Developing a monitoring and evaluation system for the ceasefire gang violence programme in Hanover Park, Cape Town

Includes bibliographical references.This study is a formative evaluation of the Ceasefire gang violence programme in Hanover Park, Cape Town, South Africa. The primary audience of this evaluation is the Ceasefire programme management. The Ceasefire programme is a project of the City of Cape Town's Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading Unit (VPUU). The Ceasefire programme is run by the First Community Resource Centre (FCRC) in Hanover Park. The main aim of this evaluation is to develop a results-based monitoring and evaluation system for the Ceasefire programme

Hidden association of knee-related disability with physical activities among community-dwelling older male Saudi Arabians with knee osteoarthritis

Introduction: The impact of knee osteoarthritis (OA) on physical activities of daily life was studied extensively among the elderly across the globe but not well understood in the Saudi Arabian populace with cultural consideration. This paper assessed the association between knee flexion range of motion (ROM) and ritual physical activities among elderly males due to knee OA.Methods: A cross-sectional study with a sample of 139 males aged 56–74 years diagnosed with knee OA recruited at prayer places. The subjective evaluation was carried using a disease-specific Arabic knee physical functional questionnaire Knee injury and OA Outcome Score-Physical Function Short form (KOOS-PS), and the anthropometric measure of knee flexion ROM was objectively measured by a manual goniometer.Results: The mean and standard deviation of the study sample age, height, weight, and body mass index were 66.9 ± 4.09 years, 158.4 ± 6.1 cm, 74.6 ± 7.1 kg, and 29.6 ± 1.9 kg/m2, respectively. The mean, standard deviation and median of the knee flexion ROM and Arabic-KOOS-PS Questionnaire score were 100.7 ± 7.9, 101.5 and 12.9 ± 13.7, 13.4. The non-parametric Spearman correlation coefficient between the knee stiffness and KOOS-PS physical activities resulted very strong positively correlation, r = 0.967.Conclusion: A strong positive correlation has been found between hidden knee disability and ritual physical activities among male cohorts in Saudi cultural community with knee O

REDD+ and its actors in Zanzibar: The Potentials for Equitable Benefit Sharing

Climate change and its possible negative effects are increasingly recognized as some of the critical challenges the world is facing today. The debates on how to tackle the problems of climate change have been escalating and still are among the controversial issues continuously discussed in international platforms. It is estimated that deforestation and forest degradation may account for nearly 20% of the global emissions. Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) is one of the mechanisms designed to tackle the hazards from the world`s changing climate. The idea behind REDD+ is to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. Apart from mitigating climate change problems, REDD+ as a mechanism, has pro-poor approaches which attempt to improve the lives of the poor forest dependent communities. Special attention is given to the most vulnerable groups such as the women. Studies on REDD+ projects, both in Africa and elsewhere, suggest the importance of local community participation in the decision making process in order to increase fairness and equity in the benefit sharing process. Developing countries in the south are important actors in the implementation process of the climate change mitigation mechanisms. Tanzania is one of the African states, where REDD+ pilot projects have been implemented. As part of its contribution to the global climate changes mitigation efforts, the government of Norway funded nine REDD+ pilot projects in Tanzania. Eight of these nine pilot projects were implemented in mainland Tanzania while the ninth one was on the Island of Zanzibar. This REDD+ pilot project called HIMA, in Ksiwahili, Hifadhi ya Misitu ya Asiali’, meaning Conservation of Natural Forest lasted for four years. It began in April, 2010 and ended in December, 2014. The project was implemented in both Unguja and Pemba islands This thesis, using the pilot REDD+ HIMA project as a case study, explores the potentials for equitable benefit sharing in future REDD+ and other similar climate change interventions in Zanzibar. In particular, the study investigates the potential roles of JUMIJAZA in ensuring equitable benefit sharing. The findings of this study are based on data collected using qualitative research approaches (semi-structured individual interviews and focus group discussions) and reviewing project related documents. Based on its findings, the study argues that despite being a very young organization with limited capabilities and experiences, JUMIJAZA is a legitimate representative of the various SCCs which has the potentials to serve and defend the interests of the people in the respective Shehias.The findings of the study also show that the organization has a number of potentials including the acceptance from the community and the government; the full awareness of the SCCs about the importance of the forest conservation and the recently finalized validation process, which grants the certificate to sell the carbon. In addition, its legal status and its approved byelaws give JUMIJAZA extra acceptance and acknowledgement from the international community and the donors. Based on this, the study further concludes that JUMIJAZA is an entity that has the potentials to ensure equitable benefit sharing in future REDD+ and other similar interventions in Zanzibar.M-D

Effects Of Cable Diameter Reduction And Snapping On The Behavior Of Cable-Stayed Bridges

