An evaluation of community-based environmental initiatives at Betty's Bay, Western Cape, South Africa

Word processed copy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 235-255)

Physiological correlates of performance in international-standard squash players

Tactical, technical and fitness factors are important for success in elite squash. While tactical and endurance fitness aspects have been explored, altered demands that have resulted from rule changes and absence of specific tests of high-intensity exercise capabilities have prevented identification of elements of fitness that correlate with performance in elite-standard players. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between test scores and player rank in such players. With institutional ethics approval, 31 players from the England Squash performance programme participated (11 women and 20 men, mean±SD body mass 62.4±5.5 kg and 73.1±7.5 kg respectively). After habituation, participants completed countermovement and drop-jump tests, squash-specific tests of change-of-direction speed and multiple-sprint ability and the multistage fitness test in one test session. Short recoveries were allowed between tests. World rank at the time of testing was obtained from the Professional Squash Association website. In men, change-of-direction speed (??=?0.59, p?=?0.02, n?=?14) multiple-sprint ability (??=?0.78, p<0.01, n?=?13) and fastest sprint from the multiple-sprint test (??=?0.86, p<0.01, n?=?13) correlated with world rank. In women, only fastest repetition from the multiple-sprint test correlated with world rank (??=?0.65, p?=?0.04, n?=?10). Measures of high-intensity exercise capability correlated with world rank in elite-standard men and women players. Endurance capability did not relate to rank in either the men or women. The results suggest that high-intensity, variable-direction exercise capabilities are important for success in elite squash

Water research paradigm shifts in South Africa

We performed a scientometric analysis of water research publications extracted from four decades of South African related papers to identify paradigms and paradigm shifts within water research in South Africa. Between 1977 and 1991, research publications are dominated by research into technical and engineering solutions, as well as designs and plans to secure water supply. From 1992 to 2001, publications on water pollution, water quality, water resource management and planning are prominent. The second major paradigm is observed from 2001 to 2011 in which the emphasis is on planning, modelling, catchment-scale studies and a multidisciplinary approach to research. Another transition period, towards the end of 2011, is characterised by uncertainty, although it also shows the prominence of key concepts such as participation, governance and politics in water management. The second aim of this study was to identify and prioritise current and future water research questions through the participation of a wide range of researchers from across the country, and to relate these questions to research paradigms, issues and concerns in water in South Africa. Over 1600 questions were collected, reduced in number and then prioritised by specialists in the water sector. The majority (78%) of questions offered by respondents in the South African case study dealt with relatively short- to medium-term research requirements with 47% of questions focused on medium-term issues such as supplying water, service delivery and technical solutions

Sustainable urban water management in Cape Town, South Africa: is it a pipe dream?

The City of Cape Town (South Africa) faces numerous challenges in respect of water supply, drainage and sanitation services. It is hypothesised that the potential for long term sustainability in urban water systems can be established through the application of a five component sustainability index. This paper describes the development of such an index, the “Sustainability Index for Integrated Urban Water Management” (SIUWM), for specific application to southern African cities. It reviews the results from initial testing of the index on Cape Town, discusses its usefulness in terms of sustainability assessment, and provides a way forward for continuation of the research. It concludes that, by drawing on the numerous connections that link the different aspects of urban water management, the SIUWM is able to highlight several critical areas of “unsustainability” in the City and shows that sustainability will remain a pipe dream if these challenges are not addressed systematically and urgently

PENGARUH SELF EFFICACY, PROFESIONALISME, PEMAHAMAN GOOD GOVERNANCE, DAN BUDAYA ORGANISASI TERHADAP KINERJA AUDITOR KANTOR AKUNTAN PUBLIK DI JAKARTA

Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk meneliti adanya pengaruh self efficacy, profesionalisme, pemahaman good governance, dan budaya organisasi terhadap kinerja auditor kantor akuntan publik di Jakarta. Pada penelitian ini jumlah sampel yang digunakan sebanyak 153 auditor dengan menggunakan purposive sampling. Teknik analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis regresi linier berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa self efficacy, profesionalisme, dan budaya organisasi berpengaruh positif terhadap kinerja auditor, sedangkan untuk pemahaman good governance tidak berpengaruh terhadap kinerja auditor kantor akuntan publik

