Data capture of geometric data for local authorities' geographic information systems

Bibliography: leaves 64-65.This thesis describes research and development work which led to algorithms, procedures and computer programs which facilitate the cost effective and accurate capture of geometric data. The geometric data for a Geographical Information System (GIS) at a local authority or municipality consist of a number of different data sets. These include inter alia: the cadastral information, zoning information, servitudes, building lines, the outlines of improvements and the reticulation networks and the house connection points of the engineering services. The initial capture of the geometric data appears to be deceptively simple and is often not given the required consideration. The initial data capture phase of GIS projects is usually a difficult and time consuming process. This is even more so in the case of GIS for local authorities. The reason for this difficulty is the large volume of data coupled with the high accuracies required for the cadastral base map and the engineering services. Input facilities of most commercial GIS software packages generally do not provide the most efficient means of data capture. This problem warrants the development of techniques and procedures specific to local authority GIS applications which ensure that data capture can be done effectively and efficiently. The major benefit of these procedures is that they can be implemented on personal computers with low random access memory capacity. This eliminates the need for investment in costly equipment at the initial stage of data capture in the development of a GIS. It allows the capture of data on low cost technology and the postponement of the purchase of an expensive system or workstation until the data capture phase has been completed. The lowest personnel skills required are copy typing in contrast to the traditional methods of using CAD operators who command higher salaries and require more expensive training. The system developed by the author is more productive, both in quality and volume of work produced, than the CAD approach. It also permits the delay of purchase and training on expensive GIS software and hardware, which may be obsolete by the time the graphic database is established

An explorative study of serial rape and victimisation risk in South Africa.

Serial rape attracts much media attention and has become a topic of increased interest and concern. However, both locally and internationally, there is a paucity of empirically based research. The limited research which exists often does not focus on the victim as a “subject” which could contribute to solving existing cases or in curtailing the serial rapist. In this article, socio-demographic characteristics of 75 victims of serial rape, and how they were selected by the rapist were used to construct a general profile of the people who are the targets of the serial rapist. Factors or contexts which put women at risk are also identified and investigated. Comparisons are made between the characteristics of the victims of serial rapists in other countries, while comparisons are also made between the victims of single-victim rapists and those of the serial rapist. Of great concern is, amongst others, that the results indicate that in South Africa a large number of victims of the serial rapist are girl children. Limitations of the research are indicated, while a suggestion for future research concludes the article

An exploratory analysis of serial rape in South Africa

This study is the first of its kind to explore the phenomenon of serial rape from a behavioural profiling perspective within the South African context. The dearth of scientific research on serial rape in South Africa has impacted negatively on the recognition and investigation of such cases. The data set for the study consisted of police dockets, victim statements, court transcripts, detectives’ reports, and correctional services reports on nine serial rapists who assaulted and/or raped a total of seventy five victims. A behavioural profiling framework that was developed from existing literature was used to systematically analyse the victim and offender data using both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques. Initial victim and offender profiles were constructed using key elements such as age, population group, modus operandi, and sexual behaviour of the offenders. The initial results showed that the South African serial rapists typically exhibit the same behavioural elements reported in international literature with respect to aspects such as the methods of approach utilised, average age of the victims, ages of the offenders, offender – victim relationship, and sexual acts. However, the research also illustrated that South African serial rapists also displayed some behavioural aspects that have not been reported in international literature. In particular, South African serial rapists approach and attack their victims at two different locations. The research also showed that South African serial rapists are more willing to target victims outside their own populations groups. Young children also appear to be targeted more frequently by the South African serial rapists. The South African offenders also employed a new method of approaching the intended victim (i.e. the delayed-con approach). The results are discussed in terms of the extent to which the behavioural patterns, similarities and differences with observations made in international literature, and current police practices with respect to the investigation of serial rape in South Africa could be utilised to enhance investigative processes. Also, specific areas in need of further examination are identified, as are strategies that could assist in decreasing the occurrence of ‘linkage blindness’ in serial rape investigations in South Africa.Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2009.Psychologyunrestricte

Local properties of graphs

We say a graph is locally P if the induced graph on the neighbourhood of every vertex has the property P. Specically, a graph is locally traceable (LT) or locally hamiltonian (LH) if the induced graph on the neighbourhood of every vertex is traceable or hamiltonian, respectively. A locally locally hamiltonian (L2H) graph is a graph in which the graph induced by the neighbourhood of each vertex is an LH graph. This concept is generalized to an arbitrary degree of nesting, to make it possible to work with LkH graphs. This thesis focuses on the global cycle properties of LT, LH and LkH graphs. Methods are developed to construct and combine such graphs to create others with desired properties. It is shown that with the exception of three graphs, LT graphs with maximum degree no greater than 5 are fully cycle extendable (and hence hamiltonian), but the Hamilton cycle problem for LT graphs with maximum degree 6 is NP-complete. Furthermore, the smallest nontraceable LT graph has order 10, and the smallest value of the maximum degree for which LT graphs can be nontraceable is 6. It is also shown that LH graphs with maximum degree 6 are fully cycle extendable, and that there exist nonhamiltonian LH graphs with maximum degree 9 or less for all orders greater than 10. The Hamilton cycle problem is shown to be NP-complete for LH graphs with maximum degree 9. The construction of r-regular nonhamiltonian graphs is demonstrated, and it is shown that the number of vertices in a longest path in an LH graph can contain a vanishing fraction of the vertices of the graph. NP-completeness of the Hamilton cycle problem for LkH graphs for higher values of k is also investigated.Mathematical SciencesD. Phil. (Mathematics

