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Talent management, work engagement and voluntary turnover at a Namibian Financial Institution
Full text linkAbstract: ABSTRACT The Namibian financial industry operates in a very competitive and unpredictable environment—one in which employers face limited availability of the specialised employee skills to perform the required operations effectively to achieve strategic objectives. The main objective of this research was to determine the relationship between talent management, work engagement, and voluntary turnover at a Namibian financial institution. A quantitative research approach was followed, with data gathered from employees at the institution (n = 91). Three measuring instruments—a talent management measure, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and a voluntary turnover intention questionnaire—were administered. In general, it appears that participants were deployed in job positions aligned with their career choice, that respondents could associate themselves with the brand of their institution, and received adequate performance feedback. Although the respondents indicated moderate to high levels of work engagement, about half of them considered quitting their jobs. The results also showed that the employees perceived a lack of talent mindset, talent retention strategies, and inadequate compensation from their employer. Talent management, work engagement, and voluntary turnover were significantly related. This research emphasises the importance of adequately assembled talent management practices and strategies to enhance positive individual outcomes
An analysis of the South African carbon tax act
No full textLL.M. (Tax Law)Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
Development and application of an African physical and technical talent identification field test battery for Zimbabwean male junior soccer players
Full text linkD.Phil. (Sport Science)Abstract: Despite the availability of several studies on talent identification, there is no universal physical and technical talent identification test battery for predicting future potential in Under-14 Zimbabwean footballers. The aim of this study was twofold, firstly, to determine the coaches’ perceived physical and technical talent identification (TI) attributes for male Under-14 Zimbabwean footballers. Secondly, to develop and apply a physical and technical TI test battery for under-14 footballers. The present study utilised an exploratory sequential design using a modified Delphi method to establish a coaches perceived list of physical-physiological and technical attributes for TI. The identified attributes culminated in the development of and application of the test battery in Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North province. The study utilised purposive sampling. The Zimbabwean Confederation of African Football (CAF 'A') accredited coaches (n = 39) completed five rounds of the Delphi questionnaires comprised of an initial questionnaire with open-ended questions. The subsequent questionnaires utilised the Miller’s (1972) Scale Battery of International Patterns and Norms for rating the attributes. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages) were used for analysis. The results indicated that leg power, speed, endurance, change of direction and flexibility were crucial in predicting talent in Under-14 footballers. The coaches further identified height, percentage body fat, bone diameter, weight, body composition, passing, dribbling, shooting, running with the ball, heading, diving and ball control. The field test method was used to collect anthropometric, technical and physical-physiological data in the second phase. Participants were 141 in-field Under-14 Zimbabwean junior footballers with a mean age of 12.01 ± 0.88. Descriptive statistics, birth quartile distributions, One-way Anova, odds ratios, Crammer’s V effect size, Chi-square test, Hochberg or Dunnett test were utilised for analysis. Data were processed using SPSS version 26.0 and 27.0. The level of significance was set at 0.05%. The junior footballers were divided into two groups, according to age categories and clusters. The results on age and maturity related attributes were significant in some variables between the 9 – 11.9 and 12 -13.9 while other attributes revealed no differences. Overall, 97.2% of the under-14 footballers in the original grouped cases were classified correctly into talented and non-talented groups. The talented group was classified with better accuracy of 97.6% compared to 89.5% of the non-talented group in the crossvalidated grouped cases. The talented group displayed an irregular birth distribution while the non-talented group had a linearly unbalanced distribution in favour of the first two quarters. Biological maturity revealed significant differences in some of the attributes wherein others no differences were observed. It was concluded that coaches considered multi-dimensional attributes based on anthropometric, physical fitness and technical attributes to identify talent. Additional, biological maturity and the relative age effect had no influence in the selection of Under-14 footballers. It was recommended that further research is warranted to unpack other variable attributes such as the psychosocial that may define talented Under-14 footballers. Football entities are encouraged to establish and implement a multi-dimensional test battery for talent identification