Stormwater harvesting: Improving water security in South Africa’s urban areas

The drought experienced in South Africa in 2016 – one of the worst in decades – has left many urbanised parts of the country with limited access to water, and food production has been affected. If a future water crisis is to be averted, the country needs to conserve current water supplies, reduce its reliance on conventional surface water schemes, and seek alternative sources of water supply. Within urban areas, municipalities must find ways to adapt to, and mitigate the threats from, water insecurity resulting from, inter alia, droughts, climate change and increasing water demand driven by population growth and rising standards of living. Stormwater harvesting (SWH) is one possible alternative water resource that could supplement traditional urban water supplies, as well as simultaneously offer a range of social and environmental benefits. We set out three position statements relating to how SWH can: improve water security and increase resilience to climate change in urban areas; prevent frequent flooding; and provide additional benefits to society. We also identify priority research areas for the future in order to target and support the appropriate uptake of SWH in South Africa, including testing the viability of SWH through the use of real-time control and managed aquifer recharge

Able Flight at Purdue: Opportunities in Technology

Developing aircraft piloting skills takes years of training with experts to meet flight certification requirements. Not everyone can reach those standards, and the challenge is even greater for those with physical disabilities. There are opportunities to modify aircraft and train physically impaired students to be pilots; however, due to the high cost, few are able to do so. Able Flight seeks to change that by providing scholarship opportunities for people with disabilities to learn to fly and opening up new educational and career opportunities. Over 30 individuals with various disabilities have received scholarships since Able Flights inception, and all have successfully completed the requirements for a sport pilots’ license

Approaching community-level greywater managementin non-sewered settlements in South Africa

This study investigates sustainable options for community-level management of greywater in low-income settlements without on-site waterborne sanitation in South Africa. As a consequence of the limited resource base of both the local authorities and the inhabitants of the settlements, these options need to be inexpensive, technologically simple and socially acceptable. A variety of social and technological options are thus being implemented in collaboration with the inhabitants and the local authorities, and their efficacy evaluated. The hypothesis is that involving the inhabitants in the development of solutions is likely to be more effective in the management of greywater in these settlements than the traditional approach where the local authorities provide rudimentary engineered services after minimal consultation. Following an initial scoping study that covered six of the nine provinces of South Africa, four settlements in the Western Cape Province were selected for a second, more detailed study. The study employs the Participatory Action Research (PAR) method which emphasises participation, collaboration and consensual decision-making with the goal of ensuring long term sustainability of social and technological interventions

Dietary red meat aggravates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice whereas resistant starch attenuates inflammation

Although a genetic component has been identified as a risk factor for developing inflammatory bowel disease, there is evidence that dietary factors also play a role in the development of this disease. Aims The aim of this study was to determine the effects of feeding a red meat diet with and without resistant starch (RS) to mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Methods Colonic experimental colitis was induced in Balb/c mice using DSS. The severity of colitis was evaluated based on a disease activity index (based on bodyweight loss, stool consistency, rectal bleeding, and overall condition of the animal) and a histological score. Estimations were made of numbers of a range of different bacteria in the treatment pools of cecal digesta using quantitative real-time PCR. Results Consumption of a diet high in red meat increased DSS-induced colitis as evidenced by higher disease activity and histopathological scores. Addition of RS to the red meat diet exerted a beneficial effect in acute DSS-induced colitis. Subjective analysis of numbers of a range of bacterial targets suggest changes in the gut microbiota abundance were induced by red meat and RS treatments and these changes could contribute to the reported outcomes. Conclusions A dietary intake of red meat aggravates DSS-induced colitis whereas co-consumption of resistant starch reduces the severity of colitis.This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (grant ID 535079) and CSIRO Preventative Health National Research Flagship