Bakgrund: Utöver hormonbaserade läkemedel har fysisk aktivitet visat effekt på klimakterierelaterade besvär men få studier har utförts om relationen mellan fysisk aktivitet, klimakteriebesvär och hälsorelaterad livskvalitet i en svensk population. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka klimakteriebesvär, hälsorelaterad livskvalitet och fysisk aktivitetsnivå bland kvinnor i Sverige i klimakteriet samt att studera hur fysisk aktivitetsnivå relaterar till livskvalitet och klimakteriebesvär. Metod: Enkät med flervalsfrågor om klimakteriebesvär (Menopause Rating Scale), fysisk aktivitetsnivå (Socialstyrelsens screeningfrågor om fysisk aktivitet) och hälsorelaterad livskvalitet (RAND-36) skickades till två slutna Facebookgrupper för kvinnor i klimakteriet. Resultatsammanfattning: Enkätsvaren visade att kvinnorna (n=381) skattade sömn och fysisk/mental trötthet som de mest besvärande symtomen, var fysiskt aktiva i genomsnitt 315 minuter i veckan och hade lägst hälsorelaterad livskvalitet avseende energi/fatigue och högst hälsorelaterad livskvalitet avseende fysisk funktion. De som uppnådde rekommendationerna för fysisk aktivitet skattade både högre fysisk hälsa (p<0.001) och emotionell hälsa (p=0.004) jämfört med de som inte uppnådde rekommendationerna. Ett svagt men signifikant samband fanns mellan grad av klimakteriebesvär och totalt antal aktivitetsminuter (ρ=-0.156) respektive fysisk träning (ρ=-0.149). Konklusion: Resultaten tyder på en relation mellan tillräcklig fysisk aktivitet och högre hälsorelaterad livskvalitet, särskilt avseende dimensionerna fysisk och emotionell hälsa. Sambandet mellan klimakteriebesvär och fysisk aktivitet fanns men var svagt. Resultaten ger insikter i komplexa samband mellan klimakteriebesvär, fysisk aktivitet och hälsorelaterad livskvalitet men belyser betydelsen av fysisk aktivitet för denna grupp. / Background: Besides hormone-based treatments, physical activity has shown effectiveness in menopausal symptoms, but few studies have explored the relationship between physical activity, menopausal symptoms, and health related quality of life in a Swedish population. Objective: The objective was to examine menopausal symptoms, health related quality of life, and physical activity levels among menopausal women in Sweden, and to explore how physical activity levels correlates to health related quality of life, and menopausal symptoms. Method: A multiple-choice questionnaire about menopausal symptoms (Menopause Rating Scale), physical activity (Socialstyrelsens Screeningfrågor om Fysisk Aktivitet), and health related quality of life (RAND-36) was sent to two closed Facebook groups for menopausal women. Results: Survey responses from the women (n=381) reported sleep and physical/mental fatigue as the most severe symptoms. On average, they were physically active for 315 minutes per week and had the lowest heath related quality of life related to energy/fatigue and the highest heath related quality of life related to physical function. Those who met the recommendations for physical activity reported higher physical health (p<0.001) and emotional health (p=0.004) compared to those who did not meet the recommendations. A weak but significant relationship was found between the degree of menopausal symptoms and the total number of physical activity (ρ=-0.156) and physical exercise (ρ=-0.149). Conclusion: The results suggest a relationship between sufficient physical activity and higher health related quality of life, especially concerning the dimensions physical and emotional health. The association between menopausal symptoms and physical activity was present but weak. The findings provide insights into the complex relationships between menopausal symptoms, physical activity, and health related quality of life, highlighting the significance of physical activity for this group.

