14 research outputs found
Status report on the Kruger National Park Rivers Research Programme: A synthesis of results and assessment of progress to January 1996
In August 1995, the Programme Development and Management Committee of the Kruger National Park Rivers Research Programme (KNPRRP) recommended to the Water Research Commission (WRC) that an information synthesis and status report of the Programme be undertaken. The main purpose of the report is to inform all the interested parties (including researchers, managers, and funding agencies) of the achievements and capabilities of the Programme; to assess these in relation to the stated goals and tasks of the "Second Phase: Programme description"; and to identify gaps and priorities for further work
Evaluating procedural modelling for 3D models of informal settlements in urban design activities
Three-dimensional (3D) modelling and visualisation is one of the fastest growing application fields in
geographic information science. 3D city models are being researched extensively for a variety of purposes
and in various domains, including urban design, disaster management, education and computer gaming.
These models typically depict urban business districts (downtown) or suburban residential areas. Despite
informal settlements being a prevailing feature of many cities in developing countries, 3D models of informal
settlements are virtually non-existent. 3D models of informal settlements could be useful in various ways,
e.g. to gather information about the current environment in the informal settlements, to design upgrades,
to communicate these and to educate inhabitants about environmental challenges. In this article, we
described the development of a 3D model of the Slovo Park informal settlement in the City of Johannesburg
Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. Instead of using time-consuming traditional manual methods,
we followed the procedural modelling technique. Visualisation characteristics of 3D models of informal
settlements were described and the importance of each characteristic in urban design activities for informal
settlement upgrades was assessed. Next, the visualisation characteristics of the Slovo Park model were
evaluated. The results of the evaluation showed that the 3D model produced by the procedural modelling
technique is suitable for urban design activities in informal settlements. The visualisation characteristics and
their assessment are also useful as guidelines for developing 3D models of informal settlements. In future,
we plan to empirically test the use of such 3D models in urban design projects in informal settlements.http://www.sajs.co.zaam201
Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19
IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 nonâcritically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022).
INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (nâ=â257), ARB (nâ=â248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; nâ=â10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; nâ=â264) for up to 10 days.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ supportâfree days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes.
RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ supportâfree days among critically ill patients was 10 (â1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (nâ=â231), 8 (â1 to 17) in the ARB group (nâ=â217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (nâ=â231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ supportâfree days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570
Internasionale perspektiewe op kinderarbeid : enkele lesse vir Suid-Afrika
Thesis (LL.M.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.This study demonstrates the blatant and persistent violation of children's rights
within the labour market, including their neglect, abuse and exploitation. The
absence of schooling, supportive services and the increase in poverty threatens
the well-being of children. The right of children to be protected from exploitative
labour practices that are age inappropriate and detrimental to the child's wellbeing,
education, physical, mental, spiritual moral or social development
sometimes appear to be neglected.
The study focuses on the problems with regard to child labour as regulated in
international instruments and national legislation and whether the instruments
and legislation is sufficient in prohibiting children to engage in hazardous work
which involves their economic.
The international and national instruments as discussed in this study protect
children from economic exploitation and from work that is hazardous to their
health or which interfere with their education. However, one should be aware of
the overwhelming need among many South African households for children to
work. It is therefore suggested that legislation be implemented more effectively
to eliminate the use of child labour under specific ages. However, these
restrictions should be placed within the scope of the child's right to be heard and
to make his/her own decisions with regard to issues concerning them.
There needs to be an integrated strategy linked to the provision of free basic
education and addressing poverty to combat child labour. It is critical to initiate
emergency measures which will promote the care and protection of children and
harness their potential to meaningfully contribute to society. Child labour should
not jeopardize any of the rights guaranteed by international and/or national
instruments, including the right to education, or the right of the child to be heard.
It makes clear that a basic quality of life should be the right of all children, rather
than a privilege enjoyed by a few.Master
Evaluating procedural modelling for 3D models of informal settlements in urban design activities
Three-dimensional (3D) modelling and visualisation is one of the fastest growing application fields in geographic information science. 3D city models are being researched extensively for a variety of purposes and in various domains, including urban design, disaster management, education and computer gaming. These models typically depict urban business districts (downtown) or suburban residential areas. Despite informal settlements being a prevailing feature of many cities in developing countries, 3D models of informal settlements are virtually non-existent. 3D models of informal settlements could be useful in various ways, e.g. to gather information about the current environment in the informal settlements, to design upgrades, to communicate these and to educate inhabitants about environmental challenges. In this article, we described the development of a 3D model of the Slovo Park informal settlement in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. Instead of using time-consuming traditional manual methods, we followed the procedural modelling technique. Visualisation characteristics of 3D models of informal settlements were described and the importance of each characteristic in urban design activities for informal settlement upgrades was assessed. Next, the visualisation characteristics of the Slovo Park model were evaluated. The results of the evaluation showed that the 3D model produced by the procedural modelling technique is suitable for urban design activities in informal settlements. The visualisation characteristics and their assessment are also useful as guidelines for developing 3D models of informal settlements. In future, we plan to empirically test the use of such 3D models in urban design projects in informal settlements
Evaluating procedural modelling for 3D models of informal settlements in urban design activities
Three-dimensional (3D) modelling and visualisation is one of the fastest growing application fields in
geographic information science. 3D city models are being researched extensively for a variety of purposes
and in various domains, including urban design, disaster management, education and computer gaming.
These models typically depict urban business districts (downtown) or suburban residential areas. Despite
informal settlements being a prevailing feature of many cities in developing countries, 3D models of informal
settlements are virtually non-existent. 3D models of informal settlements could be useful in various ways,
e.g. to gather information about the current environment in the informal settlements, to design upgrades,
to communicate these and to educate inhabitants about environmental challenges. In this article, we
described the development of a 3D model of the Slovo Park informal settlement in the City of Johannesburg
Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. Instead of using time-consuming traditional manual methods,
we followed the procedural modelling technique. Visualisation characteristics of 3D models of informal
settlements were described and the importance of each characteristic in urban design activities for informal
settlement upgrades was assessed. Next, the visualisation characteristics of the Slovo Park model were
evaluated. The results of the evaluation showed that the 3D model produced by the procedural modelling
technique is suitable for urban design activities in informal settlements. The visualisation characteristics and
their assessment are also useful as guidelines for developing 3D models of informal settlements. In future,
we plan to empirically test the use of such 3D models in urban design projects in informal settlements.http://www.sajs.co.zaam201