Freight-Truck-Pavement Interaction,Logistics, and Economics:Final Phase 1 Report (Tasks 9–11)

The intention of the study is to demonstrate the potential economic effects of delayed road maintenance and management, leading to deteriorated riding quality and subsequent increased vehicle operating costs, vehicle damage, and freight damage. The overall objectives of this project are to enable Caltrans to better manage the risks of decisions regarding freight and the management and preservation of the pavement network, as the potential effects of such decisions (i.e., to resurface and improve riding quality earlier or delay such a decision for a specific pavement) will be quantifiable in economic terms. This objective will be reached through applying the principles of vehicle-pavement interaction (V-PI) and state-of-the-practice tools to simulate and measure peak loads and vertical acceleration of trucks and their freight on a selected range of typical pavement surface profiles on the State Highway System (SHS) for a specific region or Caltrans district. The objectives of this report are to provide information on Tasks 9 to 11. Conclusions The following conclusions are drawn based on the information provided and discussed in this report: Road roughness data can be used in conjunction with appropriate models and relationships to evaluate the economic effect of road use by logistics companies through evaluation of vehicle operating costs (VOCs) and potential damage to vehicles and freight. As road roughness generally deteriorates with road use, road owners can evaluate the economic changes in the VOCs of road users over time, and determine optimum times for maintenance and rehabilitation of existing transportation infrastructure. Road users can use relationships between road roughness and various parameters (VOCs, freight damage, etc.) to select optimal routes where VOCs and damage are minimized and also objectively calculate the effect of these road conditions on their income. Road owners can evaluate the effect of different levels of construction and maintenance quality control on the outcome of these actions and the general transportation costs and deterioration rates of the infrastructure as affected by riding quality/road roughness. Recommendations The following recommendations are made based on the information provided and discussed in this report: The models and relationships in the report should be evaluated for incorporation into the appropriate Caltrans economic models, to enable modeling of the effects of riding quality and deterioration of riding quality over time on economic models. Analysis of the effect of construction and maintenance quality control using local maintenance options and their effects on the riding quality of roads should be evaluated to enable appropriate control levels to be determined. The effects of riding quality bonus-penalty schemes, and the effect of initial riding quality on the long-term performance of local roads, should be incorporated into an overall transportation infrastructure model. Further studies on the damage determination of transported agricultural produce at a range of frequencies caused by various riding quality truck combinations using laboratory-based bulk density measurements should be conducted (similar to the tomato tests discussed in this report)

THE TIDE IS TURNING: The 2003/04 SAPS crime statistics

The latest official crime statistics, for the financial year 2003/04, are encouraging because they show a decrease in levels of most serious crimes, including murder, car hijacking, burglary and farm attacks. But the good news has yet to hit home for many South Africans. In fact, most people are more afraid of crime today than they were in 1998. It is likely that only sustained decreases in violent crime over several years, coupled with better service delivery, will make a difference

Alternative marketing options for small-scale farmers in the wake of changing agri-food supply chains in South Africa

With South Africa’s urban population approaching 60%, supermarkets and fast food chains have become important players in the South African food system. These large players in the food sector have systematically modified their procurement practices especially with regard to fresh fruit and vegetables and are now circumventing spot markets in favour of sourcing via in-house sourcing companies who mainly procure from preferred supplier producers. This paper draws extensively from a global research programme which seeks to highlight the market changes that potentially contribute to continued exclusion of the small producers from mass consumer markets. This paper illustrates, through a series of case studies, how integration of small-scale farmers into the urban retail market can be facilitated and how the challenges posed by the changing food system could possibly be overcome. The case studies illustrate various initiatives through which small-scale farmers and agribusinesses can be integrated into mainstream agri-food systems and may be used as models for an innovative approach to include small-scale farmers while still maintaining profitable business operations. They highlight the need for a multi actor approach for the successful participation of smallholder farmers in order to allow them to join the supply chain at any point within the channel.Marketing, Agribusiness,

