Increasing urbanisation has increased waste generation. This has led to an increase in waste being left uncollected in certain areas of low-income countries. With the inability of municipal authorities to provide the required collection services, there has been the emergence of private sector initiatives in waste management. Nonetheless, this does not offer a complete solution as waste still adorns many of these streets. This however, provides sources of livelihood for the urban poor, both men and women. They can be found in virtually all cities in low-income countries occupied in collecting, recovering, sorting, and recycling waste materials. Their activity not only creates a means of livelihood for them but also ensures sustainability in solid waste management. In most low-income countries, women still enjoy fewer rights and access to assets and resources than men. Accordingly in Nigeria, women are highly represented in low paid employment. The emphasis in development on issues of equity and inclusion, and women s autonomy and empowerment shows that women still count among the most vulnerable and excluded social groups. This doctoral study examines the issue of women in solid waste livelihoods in Lagos, Nigeria. The focus of the study is to identify gender and other socially-related constraints to participation by men and women in solid waste livelihoods in five Lagos dumpsites. It also analyses how these constraints affect their income levels. The research draws on a feminist approach using mixed methods of participant observation, questionnaire survey and interviews. The fieldwork commenced with identification of waste workers activities on the five dumpsites through participant observation. This was followed by the questionnaire survey which was piloted, refined and administered face to face to 305 dumpsite workers. Findings from the questionnaire survey revealed gender differences amongst waste scavengers, waste buyers and waste merchants according to the following criteria: age, marital status, other income-earning household members, hours worked daily, years spent working, education level, and number of dependent children. These factors also further reinforce gender differences in income generation. Further enquiry through qualitative interviews highlighted gender differences in tool usage and the types of waste resources handled. Inequality was also evident in terms of social equality, political power and decision making. The results also highlight childcare as one of the most important challenges that women alone face. Other findings include the impact of current modernisation policies on women s financial security, autonomy, and well-being. The waste livelihood activities observed offer positive economic benefits, and incomes higher than the minimum wage. However, it is important for those engaged in modernisation policy to understand the potential impact of these measures on the livelihood of waste workers, and to ensure their commitment to change will not reinforce inequality.

Lagos bat virus (LBV) belongs to genotype (gt) 2 of the lyssavirus genus in the family Rhabdoviridae, order Mononegavirales. This virus causes fatal rabies encephalitis in vertebrate animals and has only been reported from the African continent except for an imported case from African origin identified in France. The prototype lyssavirus is in fact rabies virus (gt 1) for which a variety of different vaccines are commercially available. These vaccines, however, do not provide protection against the gt 2 viruses. Genotype 2 viruses have not been well studied to date and the true risk for humans and animals is uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and pathogenicity of this uniquely African virus. In this project, our surveillance in South Africa reported six new LBV cases after this virus was not reported for the previous 12 years prior to this study. These results indicated that the incidence of this virus is greatly underestimated due to lack or absence of surveillance or ineffective diagnostic abilities of laboratories in Africa. Molecular epidemiological analysis of previously identified and new gt 2 isolates from this study indicated a high intragenotypic nucleotide and amino acid sequence diversity with respect to the Nucleo-, Phospho-, Matrix- and Glycoprotein genes. Based on these analyses, it has been proposed that two virus isolates that were previously reported as gt 2 LBV, may in fact constitute a new lyssavirus genotype. These findings emphasize the need to investigate different criteria for lyssavirus classification. As more lyssaviruses are discovered and with rapid progress in full genome sequencing, diversity becomes accentuated and challenges the criteria upon which lyssavirus taxonomy is based. As a compliment to these genetic findings, our study of viral pathogenicity in a murine model, identified that the pathogenicity of phylogroup II viruses has previously been underestimated. LBV poses a potential risk to humans and animals and future vaccine strategies should ideally include protection against phylogroup II viruses. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Tesis para optar al grado de Magíster en Geografía Mención Recursos Territoriales

No description available.

