Memel: an exploratory study of the workings and economic dynamics of a very small South African town

Small towns represent a neglected area of study in South Africa, particularly those with a population of less than 5000 people. This report attempts to respond to this gap and gain a greater understanding of the workings and economic dynamics of very small towns in South Africa, their prospects for future growth and development, and how they might be dealt with by policy-makers and within policy agendas. By means of a survey of formal businesses, the report explores a case study of the role, function, workings and economic dynamics of the very small South African town of Memel in the eastern Free State – a town with a population of less than 500 people. While the town appears to be largely economically stagnant, yet stable - as it has been for much of its 99 year existence - it has undergone a small economic transformation in recent years - perhaps highlighting its latent potential for growth and development. This, however, is contrasted by a burgeoning indigent population in the town’s adjacent informal settlement – a population largely reliant on state welfare for survival. This situation has encouraged some local residents to try to stimulate local growth and development in the town, through a number of grassroots strategies and initiatives. They have achieved little success, however, due to a general lack of government support and assistance. Thus, the report calls for a more prominent role to be played by, not only local, but all levels of government in the growth and development of this, and other small South African towns. Moreover, the report also advocates for an overarching small town policy in South Africa to fill the current policy ‘vacuum’ that exists in this aren

Catalog of Lunar Craters I

This catalog gives the selenographic coordinates of all craters observable on a selected portion of the moon's surface. The diameter of the crater together with comments on shape are also given. Approximately 25 per cent of the craters have been measured previously by other observers. The catalog gives the position found in the present series of measurements and the name adopted by the International Astronomical Union

Biodiversity of nematode assemblages from the region of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, an area of commercial mining interest

BACKGROUND: The possibility for commercial mining of deep-sea manganese nodules is currently under exploration in the abyssal Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone. Nematodes have potential for biomonitoring of the impact of commercial activity but the natural biodiversity is unknown. We investigate the feasibility of nematodes as biomonitoring organisms and give information about their natural biodiversity. RESULTS: The taxonomic composition (at family to genus level) of the nematode fauna in the abyssal Pacific is similar, but not identical to, the North Atlantic. Given the immature state of marine nematode taxonomy, it is not possible to comment on the commonality or otherwise of species between oceans. The between basin differences do not appear to be directly linked to current ecological factors. The abyssal Pacific region (including the Fracture Zone) could be divided into two biodiversity subregions that conform to variations in the linked factors of flux to the benthos and of sedimentary characteristics. Richer biodiversity is associated with areas of known phytodetritus input and higher organic-carbon flux. Despite high reported sample diversity, estimated regional diversity is less than 400 species. CONCLUSION: The estimated regional diversity of the CCFZ is a tractable figure for biomonitoring of commercial activities in this region using marine nematodes, despite the immature taxonomy (i.e. most marine species have not been described) of the group. However, nematode ecology is in dire need of further study

Informing Practice Through Professional Development: An Interstate Urban Programming Study Tour

Southeast Pennsylvania 4-H Extension educators identified a need for professional development in order to further develop current urban 4-H programs. The expectation was that increased awareness and knowledge would lead to increased skills competency in planning, implementing, and evaluating urban 4-H youth development programs. An interstate professional development program was developed to inform practitioners on positive youth development in urban communities. The 2-day program included on-site observations of urban programs and professional development on best practices. The event was scheduled as a study tour that involved intentional focus on practical applications of research theory for informal education. The Penn State Extension 4-H Urban Study Tour included on-site observations, program development, and networking leading to the successful development of action plans for local implementation. The program was evaluated for impact using pre- and post-tour survey tools. Results suggest that the participants gained value from the professional development study tour, thus similar opportunities may be warranted

4-H Summer of STEM: A Practical Approach to Increasing Workforce Readiness

4-H Summer of STEM is a workforce readiness program for high school youth. The goals of the program are to increase students’ interest in STEM careers, improve college and workforce readiness, and connect youth to businesses and industries in the local community. Selected youth receive hands-on development of workforce readiness skills, are paired with a STEM mentor for job shadowing, and participate in college campus visits. Preliminary findings show that participants reported having a positive relationship between participation in 4-H youth development programs and career skills. This article introduces the 4-H Summer of STEM and offers suggestions for implementation

The discipline’s escalating whisper: Social work and black men’s mental health.

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117270/1/29. Watkins Hawkins Mitchell, 2014.pdfDescription of 29. Watkins Hawkins Mitchell, 2014.pdf : Main articl

Factors associated with cancer family history communication between African American men and their relatives

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117265/1/Cancer family history communicaton 2013 JMS.pdfDescription of Cancer family history communicaton 2013 JMS.pdf : Main articl

AMPHIBIAN RESPONSE TO A LARGE-SCALE HABITAT RESTORATION IN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION

Over the next half-century, scientists anticipate that nearly one third of the currently recognized 7,450 amphibian species will become extinct. Many organizations have responded to the challenge of conserving amphibian biodiversity, some indirectly. Under the auspices of the Iowa Great Lakes Management Plan, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Natural Resources, and their partners have been implementing habitat restoration efforts designed to protect water quality, provide recreational opportunities, and benefit wildlife at the regional level. With this program, over 130 wetlands have been created in the past 30 years on recently purchased public lands—one of the largest wetland restoration projects conducted in the Prairie Pothole Region of the Great Plains. While amphibians were not the main target of these restorations, we show that in response, 121 new breeding populations of native Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates pipiens; n = 80) and Eastern Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum; n = 41) have been established; in addition, we found 19 populations of non-native American Bullfrogs (L. catesbeianus). Using the program PRESENCE, we show that leopard frog occupancy was greatest in newer (<18 years old), intermediate-sized wetlands, and that tiger salamander occupancy was greatest in small wetlands without fish and larval bullfrogs. These data imply that because native amphibians responded positively to these newly established wetlands, habitat availability has likely been a factor in limiting population numbers. Further, these data suggest the presence of fishes and introduced bullfrogs interferes with the ability of tiger salamanders to colonize restored wetlands

Physical and Mental Health Interventions for Black Men in the United States

The authors review the physical and mental health interventions for black men in the United States, with an aim to inform the knowledge needed to develop culturally sensitive and gender-specific health interventions for those individuals. This field scan also provides an important basis for policy decisions regarding physical and mental health services, and in designing interventions that will be most effective for subgroups of black men

Public geographies II: being organic

This second report on ‘public geographies' considers the diverse, emergent and shifting spaces of engaging with and in public/s. Taking as its focus the more ‘organic’ rather than ‘traditional’ approach to doing public geography, as discussed in the first report, it explores the multiple and unorthodox ways in which engagements across academic-public spheres play out, and what such engagements may mean for geography/ers. The report first explores the role of the internet in ‘enabling conversations', generating a range of opportunities for public geography through websites, wikis, blogs, file-sharing sites, discussion forums and more, thinking critically about how technologies may enable/disable certain kinds of publically engaged activities. It then considers issues of process and praxis: how collaborations with groups/communities/organizations beyond academia are often unplanned, serendipitous encounters that evolve organically into research/learning/teaching endeavours; but also that personal politics/positionality bring an agency to bear upon whether we, as academics, follow the leads we may stumble upon. The report concludes with a provocative question – given that many non-academics appear to be doing some amazing and inspiring projects and activities, thoughtful, critical and (arguably) examples of organic public geographies, what then is academia’s role