Screening of zinc, copper and iron in lettuce and Chinese cabbage cultivated in Durban, South Africa, towards human health risk assessment

Human well-being and ecological reliability continue to face a major threat resulting from heavy metal pollution to soils caused by untreated discharge from metropolitan and industrial wastewater. The potential human health risks of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) contamination to native inhabitants through the food chain were assessed in Pinetown, Durban, where their irrigation processes are from the Umgeni River passing through the highly industrialised Pinetown area. River water, vegetables (cabbage and lettuce) and soil were analysed for Zn, Cu and Fe; transfer factor, health risk index and the daily intake of metals were also calculated. The concentrations of heavy metals indicated the pattern trend as Fe>Zn>Cu for both cabbage and lettuce. The levels of transfer factors for heavy metals ranged from 0.02 mg/kg to 1.89 mg/kg. The health risk index (0.0002–01430) was found to be within the recommended range (<1), which poses no human health risk with respect to all heavy metals tested. Significance: The present study has generated data on heavy metal pollution in and around the area and associated risk assessment for consumers’ exposure to the heavy metals. These data can assist decision-makers in understanding the suitability status of vegetable consumption and irrigation by providing an understanding of the human health risk of the studied area. This database can be used as a tool to pinpoint the mechanisms and processes influencing public health implications of heavy metals in foods, soils and water

Illegal dumping challenges in West Rand District Municipalities (WRDM), South Africa

Abstract: Increased population and urban migration in the West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) have significantly contributed towards increased waste generation and associated challenges. Increased waste generation exerts pressure, difficulties and constraints in waste management in the district with regards to storage facilities, receptacles, removal services and transportation. The lack or absence of waste management services in addition to other factors are catalysts and drivers for illegal dumping. In WRDM, illegal dumping is a result of rising waste disposal tariffs, lack of storage facilities, disrupted waste collection schedules, unsafe and inaccessible dumbing sites particularly for in informal settlements. Illegal dumping is prevalent in low income and overpopulated areas. Ignorance, lack of minimum education and public awareness with regards to integrated waste management significantly contribute to illegal dumping which is threat to human life and the environment. Exploring energy and material recovery from waste opportunities plus recycling could contribute towards reduced illegal dumping

A review of waste tyre pyrolysis : a discussion and analysis

Abstract: Over the years, the prospective of end-of-life tyres as a source of fuel, a chemical feedstock and carbonaceous material through pyrolysis has been explored immensely. Through literature review evaluation and analysis, this paper aims to present and discuss the development of waste tyre pyrolysis process as well as the derived products with their possible application pathways. The various reactors that can be employed during the pyrolysis process are discussed. Furthermore, the different types of pyrolysis processes as well as their influence on product yield are highlighted. The paper drew the conclusion that the pyrolysis literature which has been continuously developed over the years emphasize the need to fully understand how operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, heating rate, retention time, feed size; material feed rate ; reactor selection and the type of pyrolysis influence the selection and optimization of product stream/s

Nurses’ experiences regarding adverse events in a public hospital in Gauteng

Abstract: Background: Nurse related adverse events refer to any event leading to the injury of a patient. Adverse events have been a significant and worrying challenge within nursing practice both nationally and internationally. Involvement of nurses in adverse events who in most cases are rarely to blame, results in feelings of exhaustion, being emotionally drained, hospitals experiencing high nurse turnover and subsequent negative effects on the nursing care rendered. Most of the involved nurses struggle in isolation personally and professionally with a negative impact on colleagues, patients and the organizations. Existing literature has indicated that no current research demonstrating the nurse’s experiences regarding adverse events exists in this specific public hospital. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of the nurses regarding adverse events in this public hospital in Gauteng in order to develop recommendations to improve these experiences. Methodology: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used. Data was collected by means of in-depth semi structured individual interviews, focus group interviews and the documentation of naïve sketches from a purposive sample of professional nurses, enrolled nurses and enrolled nursing assistants . Data was analyzed using Tesch’s open coding protocol of qualitative data analysis. Lincoln and Guba’s four principles were applied to ensure trustworthiness. Results: The findings of the study revealed one central theme reflecting that the participants experienced their involvement in nurse related adverse events negatively. Three main themes emerged namely negative emotional experiences, negative social experiences and inappropriate management experiences..

Prerequisites for National Health Insurance in South Africa: Results of a national household survey

Background. National Health Insurance (NHI) is currently highon the health policy agenda. The intention of this financing system is to promote efficiency and the equitable distribution of financial and human resources, improving health outcomes for the majority. However, there are some key prerequisites that need to be in place before an NHI can achieve these goals.Objectives. To explore public perceptions on what changes inthe public health system are necessary to ensure acceptabilityand sustainability of an NHI, and whether South Africans areready for a change in the health system.Methods. A cross-sectional nationally representative surveyof 4 800 households was undertaken, using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed in STATA IC10.Results and conclusions. There is dissatisfaction with bothpublic and private sectors, suggesting South Africans are ready for health system change. Concerns about the quality of public sector services relate primarily to patient-provider engagements (empathic staff attitudes, communication and confidentiality issues), cleanliness of facilities and drug availability. There are concerns about the affordability of medical schemes and how the profit motive affects private providers’ behaviour. South Africans do not appear to bewell acquainted or generally supportive of the notion of risk cross-subsidies. However, there is strong support for income cross-subsidies. Public engagement is essential to improve understanding of the core principles of universal pre-payment mechanisms and the rationale for the development of NHI. Importantly, public support for pre-payment is unlikely to be forthcoming unless there is confidence in the availability of quality health services