The White Paper on National Transport Policy (SA, 1996:12) identified the fragmentation of functions between different spheres of government as one of the main obstacles besetting the effective development and management of the transport system. It endorsed one of the principles in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Ad 108 of 1996, to devolve functions to the lowest appropriate sphere of government if it could be more effectively handled and if there was capacity to perform the functions. In pursuing the above objective, the purpose of this study was to determine the functionality of the West Rand District Municipality in terms of administrative as well as economic and transport management principles to fulfil the role as a transport authority in terms of the NLTTA for its present area of jurisdiction. The study therefore addressed the legal framework as well as transport and economic indicators defining the functional area of a transport authority. In determining the nature and extent of functions as fulfilled by the respective municipalities, use was made of dichotomous questionnaires. These findings were also supported with technical data based on surveys conducted through the Gauteng Household Travel Survey (2000) and the Operating Licensing Strategy (200212003). To further operationalise the research objectives of this study, and touching on Great Britain's transport experience over the past 75 years, a comparison was made between the present status of Transport Authorities in the United Kingdom, compared to those in South Africa (Gauteng Province). Upon analysing the empirical findings it was evident that the establishment of a Transport Authority for the area of jurisdiction of the West Rand would enable the WRDM to deliver on the following number of fronts: • Coherent Alignment to a Common Vision • Integration of Transport System • Control over Transport Modes • Optimised Utilisation of Funds To create a conducive environment for a West Rand Transport Authority to improve its functionality, it was recommended that serious attention be given to aspects such as funding mechanisms, legality of municipal entities, clarity on the status of transport powers at municipal level of government, assignment of functions and human resource capacity. Upon conclusion it was agreed that the successful implementation of a functional transport authority for the West Rand will be dependant, not only upon technical expertise and management and by resolving the above issues, but also on political support. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This research report examines the relationship between state-sponsored worker co-operatives, local markets and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM, on the East Rand, South Africa) in the 2000s, to examine how state support impacts upon democracy in worker co-operatives (“co-ops”) more generally. Worker co-ops are democratic and voluntary organisations, simultaneously owned and managed by their members (“co-operators”), have a substantial history in South Africa and elsewhere, and have often been seen as a potential alternative to capitalism. But are they? An extensive literature demonstrates market pressures erode co-op democracy (e.g. Philips): to survive, worker co-ops develop increasingly into capitalist enterprises, which fundamentally challenges notions that co-ops can challenge capitalism. Several commentators (e.g. Satgar) admit this problem, but see the solution in state support, which can purportedly shield worker co-ops from the market, so enabling their democratic content and socialist potential to be maintained. This pro-state approach is tested by examining actually-existing worker co-ops in the EMM, where a number of state-sponsored worker co-ops were established from the 2000s; the two most successful co-ops are the subject of this case study. It is shown that, on the contrary, state sponsorship fostered dependency and subtle (and less subtle) forms of state control over the co-ops. Most of the co-operatives failed to survive, as state control foisted upon them impractical goals (e.g. competition in poor community markets with overwhelming rivals,) while creating additional problems (e.g. failing to allocate marketing budgets) and also undermining co-op democracy (e.g. through imposing external priorities on the co-ops). The co-ops that survived remain trapped between state patronage and the capitalist market: unable to ensure accumulation, they remain dependent on the state, but as a result, are continually pushed by the state back into the market. It is not the South African state’s push to constitute the co-ops as black-run capitalist firms that is crucial to this story, but what this push reveals: state sponsorship was irredeemably linked to state control, and it was state control that enabled the state to force its agenda on iii the co-ops in the first place; an alternative state policy framework would simply change the goals imposed. The hierarchical and elitist class logic of the state is fundamentally incompatible with the popular, self-managed logic of worker co-ops. In short, the findings on the interaction of internal co-op dynamics with the state and open market pressures suggest that democratic worker co-ops are basically fundamentally incompatible with both markets and states. They are also fundamentally incapable of transcending either, as their survival requires either emulating capitalism or embracing the state. Lastly, this research report argues that the erosion of democracy in worker co-ops cannot simply be reduced to external forces (the state, the market), although these play a central role in such erosion. Of the two co-ops examined as case studies, one is characterised by authoritarian decision-making, the other by a fairly democratic practice. A key factor in such divergence were the co-operators’ own political and work cultures. Argued Bakunin: while worker co-ops can play a demonstrative role, challenging authoritarian politics by showing the possibility of workers’ self-management, they cannot provide a transformative role, overcoming capitalism or the state. A state-sponsored worker co-ops movement cannot form the heart of a radical, democratic and working class strategy for fundamental change. To answer the research question, the research asks which factors are important in determining the internal democratic or authoritarian form of the co-ops under study. Two state-sponsored worker co-ops are taken as case studies. The first co-op is characterised by authoritarian decision-making, while the other is characterised experiences democratic decision-making. The findings of the research agree with Philip’s (2006) argument that market factors are important in determining the internal form of a co-op. However, this research clearly shows that while market factors are important, they are by no means the sole determinant of the internal dynamics of a co-op. Non-market factors are equally important in determining the internal form of a co-op.

Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem Problem der zufälligen Wärmeausbreitung in beschränkten Gebieten. Dieses Phänomen wird dabei durch eine lineare parabolische Randanfangswertaufabe beschrieben, wobei die Anfangsbedingung und die Neumannrandbedingung als zufällige Felder mit gegebener Wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilung angenommen werden. Des Weiteren werden die zufälligen Felder als homogen und epsilon-korreliert mit einer kleinen Korrelationslänge epsilon > 0 vorausgesetzt und sollen glatte Realisierungen besitzen. Zur Lösung der Randanfangswertaufgabe werden sowohl die klassische Formulierung als auch die Variationsformulierung herangezogen und in diesem Zusammenhang die Fourier Methode sowie die Finite-Elemente Methode betrachtet. Die Finite-Elemente Methode und die Fourier-Methode führen auf einen expliziten funktionalen Zusammenhang zwischen der zufälligen Lösung der betrachteten Randanfangswertaufgabe und den Einflussgrößen, so dass Momentenfunktionen davon abgeleitet werden können. Das Hauptinteresse dieser Arbeit liegt auf der Berechnung dieser Momentenfunktionen, welche durch die gewählten Eigenschaften der stochastischen Einflußgrößen bestimmt werden. Basierend auf dem Finite-Elemente Ansatz bzw. dem Fourier Ansatz werden verschiedene Approximationsmöglichkeiten insbesondere für die Korrelationsfunktion erörtert. Des Weiteren wird die Möglichkeit der Simulation des zufälligen Randanfangswertproblems betrachtet. Hierzu wird zur Simulation der zufälligen Einflussgrößen auf die Theorie von Moving Average Feldern zurückgegriffen. Der letzte Teil der Arbeit widmet sich dem Vergleich der erhaltenen analytischen Resultate anhand konkreter numerischer Beispiele.

Urbanisation is an ever-growing global phenomenon which creates altered environments characterised by increased human habitation, exotic species, impermeable surfaces, artificial structures, landscape fragmentation, habitat loss, and modified energy– and resource pathways. The vulnerable Rand Highveld Grassland vegetation unit in the Tlokwe Municipal area, South Africa, has been extensively degraded and transformed by urbanisation and agriculture. Only 1% of this endangered ecosystem is currently being actively conserved. Grassland fragments in urban areas are considered to be less species rich and less functional than their more “natural” counterparts, and are therefore not a priority for conservation. In this study the effects of landscape matrix quality on intra patch variables, namely plant species diversity and functional diversity, and fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function (as determined by Landscape Function Analysis or LFA) of 30 fragments of the Rand Highveld Grassland vegetation unit were explored. Four urbanisation measures (percentage urban land cover, percentage grass land cover, edge density, and density of people), acting as indicators for patterns and processes associated with urban areas, were calculated for matrix areas with a 500m radius surrounding each selected grassland fragment to quantify the position of each grassland remnant along an urban-to-rural gradient. Using the specific urbanisation measures, the grassland fragments were objectively classified into two classes of urbanisation, namely “rural/peri-urban” and “urban”, to allow for statistical comparisons between intra-patch variables for grassland remnants exposed to similar urbanisation pressures. Plant species composition and diversity were determined in the selected grassland fragments and nine functional traits were described for each species. Plant functional diversity was determined by five functional diversity indices, namely functional richness, evenness, divergence, dispersion, and specialisation. Fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function was determined by executing the LFA method. LFA assesses fine-scale landscape patchiness and 11 soil surface indicators to produce three main LFA parameters (stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling), which indicates how well a system is functioning in terms of resource conservation and soil processes. Possible relationships between fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function and plant species- and functional diversity were also investigated. NMDS ordinations and basic statistics were used to determine trends and effects within the data. The results indicated that urban grassland remnants had lower mean plant species richness, Shannon species diversity (significantly), and Pielou species evenness than rural/peri-urban grassland fragments. Urban grassland fragments also contained significantly higher percentage of exotic species. Correlations were found between the four urbanisation measures and percentage species of the total species richness possessing certain functional attributes. This indicated that