Freight-Truck-Pavement Interaction, Logistics, and Economics: Final Phase 1 Report (Tasks 1–6)

This pilot study applies the principles of Vehicle-Pavement Interaction (V-PI) and state-of-the practice tools to simulate and measure peak loads and vertical acceleration of trucks and their freight on a selected range of typical pavement surface profiles on the State Highway System. Outputs from the pilot study are expected to provide input for planning and economic models to enable an improved evaluation of the freight flows and costs in selected regions. The San Joaquin Valley corridor, a major production and transportation corridor in California, is identified as well-suited to be the pilot area for the remainder of this project

Supply chain risks and smallholder fresh produce farmers in the Gauteng province of South Africa

A survey of 52 smallholder fresh produce farmers was conducted in the Gauteng province of South Africa to grasp how risk and its management affect the mainstreaming of smallholder farmers into formal, high-value markets. The study employed a supply chain analysis approach, which focused on the functions and risks that occur along the fresh produce chain. The results highlight the risks that impede the participation of smallholder farmers in formal, high-value chains. At the production level, risk is prominent from input procurement through to the post-harvest stage of the chains. At the retail and consumption level, risks are linked to the adherence to quality and quantity standards, including prescribed packaging, grading, labelling and traceability and transport requirements. As a result of these risks across the formal chain, smallholder farmers often resort to distributing their products in low-value informal markets. The consequence is that smallholder farmers tend to remain trapped in poverty, in part, because of their risk appetites and their ability to bear risk. 8Further research is required in the areas pertaining to smallholder farmers’ risk appetite and risk-bearing ability and mechanisms to deal with the particular risks in the value chain that impede their all-round ability to escape the “smallholder dilemma”.http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=22335am2016Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Developmen

The clinical and biochemical effects of riboflavin and nicotinamide supplementation upon Bantu school children using maize meal as carrier medium

A comprehensive clinical, biochemical and technological investigation was undertaken to establish the feasibility of ,enriching maize meal with riboflavin and nicotinamide. It was clear from the results that the addition of these vitamins to, maize satisfied all the prerequisites of a -scientifically sound enrichment scheme, as laid down by the NNRI. It was found that the addition of 1 mg of riboflavin and 10 mg of nicotinamide per 400 g maize ,meal was adequate to effectively reduce the incidence of .subclinical deficiency of these two vitamins among Bantu schoolchildren. Since the enrichment was found to be -effective, as well as technologically and economically jeasible, it is strongly recommended that a compulsory national maize enrichment scheme be introduced with the .least possible delay

Effect of enrichment of maize meal with nicotinic acid and riboflavin upon the Vitamin and protein nutritional status of young school-going and pre-school children

A series of experiments was undertaken to investigate the feasibility of enriching maize meal with nicotinic acid and riboflavin. First the necessary level of enrichment was established and then the efficacy of such enrichment of maize was tested in the field on children and young adults. This report deals with the results of an experiment designed to establish whether such an enrichment scheme would have any detrimental effects on· young growing children with marginal protein calorie malnutrition. As in the previous experiments, a marked improvement in the nicotinic acid and riboflavin status was found in the experimental group. These biochemical findings were in conformity with the improvement in clinical status found. Moreover, such enrichment did not have any noticeable adverse effects. The hypothesis that vitamin enrichment could cause growth stimulation, and thus aggravate an existing marginal protein deficiency state, could not in any way be substantiated. The enrichment of maize meal with riboflavin and nicotinic acid during milling has been shown conclusively to be highly effective in improving the vitamin nutritional status while at the same time not harming the protein nutritional status of young children. Since the previous experiments proved it to be economically and technologically feasible, it is now strongly recommended that such an enrichment scheme be introduced on a national basis with the least possible delay.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1641 (1974)

Advancing paternal age at birth is associated with poorer social functioning earlier and later in life of schizophrenia patients in a founder population

