Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf): Open Journal Systems
Not a member yet
8651 research outputs found
Sort by
What’s new for the clinician – summaries of recently published papers
Get PDFDamage to newly erupted anterior permanent teeth whose roots are still developing can be disastrous for young children and the aesthetic consequences thereof can have lasting effects on the wellbeing of the growing child. Also, there is the risk of fracture, discoloration due to pulp necrosis and a loss of the anterior permanent tooth at a young age which is costly to repair/replace
The prevalence of food insecurity in South African dental schools: A cross sectional study
Get PDFFood security is an important factor which can promote academic outcomes and general health and wellbeing of dental students. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of food insecurity among dental students across all dental schools in South Africa
The role of the judiciary in the resolution of intra-party conflicts in Lesotho
No full textPolitical parties play an integral role in modern democracies and are legitimate platforms of contestation for state power. Despite the vital role that political parties play in democratisation, they are often prone to internal disputes. Their internal processes, such as conferences, elections, decision-making and deployments, are often subject to contestation. Conflicts are inherent in political contestation in general and in political parties, in particular. Hence, political parties have several mechanisms for dispute resolution, one of which is the referral of disputes to the courts of law. The role of the courts in internal political party disputes is a double-edged sword. While a court provides an independent platform for resolving disputes, it lacks reconciliatory attributes. After court intervention, many political parties often break up into smaller parties or experience major defections. This phenomenon is more pronounced in Lesotho than elsewhere. Ever since the return to electoral democracy in 1993, the role of the courts in internal party disputes has increased phenomenally. However, instead of achieving cohesion and internal stability, political parties have experienced splits, exacerbated conflicts or significant defections after the referral of their internal disputes to the courts. 
Understanding elements, strengths and challenges of explicit instruction for the teaching of computer programming (to post-graduate students)
Get PDFComputer programming continues to be challenging despite numerous strategies and skills that researchers and instructors have shared over four decades. Using explicit instruction (EI) to help students learn and better understand computer programming presents a promising avenue for tackling this challenge. The aim of this study was twofold. Firstly, to identify elements to consider in an instructional strategy for teaching using the EI principles. Secondly, to identify strengths and challenges presented by the EI interventions in teaching computer programming to postgraduate Computer Science students. Collected data were analyzed through thematic analysis, and the results reveal nine major strengths and five main challenges related to EI. The study followed an integrated methodological approach where narrative data was collected through observations and asking questions. This study informs how improvements can be made in the future teaching of computer programming to enhance the quality of teaching using the principles of EI
Fifteen years of The Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning: A review and bibliometric analysis
Get PDFThe rise of academic publishing due to the ‘publish or perish’ phenomenon has placed increased scrutiny on African scholars. The limited footprint of African scholars in international open-access journals has led to a drive for Africa to produce and disseminate its research. Publication analytics has become an essential strategy for journals for managing journals. This study uses bibliometric metrics to explore the publications metrics of the Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning, an open-access journal in South Africa. The study analyses bibliometric data from its articles published between 2008 and 2022. The study highlights the research clusters, themes and hotspots in the journal. This study helps obtain a snapshot of the journal’s status. The paper illustrates the development trends of the journal, which provides an essential reference for the future development of this and other similar journals. The journal has made a significant impact on the education landscape in South Africa. 