Este trabalho parte da hipótese que a hidrodinâmica influencia o metabolismo de um lago. Para testar esta hipótese, este estudo utilizou uma estratégia numérica baseada em processos para avaliar o efeito da hidrodinâmica (governada pelo vento) sobre as estimativas de metabolismo (GPP, NEP e R) considerando a heterogeneidade espacial da lagoa Mangueira, um grande lago raso subtropical na costa sul do Brasil. O efeito da hidrodinâmica dominada pelo vento no metabolismo foi avaliado pela mudança da série de vento original (direção e intensidade), totalizando cinco novos cenários de vento. A avaliação espacial foi desenvolvida em quatro áreas (Norte, Centro, Sul e a lagoa como um todo) e em zonas biológicas (zona limnética e zona litorânea). Os resultados indicaram que há diferenças nas estimativas de metabolismo (GPP, NEP e R) entre as regiões da lagoa Mangueira considerando a situação com a série de vento original. Em geral, a diferença média nas estimativas de metabolismo entre a região Norte e a região Sul foi de 3,81 mgO2/m³/dia (p-value<0,05) para o GPP, 3,32 mgO2/m³/dia para R (p-value<0,05) e 0,49 mgO2/m³/dia (p-value<0,05) para NEP. A diferença entre a zona litorânea e a zona limnética na lagoa Mangueira como um todo foi de 10,1 mgO2/m³/dia para GPP, para R foi de 1,3 mgO2/m³/dia e para NEP foi de 8,8 mgO2/m³/dia. O metabolismo geral da lagoa também apresentou variações sazonais, alternando entre períodos autotróficos (NEP>0, em 41,0 % do tempo) e períodos heterotróficos (NEP<0, em 59,0 % do tempo). As estimativas de metabolismo da Lagoa Mangueira e nas regiões delimitadas se mostraram sensíveis a alterações no vento. Cada área delimitada apresentou resposta diferente às alterações nas séries de vento. Os cenários de vento testados mostram que a hidrodinâmica causa diferenças significativas no metabolismo da Lagoa Mangueira. O balanço de oxigênio neste ecossistema foi influenciado pela taxa de reaeração, pela produção primária e pela respiração do fitoplâncton. Os outros processos considerados no balanço de oxigênio não demonstraram contribuições importantes para o metabolismo geral do ecossistema. / The hypothesis of this work is that hydrodynamics can alter the lake metabolism. To evaluate this hypothesis this study used a process-based strategy for evaluating the effect of wind-driven hydrodynamics on estimates of lake metabolism (GPP, R, and NEP) considering the spatial heterogeneity in Lake Mangueira, a subtropical grate lake in southern coast of Brazil. The effect of wind-driven hydrodynamics over the lake metabolism was evaluated by changes in the original wind series (direction and intensity), totalizing five new sets of wind scenarios. The spatial evaluation was carried in four different areas (North, Center, South, and the lake as a whole) and in two different biological zones (littoral zone and limnetic zone). Our findings indicate that there are differences on estimates of lake metabolism between the four areas taking into account the original wind time series. In general, the differences on lake metabolism estimates between the Norte region and the South region was 3.81 mgO2/m³/day (p-value<0,05) for GPP, 3.32 mgO2/m³/day (p-value<0,05) for R, and 0.49 mgO2/m³/day (p-value<0,05) for NEP. The difference between the littoral zone and the limnetic zone in the Lake Mangueira as a whole was 10.1 mgO2/m³/day for GPP, 1.3 mgO2/m³/day for R, and 8.8 mgO2/m³/day for NEP. The overall lake metabolism also presented seasonal variations, alternating among autotrophic periods (NEP>0, 41.0% of the time), and heterotrophic periods (NEP<0, 59.0% of the time). Estimates of lake metabolism in Lake Mangueira as a whole were sensitive to changes in the wind time series. Each area showed different response to the changes in wind time series. The tested sets of wind scenarios showed that wind-driven hydrodynamics can significantly alter the Lake Mangueira metabolism estimates. The overall oxygen balance in this system was mostly influenced by reaeration, and by the primary production and respiration of phytoplankton. The other processes considered in the oxygen balance showed no significant contributions to the overall metabolism of the ecosystem.

