11613 research outputs found
Sort by
Assessing the sexual dimorphism of the upper limb in a Free State skeletal population using univariate measurements
No full textIncreasing numbers of incomplete unidentified skeletal remains requiring anthropological analysis have created the need for studies of bones other than the pelvis and cranium for sex estimation purposes. This study evaluated the use of 20 measurements of the radius, ulna, humerus, scapula and clavicle of 30 males and 30 females from a Free State skeletal collection. Measurements were assessed for side differences and sexual dimorphism. Sectioning points were calculated for each measurement and used to classify the sex of each individual with the accuracies of classifications also being calculated and compared to those obtained using existing classification standards. All measurements showed a significant positive correlation to each other, ranging from moderate (R=0.6) to very strong (R=0.99), reflecting the proportional biological relationship between body dimensions. Males were larger than females for all measurements (p<0.001), despite large overlaps in the ranges, reflecting the genetic and adaptive differences between the sexes. The largest proportional difference between the means of the males and females was found in the sagittal diameter at the midshaft and the acromial epiphyseal width of the clavicle, as well as in the anterior-posterior diameter at the midshaft of the radius, while the smallest was found in the maximum lengths of the radius, ulna, humerus and clavicle. Classification of sex based on the Free State derived sectioning points of each measurement was most accurate for measurements taken at joints or muscle attachment sites, such as the vertical head diameter of the humerus and the sagittal diameter at the midshaft of the clavicle with accuracies of more than 90%. The least accurate measurement for classification of sex was the acromial epiphyseal width (71.67%), which may have been as a result of the different type and rates of ossification of the clavicle affecting the variability of its morphology beyond sexual differences. For most measurements, the Free State-derived sectioning points performed better than those of the existing sectioning points and the existing classification standards, suggesting that regionally specific standards for classification may be useful. These results indicate that there is sufficient dimorphism in the upper limb bones to allow for accurate classification of sex in this Free State skeletal sample, but that differences in expression of dimorphism may exist between regional South African populations and may need to be considered when deciding which measurements to use for sex estimation. Further studies on the need for such regionally specific standards would be useful in the South African context
The role of locus of control in the relationship between spiritual well-being and satisfaction with life of those in early middle adulthood
No full textMiddle adulthood is a pivotal phase in the life course of human development. Therefore, individuals in midlife need to function optimally, despite the challenges they are faced with for their own, their families’, and the well-being of society at large. Spiritual well-being has been demonstrated to have positive outcomes for the satisfaction with life of individuals in midlife. Literature points to locus of control being an important contributor in the relationship between spiritual well-being and satisfaction with life during adulthood. However, this contribution has not been reported for individuals in early midlife. Therefore, the current study aims to assess the possible role of locus of control in the relationship between spiritual well-being and satisfaction with life amongst individuals in early midlife. Data were collected from 110 South African adults aged 39–42 (M = 44.63), mainly women (66.4%). A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to assess whether locus of control mediates and or moderates the relationship between spiritual well-being and satisfaction with life among adults in early middle adulthood. The results revealed a moderator effect of locus of control on two spiritual well-being subscale scores (Transcendental- and Personal relationship) and satisfaction with life. Further investigation revealed that for the 25% participants with the highest external locus of control, a positive relationship at the 5% level (r = 0.49; p = .013) between personal relationship and life satisfaction was found. Therefore, an increase in personal relationships for those participants resulted in a significant increase in their satisfaction with life. Furthermore, for the 25% participants who had the highest internal locus of control, a negative relationship at the 5% (r = -0.41; p = .037) between transcendental relationship and life satisfaction was found. Thus, an increase in a transcendental relationship for those participants coincided with a significant decrease in their satisfaction with life. An interpretation of the results and their implications were discussed
Professional development of technology teachers: does their training meet their needs?