An analysis of online learning and teaching at the Department of Electronic Engineering at a university of technology during the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa
Get PDFThe Department of Electronic Engineering at a South African University of Technology is currently conducting a research study to investigate the challenges associated with online teaching during the COVID-19 epidemic. Specifically, the study focuses on the perspective of educators in this context. In response to the outbreak, governments worldwide implemented nationwide lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus, leading educational institutions, including universities, to cease in-person instruction. This sudden shift disrupted the educational system, necessitating a rapid transition from traditional face-to-face teaching to online methods to fulfill the curriculum requirements. As faculty members encountered various difficulties in adapting to online teaching pedagogy, the research study concentrates on them as the primary participants. The research study provides recommendations that offer valuable guidance for improving the effectiveness of online teaching practices which may be applied outside of the pandmic to most online teaching pedagogies
Integrated knowledge-translation in occupational therapists working with high-risk infants in South Africa: An explorative qualitative inquiry
Get PDFBACKGROUND: This qualitative study explored the knowledge to practice gaps of occupational therapists who have a vital role in neurodevelopmental supportive care for high-risk infants METHODS: Via purposive sampling, 17 therapists working in public health in South Africa were recruited to participate in virtual focus groups. Data were thematically analysed using a hybrid approach FINDINGS: Five themes emerged, which included (i) occupational therapy and neonatal care in the public health sector, (ii) knowledge acquisition and knowledge synthesis, (iii) knowledge translation and utilisation, (iv) contextual barriers and adaptation and (v) the ideal occupational therapist in the ideal neonatal setting. Facilitators, inhibitors, referrals, and interest in occupational therapy neonatal care were also highlighted CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge to practice gaps in occupational therapy include insufficient training, a decreased interest in neonatal care, staff shortages, multi-disciplinary team rotations and a reduced understanding of the professional role and scope of occupational therapy. Resources, training, and policy development appear to be necessary to inform a standard of care Implication for practice The role of the occupational therapist in supporting high risk infants is generally limited and remains somewhat unknown in current South African contexts. It is essential to identify knowledge-to-practice gaps for occupational therapists supporting high-risk infants in the public health sector for successful implementation of neurodevelopmental supportive care. By the exploration of practitioner opinions and insight through appreciating the role of the occupational therapist in managing high risk infants, contextually specific and relevant knowledge translation interventions may be developed and implemented which have implications for evidence-based practice and more successful outcomes in the high-risk infant
Physical activity and quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia
Get PDFBackground: Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) has been linked to decreased social functioning, poor mental health, and quality of life (QOL). Increased physical functioning and activity can result in improvements in social, mental and overall health, as well as lowered depression and anxiety levels.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine physical activity levels and QOL amongst patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia in the Johannesburg region of South Africa.
Methods: The research design was cross-sectional. Descriptive and quantitative data were collected. FMS patients (n=38) completed an online questionnaire on the Google Forms platform. The questionnaire was comprised of four components, namely Demographics, the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). During data analysis, descriptive characteristics and correlations were computed. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Results revealed high FIQR scores (67%) accompanied with low QOL scores (<50% in all domains). There was no correlation between physical activity and FIQR, and physical activity and QOL.
Conclusion: High scores on the impact of FMS were associated with lower overall QOL scores. However, the relationship between physical activity, and the impact of FMS and QOL remain inconclusive.
Impact of a Multi-Stakeholder Approach on Rural Livelihood and Socioeconomic Status of the Farming Community at Zanyokwe Irrigation Scheme, Amahlathi Local Municipality, Eastern Cape
No full textAccess to finance and production inputs are some of the challenges that dominate the small-scale farming sector in South Africa. Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are among some of the alternatives that could be utilised to assist small-scale farmers. An informal partnership was initiated between the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), Rance Rural Development (RRD), and the farmers of Sidalukukhanya Agriculture Co-op (SAC) for pepper production at the Zanyokwe Irrigation Scheme. A study was conducted to evaluate the socioeconomic impact of this partnership. A questionnaire was administered to the members of SAC for data collection. Results showed that this PPP significantly improved the livelihood and socioeconomic Status of SAC members farming at the Zanyokwe Irrigations Scheme. Through this partnership, approximately 13% of jobs are created in the field for the co-op members, while 6% are permanently employed in the processing factory. Similarly, 56% of seasonal employment intake occurred during planting and harvesting s in the cropping fields at Zanyokwe Irrigation Scheme in Keiskammahoek. A further 25% of seasonal jobs were created through the processing of produce at the agro-processing factory in Stutterheim. Most farmers increased their business by 20% and production skills by 80%. Therefore, this partnership has shown the potential to improve the livelihood and socioeconomic Status of Zanyokwe farmers
Transitioning Old Order Mining Rights into New Mining Rights: A Critical Analysis
No full textThe transformation of the mining industry has been a recurrent issue since the drafting of the Freedom Charter of 1955 and the dawn of democracy. Transformation had to be promoted through the development of the law, including the transitioning of the old mining rights into the new mining rights by the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA). This paper focusses on the transition from the previous South African mining law in its historical context to the MPRDA, and the developments which brought it about, including various developments in law which assist in understanding the scope and limitations of the transition. The analysis clarifies the present position in our law associated with mining rights as well as how to deal with disputes arising out of it. The South African courts are critical in the interpretation of the transitional law and how it should apply. The judicial perspective on the development of the transitional law is empirically analysed