An investigation into solid waste management in townships : the case study of Clermont, KwaZulu-Natal.

Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.An environmental challenge that is currently plaguing the South African townships in the Metropolitan Area is the volume of solid waste being illegally disposed in open spaces along road verges as well as in streams. The research aims to identify the root cause of illegal dumping in the township of Clermont, Kwa-Zulu Natal. The researcher used quantitative, qualitative and observation methodologies to collect data from member’s of the community of Clermont. The severity of the problem will be measured by looking at different age groups; level of income per household as well as gender. In general waste management and environmental management has received little attention compared to other socio-economic problems like un-employment. As the bulk of the world’s population move from rural areas to urban areas, poverty is becoming an increasingly urban phenomenon. Environmental problems range from impairment of human health, economic and other welfare and extinction of the ecosystem. The urban poor bear the greatest burden of urban environmental risks. The most significant environmental challenge in South Africa is effectively management of waste. Currently the focus in South Africa has been on waste disposal rather than on waste prevention. Consequently there are no incentives for reducing waste and industries are not required to submit plans for waste management when commencing a new business. Waste management legislation is fragmented; as a result there is a lack of control in waste management. This research will investigate whether community members are aware of what is expected from them by the municipality and private waste collection companies. It will further analyse at the norm of waste disposal within the developing countries compared to developed countries. The study will attempt to provide practical solutions for the township of Clermont. The study has five chapters. The first chapter introduce the problem, objectives and hypothesis. The second chapter deals with the theoretical review to help the reader understand different cases and how waste management handled in different parts of the world. This has been done by looking at the international, national and local level, comparing waste management trends. The third chapter describe the study area in detail and different scientific methodologies researcher used to prove or disprove the hypothesis and objectives that were set in the first chapter. Chapter four analyses all the data that was collected from the community of Clermont and unpack other underlying factors that lead to poor waste management in this township. For example the researcher will conclude using the data collected if the frequency of waste collection is sufficient for the community and what can be done to minimize illegal dumping. Chapter five, which is the last chapter of this dissertation will suggest recommendations that can be used to correct all problems that associated with illegal dumping in Clermont Township

Detection and quantification of 14 Campylobacter species in pet dogs reveals an increase in species richness in feces of diarrheic animals

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The genus <it>Campylobacter </it>includes many species, some of which are known human and animal pathogens. Even though studies have repeatedly identified domestic dogs as a risk factor for human campylobacteriosis, our understanding of <it>Campylobacter </it>ecology in this reservoir is limited. Work to date has focused primarily on a limited number of species using culture-based methods. To expand our understanding of <it>Campylobacter </it>ecology in dogs, a collection of fecal samples from 70 healthy and 65 diarrheic pet dogs were examined for the presence and levels of 14 <it>Campylobacter </it>species using quantitative PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It was found that 58% of healthy dogs and 97% of diarrheic dogs shed detectable levels of <it>Campylobacter </it>spp., with <it>C. coli, C. concisus, C. fetus, C. gracilis, C. helveticus, C. jejuni, C. lari, C. mucosalis, C. showae, C. sputorum </it>and <it>C. upsaliensis </it>levels significantly higher in the diarrheic population. Levels of individual <it>Campylobacter </it>species detected ranged from 10³to 10⁸organisms per gram of feces. In addition, many individual samples contained multiple species of <it>Campylobacter</it>, with healthy dogs carrying from 0-7 detectable species while diarrheic dogs carried from 0-12 detectable species.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings represent the largest number of <it>Campylobacter </it>species specifically tested for in animals and is the first report to determine quantifiable levels of <it>Campylobacter </it>being shed from dogs. This study demonstrates that domestic dogs can carry a wide range of <it>Campylobacter </it>species naturally and that there is a notable increase in species richness detectable in the diarrheic population. With several of the detected <it>Campylobacter </it>species known or emerging pathogens, these results are relevant to both ecological and public health discussions.</p

Teachers' experiences in teaching sexuality education in the foundation phase in rural schools in the Ugu District.

