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Waste-to-energy: exploring the roadmap for energy generation from commercial waste in South Africa
No full textPurpose
This study aims to investigate the adoption of waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies in South Africa (SA), focusing on identifying the key drivers, barriers and potential solutions for commercial uptake. The ultimate aim is to propose an implementation framework that promotes renewable energy while reducing landfill reliance.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) of papers published between 2020 and 2023 was conducted to identify factors impacting WtE adoption in SA. The conceptual model developed from the SLR was tested using a qualitative case study approach. Data was collected through 15 semi-structured interviews with commercial entities and WtE experts from four regions of SA.
Findings
Anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis are identified as the most suitable waste-to-energy technologies in the South African context. Among the financial challenges of WtE in SA, the availability of cheap coal, low landfill tariffs, high capital costs, funding constraints and regressive economic incentives are critical. The lack of government support, insufficient incentives, regulatory burdens, weak policies and limited innovation capacity are considerable non-financial barriers hindering WtE technologies’ growth. The successful adoption of renewable energy also requires adequate infrastructure, increased sustainability awareness and technical expertise.
Research limitations/implications
Although the sample size is diverse and consists of a range of organisations, it may not capture the thoughts and experiences of other SA businesses in their entirety. It is important to note that the lack of existing research on the implementation, benefits and impacts of WtE technologies limits the authors’ ability to interpret and benchmark the findings of this study. Yet, this study contributes by developing an implementation framework to encourage WtE adoption, recommending policy actions such as regressive taxation on fossil fuels and landfills and promoting renewable energy through subsidies, awareness and energy credits.
Practical implications
This study provides a practical framework for businesses and policymakers to adopt WtE technologies by addressing key barriers. The research suggests that businesses could reduce waste management costs and generate new revenue streams by adopting anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis. Policymakers are encouraged to disincentivize landfills and promote WtE through financial incentives such as subsidies and energy credits. The implementation framework offers clear recommendations for integrating WtE into SA’s energy and waste management strategies, supporting both sustainability and economic goals.
Social implications
The main social contribution is the potential for WtE adoption to improve waste management practices and generate new job opportunities within the renewable energy and waste sectors.
Originality/value
This study provides a novel contribution by developing an implementation framework tailored to SA’s unique regulatory, economic and social contexts. The research highlights the importance of aligning WtE adoption with sustainability goals, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy. The framework serves as a practical guide for policymakers, businesses and industry leaders seeking to implement sustainable waste management solutions in SA
Informal venture capital in emerging economies: A case of Pakistan
No full textVenture capital in emerging economies is part of shadow economy and consequently under-explored. The paper attempts to disentangle the hidden operations of informal venture capital (IVCs) in emerging economy such as Pakistan. Moreover, the study examines the impact and consequences of the un-documented economy, the role of IVCs and networks that give rise to the shadow economic systems. Using 21 semi-structured interviews, (1) we developed a conceptual framework to study the presence of IVCs; (2) the analysis suggests that IVCs fil the finance gap where formal financial institutions and government funding schemes failed to meet the needs of high-growth entrepreneurs; (3) IVCs have a significant presence in case of Pakistan and serve a vital role in promoting economic well-being; (4) the findings suggest that government-sponsored schemes give rise to favouritism and malpractices in the distribution of funds give rise to “Hybrid” IVCs operation; (5) finally, our results suggest rationalisation of IVCs promote sustainability and agenda for entrepreneurial growth. The findings have implications for policymakers to develop venture capital market and facilitate the transition of IVCs to formal capital market
Examining the impact of Generative AI on social sustainability by integrating the information system success model and technology-environmental, economic, and social sustainability theory
No full textGenerative Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to advanced systems capable of creating new content by learning from vast datasets, including text, images, and code. These AI tools are increasingly being integrated into various sectors, including education, where they have the potential to enhance learning experiences. While the existing literature has primarily focused on the immediate educational benefits of these tools, such as enhanced learning and efficiency, less attention has been given to how these tools influence broader social sustainability goals, including equitable access and inclusive learning environments. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap by developing a theoretical research model that combines the information system (IS) success model, technology-environmental, economic, and social sustainability theory (T-EESST), and privacy concerns. To evaluate the developed model, data were collected from 773 university students who were active users of Generative AI and analyzed using the PLS-SEM technique. The findings showed that service quality, system quality, and information quality have a significant positive effect on user satisfaction. Using Generative AI tools is found to be positively affected by user satisfaction. Interestingly, the findings supported the positive role of Generative AI in promoting social sustainability. However, no significant negative correlation was found between privacy concerns and Generative AI use. The findings provide several theoretical contributions and offer insights for various stakeholders in developing, implementing, and managing Generative AI tools in educational settings
Empathy-led Digital Adoption towards Happy and Sustainable Workforce
No full textThis paper addresses why empathy, as a transdisciplinary engineering methodology, is key to understanding people's readiness to adopt a new technology.
