What Advertisers Want: Measuring Institutions: Indicators of Political Rights, Property Rights and Political Instability in Malawi

In the 2008 Budget Review, the South African government announced its intention to levy a 2c/kWh tax on the sale of electricity generated from non-renewable sources. This measure is intended to serve a dual purpose of helping to manage the current electricity supply shortages and to protect the environment (National Treasury 2008). An electricity generation tax is set to have an impact on the South African economy. However, several instruments have been proposed in the literature to protect the competitiveness and economy of a country when it imposes a green tax, one of these remedies being border tax adjustments.This paper evaluates the effectiveness for the South African case, of border tax adjustments (BTAs) in counteracting the negative impact of an electricity generation tax on competitiveness. The remedial effects of the BTAs are assessed in the light of their ability to maintain the environmental benefits of the electricity generation tax. Additionally, the the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model is used to evaluate the impact of an electricity generation tax on the South African, SACU and SADC economies and to explore the possibility of reducing the economic impact of the electricity generation tax through BTAs. The results show that an electricity generation tax will lead to a contraction in South African gross domestic product (GDP). Traditional BTAs are unable to address these negative impacts. We propose a reversedBTA approach where gains from trade are utilised to counteract the negative effects of an electricity generation tax, while retaining the environmental benefits associated with the electricity generation tax. This is achieved through a lowering of import tariffs, as this will reduce production costs and thereby restore the competitiveness of the South African economy. The reduction in import tariffs not only negates the negative GDP impact of the electricity generation tax, but the bulk of CO2 abatement from the electricity generation tax is retained.

Health surveillance of employees on a lead mine, 1979-1989

Health surveillance of employees at a lead mine in the northern Cape, employing about 1 400 people, is specifically aimed at early detection of excessive lead absorption, which is the main chemical hazard. Over a period of 9 years the blood lead level distribution showed very few values (2,5%) that exceeded 60 μg/100 ml.Health surveillance of employees at a lead mine in the northern Cape, employing about 1 400 people, is specifically aimed at early detection of excessive lead absorption, which is the main chemical hazard. Over a period of 9 years the blood lead level distribution showed very few values (2,5%) that exceeded 60 μg/100 ml

The impact of an electricity generation tax on the South African economy

In the 2008 budget of the Minister of Finance, the South African Government proposed to impose a 2 cents/kilowatt-hour (c/kWh) tax on the sale of electricity generated from non-renewable sources; this tax is to be collected at source by the producers/generators of electricity. The intention of this measure is to serve a dual purpose of protecting the environment and helping to manage the current electricity supply shortages by reducing demand. The objective here is to evaluate the impact of such an electricity generation tax on the South African, SACU and SADC economies. The paper firstly considers the theoretical foundations of an electricity generation tax supported by international experiences in this regard. This section also contrasts the suitability of a permit with a tax system to achieve CO2 emission reduction. We subsequently apply the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model to evaluate the impact of an electricity generation tax on the South African, SACU and SADC economies. We simulate the proposed tax as a 10 percent increase in the output price of electricity. We assume a closure rule that allows unskilled labour to migrate and a limited skilled workforce. As expected, the electricity generation tax will reduce demand. Due to the decrease in domestic demand, export volume increases and import volume decreases, this is despite a weaker terms of trade. We also found that unemployment for unskilled labour increases and wages of skilled workers are expected to decrease. A unilateral electricity generation tax will benefit other SACU and SADC countries through an improvement in relative competitiveness, as shown by the improvement of the terms of trade for these regions. If, however, the benefits of pollution abatement are internalised, then electricity generation tax is expected to yield a positive effect on the South African economy.

AE Aquarii: A Short Review

The nova-like variable AE Aquarii has been continuously studied since its discovery on photographic plates in 1934. In this short review the peculiar multi-wavelength properties of AE Aquarii will be reviewed and explained in context of its evolution from a high mass transfer phase, during which period it could have been a supersoft X-ray source (SSS)

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA with in situ hybridisation in oral squamous carcinoma in a rural black population