Investigation into the phenomenon of reduced household travel survey derived trip generation rates in Gauteng province

Gauteng Province has carried out two household travel surveys (HTS) ? the first was carried out in 2000 and the recent one was completed in 2014. HTSs are the mainstay of transport planning and modelling, being used by the province to update the Gauteng Provincial Strategic Transport Model, among other things. The household AM peak trip generation rates according to this recent survey are indicated to be lower than that found in the 2000 HTS. A similar trend has been reported in South Africa, albeit with moderate changes. The paper investigates the statistical significance of the lower trip generation rates for the current HTS and further interrogates the results to determine plausible causes for the lower trip generation rates. While factors such as reduced household size, increased unemployment and peak spreading are found to be present, it is the design of the survey instrument resulting in respondent fatigue that is found to be the main cause. In response, the paper provides some recommendations for improved design of survey instruments for cases where whole day travel is being measured.Paper presented at the 35th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 4-7 July 2016 "Transport ? a catalyst for socio-economic growth and development opportunities to improve quality of life", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.The Minister of Transport, South AfricaTransportation Research Board of the US

Dual HLA B*42 and B*81-reactive T cell receptors recognize more diverse HIV-1 Gag escape variants

Closely related HLA alleles presenting similar HIV-1 epitopes can be associated with variable clinical outcome. Here the authors report their findings on CD8+ T cell responses to the HIV-1 Gag-p24 TL9 immunodominant epitope in the context of closely related protective and less protective HLA alleles, and their differential effect on viral contro

Cell cycle-dependent and independent mating blocks ensure fungal zygote survival and ploidy maintenance.

To ensure genome stability, sexually reproducing organisms require that mating brings together exactly 2 haploid gametes and that meiosis occurs only in diploid zygotes. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, fertilization triggers the Mei3-Pat1-Mei2 signaling cascade, which represses subsequent mating and initiates meiosis. Here, we establish a degron system to specifically degrade proteins postfusion and demonstrate that mating blocks not only safeguard zygote ploidy but also prevent lysis caused by aberrant fusion attempts. Using long-term imaging and flow-cytometry approaches, we identify previously unrecognized and independent roles for Mei3 and Mei2 in zygotes. We show that Mei3 promotes premeiotic S-phase independently of Mei2 and that cell cycle progression is both necessary and sufficient to reduce zygotic mating behaviors. Mei2 not only imposes the meiotic program and promotes the meiotic cycle, but also blocks mating behaviors independently of Mei3 and cell cycle progression. Thus, we find that fungi preserve zygote ploidy and survival by at least 2 mechanisms where the zygotic fate imposed by Mei2 and the cell cycle reentry triggered by Mei3 synergize to prevent zygotic mating

Heat exposure and resilience planning in Atlanta, Georgia

The City of Atlanta, Georgia, is a fast-growing urban area with substantial economic and racial inequalities, subject to the impacts of climate change and intensifying heat extremes. Here, we analyze the magnitude, distribution, and predictors of heat exposure across the City of Atlanta, within the boundaries of Fulton County. Additionally, we evaluate the extent to which identified heat exposure is addressed in Atlanta climate resilience governance. First, land surface temperature (LST) was mapped to identify the spatial patterns of heat exposure and potential socioeconomic and biophysical predictors of heat exposure were assessed. Second, government and city planning documents and policies were analyzed to assess whether the identified heat exposure risks are addressed in Atlanta climate resilience planning. The average LST of Atlanta’s 305 block groups ranges from 23.7 °C (low heat exposure) in vegetated areas to 31.5 °C (high heat exposure) in developed areas across 13 summer days used to evaluate the spatial patterns of heat exposure (June-August, 2013-2019). In contrast to nationwide patterns, census block groups with larger historically marginalized populations (predominantly Black, less education, lower income) outside of Atlanta’s urban core display weaker relationships with LST (slopes ≈ 0) and are among the cooler regions of the city. Climate governance analysis revealed that although there are few strategies for heat resilience in Atlanta (n=12), the majority are focused on the city’s warmest region, the urban core, characterized by the city’s largest extent of impervious surface. These strategies prioritize protecting and expanding the city’s urban tree canopy, which has kept most of Atlanta’s marginalized communities under lower levels of outdoor heat exposure. Such a tree canopy can serve as an example of heat resilience for many cities across the United States and the globe

Prospects for Using Correspondence Analysis to Characterise Travel Demand for Authorities with Limited Transport Modelling Resources

The estimation of travel demand for complex passenger transport infrastructure projects such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, is fraught with multiple challenges that include the reliability of demand forecasts. The choice of variables used to estimate the demand is often informed by historical perspectives and not a genuine understanding of the said variables. The paper explores the use of Correspondence Analysis (CA) as an alternative method to facilitate the understanding the relationship between demand and supply side variables prior to the application of more intense mode choice modelling techniques. The raw data from the 2014 Gauteng household travel survey was used to develop the required models in areas where BRT services were operational in order to characterise the BRT users, followed by probability estimation of the actual demand. It is shown that CA can be reliably used as a resource efficient alternative for the initial characterisation of travel demand where household travel survey data exist. This is especially useful for planning authorities that do not have large transport planning budgets and human resources to acquire and employ extensive land use-transport interaction models.Papers presented at the 38th International Southern African Transport Conference on "Disruptive transport technologies - is South and Southern Africa ready?" held at CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa on 8th to 11th July 2019