University of St. Thomas uses AHP to grow operations management major

Our study describes how one business school department used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to identify and rank factors most influencing students’ choice of business school concentrations. Using a series of pairwise comparison matrices as the survey instrument, we identified characteristics associated with a student’s personal abilities and goals as the most important factor influencing a student’s choice in majors. The factors were then mapped with student touch points (e.g., campus events, information sessions, etc.) in an effort to directly influence those factors most affecting students’ decision making and increase departmental enrolment numbers. The result was a near 120% increase in operations management enrolment upon the completion of the project

'New Bradfield': rerouting rivers to recapture a pioneering spirit

[Extract] The "New Bradfield" scheme is more than an attempt to transcend environmental reality. It seeks to revive a pioneering spirit and a nation-building ethos supposedly stifled by the bureaucratic inertia of modern Australia

Which prophylactic therapies best prevent gout attacks?

Q. Which prophylactic therapies best prevent gout attacks? A. Allopurinol and febuxostat reduce the frequency of gout attacks equally after 8 weeks of treatment (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, multiple randomized control trials [RCTs] with limitations). Intravenous pegloticase decreases serum uric acid and gout attacks and improves quality of life (QOL) (SOR: A, 2 RCTs). Colchicine reduces gout attacks when combined with probenecid or allopurinol at the start of urate-lowering therapy (SOR: B, 1 high-quality and 1 low-quality RCT)

Provision and need of HIV/AIDS services in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, 2010

Objectives. To determine the need for HIV/AIDS service provision in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM), especially in municipal areas. Methods. The Foundation for Professional Development initiated the Compass Project. Using a questionnaire, data were collected during May - June 2010 from organisations providing HIV/AIDS services in the CTMM (organisational information and types of HIV/AIDS services). The need for HIV counselling and testing (HCT), antiretroviral treatment (ART), prevention of mother-tochild transmission (PMTCT), and care for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) was estimated using data from various sources. Results. A total of 447 service providers was included in the study: 72.3% non-governmental organisations (NGOs); 18.1% in the public sector; 5.1% in the private sector; and 4.5% faithbased organisations. The majority of the prevention- (70.2%) and support-related services (77.4%) were provided by NGOs, while the majority of treatment-related services originated from the public sector (57.3%). Service need estimates included: HCT – 1 435 438 adults aged 15 - 49 years (11 127/service provider); total ART – 75 211 adults aged 15+ years (1 213/service provider); ART initiation – 30 713 adults aged 15+ years (495/service provider); PMTCTHCT – 30 092 pregnant women (510/service provider); PMTCTART – 7 734 HIV+ pregnant women (221/service provider); and OVC care – 54 590 children (258/service provider). Conclusions. Service gaps remain in the provision of HCT, PMTCT-ART and OVC care. ART provision must be increased, in light of new treatment guidelines from the Department of Health.S Afr Med J 2012;102:44-4

Mental health outcomes and shared experiences of refugee and migrant women following exposure to xenophobic violence: a mixed methods study

Text in EnglishDisasters are global phenomena, often occurring without warning and with physical and psychological consequences among those affected. In May 2008, refugee and migrants living in South Africa were exposed to xenophobic violence, which may be described as a human caused disaster using the Shultz, Espinel et al. (2008) definition of disaster. Refugee and migrant women were particularly vulnerable during this time due to heightened risk for exposure to violence and pathology. During 2014, a mixed methods convergent study was conducted in Johannesburg to determine the presence of acute stress disorder symptoms (ASD), posttraumatic growth (PTG) and experiences of xenophobic violence among refugee and migrant women. One hundred and three refugee and migrant women completed a selfadministered questionnaire, while semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with a sub-set of 22 women.The quantitative results showed a positive, linear association between moderate ASD-total symptoms, as assessed by the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ) (Cardeña, Classen, Koopman, & Spiegel, 2014) and moderate posttraumatic growth-total, assessed by the posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996). All ASD symptom subscales were predictors of posttraumatic growth. The qualitative results from both the SASRQ open-ended responses and semi-structured responses showed that refugee and migrant women were adversely affected by the xenophobic violence, with a prevailing fear that the xenophobic violence would re-occur. There was convergence in the quantitative findings and the qualitative findings for the pathological and adaptive outcomes. Policymakers must address xenophobic violence by working towards prevention of this type of violence. In instances where policies fail to address or prevent xenophobic violence, disaster programmes should consider xenophobic violence in disaster planning. Further to this, mental health intervention programmes should not only focus on alleviating ASD symptoms but also emphasise enhancing PTG.PsychologyM.A. (SS (Psychology)