Cable–stayed bridges are usually constructed in coastal area in which the surrounding atmospheric is considered as severe environmental condition. This atmosphere helps in building up quickly the corrosion of steel cables with time. Visual inspection of cable-stayed bridges built up worldwide shows that the bridge cables suffer from serious corrosion although the cables are protected using different techniques. There is a considerable reduction in cable diameter due to corrosion, which depends on the severity of the environmental condition. There is no sufficient information regarding the effect of reduction in cable diameter on the structural response of cable-stayed bridge. Furthermore, snapping of cables due to accidental and /or corrosion is another important issue which affecting the structural response and safety of cable stayed bridges and need to be addressed for safe design.In this research, the effect of reducing cables diameter, cables layout and snapping of individual cables on the structural behavior and safety of cable-stayed bridge are presented. Three cable layouts are analyzed in this study i.e. harp, semi harp and fan layouts. In each layout, five different reductions in cables diameters are considered i.e 12.50%, 25.00%, 37.50%, and 50.00%. To address snapping of cable, harp bridge layout is considered and the structural behavior of the bridge due to snapping individual cables in the bridge are presented and discussed. The analysis starts with initial shape analysis to stress the cables to minimize the deformation under self-weight of the structure. The analysis was carried out using stiffness method considering the geometrical nonlinearities. The results of initial shape analysis show that in all bridge layouts reflect comparable behavior. The cable forces were found to be the lowest in fan layout cable bridge compared to harp and semi harp layouts. Reducing cables diameter will lead to a redistribution of forces and moment in different components of the bridge and alter the structural behavior in a nonlinear fashion. Reducing cables diameter by 25% will compromise the bridge safety as the stresses in cables, deformation, and bending moment will be increased significantly. The bridge cable layouts have little effect on the structure response of the cable-stayed bridge with reduced cables diameter. The fan layout shows better structural response compared to harp and semi harp layout, especially in term of cable forces and deformation profile. Notwithstanding this fact, 25% of cables reduction diameter will significantly affect the moment in girder of fan bridge layout compared to other layouts of cables Snapping the individual cable in the bridge has a significant effect on the cable force and bending moment distribution in the girder, tower and will cause bridge failure

A comparative study of the transaction costs of doing business in formal urban vs informal settlement areas: a case study of microenterprises in Joe Slovo and Maitland, Western Cape, South Africa

Magister Economicae - MEconThe main objective of this research was to measure and compare the influence of institutions (government laws, rules, regulations) on the transaction cost of establishing microenterprises in informal/township areas and suburbs. The research target area was Maitland (a suburb) and Joe Slovo (a township area). A research framework was developed using the theories of institutions and the TACE. In order to achieve the research objectives, both quantitative and qualitative research designs were used. A total research sample of 40 microenterprise owners were selected from these two areas. A random sampling technique was used to select half (twenty) microenterprise traders in Maitland and the other half (twenty) from Joe Slovo. The research also applied non-random sampling technique to select relevant government institutions that regulate microenterprises in these two areas. The research has collected both primary and secondary data. To collect the primary data, face-to-face interviews were held with the shop owners in the two research sites and government (City) officials. A questionnaire containing both open-ended and closed-ended questions was used in collecting the primary data. The secondary data was collected using desktop (internet) search and also physically searching government archives and publications. Descriptive statistics (frequency distributions and graphical representations) of the data were used to analyze and compare the data collected in a meaningful way. The research also used non-parametric independent samples t-test to compare the differences of the transaction costs of establishing microenterprises in Joe Slovo and in Maitland. The data collected was analyzed and compared using SPSS statistical research analysis software. The results show, to establish a microenterprise business, microenterprise owners in both formal and informal areas need to comply with the environmental health laws. In addition to complying with the environmental health laws, microenterprises in formal areas are obliged to comply with the City zoning scheme and seek permission to establish businesses in these areas. The application process for seeking the City zoning approval is cumbersome and subjective. The results show that entrepreneurs in informal/township areas are automatically allowed by the local government to establish microenterprises in these areas and need not comply with the Zoning Scheme. The main findings of the study reveal that microenterprises in formal suburbs face higher TACs in establishing businesses in these areas when compared to those in township areas

An Investigation On An Efficient Approach Of Improving Quality Of Service Of Voip Over Satellite

Kepentingan Protokol Suara Melalui Internet (VoIP) semakin diperakui oleh industri telekomunikasi. Sejak dekad yang lalu banyak perisian VoIP telah dibangunkan yang menawarkan banyak faedah kepada kedua-dua pembekal perkhidmatan rangkaian dan telekomunikasi. The importance of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is slowly being recognized by the telecommunications industry. In the past decade, many VoIP applications have been developed, offering a wide range of benefits to both telecommunications and network service providers

The Relationships Between Technological Disruption, Role Stress, and Turnover Intention by Journalists During China’s Media Transition Period Mediated by Organizational Commitment

With the gradual development of Internet technology, it has caused a sense of low organizational commitment for journalists about their profession, whether they are working in television media, radio media, or newspapers. Most empirical studies on employee turnover intention aim to explore the impact of job satisfaction on turnover intention. There is a lack of literature on technical factors contributing to professional insecurity, especially in the context of journalists during the transformation and development of Chinese media. This study examined the association between individual factor constructs (role stress) and organizational commitment to provide more information on the technical, individual, organizational factors and how these three factors affect the turnover intention of journalists in the stage of media transformation and development in China. The results show that there is a negative correlation between career value orientation and turnover intention, and career motivation value orientation, career ideal value orientation and career choice behavior value orientation have an impact on turnover intention

Questions in/of English

Our starting point is provided by two accounts of observed lessons. The two lessons happened, at more or less the same time, in the same English department in an East London secondary school. Both lessons, observed by the second- and third-named authors, involved the shared reading of the same novel. We are interested in the difference between these two lessons, a difference that is manifested most clearly in the different ways in which questions enter in the two lessons. We argue that this difference is symptomatic of two fundamentally different versions of English as a school subject