increased urbanisation may influence the species composition and the occurrence of certain plant traits in the selected grassland fragments. Urbanisation seems to have no effect on fine-scale landscape heterogeneity of the selected grassland fragments. Rural/peri-urban grassland fragments had higher infiltration capacity, nutrient cycling potential, and total SSA functionality (although not significantly), which may be ascribed to differences in management practices, such as mowing in urban areas and grazing in rural areas. Rand Highveld Grassland fragments in the urban landscape matrix of Potchefstroom city are just as conservable in terms of plant species diversity and functional diversity, as well as on a biophysical function level involving soil processes than rural/peri-urban grassland fragments. High plant species diversity and the presence of certain plant traits did not contribute to high soil surface stability, infiltration capacity, nutrient cycling potential and total soil surface functioning. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Urbanisation is an ever-growing global phenomenon which creates altered environments characterised by increased human habitation, exotic species, impermeable surfaces, artificial structures, landscape fragmentation, habitat loss, and modified energy– and resource pathways. The vulnerable Rand Highveld Grassland vegetation unit in the Tlokwe Municipal area, South Africa, has been extensively degraded and transformed by urbanisation and agriculture. Only 1% of this endangered ecosystem is currently being actively conserved. Grassland fragments in urban areas are considered to be less species rich and less functional than their more “natural” counterparts, and are therefore not a priority for conservation. In this study the effects of landscape matrix quality on intra patch variables, namely plant species diversity and functional diversity, and fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function (as determined by Landscape Function Analysis or LFA) of 30 fragments of the Rand Highveld Grassland vegetation unit were explored. Four urbanisation measures (percentage urban land cover, percentage grass land cover, edge density, and density of people), acting as indicators for patterns and processes associated with urban areas, were calculated for matrix areas with a 500m radius surrounding each selected grassland fragment to quantify the position of each grassland remnant along an urban-to-rural gradient. Using the specific urbanisation measures, the grassland fragments were objectively classified into two classes of urbanisation, namely “rural/peri-urban” and “urban”, to allow for statistical comparisons between intra-patch variables for grassland remnants exposed to similar urbanisation pressures. Plant species composition and diversity were determined in the selected grassland fragments and nine functional traits were described for each species. Plant functional diversity was determined by five functional diversity indices, namely functional richness, evenness, divergence, dispersion, and specialisation. Fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function was determined by executing the LFA method. LFA assesses fine-scale landscape patchiness and 11 soil surface indicators to produce three main LFA parameters (stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling), which indicates how well a system is functioning in terms of resource conservation and soil processes. Possible relationships between fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function and plant species- and functional diversity were also investigated. NMDS ordinations and basic statistics were used to determine trends and effects within the data. The results indicated that urban grassland remnants had lower mean plant species richness, Shannon species diversity (significantly), and Pielou species evenness than rural/peri-urban grassland fragments. Urban grassland fragments also contained significantly higher percentage of exotic species. Correlations were found between the four urbanisation measures and percentage species of the total species richness possessing certain functional attributes. This indicated that increased urbanisation may influence the species composition and the occurrence of certain plant traits in the selected grassland fragments. Urbanisation seems to have no effect on fine-scale landscape heterogeneity of the selected grassland fragments. Rural/peri-urban grassland fragments had higher infiltration capacity, nutrient cycling potential, and total SSA functionality (although not significantly), which may be ascribed to differences in management practices, such as mowing in urban areas and grazing in rural areas. Rand Highveld Grassland fragments in the urban landscape matrix of Potchefstroom city are just as conservable in terms of plant species diversity and functional diversity, as well as on a biophysical function level involving soil processes than rural/peri-urban grassland fragments. High plant species diversity and the presence of certain plant traits did not contribute to high soil surface stability, infiltration capacity, nutrient cycling potential and total soil surface functioning. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The White Paper on National Transport Policy (SA, 1996:12) identified the fragmentation of functions between different spheres of government as one of the main obstacles besetting the effective development and management of the transport system. It endorsed one of the principles in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Ad 108 of 1996, to devolve functions to the lowest appropriate sphere of government if it could be more effectively handled and if there was capacity to perform the functions. In pursuing the above objective, the purpose of this study was to determine the functionality of the West Rand District Municipality in terms of administrative as well as economic and transport management principles to fulfil the role as a transport authority in terms of the NLTTA for its present area of jurisdiction. The study therefore addressed the legal framework as well as transport and economic indicators defining the functional area of a transport authority. In determining the nature and extent of functions as fulfilled by the respective municipalities, use was made of dichotomous questionnaires. These findings were also supported with technical data based on surveys conducted through the Gauteng Household Travel Survey (2000) and the Operating Licensing Strategy (200212003). To further operationalise the research objectives of this study, and touching on Great Britain's transport experience over the past 75 years, a comparison was made between the present status of Transport Authorities in the United Kingdom, compared to those in South Africa (Gauteng Province). Upon analysing the empirical findings it was evident that the establishment of a Transport Authority for the area of jurisdiction of the West Rand would enable the WRDM to deliver on the following number of fronts: • Coherent Alignment to a Common Vision • Integration of Transport System • Control over Transport Modes • Optimised Utilisation of Funds To create a conducive environment for a West Rand Transport Authority to improve its functionality, it was recommended that serious attention be given to aspects such as funding mechanisms, legality of municipal entities, clarity on the status of transport powers at municipal level of government, assignment of functions and human resource capacity. Upon conclusion it was agreed that the successful implementation of a functional transport authority for the West Rand will be dependant, not only upon technical expertise and management and by resolving the above issues, but also on political support. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Cette thèse est consacrée au problème de la comparaison de deux partitions non strictes (floues/probabilistes, possibilistes) d'un même ensemble d'individus en plusieurs clusters. Sa résolution repose sur la définition formelle de mesures de concordance reprenant les principes des mesures historiques développées pour la comparaison de partitions strictes et trouve son application dans des domaines variés tels que la biologie, le traitement d'images, la classification automatique. Selon qu'elles s'attachent à observer les relations entre les individus décrites par chacune des partitions ou à quantifier les similitudes entre les clusters qui composent ces partitions, nous distinguons deux grandes familles de mesures pour lesquelles la notion même d'accord entre partitions diffère, et proposons d'en caractériser les représentants selon un même ensemble de propriétés formelles et informelles. De ce point de vue, les mesures sont aussi qualifiées selon la nature des partitions comparées. Une étude des multiples constructions sur lesquelles reposent les mesures de la littérature vient compléter notre taxonomie. Nous proposons trois nouvelles mesures de comparaison non strictes tirant profit de l'état de l'art. La première est une extension d'une approche stricte tandis que les deux autres reposent sur des approches dite natives, l'une orientée individus, l'autre orientée clusters, spécifiquement conçues pour la comparaison de partitions non strictes. Nos propositions sont comparées à celles de la littérature selon un plan d'expérience choisi pour couvrir les divers aspects de la problématique. Les résultats présentés montrent l'intérêt des propositions pour le thème de recherche qu'est la comparaison de partitions. Enfin, nous ouvrons de nouvelles perspectives en proposant les prémisses d'un cadre qui unifie les principales mesures non strictes orientées individus.