Este trabalho parte da hipótese que a hidrodinâmica influencia o metabolismo de um lago. Para testar esta hipótese, este estudo utilizou uma estratégia numérica baseada em processos para avaliar o efeito da hidrodinâmica (governada pelo vento) sobre as estimativas de metabolismo (GPP, NEP e R) considerando a heterogeneidade espacial da lagoa Mangueira, um grande lago raso subtropical na costa sul do Brasil. O efeito da hidrodinâmica dominada pelo vento no metabolismo foi avaliado pela mudança da série de vento original (direção e intensidade), totalizando cinco novos cenários de vento. A avaliação espacial foi desenvolvida em quatro áreas (Norte, Centro, Sul e a lagoa como um todo) e em zonas biológicas (zona limnética e zona litorânea). Os resultados indicaram que há diferenças nas estimativas de metabolismo (GPP, NEP e R) entre as regiões da lagoa Mangueira considerando a situação com a série de vento original. Em geral, a diferença média nas estimativas de metabolismo entre a região Norte e a região Sul foi de 3,81 mgO2/m³/dia (p-value<0,05) para o GPP, 3,32 mgO2/m³/dia para R (p-value<0,05) e 0,49 mgO2/m³/dia (p-value<0,05) para NEP. A diferença entre a zona litorânea e a zona limnética na lagoa Mangueira como um todo foi de 10,1 mgO2/m³/dia para GPP, para R foi de 1,3 mgO2/m³/dia e para NEP foi de 8,8 mgO2/m³/dia. O metabolismo geral da lagoa também apresentou variações sazonais, alternando entre períodos autotróficos (NEP>0, em 41,0 % do tempo) e períodos heterotróficos (NEP<0, em 59,0 % do tempo). As estimativas de metabolismo da Lagoa Mangueira e nas regiões delimitadas se mostraram sensíveis a alterações no vento. Cada área delimitada apresentou resposta diferente às alterações nas séries de vento. Os cenários de vento testados mostram que a hidrodinâmica causa diferenças significativas no metabolismo da Lagoa Mangueira. O balanço de oxigênio neste ecossistema foi influenciado pela taxa de reaeração, pela produção primária e pela respiração do fitoplâncton. Os outros processos considerados no balanço de oxigênio não demonstraram contribuições importantes para o metabolismo geral do ecossistema. / The hypothesis of this work is that hydrodynamics can alter the lake metabolism. To evaluate this hypothesis this study used a process-based strategy for evaluating the effect of wind-driven hydrodynamics on estimates of lake metabolism (GPP, R, and NEP) considering the spatial heterogeneity in Lake Mangueira, a subtropical grate lake in southern coast of Brazil. The effect of wind-driven hydrodynamics over the lake metabolism was evaluated by changes in the original wind series (direction and intensity), totalizing five new sets of wind scenarios. The spatial evaluation was carried in four different areas (North, Center, South, and the lake as a whole) and in two different biological zones (littoral zone and limnetic zone). Our findings indicate that there are differences on estimates of lake metabolism between the four areas taking into account the original wind time series. In general, the differences on lake metabolism estimates between the Norte region and the South region was 3.81 mgO2/m³/day (p-value<0,05) for GPP, 3.32 mgO2/m³/day (p-value<0,05) for R, and 0.49 mgO2/m³/day (p-value<0,05) for NEP. The difference between the littoral zone and the limnetic zone in the Lake Mangueira as a whole was 10.1 mgO2/m³/day for GPP, 1.3 mgO2/m³/day for R, and 8.8 mgO2/m³/day for NEP. The overall lake metabolism also presented seasonal variations, alternating among autotrophic periods (NEP>0, 41.0% of the time), and heterotrophic periods (NEP<0, 59.0% of the time). Estimates of lake metabolism in Lake Mangueira as a whole were sensitive to changes in the wind time series. Each area showed different response to the changes in wind time series. The tested sets of wind scenarios showed that wind-driven hydrodynamics can significantly alter the Lake Mangueira metabolism estimates. The overall oxygen balance in this system was mostly influenced by reaeration, and by the primary production and respiration of phytoplankton. The other processes considered in the oxygen balance showed no significant contributions to the overall metabolism of the ecosystem.