No Abstract

Supporting Treatment for Anti-Retroviral Therapy (START) together: protocol for a pilot, randomized, couple-based intervention to promote women's ART adherence and men's engagement in HIV care in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Background: South Africa currently has the greatest number of people with HIV globally. The country has not yet met its 95-95-95 goals, with different gaps in the HIV care cascade for women and men. This paper reports on a protocol to pilot test a couple-based intervention designed to improve women's antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and men's engagement in care in heterosexual couples living in the Vulindlela area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Study goals are two-fold: (1) assess the acceptability, feasibility, and fidelity of the experimental intervention, START Together, and (2) collect efficacy data on START Together for women's ART adherence, men's engagement in HIV care, and the couple's relationship functioning. Methods: Women (N = 20) who were not engaged with ART adherence (defined via self-reported ART difficulties, record of missed clinic visits, or viral non-suppression) are the target patients; male partners are not required to know or disclose their HIV status to be part of the study. Couples are randomized 1:1 to the experimental treatment (START Together) or treatment as usual (referrals to the local clinic to support ART adherence or any other HIV-related care). START Together is a 5-session intervention based in cognitive-behavioral couple therapy, which is a skill-based intervention focusing on communication and problem-solving skills, and Life Steps, a problem-solving intervention identifying barriers and solutions to medication adherence. Couples are assessed at baseline, post-treatment (8 weeks post-randomization), and follow-up (12 weeks post-randomization). Conclusion: This study will provide preliminary implementation and efficacy data on whether this novel approach has potential to improve women and men's HIV and healthcare-related needs

Comparison of the effect of semi-rigid ankle bracing on performance among injured v. non-injured adolescent female hockey players

Objective. To determine the comparative proprioceptive performance of injured v. non-injured adolescent female hockey players wearing an ankle brace.Methods. Data were collected from 100 high school players who belonged to the Highway Secondary School Hockey League, KwaZulu-Natal, via voluntary parental informed consent and player assent. Players completed an injury questionnaire probing the prevalence and nature of hockey injuries (March - August 2013). Subsequently, players completed a Biodex proprioceptive test with and without an ankle brace. Probability was set at p≤0.05.Results. Twenty-two players sustained ankle injuries within the 6-month study period (p<0.001). Injured players performed similarly without bracing (right anterior posterior index (RAPI) 2.8 (standard deviation (SD) 0.9); right medial lateral index (RMLI) 1.9 (0.7); left anterior posterior index (LAPI) 2.7 (0.9); left medial lateral index (LMLI) 1.7 (0.6)) compared with bracing (RAPI 2.7 (1.4); RMLI 1.8 (0.6); LAPI 2.6 (1.0); LMLI 1.5 (0.6)) (p>0.05). However, bracing improved the ankle stability of the non-injured group (RAPI 2.2 (0.8); RMLI 1.5 (0.5); LAPI 2.4 (0.9); RMLI 1.5 (0.5)) compared with their performance without a brace (RAPI 2.5 (1.0); RMLI 1.8 (0.8); LAPI 2.8 (1.1); LMLI 1.8 (0.6)) (p<0.05).Conclusion. Ankle bracing did not enhance the stability of injured ankles. However, ankle bracing has an ergogenic effect that enhances the stability of healthy ankles

Biological modelling of the radiation dose escalation effect of regional hyperthermia in cervical cancer

Background Locoregional hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy significantly improves locoregional control and overall survival for cervical tumors compared to radiotherapy alone. In this study biological modelling is applied to quantify the effect of radiosensitization for three cervical cancer patients to evaluate the improvement in equivalent dose for the combination treatment with radiotherapy and hyperthermia. Methods The Linear-Quadratic (LQ) model extended with temperature-dependent LQ-parameters α and β was used to model radiosensitization by hyperthermia and to calculate the conventional radiation dose that is equivalent in biological effect to the combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia treatment. External beam radiotherapy planning was performed based on a prescription dose of 46Gy in 23 fractions of 2Gy. Hyperthermia treatment using the AMC-4 system was simulated based on the actual optimized system settings used during treatment. Results The simulated hyperthermia treatments for the 3 patients yielded a T50 of 40.1 °C, 40.5 °C, 41.1 °C and a T90 of 39.2 °C, 39.7 °C, 40.4 °C, respectively. The combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia treatment resulted in a D95 of 52.5Gy, 55.5Gy, 56.9Gy in the GTV, a dose escalation of 7.3–11.9Gy compared to radiotherapy alone (D95 = 45.0–45.5Gy). Conclusions This study applied biological modelling to evaluate radiosensitization by hyperthermia as a radiation-dose escalation for cervical cancer patients. This model is very useful to compare the effectiveness of different treatment schedules for combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia treatments and to guide the design of clinical studies on dose escalation using hyperthermia in a multi-modality setting

Tensor Polarized Deuteron Capture by the Hydrogen Isotopes

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY 87-1440