Scale and conservation planning in the real world

Conservation planning is carried out on a variety of geopolitical and biogeographical scales. Whereas considerable consensus is emerging about the most appropriate procedures for identifying conservation areas, the spatial implications of conducting conservation planning at divergent scales have received little attention. Here we explore the consequences of planning at different geopolitical scales, using a database of the mammalian fauna from the Northern Provinces of South Africa. The conservation network resulting from treating the region as one unit is compared with networks generated separately for the provinces nested in that region. These outcomes are evaluated in terms of (i) their land use efficiencies, (ii) their spatial overlap, and (iii) the impact of algorithm attributes. Although land use efficiencies are greater on broader scales, on average the spatial congruence between the broad-scale regional network and fine-scale provincial networks was less than 14%. Algorithms using different selection rules fail to improve this disturbing outcome. Consequently, scale has an overwhelming influence on areas identified as conservation networks in geopolitical units. This should be recognized in conservation planning

Fraction of clear skies above astronomical sites: a new analysis from the GOES12 satellite

Comparing the number of clear nights (cloud free) available for astronomical observations is a critical task because it should be based on homogeneous methodologies. Current data are mainly based on different judgements based on observer logbooks or on different instruments. In this paper we present a new homogeneous methodology on very different astronomical sites for modern optical astronomy, in order to quantify the available night time fraction. The data are extracted from night time GOES12 satellite infrared images and compared with ground based conditions when available. In this analysis we introduce a wider average matrix and 3-Bands correlation in order to reduce the noise and to distinguish between clear and stable nights. Temporal data are used for the classification. In the time interval 2007-2008 we found that the percentage of the satellite clear nights is 88% at Paranal, 76% at La Silla, 72.5% at La Palma, 59% at Mt. Graham and 86.5% at Tolonchar. The correlation analysis of the three GOES12 infrared bands B3, B4 and B6 indicates that the fraction of the stable nights is lower by 2% to 20% depending on the site

Belasting 2A

Exam paper for second semeste

Advances in the corporate governance practices of Johannesburg Stock Exchange companies

Since the 20th century, corporate governance mechanisms have been developed globally to curb the negative effects of the agency problem. South Africa was a pioneer with the publication of the first King Report on corporate governance in 1994. Given the paucity of research on corporate governance in the country, the researchers set out to investigate the corporate governance practices of 230 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange over the period 2002 to 2010. Annual corporate governance scores were compiled by means of content analysis of the sample companies’ annual reports. The empirical findings revealed an increasing compliance trend towards 2010. Although the sample companies tended to improve the disclosure of their corporate governance practices over time, their practices were not per se acceptable (where acceptability implies meeting the King II recommendations). Inexperienced directors and managers might benefit from more training to enhance their understanding of the application of corporate governance principles.Keywords: corporate governance, King II Report, South Africa, compliance, disclosur

Pengaruh Suplementasi Kapsul Yodium Terhadap Petumbuhan Fisik dan Kecerdasan Anak Stunted di Kecamantan Konda Kabupaten Kendalri Propinsi Sulawesi Tenggara

ABSTRACT The prevalence of stunted in Konda sub district, Kendari regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province is still sufficiently high (68.5%). One of the causes is the low iodine consumption. This study was purposed to know the influence of iodine capsule supplementation on physical growth and intelligence of stunted aged 10-14 years old. This was a randomized placebo controlled trial. Subjects were 39 stunted aged 10 - 14 years old. The supplementation was done once with the single blind method. The anthropometries measurement for height, intellectual intelligence (IQ), and emotional intelligence (EQ) were done twice, while urine iodine was done once in the beginning of the research. It was revealed that the target groups, stunted, who got 200 mg iodine supplementation, performed the higher increase of the z-score value than that of the placebo supplementation. There were statistically significant differences of physical growth (p0.05), but there were significant increases of EQ (p = 0.01). Itwas also concluded that the supplementation of 200 mg iodine capsule is able to increase physical growth. The supplementation does not influence the increasing of IQ but do influence the emotional intelligence (EQ) of stunted aged 10-14 years old. Keywords: supplementation-iodine-growth -intelligence

Board Activities and Performance of Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange

This study sought to examine the relationships among board activities and performance of firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. This study used a census approach and a target population of the study comprised of all companies listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange between 2002 and 2016. A total of sixty five (65) companies were listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange as at 31st December 2016. The data on board activities and performance of firms were extracted from annual reports of the individuals firms. This study employed longitudinal descriptive research design to determine relationships amongst board activities and performance of firms. A panel data regression analysis was conducted using random effects model which allowed the companies to have a common mean value of the intercept to determine whether corporate governance influence firm performance. An increasing trend was observed in other board activities variables such board ownership, board meetings, board tools, board committees and number of committees meetings. The study findings on the other hand revealed reducing trend in board tenure and board remuneration of listed firms Kenya. This was inferred to indicate that listed firms in Kenya have been strengthening their corporate governance over the study period. Regression analysis indicated that board activities are insignificant predators of Return on Assets, However board tenure, committees meetings and board remuneration were found to have a positive but insignificant effect on Tobin’s Q among listed firms in Kenya. Board ownership board tools, board meetings and number board committees were found to have negatively affected the performance measured by Tobin’s Q in listed firms in Kenya. However, only board tools significantly affected the performance measured by Tobin’s Q. The study concluded that listed firms in Kenya adopted corporate governance practices as part of the requirements of the regulating authority which had not impact on the specific company’s performance. Based on the findings of this study, stakeholders of listed firms and regulating authority such as Capital Markets Authority may relook at the board activities policies of listed firms with the view revising the existing policies or formulating new and more progressive policies to ensure shareholder interests are protected. These policies may go a long way to ensure listed firms not only strengthened their board activities during poor performing seasons but rather clear systems and activities that provide a clear roadmap to guide board operations

Decomposition Rates of Organic Material across Herbivore Treatments in a Nutrient-Rich Semi-Arid Sodic Savanna

Decomposition is a major determinant of terrestrial nutrient cycling and therefore an important regulator of ecosystem structure and function. It has been widely documented that large mammalian herbivores (LMH) act as a significant driver of changes to aboveground structure and modifications to edaphic properties. Little is known about the role of herbivory, and particularly the loss thereof, in mediating essential ecological processes in a herbivore-adapted system. The Nkuhlu exclosures, a large-scale, long-term exclusion experiment in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, provided an opportunity to explore the effects of herbivory and/or its long-term exclusion on decomposition and stabilisation of detrital plant material. An extended, site-specific version of the Tea Bag Index approach was used to quantify decomposition rate (k) and stabilisation factor (S) of standardised litter substrate. Two hundred and fifty tea bags (125 green and 125 rooibos tea bags) applied in a paired tea bag design were exposed to three herbivore treatments along the sodic zone of the Nkuhlu exclosures and removed after three months of incubation. Decomposition rates (k) were highest in the presence of LMH and lowest in their absence. Conversely, stabilisation factor (S) was significantly higher in treatments from which herbivores have been excluded for ~18 years. Our study provides evidence that LMH can influence essential ecological processes such as decomposition and stabilisation of detrital plant material. Moreover, results confirmed that ecosystems that evolved with herbivores, are sensitive to herbivore loss as it reduces decomposition rates of plant detritus and hence, decelerates ecosystem nutrient cycling