Este trabalho parte da hipótese que a hidrodinâmica influencia o metabolismo de um lago. Para testar esta hipótese, este estudo utilizou uma estratégia numérica baseada em processos para avaliar o efeito da hidrodinâmica (governada pelo vento) sobre as estimativas de metabolismo (GPP, NEP e R) considerando a heterogeneidade espacial da lagoa Mangueira, um grande lago raso subtropical na costa sul do Brasil. O efeito da hidrodinâmica dominada pelo vento no metabolismo foi avaliado pela mudança da série de vento original (direção e intensidade), totalizando cinco novos cenários de vento. A avaliação espacial foi desenvolvida em quatro áreas (Norte, Centro, Sul e a lagoa como um todo) e em zonas biológicas (zona limnética e zona litorânea). Os resultados indicaram que há diferenças nas estimativas de metabolismo (GPP, NEP e R) entre as regiões da lagoa Mangueira considerando a situação com a série de vento original. Em geral, a diferença média nas estimativas de metabolismo entre a região Norte e a região Sul foi de 3,81 mgO2/m³/dia (p-value<0,05) para o GPP, 3,32 mgO2/m³/dia para R (p-value<0,05) e 0,49 mgO2/m³/dia (p-value<0,05) para NEP. A diferença entre a zona litorânea e a zona limnética na lagoa Mangueira como um todo foi de 10,1 mgO2/m³/dia para GPP, para R foi de 1,3 mgO2/m³/dia e para NEP foi de 8,8 mgO2/m³/dia. O metabolismo geral da lagoa também apresentou variações sazonais, alternando entre períodos autotróficos (NEP>0, em 41,0 % do tempo) e períodos heterotróficos (NEP<0, em 59,0 % do tempo). As estimativas de metabolismo da Lagoa Mangueira e nas regiões delimitadas se mostraram sensíveis a alterações no vento. Cada área delimitada apresentou resposta diferente às alterações nas séries de vento. Os cenários de vento testados mostram que a hidrodinâmica causa diferenças significativas no metabolismo da Lagoa Mangueira. O balanço de oxigênio neste ecossistema foi influenciado pela taxa de reaeração, pela produção primária e pela respiração do fitoplâncton. Os outros processos considerados no balanço de oxigênio não demonstraram contribuições importantes para o metabolismo geral do ecossistema. / The hypothesis of this work is that hydrodynamics can alter the lake metabolism. To evaluate this hypothesis this study used a process-based strategy for evaluating the effect of wind-driven hydrodynamics on estimates of lake metabolism (GPP, R, and NEP) considering the spatial heterogeneity in Lake Mangueira, a subtropical grate lake in southern coast of Brazil. The effect of wind-driven hydrodynamics over the lake metabolism was evaluated by changes in the original wind series (direction and intensity), totalizing five new sets of wind scenarios. The spatial evaluation was carried in four different areas (North, Center, South, and the lake as a whole) and in two different biological zones (littoral zone and limnetic zone). Our findings indicate that there are differences on estimates of lake metabolism between the four areas taking into account the original wind time series. In general, the differences on lake metabolism estimates between the Norte region and the South region was 3.81 mgO2/m³/day (p-value<0,05) for GPP, 3.32 mgO2/m³/day (p-value<0,05) for R, and 0.49 mgO2/m³/day (p-value<0,05) for NEP. The difference between the littoral zone and the limnetic zone in the Lake Mangueira as a whole was 10.1 mgO2/m³/day for GPP, 1.3 mgO2/m³/day for R, and 8.8 mgO2/m³/day for NEP. The overall lake metabolism also presented seasonal variations, alternating among autotrophic periods (NEP>0, 41.0% of the time), and heterotrophic periods (NEP<0, 59.0% of the time). Estimates of lake metabolism in Lake Mangueira as a whole were sensitive to changes in the wind time series. Each area showed different response to the changes in wind time series. The tested sets of wind scenarios showed that wind-driven hydrodynamics can significantly alter the Lake Mangueira metabolism estimates. The overall oxygen balance in this system was mostly influenced by reaeration, and by the primary production and respiration of phytoplankton. The other processes considered in the oxygen balance showed no significant contributions to the overall metabolism of the ecosystem.