A psychosocial perspective on the personality development of the serial murderer

The phenomenon of serial murder is a crime characterised by a paucity of scientific information and an excess of popularised fictional material, contributing to the existence of inaccurate perceptions of serial murder. Although serial murder has been committed since the fourteenth century it only gained notoriety with the intense media coverage of the Jack the Ripper case in 1888. One of the most important reasons for society’s morbid fascination with this phenomenon is because of the view of it as a “motiveless crime”. Available literature shows that research undertaken to determine the origin and the motivation behind serial homicide generally focuses on singular aspects of serial murder. In most cases the research is directed by theories of the psychoanalytic school, most notably that of Sigmund Freud. Another research approach is to develop models and methods for classifying serial killers. Despite the value of these models and the research that has been done the information they can provide is limited. In most cases the research and the models focus on singular aspects associated with the development of serial murderers, for example, the internal conflicts experienced by the child. The goal of this study is to determine which internal and external factors influence the personality development of the serial murderer. The research therefore focuses on how these factors were internalised and expressed behaviourally by the individual. To achieve this the psychosocial perspective, which consisted of three psychological theories, was used to determine the role of both internal and external influences in the personality development of the individual. The method of research deemed most suitable to undertake the study is the qualitative approach, and more specifically the explanatory case study method. The data for the research was obtained by using a semi-structured interview and relevant documentation concerning each of the two case studies. Seven research questions were formulated to find answers to the personality development of the serial murderer and his behaviour. The questions were also formulated to ensure the validity of the data and to substantiate the findings based on the psychosocial perspective. The psychosocial perspective was used to analyse the two case studies and to compile a detailed explanation for the personality development and the personality structure of each of the serial murderers. The three psychological theories were combined in such a way that it could show the influence of internal and external factors on the personality development. This included the influence of the family atmosphere as well as behaviour and personality types that developed. In conclusion the extent to which answers were obtained regarding the seven research questions and the extent to which the aim of the research has been achieved is highlighted. Finally recommendations are made concerning future research and possible areas on which researchers should focus.Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Psychologyunrestricte

Time dependent properties of thermoplastic protein produced from bloodmeal with sodium sulphite as an anti-crosslinking agent

The aim of this research was to investigate how the time dependent mechanical behaviour of bloodmeal-based thermoplastic was affected by varying sodium sulphite content at two injection moulding temperatures (120°C at exit or 140°C at exit). Thermoplastic protein was prepared by extrusion with 2, 3 or 4g sodium sulphite (SS), 3g sodium dodecyl sulphate, 10 g urea, 20 g triethylene glycol and 40 g water per 100 g bloodmeal, then injection moulded into test specimens. Pull to break, creep and stress relaxation tests were performed on conditioned samples and glass transition temperature (Tg) was determined by dynamic mechanical analysis. Ultimate tensile strength was 7.9, 7.6 and 5.6 MPa for samples moulded at 120°C and 7.6, 6.3 and 5.7 MPa when moulded at 140°C with 2, 3 and 4 g SS respectively. Experimental creep data was modelled with a 4 element model, consisting of a spring and dashpot in parallel, in series with an additional spring and dashpot. Plotting creep compliance versus time showed increasing chain mobility as SS content increased. Relaxation was modelled with the Struik equation for short-time experiments. Relaxation times were 530, 360 and 250 s with 2, 3 and 4 g SS respectively when moulded at the lower temperature. At 140°C, relaxation times were 440, 430 and 190 s for these SS contents. Tg was in the range 57-65°C (1 Hz peak in tanδ) for all samples, but was lowest for samples with 4 g SS. These results show that both increased sodium sulphite and the higher moulding temperature increased chain mobility in the processed plastic

Nested locally Hamiltonian graphs and the Oberly-Sumner conjecture

Please read abstract in the article.The DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (CoE-MaSS) and the National Research Foundation of S.A.https://www.dmgt.uz.zgora.plam2023Mathematics and Applied Mathematic

A descriptive study of the modus operandi of serial rapists in South Africa.

This article reflects research of which the aim is to increase our collective knowledge of the modus operandi of serial rapists in South Africa in an attempt to contribute to the prevention and prosecution of perpetrators. The sample consists of 22 convicted cases of serial rapists and reflects 204 victims. The authors note that a mere understanding of the modus operandi of serial rapists is not sufficient to fully understand the behavior of these perpetrators. However, they draw attention to the argument that understanding the perpetrator’s modus operandi has been recognized by both criminal investigators and academics as making a valuable contribution to understanding crimes, including that of serial rapists. A behavioural checklist was developed to provide assistance with accounting for the chronological pattern of the crime from the time of victim acquisition to the actual attack. The rational choice perspective and routine activity theory were then used as an organizing framework within which to analyse the strategies of the perpetrator. The results indicated that the modus operandi exhibited by a group of serial rapists in South Africa differs from offenders in other countries. Aspects of the routine activity theory is contextualized and utilized to interpret the current findings. The authors highlight shortcomings of the current research and suggest how the current findings should form the basis of further research

ENT from afar : opportunities for remote patient assessment, clinical management, teaching and learning

Remote communication in ENT has been expanding, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conferences and teaching have moved online, enabling easier participation and reducing financial and environmental costs. Online multi-disciplinary meetings have recently been instigated in Africa to discuss management of cases in head and neck cancer, or cochlear implantation, expanding access and enhancing patient care. Remote patient consultation has also seen an explosion, but existing literature suggests some caution, particularly because many patients in ENT need an examination to enable definitive diagnosis. Ongoing experience will help us to better understand how remote communication will fit into our future working lives, and also where face-to-face interaction may still be preferable.http://www.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/coahj2022Speech-Language Pathology and Audiolog