Exploring sequence-function space in the Old Yellow Enzyme superfamily

Biotechnology and bioinformatics have made it increasingly apparent that there is a vast wealth of protein ‘dark matter’, i.e., sequence and functional information that is yet to be discovered and harnessed for fundamental or applied gains. For example, the superfamily of Old Yellow Enzymes (OYEs) with ~88 characterized enzymes in the literature, is shockingly underexplored, despite \u3e85 years of research and their proven industrial application. We have applied large scale bioinformatic and synthetic biology approaches to systematically sample and functionally characterize \u3e120 representatives across the entire OYE superfamily, which is comprised of \u3e70,000 members. Our efforts have more than doubled the current OYE knowledgebase and have yielded native biocatalysts with improved activity and expanded substrate specificity. Furthermore, our multidisciplinary approach serves as an adaptable pipeline for the analysis of other superfamilies, improving the current standard of investigative processes for the field. The comprehensive characterization of enzyme superfamilies, especially those with proven biocatalysis capabilities, offers tremendous opportunities for future developments of green and sustainable chemical processes

Provision and need of HIV/AIDS services in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, 2010

Objectives. To determine the need for HIV/AIDS service provision in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM), especially in municipal areas. Methods. The Foundation for Professional Development initiated the Compass Project. Using a questionnaire, data were collected during May - June 2010 from organisations providing HIV/AIDS services in the CTMM (organisational information and types of HIV/AIDS services). The need for HIV counselling and testing (HCT), antiretroviral treatment (ART), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), and care for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) was estimated using data from various sources. Results. A total of 447 service providers was included in the study: 72.3% non-governmental organisations (NGOs); 18.1% in the public sector; 5.1% in the private sector; and 4.5% faith-based organisations. The majority of the prevention- (70.2%) and support-related services (77.4%) were provided by NGOs, while the majority of treatment-related services originated from the public sector (57.3%). Service need estimates included: HCT – 1 435 438 adults aged 15 - 49 years (11 127/service provider); total ART – 75 211 adults aged 15+ years (1 213/service provider); ART initiation – 30 713 adults aged 15+ years (495/service provider); PMTCT-HCT – 30 092 pregnant women (510/service provider); PMTCT-ART – 7 734 HIV+ pregnant women (221/service provider); and OVC care – 54 590 children (258/service provider). Conclusions. Service gaps remain in the provision of HCT, PMTCT-ART and OVC care. ART provision must be increased, in light of new treatment guidelines from the Department of Health

Nine Strategies to Guide Efforts to Reduce Youth Gun Violence

Gun violence, including that perpetrated by young people, is a pernicious problem for many communities, particularly those facing historically high levels of concentrated disadvantage and disinvestment. To effectively address youth gun violence and establish and maintain peace, communities need stable safety infrastructures and effective interventions.We developed a research-based practice guide to help local governments, law enforcement agencies, and antiviolence organizations determine how to shape their approaches to reducing gun violence perpetrated by young people ages 10 to 25 in gangs or groups. Here, we summarize the guide's recommendations on how to develop effective interventions and build a broader safety infrastructure that supports the success of different partners working to protect young people and communities from gun violence