The empathy-led methodology collects scenario-based data on users' perceptions of technology's usefulness and the feelings they attach to it in the pre-adoption stage. The paper highlights the pilot study, which applied the transdisciplinary methodology to implement Building Information Modelling in Architecture and Construction firms. The paper highlights the usefulness, applicability, and impact of the empathy-led methodology in identifying individual psychological, emotional, and intrinsic variables that are usually difficult to capture through methods common in engineering and science. The paper concludes with the key emotional variables identified by this methodology paving the way towards a people-led approach to understanding digital adoption for organisations to create a ‘happy and sustainable workforce’.
Funded by InterAct, the project comprises the disciplines of Design, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering. Design is the integrator-connector in this collaboration, bringing different disciplinary thinking and practices together
The association between low carbohydrate dietary score (LCDS) and cardiovascular risk factors: results from the Shiraz Heart Study (SHS)
No full textBackground
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death and recent studies have highlighted the potential role of dietary carbohydrate indices in cardiovascular health. Given the controversial results in this field, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between low carbohydrate dietary score (LCDS) and CVD risk factors in a population of Iranian adults.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted within the framework of the Shiraz Heart Study (SHS) including 1982 adults. The validated 168 items food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess participants’ dietary intakes. To investigate the association between LCDS and cardiometabolic risk factors, logistic regression, was conducted.
Results
During 5 years of follow-up, a total of 1982 adults, with a mean age of 53.07 ± 8.38 years, were included to the analysis. The adjusted model based on known confounding factors (age, sex, smoking, physical activity, energy intake and body mass index) revealed a significant decrease in a body shape index (ABSI) (OR = 0.70, 95% CI= (0.50 to 0.98), P = 0.038) comparing highest LCDS tertile vs. the reference. In contrast, risk of hypertension (HTN), body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were not significantly associated with LCDS.
Conclusion
Current findings suggest that adherence to a low carbohydrate diet reduces ABSI, a main indicator of central obesity
Impact of wet and dry cupping therapy on endurance, perceived wellness, and exertion in recreational male runners
No full textBackground
Cupping therapy (CT), an ancient practice revived in modern sports medicine, offers potential benefits for athlete recovery and performance. Distinctions between wet CT (WCT) and dry CT (DCT) in sports science focus on their effects on recovery metrics, particularly how they influence sleep quality, perceived wellness, and athletic performance. Despite anecdotal evidence of its efficacy, rigorous comparative studies are scarce.
Objective
This study aimed to evaluates and compare the effects of WCT and DCT on endurance, perceived wellness, exertion levels, and sleep quality among young, active males, addressing the gap in the literature regarding CT's efficacy in sports performance and recovery.
Methods
Thirty-two amateur runners were randomly divided into two groups: one followed WCT sessions and the other followed DCT sessions. The study assessed the interventions' impacts on endurance performance (Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and perceived exertion (Borg CR10 Scale). Heart rate was measured using a Polar H10 sensor to gauge physiological responses during physical tests.
Results
Significant improvements were observed in the WCT group for sleep latency (% change = −82.31%; interaction group × time p = 0.006; Cohen's d = 0.74) and sleep disturbance (% change = −68.70%; interaction group × time p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.09), suggesting enhanced sleep quality (global score; % change = −52.81; interaction group × time p = 0.004; Cohen's d = 0.77). However, no significant differences were found in direct performance metrics (distance, maximal heart rate, maximal oxygen uptake) between WCT and DCT groups. These findings highlight WCT's potential as a recovery aid, particularly through improved sleep, without directly influencing endurance performance outcomes.
Conclusion
WCT may serve as an effective ergogenic aid for athletes by potentially improving sleep quality and reducing perceived exertion, thus contributing indirectly to performance through enhanced recovery
Identifying the Optimal Age to learn Water Polo Tactics according to Expert Opinion: Insights through Dimensionality Reduction Analysis
No full textBackground. It is of great importance that the training process of youth water polo players be tailored to didactic principles and developmental characteristics. However, despite this importance, there is a dearth of pertinent studies. Objectives. The study aimed to determine and explain the appropriate age for beginning of learning tactical elements in water polo, as stated by experts’ coaches’ opinion in this sport. Materials and methods. Accordingly, 27 expert water polo coaches completed a novel questionnaire, specifically designed for this study. Results. Test-retest reliability indicated satisfactory scores (r ranged from 0.85 to 1.00 with p<0.05 for all variables). The results of the exploratory factor analysis using the Guttman-Kaiser criterion for selecting the number of factors and the Varimax raw rotation revealed the presence of six underlying factors in real-life contexts: (1) individual and group activities with a numerical advantage/disadvantage; (2) dynamic-complex collective defensive activities with an equal number of players; (3) intensive defensive activities with an equal number of players, static defensive activities with a numerical handicap and collective offensive activities with a numerical advantage; (4) static-vertical attacking activities with a numerical advantage, attacking activities with an equal number of players and dynamic defensive activities with a numerical handicap; (5) static-vertical defensive activities with an equal number of players; (6) extremely rare offensive activities which explain 19%, 16%, 17%, 11%, 11%, 6% of the manifest space variability, respectively. Conclusions. The present findings highlight novel insight into experts’ opinions regarding the learning of complex water polo movements, and offer essential guidance for key stakeholders pertaining to optimizing the training processes and curricula for all youth water polo players
Portfolio Document: Care Coordination (Primary Care)
No full textThe Portfolio Document (PD) is a structured resource developed to support care coordinators in compiling a comprehensive portfolio of evidence that demonstrates their competencies. Designed as a tool for both personal and professional development, the PD facilitates reflective practice, skill enhancement, and role-specific learning. By guiding care coordinators through the documentation of their achievements and capabilities, the PD serves as a critical instrument in fostering growth, accountability, and proficiency within the care coordination field
Human face localization and detection in highly occluded unconstrained environments
No full textSignificant advancements have been achieved in the field of computer vision pertaining to the detection of human faces. This technological development holds great potential for a wide range of applications including but not limited to identification, surveillance and expression recognition. Unconstrained face identification has been significantly improved by the advancements in Deep Learning algorithms (DL). However, the presence of severe occlusion is an ongoing obstacle particularly when it obstructs a substantial section of the facial area, resulting in the absence of crucial facial characteristics. Furthermore, the limited availability of comprehensive datasets containing substantially obscured faces exacerbates the problem, impeding the efficacy of face detection programs. This study presents a new methodology, which incorporates an advanced occluded face detection (OFD) model, in order to enhance feature extraction and detection network. A dataset was developed specifically for training and testing the model. The new dataset includes faces with significant occlusion. The utilization of contextual-based annotation approaches improves the depiction of crucial facial characteristics. The OFD model exhibits exceptional performance and attaining a notable accuracy rate of 57.84%, a precision rate of 73.70% and a recall rate of 42.63%. These results surpass those achieved by alternative methods such as YOLO-v3 and Mobilenet-SSD. This study shows the capacity to make substantial progress in detecting occluded faces, hence offering the ability to make a positive influence on the domains of identification, surveillance and expression recognition
Soho’s ‘other’ film industry: Researching Hidden Screen Economies
No full textThis article examines the concept of ‘hidden screen economies’ – economic activities related to screen media that occur outside formal structures, often involving concealment to evade legal and regulatory frameworks. Drawing on the author's ethnohistorical research into Britain's trade in hardcore pornographic films from 1960-1972, the article applies Actor-Network Theory to demonstrate how we might research hidden screen economies. The study reveals how a system of human and non-human actors, including corrupt police, pornographers, distributors, criminal networks, semi-professional film production technologies and the law collectively intertwined to preserve this hidden economy for over a decade. By tracing the production, distribution, and regulation of pornographic ‘rollers’ (short 8mm films), the article illustrates the intricate network of relationships and processes that allowed this hidden economy to function and prosper, despite the sale of hardcore films being criminalised under the Obscene Publications Act 1959. By examining this historical case study, the article draws parallels to contemporary hidden screen economies like illicit IPTV services, demonstrating the persistent drive to evade legal frameworks for economic gain. The author suggests that insights gained from such analyses can inform our understanding of emerging hidden screen economies and their relationship to the formal screen industry