M. Ed. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.The study sought to understand teachers’ experiences in teaching sexuality education in the Foundation Phase in rural schools in the Ugu District. The aim of sexuality education in schools is to promote and enable a learner to ultimately become a sexually responsible man or woman. The rapid rise of sexuality-related challenges that our communities face sends a clear message that there is a desperate need for our learners to be taught sexuality education effectively. It is important to investigate how teachers experience the teaching of sexuality education since they are the main role-players in teaching learners sexual responsibility so that learners are not adversely affected by poorly built foundational teaching during the early years of their schooling. The study took place in Port Shepstone, located on the Lower South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in the Ugu District. Nine Foundation Phase teachers from three schools (Mbisho, Masenge and Mandisa primary schools) were involved. I used a qualitative research design. To elicit more valid data, one-on-one interviews, a focus-group discussion and lesson observations were conducted. The main finding of the study was that it was evident that the teaching of sexuality in the three schools is largely shaped by teachers’ cultural and religious belief systems within their different social contexts. Lesson observations revealed that teachers avoid explaining issues of sexuality as much as possible to their learners, because it would compromise the teachers’ beliefs. The community as the custodian of moral values has generally transferred the problem of silence on sexual matters which caused teachers to be faced with immense difficulties in teaching the subject because sexuality education is an unwelcome topic to some. Findings also revealed that those who teach sexuality education are not adequately trained and often feel uncomfortable with the content of the pedagogical style. Some teachers were afraid that addressing issues of sexuality would encourage sexual activity on the part of learners, and that parents would blame them for this; they also feared that parents would feel that it is inappropriate for teachers to talk about sexuality education to learners who are so young. Parents need empowerment in so far as sexuality education teaching is concerned. There should be programmes focusing on teacher professional development and mentoring. There is a need for collaboration between teachers, parents, churches and community leaders, non-profit organizations (NPOs) and youth leaders, and to have campaigns to break the silence about sexuality

Évaluation des clones de manioc à pulpe jaune pour leur teneur en β-carotène, rendements en tubercules frais et teneur en matière sèche à Ngandajika en République Démocratique du Congo

Objectifs: Cette étude avait pour objectif d’identifier les rendements, les taux de matière sèche, les taux d’amidon et les teneurs en caroténoïdes totaux des clones et de les comparer avec ceux des témoins en vue de sélectionner les nouvelles variétés de manioc biofortifiés afin de combattre la carence en vitamine A.Méthodologie et résultats: L’évaluation des 80 clones de manioc à pulpe jaune a été effectuée de 2012 à 2017 au centre de recherche de l’INERA Ngandajika. Le dispositif standard et le dispositif des blocs complètement randomisés avec 4 répétions étaient utilisés respectivement pour le EC et le reste des essais du schéma de sélection. Les résultats ont révélé que GKA12/149, GKA12/141 et GKA12/151 étaient significativement supérieurs pour le rendement en tubercules frais et le TCC, et non significative pour la matière sèche avec Mudiela Manyi. Concernant Kindisa, aucune différence significative sur rendement et MS, sauf en EPR, EAR et EUR1. Pour TCC, GKA12/149 est premier, suivi de GKA12/151, de GKA12/141 et de Kindisa.Conclusion et application des résultats: les clones GKA12/149 et GKA12/151 se sont montrés, d’une manière générale, plus performants que le témoin amélioré Kindisa et peuvent être proposés à la diffusion. Les croisements divers entre ces génotypes, qui ont enrichi le germoplasme de manioc à pulpe jaune, entre eux et avec d’autres variétés devront se poursuivre.Mots clés: Manioc bio-fortifié, variétés, sélectionEnglish Title: Evaluation of yellow fleshed cassava genotypes for β-carotene, fresh root tuber yield and dry matter content in Ngandajika , DRCEnglish AbstractObjectives: The objective of this study was to identify yields, dry matter levels, starch levels, and total carotenoid contents of clones and to compare them with controls to select new bio-fortified cassava varieties to fight vitamin A deficiency.Methodology and results: The evaluation of the 80 yellow pulp cassava clones was carried out from 2012 to 2017 at the INERA Ngandajika research center. The standard device and the device of the completely randomized blocks with 4 repetitions were used respectively for the clonal evaluation trial (CET) and the rest of the tests of the selection scheme. The results revealed that GKA12/149, GKA12/141 and GKA12/151 were  significantly higher for fresh tuber yield and Total Carotenoid Content, and not significant for dry matter with Mudiela Manyi. Regarding Kindisa, no significant difference for yield and dry matter content, except in Preliminary Yield Trial (PYT), Advanced Yield Trial (AYT) and Uniform Yield Trial (UYT1). For TCC, GKA12/149 is first, followed by GKA12/151, GKA12/141 and Kindisa.Conclusion and application: clones GKA12/149 and GKA12/151 were generally more efficient than the improved Kindisa control and can be proposed for diffusion. The various crosses between these genotypes, which have enriched the germplasm of yellow-fleshed cassava with each other and with other varieties, will have to be continued.Keywords: Bio-fortified cassava, varieties, selectio