Consistent associations have been found between advanced paternal age and an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia in their offspring. This increase appears to be linear as paternal age increases. The present study investigates the relationship between early deviant behaviour in the first 10 years of life of patients as well as longer term functional outcome and paternal age in sporadic Afrikaner founder population cases of schizophrenia. This might improve our understanding of Paternal Age-Related Schizophrenia (PARS). Follow up psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed by the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS). An early deviant childhood behaviour semi-structured questionnaire and the Specific Level of Functioning Assessment (SLOF) were completed. From the logistic regression models fitted, a significant negative relationship was found between paternal age at birth and social dysfunction as early deviant behaviour.Additionally, regression analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between paternal age at birth and the SLOF for interpersonal relationships later in life. Early social dysfunction may represent a phenotypic trait for PARS. Further research is required to understand the relationship between early social dysfunction and deficits in interpersonal relationships later in life.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/psychres2017-09-30hb2016PsychiatryStatistic

Nutritional status of young school-going and pre-school children

A series of experiments was undertaken to investigate the feasibility of enriching maize meal with nicotinic acid and riboflavin. First the necessary level of enrichment was established and then the efficacy of such enrichment of maize was tested in the field on children and young adults. This report deals with the results of an experiment designed to establish whether such an enrichment scheme would have any detrimental effects on young growing children with marginal protein calorie malnutrition. As in the previous experiments, a marked improvement in the nicotinic acid and riboflavin status was found in the experimental group. These biochemical findings were in conformity with the improvement in clinical status found. Moreover, such enrichment did not have any noticeable adverse effects. The hypothesis that vitamin enrichment could cause growth stimulation, and thus aggravate an existing marginal protein deficiency state, could not in any way be substantiated. The enrichment of maize meal with riboflavin and nicotinic acid during milling has been shown conclusively to be highly effective in improving the vitamin nutritional status while at the same time not harming the protein nutritional status of young children. Since tho:! previous experiments proved it to be economically and technologically feasible, it is now strongly r::commended that such an enrichment scheme be introduced on a national basis with the least possible delay.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1641 (1974

Improved survival of children and adolescents with classical Hodgkin lymphoma treated on a harmonised protocol in South Africa

Funding: CANSA, Wits Faculty Research Committee Individual Research Grant, Carnegie Corporation Research Funding, Crowdfunding through Doit4Charity Backabuddy and the Ride Joburg Cycle Race.Background Historic South African 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) from 2000 to 2010 were 46% and 84% for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative children, respectively. We investigated whether a harmonised treatment protocol using risk stratification and response-adapted therapy could increase the OS of childhood and adolescent HL. Methods Seventeen units prospectively enrolled patients less than 18 years, newly diagnosed with classical HL onto a risk-stratified, response-adapted treatment protocol from July 2016 to December 2022. Low- and intermediate-risk patients received four and six courses of adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD), respectively. High-risk patients received two courses of ABVD, followed by four courses of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and dacarbazine (COPDac). Those with a slow early response and bulky disease received consolidation radiotherapy. HIV-positive patients could receive granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and less intensive therapy if stratified as high risk, at the treating clinician's discretion. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to determine 2-year OS and Cox regression to elucidate prognostic factors. Results  The cohort comprised 132 patients (19 HIV-positive, 113 HIV-negative), median age of 9.7 years, with a median follow-up of 2.2 years. Risk grouping comprised nine (7%) low risk, 36 (27%) intermediate risk and 87 (66%) high risk, with 71 (54%) rapid early responders and 45 (34%) slow early responders, and 16 (12%) undocumented. Two-year OS was 100% for low-risk, 93% for intermediate-risk, and 91% for high-risk patients. OS for HIV-negative (93%) and HIV-positive (89%) patients were similar (p = .53). Absolute lymphocyte count greater than 0.6 × 109 predicted survival (94% vs. 83%, p = .02). Conclusion In the first South African harmonised HL treatment protocol, risk stratification correlated with prognosis. Two-year OS of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients improved since 2010, partially ascribed to standardised treatment and increased supportive care. This improved survival strengthens the harmonisation movement and gives hope that South Africa will achieve the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer goals.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe