Local action to support knowledge-based development

This paper elaborates on a conceptual toolkit to support understanding and offer assistance to policymakers to plan knowledge cities based around existing efforts to support learning in localised settings. We start with a conceptual framework of the learning region that was applied to a regional development programme in the northern metropolitan region of Melbourne, Australia. In setting out the key features of a learning region, we show how the framework supports the identification of policy gaps and programme needs, drawing on case data from Melbourne's North. The analysis reveals that there can be significant local action to support learning that contributes to the broader goals of knowledge cities, which leverages but is not entirely reliant on government support. To ensure this contribution is not lost when it comes to government policy and programme planning, we argue that a focus on networked governance is needed to improve cooperation between relatively autonomous local learning networks and different levels of government

Status of tailings dumps : let D5s go working in the past?

It was decided in the De Beers v Ataqua Mining (Pty) Ltd that \u27\u27tailings dumps\u27\u27 created by mining companies before the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 28 of 2002 (&quot;the MPRDA&quot;) came into operation are not governed by its provisions because such dumps are not &quot;residue stockpiles&quot; or &quot;residue deposits&quot; for purposes of the MPRDA. Ownership of tailings dumps is determined by the common law principles of accession. Ownership of a movable dump has to be transferred by one of the recognised forms of delivery of movables. Processing of these dumps will, however, still be subject to compliance with South African environmental, health and safety laws in general. It is submitted that mine dumps or tailings dumps created upon the exercise of &quot;old order mining rights&quot; before the commencement of the MPRDA and even after commencement of the MPRDA until eventual termination of the &quot;old order mining rights&quot; are not subject to the extensive, mining, environmental, empowerment provisions of the MPRDA. Termination of &quot;old order mining rights&quot; takes place upon: (i) refusal of an application for conversion of a mining right during (or even after) the period of transition, (ii) conversion into and registration of new order mining rights during (or even after) the period of transition or (iii) termination of unconverted &quot;old order mining rights&quot; on 30 April 2009. To the extent that this decision has made it possible to embark on a shorter and less cumbersome route in the reprocessing and eventual disappearance of most tailings dumps, it is to be welcomed from an economical, environmental, job creation and aesthetic perspective. Proposed amendments to the MPRDA to undo the impact of the De Beers decision should be carefully considered against these mentioned benefits and a possible finding that it may amount to an expropriation without compensation. <br /

Post/graduate research literacies and writing pedagogies

Cecile Badenhorst and Cally Gueri

Haemostatic profile of the San (Bushmen} relocated to Schmidtsdrif

Objective. To document the routine haemostatic variables of a group of San relocated from Namibia to South Africa.Design. Cross-sectional study done in two stages.Setting. Schmidtsdrif military camp in late 1990 and early 1991.Subjects. Healthy adult San volunteers: 31 males and 54 females from the Vasakela and Barakwena groups in 1990; 135 males from the Vasakela group in 1991. The subjects were all soldiers or their dependants.Main outcome measures. The following tests were performed: activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, thrombin time, fibrinogen and coagulation factors V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII. The results were compared with a Western population reference group (N =50).Main results. Almost all the haemostatic variables were statistically significantly lower than those of the reference group. The mean derived fibrinogen concentration in the plasma in the first stage of the study (1990) was significantly higher, but this reverted to normal during the second stage (1991), perhaps reflecting a general improvement in health.Conclusions. Even though the San are one of the best studied groups of indigenous people, this is the first published report on their haemostatic condition. The generally lower levels of haemostatic variables may reflect the lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the San. The population needs to be followed up as they westernise

Short thermal treatment of carbon felts for copper-based redox flow batteries

Carbon felts are often used as electrode materials for various redox flow batteries (RFBs), and for optimal performance it is often required for them to be subjected to extended thermal treatment processes (25–30 h). However, the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox couple employed in the copper RFB, at the positive electrode is significantly different when compared to the vanadium alternative. For this reason, the effect and duration of thermal treatment of the carbon felt on the performance of the copper-based RFB has to be determined. Both polyacrylonitrile and rayon carbon felts were subjected to thermal treatment for 6 and 25 h at 400 °C. The treated carbon felts were subsequently analysed using thermogravimetric analysis, resistivity determination, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, the effect of the thermal treatment was also determined using electrochemical testing and in a redox flow cell

Breaking down the barriers: Strength training in long distance triathletes

INTRODUCTION: Long distance triathletes complete large endurance training volumes with approximately half reporting to including some form of strength training (ST) in their program. However, the characteristics of this ST is currently unknown. Despite not all triathletes incorporating ST, research indicates that the completion of concurrent strength and endurance training in runners, cyclists and short course triathletes can significantly improve cycling and running economy and potentially reduce injury occurrence, likely resulting in performance improvements. Previous research has hypothesised barriers to ST in endurance athletes, however there is no empirical evidence to support such hypotheses. Therefore the primary aims of this investigation were to identify perceived barriers towards the completion of ST in long distance triathletes and ST characteristics. It was hypothesised that long distance triathletes would report limited time available for ST and fear of hypertrophy limiting their endurance performance as primary barriers to ST completion