerian energy industry, and energy
infrastructure provisions. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used; all interviewees had been involved,
directly or indirectly, in energy infrastructure policy decisions in Nigeria. Five key themes subsequently emerged
as salient intra-country induced influences that were affecting the governance and performance of the Nigerian
energy sector: (1) competencies – i.e. practical knowledge of energy policy making; (2) expectations – i.e. past,
present, and forecasted future expectations from the energy industry; (3) legislation – i.e. institutionalized (and
unwritten) rules/procedures; (4) future visions – i.e. future vision of the energy industry/energy market; (5)
recruiting experts – i.e. recruiting new energy and public policy makers. In addition, three major inter-country
induced influences were also identified: (1) the changing dynamics of international and foreign aid; (2) the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; and (3) the Paris Agreements on Climate Change. The paper
concludes by highlighting the policy implications of these influences, and the consequences for policy makers in
the governance of the energy industry in ensuring a secured energy future
Informed consent for HIV cure research in South Africa: issues to consider
Background: South Africa has made great progress in the development of HIV/AIDS testing, treatment and prevention campaigns. Yet, it is clear that prevention and treatment campaigns alone are not enough to bring this epidemic under control.
Discussion: News that the “Berlin patient” and the “Mississippi baby” have both been “cured” of HIV brought hope to people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa that a cure for HIV/AIDS is within reach. Despite the recent setbacks announced in the “Mississippi Baby” case, protocols aimed at curing HIV/AIDS are being developed in South Africa. However with evidence to suggest that participants in clinical trials do not understand the basic concepts in the informed consent process, there is concern that future participants in HIV/AIDS cure research will lack comprehension of the basic elements of future clinical trials that aims to cure HIV/AIDS and confuse research with clinical care.
Summary: Research ethics committees have an important role to play in ensuring that participants understand the basic concepts discussed in the informed consent process, that they understand that research is not clinical care and they are unlikely to benefit from any early phase trials seeking to cure HIV/AIDS
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Robust image analysis with sparse representation on quantized visual features
10.1109/TIP.2012.2219543IEEE Transactions on Image Processing223860-871IIPR