Telecommunication includes voice, video and internet communication services. Thus, mobile telecommunication services involve voice communication, video streaming, graphics and television services at high speed. Technology development in mobile telecommunication has enabled users to exchange data using cell phones, laptops and other telecommunication devices. More so, understanding the concept of user experience is very important in the context of provision of mobile telecommunication services. This research will evaluate the effectiveness of mobile telecommunication services in Durban, South Africa and Lagos, Nigeria amongst first-year IT students of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Lagos State University. The research is focused on the actual experience and perceptions of first-year IT students. The study will examine the factors that influence first-year IT students' judgment of the quality of mobile telecommunication services. It will also access the impact of quality of mobile telecommunication services on the loyalty of first-year IT students towards their network operator. However, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is the theory adopted for this research, which explains how attitude of users determine the intention to use technology and the intention eventually influences the overall use of such technology. The objectives of this research highlight opportunities associated with understanding first-year IT students' experiences and perceptions of mobile telecommunication services in UKZN, Durban and LASU, Lagos. Other opportunities include giving an insight into the operations of network providers, determine the quality of mobile telecommunication services and understanding the impact of mobile telecommunication services on students in UKZN and LASU. Another significance of this study allows network providers to understand students' behaviour and to respond to their preferences. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

No description available.

"Bombay is the future of urban civilization on the planet. God help us" (Suketu Mehta) Mit dieser Prophezeiung verweist Suketu Mehta in seiner diasporischen Reisereportage Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found (2004) nicht nur auf die wachsende ökonomische Bedeutung der Millionen-Metropole Bombays, sondern thematisiert auch die 'degenerierten' Lebensformen außerhalb oder 'unterhalb' des stolzen monumentalen Raumes der wohlhabendsten postkolonialen 'neuen' Metropole. In ihrer Antrittsvorlesung am 28.04.2010 eruiert und verwendet Prof. Dr. Cecile Sandten, Inhaberin der Professur für Anglistische Literaturwissenschaft, die Begriffe "Metroglorification", "Diffuse Urbanism", das Postkoloniale oder den Palimpsestraum mit Bezg auf die so genannten "neuen" Metropolen. Die Veranstaltung beginnt um 19 Uhr im Hörsaalgebäude an der Reichenhainer Straße 90, Raum 113. Im Zentrum der Antrittsvorlesung stehen literarische und mediale Repräsentationen des Postkolonialen im urbanen Raum in den so genannten 'neuen Metropolen' wie Bangalore, Bombay, Delhi, Hongkong, Johannisburg, Kapstadt oder Lagos. In ihrer Vorlesung begreift Prof. Dr. Cecile Sandten die 'neuen Metropolen' als Palimpsesträume, in denen kosmopolitische bzw. globale, gleichsam individuelle und/oder kollektive Identitätsentwürfe auf vielschichtigen Bedeutungsebenen verhandelt werden. Diese Verhandlungen gelingen bzw. misslingen wiederum in Abhängigkeit von der Wechselwirksamkeit performativer und narrativer (Re-)Inszenierungen kolonialer Geschichte(n) und deren postkolonialen Transformationen und Dekonstruktionen. Vor dem Hintergrund urbaner Eigengeschichte(n) und exil-urbaner Fremdgeschichte(n), wie sie z.B. aus der Sicht von neuen Migrantinnen und Migranten oder (politischen) Flüchtlingen erzählt werden, wird dieses Phänomen anhand einer Auswahl an englischsprachigen literarischen und medialen Texten analysiert. Untersucht werden dabei die ungleichen Machtverhältnisse, die im postkolonialen (Stadt)Raum vorherrschen, als auch die vielfältigen Repräsentationen der metropolitanen Unterwelt auch im Sinne des 'Liminalraums', wie sich dieser im Zusammenhang mit z.B. illegalen Migrantinnen und Migranten, Slum-Bewohnern, Kriminellen und in Bezug auf korrupte Regierungen darstellt. Weiterhin soll durch die verschiedenen literarischen und medialen Protagonisten auch das benjaminsche Konzept des "Flaneurs" – in seiner Neuformierung hin zum 'postkolonialen Flaneur' – betrachtet werden.