No full textThe phenomenological study on which this article is based inquired into Grade 9 Technology teachers’ professional development through workshops on pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) as well as their training needs. The workshops took place in Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Data were gathered from two groups of teachers who attended the workshops on two different days, but who were trained in the same way and were subsequently conveniently selected to participate in the study. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with these teachers and the workshop facilitator was also interviewed. The training manual was scrutinised, the facilitation of the workshops was observed and a follow-up visit was done at two schools where the workshop participants taught. The findings revealed that while the teachers felt that the workshops developed them, such training did not
fully meet their needs or expand their PCK repertoires. This study will inform the Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy (MSTA), which is tasked with offering in-service training to subject teachers in the province, about whether the workshops meet the needs of the attendees, thereby possibly necessitating a review of the training.Publisher's versio
MATM 9100 dual closure operators on a category and their applications
No full textAbstract not availableNational Research Foundatio
Re-blocking informal settlements: investigating the hazard and risk reduction strategy for Langaville, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa
No full textThe aim of the study was to investigate re-blocking Langaville Informal Settlement in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The study affirms that re-blocking improved the lives of community members in informal settlements in such a manner as to optimally use space to promote the health, safety and well-being of households, with particular focus on promoting accelerated service delivery to informal settlements in the City of Ekurhuleni Gauteng Province of South Africa. Core of the investigation was hazard and risk reduction strategy. To meet the objectives of the study both qualitative and quantitative research approach underpinned by the theory of risk reduction was used. The study employed a research questionnaire that was used to collect data from randomly selected community participants and a focus group discussion, of which the participants were employees at management level in the City of Ekurhuleni and were identified from service delivery departments. Primary sources of data were obtained from both community participants and managers in service delivery departments. A document review of government documents, legislation and observation was used as secondary data sources. The researcher analysed data based on the findings of the questionnaire dealing with qualitative and quantitative (using SPSS program) study of Langaville Extension 1 from 230 community members and the second part was based on the results of focus group discussion that was conducted with the project team responsible for Re-blocking in Ekurhuleni municipality to arrive at a conclusion and recommendation, The study concluded that re-blocking did indeed reduce risks within the communities in Langaville informal settlement in the City of Ekurhuleni. It further purported that service delivery water, sanitation, electrification, waste collection and other public space improved in Langaville because of re-blocking. The study indicated that the community of Langaville Informal Settlement was happy with the improvements made through re-blocking. It also showed that service delivery improved DRR through re-blocking. The advantages of re-blocking were that Informal settlements residents would have improved access to basic services (water, sanitation, electrification, waste collection and other public space improvements) in line with available resources; improved partnership with settlement communities who actively participate in the planning and implementation of projects aimed at making the settlements livable and a safer integrated public realm. Challenges in the communities were also addressed through reblocking i.e., reduced fire incidents and budgetary constraints are addressed through staggering the program. The community of Langaville ext. 1 Informal Settlement was happy with the improvements made through re-blocking and they still felt that the government should assist in building the houses. It is recommended that the existing re-blocking forum be strengthened to enable managers to coordinate all re-blocking interventions and to follow up progress in informal settlements. Regular reporting and control are of utmost importance in ensuring sufficient resources are in place
A retrospective analysis of the incidence of invasive candidiasis in the extreme - and very low birth weight neonates admitted to the neonatal ICU and high care unit in Universitas Academic Hospital over a 2 year period from January 2016 to December 2017 to determine if the unit will qualify for the use of fluconazole prophylaxis
No full textBackground: Invasive Candida infection is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity during the neonatal period, specifically in premature neonates admitted to intensive care units. Fluconazole prophylaxis has been proven to effectively reduce the incidence of invasive candidiasis in neonates admitted to high care facilities. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, non-experimental study was conducted. Data was collected from the Meditech and National Health Laboratory Service databases. Positive culture results on sterile body fluids were analyzed to determine the incidence of invasive candidemia in the neonatal unit at Universitas Academic Hospital. Sterile body fluids included blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid. Results: The results revealed an incidence of 13.5% of invasive candidiasis in the extremely- and very low birth weight neonates admitted to the neonatal unit at Universitas Academic Hospital. These results included all the positive cultures done on urine, cerebrospinal fluid and blood. The study population was 324 neonates admitted to the neonatal unit of Universitas Academic Hospital with a birth weight of less than 1.5 kg for the years 2016 and 2017. The population group included 183 female neonates (56%) and 141 male neonates (44%). The median gestational age was 29 weeks and the median birth weight was 1110g. The positive Candida culture results included 43 blood cultures, 5 urine cultures and zero cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Conclusion: The incidence rate for invasive candidiasis in very low birth weight and extremely low birth weight neonates at Universitas Academic Hospital was 13.5% during the study period. Previous research studies concluded that an incidence rate higher than ten percent of invasive Candida infection is significant and a neonatal unit will benefit from the use of fluconazole prophylaxis. Decreasing the incidence will have a direct effect on the morbidity associated with neonatal invasive Candida infection. The recommendation following the findings of the study would be to include the use of fluconazole prophylaxis as standard of care in the neonatal unit at Universitas Academic Hospital and to adapt policies and protocols accordingly
The poverty reduction role of rural development centres: a case study of Gibeon Constituency, Namibia