Ictères pathologiques du nouveau-né à l’hôpital Bonzola de Mbuji-Mayi, République Démocratique du Congo

L'ictère néonatal, bien qu'il soit souvent très banal, ne doit pas pour autant être négligé car il peut relever des étiologies variées et avoir des significations différentes au point de devenir pathologique. Au cours d'une étude rétro-prospective descriptive, les auteurs analysent les aspects épidemio-cliniques, thérapeutiques et évolutifs des ictères néonataux pathologiques à l'Unité des Urgences Néonatales de Bonzola à Mbuji-Mayi (RD Congo) sur une période de 5 ans. La fréquence est de 4,9% avec une incidence annuelle de 24 cas/an. La prédominance masculine est notée avec un sexe ratio de 1,1. Ces ictères sont précoces (31,1%) et tardif (17,5%). Les principales causes sont dans 81,6% des cas dominées par les infections (42,5%) et, incompatibilité fœto-maternelle (39,1 %). La symptomatologie habituelle est notée: ictère franc et pâleur cutanéo-muqueuse (100 %), urines jaunes foncées (62,5%), signes neurologiques (42,5%) et généraux (47,5%). Le traitement était à la fois étiologique (60%) et symptomatique ou d'appoint (40 %) et a consisté dans l'association antibiotiques avec transfusion et/ou exsanguino-transfusion (24,2%), antibiothérapie seule (35,8%), inducteurs enzymatiques (35%) et photothérapie (5%). L'évolution a été bonne dans 82,3% des cas contre 9,3 % des décès

Altas capacidades: luces y sombras

Poor-quality medicines are a threat to public health in many low- and middle-income countries, and prospective surveys are needed to inform corrective actions. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional survey on a sample of products used for children and available in the private market in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Congo: amoxicillin (AX) and artemether/lumefantrine (AL), powders for suspension, and paracetamol (PC) tablets 500 mg. Overall, 417 products were covertly purchased from 61 wholesalers. To obtain a representative sample, the products were weighted on their market shares and a subset of 239 samples was randomly extracted to undergo in-depth visual inspection locally, and they were chemically assessed at two accredited laboratories in Belgium. Samples were defined of “poor-quality” if they failed to comply with at least one specification of the International Pharmacopoeia (for AL) or United States Pharmacopoeia 37 (for AX and PC). Results are reported according to the Medicine Quality Assessment Reporting Guideline. The visual inspection detected nonconformities in the aspects of antimalarial powders for suspension, and poor-quality labels across all medicine types. According to chemical analysis, 27.2% samples were of poor quality and 59.5% of AL samples were underdosed in artemether. Poor quality was more frequent for locally manufactured antimalarials (83.3%, P = 0.021; 86.4%, P = 0.022) and PC (4.8%, P = 0.000). The poor quality of the surveyed products may decrease the treatment’s efficacy and favor the development of resistances to antimalarials. It is hoped that these findings may guide the corrective actions of the Democratic Republic of Congo Regulatory Authority, which was the main partner in the research

Inheritance of resistance to southern stem canker (Diaporthe phaseolorum f.s. meridionalis) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to [email protected], referencing the URI of the item.Includes bibliographical references.Not availabl