Comparative assessment of effectiveness of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems of Johannesburg and Tshwane

Abstract: Transport remains connected to our indigenous habitat, wellbeing and monetary thriving which rely upon good transport frameworks that provides effectiveness, comfort, fairness as well as affordability. Public transport is often framed as key component of building sustainable cities. Nonetheless, present estimations recommend that transport development is unjustifiable. Transport intimidates the social, economic, and our environmental future. Modifying as well as overseeing patterns of transport shows a critical issue which necessitates collaboration from participants at all governmental spheres. The study presents the critical review of literature of the relationship between public transport and sustainability with the purpose to comparatively assess the effectiveness of BRT systems of Johannesburg and Tshwane metropolitan cities. The study identifies the impacts, status quo, and benefits of this bus system, as well as its integration to other modes of transport. The study contributes to transport domain by identifying the key problems associated with sustainability of transport based on the perceptions and discussions of significant literature on transport. The attention is on connection amongst sustainable transport division and the sustainable development within South African setting...M.Ing. (Sustainable Urban Planning and Development

Leaders’ influence on collective action: An identity leadership perspective

What makes followers act collectively when called upon by their leaders? To answer this question, participants were randomly allocated to leader–follower relationships embedded either in a partisan group or a workgroup context; and the relationship between identity leadership and collective action through ingroup identification (Study 1: N = 293) or both ingroup identification and group-efficacy (Study 2: N = 338) were assessed. Based on the model of identity leadership, we predicted and found that identity leadership was positively related with intentions for collective action when called upon by the leader, both via ingroup identification and belief in group efficacy. As predicted, the social identity process for the effectiveness of identity leadership was more important in partisan groups than in workgroups. The efficacy related process was group context invariant. These results have implications for our understanding of group processes involved in the leadership in collective action.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Praxis Mapping: A methodology for evaluating the political impacts of international projects

This report describes the participatory development of a process we have used to consider the political implications of a climate justice project we worked on together from 2010 to 2013, called Strengthening the role of civil society in water sector governance towards climate change adaptation in African cities – Durban, Maputo, Nairobi (see http://ccaa.irisyorku.ca). This project was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) through their Climate Change Adaptation in Africa programme.This research was supported by the International Development Research Centr

Affordable moisturisers are effective in atopic eczema: A randomised controlled trial

Background. Many patients depend on moisturisers issued by public health services in the management of atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods. In a randomised controlled trial of patients with mild to moderate AD, aged 1 - 12 years, study 1 compared aqueous cream v. liquid paraffin (fragrance-free baby oil) as a soap substitute, all patients using emulsifying ointment as moisturiser, and study 2 compared four moisturisers, emulsifying ointment, cetomacrogol, white petroleum jelly and glycerine/petroleum (proportion 1:2; ‘the 1:2  moisturiser’), all using fragrance-free baby oil as soap substitute. Assessments were one quality of life and three AD severity scores, at baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12. Differences were compared using repeated measures of analysis of variance.Results. In both studies (120 children randomised, 20 in each group of the two trials) disease severity scores declined with time. The only significant difference was in one AD severity score (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) in study 1, both at baseline and over time (p=0.042 and p=0.022). The groups did not differ with regard to topical steroid use or side-effects. Itching from baby oil applied as soap was reported by four patients in the two studies, the petroleum jelly group had more dropouts than the 1:2 moisturiser group, although this was not statistically significant, and 110 patients (91.7%) completed the trial.Conclusions. The small sample limits generalisability, but the duration was longer than in most AD moisturiser studies. Fragrance-free baby oil as a soap substitute may be better tolerated (if irritation occurs) as a bath additive. The 1:2 moisturiser may be preferable to white petroleum jelly, but both are equivalent to cetomacrogol and emulsifying ointment. Use of accessible moisturisers could reduce the cost of managing mild to moderate AD

Investigating hair zinc concentrations in children with and without atopic dermatitis

Background. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition that disproportionately affects children and is associated with reduced quality of life. Zinc deficiency may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD because zinc plays a role in epidermal barrier integrity and the immune system. Systematic review evidence suggests that low zinc is associated with AD, but limitations of included studies support further investigation.Objectives. To investigate hair zinc concentrations in children with AD v. healthy controls in a low- to middle-income country setting.Methods. One hundred and five children aged 1 - 12 yea­rs participated in a frequency-matched for age case-control study. The outcome variable, AD, was confirmed by a clinician and corroborated using the UK Working Party criteria. The primary predictor, long-term average zinc concentration, was determined by measuring hair zinc using inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Baseline demographic characteristics, anthropometry and measures of socioeconomic status were included in our logistic regression analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed where interaction terms suggested effect modification.Results. Using data from the overall sample, population median hair zinc was not significantly different between children with AD and healthy controls. However, subgroup analysis suggested a clinically and statistically significant difference in median zinc between children with AD (175.35 µg/g) and healthy controls (206.4 µg/g) in the older age group (5 - 12 years) (p=0.01). In this age group, multivariable logistic regression analysis also found significantly decreased hair zinc concentrations in AD (odds ratio 0.83; 95% confidence interval 0.66 - 0.96; p=0.046).Conclusions. The inverse association between zinc status and AD in children aged 5 - 12 years in our setting is consistent with the international literature. The clinical importance of decreased zinc levels in AD is not yet known. Further investigation into relevant underlying mechanisms seems warranted given the global reach of AD, its effect on quality of life, and the low cost of potential zinc-based interventions.

Right to development : a collective African response to China's modus operandi in Africa?

In the 1960‟s, following independence, the Pan-African vision for developing the continent was envisioned to be possible through the instrumentality of the developmental state. Development became the passion of African leaders and the expectation of the people. After independence, in the 1980‟s, the post-independence nation state bolstered its apparatus, both structurally and ideologically to enable it to deliver on this mandate. Hardly two decades after independence, the African developmental state was heavily burdened with debt, failing in its developmental objectives. Once again African states found themselves at the mercy of its former colonial powers begging for financial aid.Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2010.A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Dr. Girmachew Aneme of the Faculty of Law, University of Addis- Ababa, Ethiopia. 2010.http://www.chr.up.ac.za/Centre for Human RightsLL

A methodology to assess the road accident risk as a result of direct sunlight exposure : a case study in Cape Town

The sun is most hazardous to drivers when it is close to the horizon, particularly within an hour time frame after sunrise (dawn) and before sunset (dusk). The position of the sun and the angle of the rays during this period can render sun visors inadequate. As a result, the risk of having an accident is increased, due to the interference with a driver?s ability to see the road ahead. This paper discusses a Geographic Information Systems-based methodology, which was used to determine the areas of the City of Cape Town road network that are exposed to direct sunlight (sun glare); thus creating a road safety risk. For an arbitrary position in the roadway alignment of the study area, the amount of sun glare risk for drivers was analysed for the 2014 equinox and solstice days. The results revealed that approximately 14.7% of the road network in the autumnal equinox and spring equinox is exposed to direct sunlight (sun glare risk), while 12.2% and 15.2% are exposed in the winter solstice and summer solstice, respectively. A case study carried out in one of the Cape Town streets proved that the methodology produces valid and reliable results. Therefore, results from this procedure can be an informative dimension to consider when evaluating existing roads or layout and alignment alternatives for new roads. In addition, the methodology can also be incorporated into car navigation systems to provide automated real-time sun glare risk information to drivers.Paper presented at the 34th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 6-9 July 2015 "Working Together to Deliver - Sakha Sonke", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.The Minister of Transport, South AfricaTransportation Research Board of the US