No full textThe study explored the role of rural development centres in rural poverty reduction in the Gibeon Constituency in the Hardap region in Namibia. A qualitative research approach was utilised, using semi-structured interviews and in-depth interviews using a questionnaire as an instrument to collect data. The purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample to participate in the study. The research participants were selected based on the consideration that they can give rich information and able to share their understanding of what and how they feel and see rural poverty, what causes it in their own views and perceptions, and what rural poverty means to them. The study findings have shown that the community in the Gibeon Constituency, mostly the rural inhabitants, are in fact poor due to lack of social services (education, health care, housing and transportation), poor service delivery, limited services, insecurity of land tenure, overcrowding in the communal land, limited opportunity for farming, vastness and remoteness in terms of service delivery. Rural poverty is on the increase, irrespective of the Namibian social services (education, health care, housing and public transportation) being subsidised. About two thirds of the Namibian population are found in the rural areas in a situation where they are excluded from the provision of social and economic needs which are being delivered by the government. The limited access to service provision such as access to better road networks, electricity, water, housing, rural markets, banking, credit facilities, as well as the limited access to low level of agricultural technology and the slow pace of the decentralisation process, remain a challenge to rural development. There is high level of unemployment in the Gibeon Constituency. The study recommends that the Gibeon Constituency, through the regional government (Hardap Regional Council) should speed up the process of service delivery by decentralising the key ministries dealing with poverty and social well-being of the community. Both the oldage grant and children’s grant should be increased and the pro-poor policies should take into account local and regional factors when designing interventions to address poverty in line with the sustainable development principle of subsidiarity
Development of a community through a solar energy plant in a rural town
No full textThis study explored the contributions of a solar energy plant towards a rural town’s community development. The study focused on community development and renewable energy. It reviewed the definitions of community development and how community development has evolved over the years. It provides a synopsis of renewable energy, both globally and in South Africa, as renewable energy has become a worldwide focus in fighting climate change and reducing greenhouse emissions. The literature revealed that South Africa has linked renewable energy to community development through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. The programme specifies among other requirements that Independent Power Producers should spend a percentage of their revenue on enterprise development and socioeconomic development. This case study deliberated on how a solar energy plant contributed towards community development within the first five years of its existence with the use of a technical support approach. Findings in this study specified the gap in the definition of community development that complicates execution of community development. There was a lack of clarity in the private sector’s community development implementation policy. Thus, in applying corporate social responsibility, businesses tended to adopt a variety of inconsistent approaches. This lack of policy has also led to the ineffectiveness of socio-economic development. Additionally, political influence has had a negative impact on the progress of community development, exemplified in its introduction of bias with the aim of redressing inequality. In conclusion, I recommend further research on the socio-economic impact of renewable energy projects and the degree to which communities are informed about associated benefits
A critical discourse analysis of Zimbabwe’s Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) with specific reference to potential implementation dynamics
No full textThis study is premised on the argument that there is a gap between policy formulation and implementation which can be explained in linguistic terms. A case study research of Zimbabwe’s Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) economic policy has been used to examine the direct connection between the critical processes of policy formulation and implementation. As the ‘turbulent flow’ model of public policy making processes reveals, it is possible to establish direct connections between the processes traditionally viewed as linear and fragmented stages. Through deployment of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) specifically Norman Fairclough’s Three Dimensional Model of discourse analysis, overt and covert discourses with grave implications for policy implementation are decipherable. The tenet of CDA provides for interdependent levels of analysis which are textual analysis, discursive and socio-cultural practices. The three pronged attack on the policy text describes, interprets and explains discourses bringing to the fore intratextual, intertextual and ideological issues which fortify the linguistic variable in explaining the gap between policy and implementation. A critical analysis of linguistic features inside and outside the official state text suggests disconnect between policy formulation and implementation. At text analysis level there are examples of linguistic features used which lack conviction, forthrightness and in some instances make stringent conditions which complicate implementation processes. At this level of analysis it is prudent to highlight that the study is not mere pursuit of faults or deficits in the policy document as this translates to a witch hunt exercise. Instead there is positive framing of discourses within the text structure theme which on the surface provides for orderliness but on close analysis there are issues of complexity and density which complicate implementation processes. Similarly optimistic discourses appearing on the surface as positive in reality though place the end users of the policy in an invidious in which they are expected to deliver regardless of prevailing circumstances and objective realties. Socio-economic and political discourses playing out in the public domain indicate that interpretation poses a challenge in the appreciation, conceptualisation and comprehension of the policy initiatives and provisions. Interpretation challenges which cut across the levels are more pronounced at the second level of analysis within the frame of Intertextuality, production and distribution. At the third level of analysis, there is the ideological construct which revolves in the main around purported nation building under the auspices of the ‘new government’. There are issues connected to policy formulation which have grave implications for social cohesion and subsequent buy-in of the policy initiatives, interventions and provisions. For instance, unity which is a critical pillar in the promotion, cultivation and sustenance of social cohesion is blighted by diatribe against the Old Dispensation structures. Therefore, the interrelated levels of analysis trigger overt and covert discourses potentially serving as a gap between policy formulation and implementation. Although exogenous factors such as social, economic and political variables are critical in explaining the gap between a policy and its implementation the centrality of the linguistic variable is attributable to the reality that it is the vehicle that transmits and couches the other variables. Complex thinking around the linguistic variable involves combining the apparent and latent discourses to ascertain predisposition of the policy to implementability. What motivates policy makers to formulate policies with potential seeds of failure remains speculative thus warranting further research so that the puzzle in policy making processes is unraveled