A survey on the attitudes and beliefs of South African chiropractors about managing back pain in Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape Provinces : a cross-sectional study
Full text linkM.Tech. (Chiropractic)Abstract: Background: Generalised back pain can range from being a mild discomfort to a disabling pain and will usually affect as many as three in four adults over their lifetime. Chiropractors frequently treat and care for patients with low back pain and work attentively with this condition, which is why it is important to have a general understanding of their attitudes towards and beliefs about it. The biopsychosocial model is an approach that is widely used to manage patients and is becoming increasingly more popular. This model considers three different aspects (biological, psychological and social) when assessing a medical condition. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes and beliefs of South African chiropractors regarding the management of low back pain in the Limpopo, Free State, North West, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces. Method: This study was a cross-sectional, quantitative and explorative study. An anonymous survey was distributed via an email link to all chiropractors registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) and the Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA) in the Limpopo, Free State, North West, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape pronvinces. The sample size consisted of 76 qualified chiropractors. This survey made use of the Pain Attitude and Belief Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS.PT), which was made available to participants using QuestionPro. Procedure: The questionnaire, an information letter and the consent form were distributed via email by the AHPCSA. It was sent to all chiropractors registered with the AHPCSA and members of CASA who were practicing in the above provinces of South Africa. The email contained the link to the QuestionPro questionnaire. Results: Scores were derived from the collected data for both the biomedical and biopsychosocial subscales, which were then compared to the scoring table created for the PABS.PT. The final mean score for each subscale was 39.26 and 32.84, respectively. Conclusion: The mean scores for the biomedical and biopsychosocial subscales both fell into the “moderate” category of the scoring table, which means that there was a moderate tendency by chiropractors to use both the biomedical and biopsychosocial approaches in the management of low back pain and that there were significant preferences towards both approaches
A patient satisfaction survey related to the management of respiratory tract conditions at the UJ Satellite Community Health Centre
Full text linkAbstract: Respiratory tract conditions affect the lungs and supporting respiratory tract structures, which may result in breathing difficulties. Chronic respiratory tract conditions are rapidly becoming the leading cause of fatalities in the modern era. Conventional treatment approaches use different kinds of medication for respiratory tract conditions such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids, which are very effective but may yield vast amounts of side effects. Patient satisfaction surveys are important indicators when assessing the standard of health care provided by health care practitioners. A study conducted at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Homeopathic Health Centre (HHC) in 2020, showed that 95% of the patients were satisfied with the treatment received at the UJ HHC for their musculoskeletal pain. No studies have been conducted on patient satisfaction related to management of respiratory tract conditions at the WeCare Community Health Centre (WCC) which is a UJ Satellite Community Health Centre. The aim of this research study was to determine patient satisfaction of the homeopathic management for respiratory tract conditions at the WCC, from 1 August 2020 – 31 March 2021, using a 22-item patient satisfaction questionnaire administered via telephonic interview. A quantitative descriptive exploratory research design was used in this study. Data collection occurred through secure telephone interviews with patients that visited the WCC, with regards to respiratory tract conditions. Upon obtaining the necessary approval from the clinic co-ordinator of the WCC and Head of Department of Complementary Medicine, all the file numbers of patients that reported with respiratory tract conditions were retrieved from the WCC data capturing forms. Patient files without contact details and patients that did not sign the WCC consent forms were excluded. Thereafter, the files were physically extracted from the filing room. The researcher contacted each patient telephonically, in a private setting at the WCC, and obtained verbal consent from the patients to participate in the study and for audio to be recorded. The study transpired over a period of four weeks from 28 May 2021 to 28 June 2021 allowing for 8 participants to be interviewed daily between the hours of 12:00 to 15:30. All information received from the participants was physically documented onto hard copy questionnaires during the interviews. Upon completion, the questionnaires were stored in a lockable cabinet in a secure...M.Tech. (Homoeopathy
Prevalence and associated management approaches of needle-stick injuries amongst public sector dental practitioners, in Johannesburg, South Africa
Full text linkAbstract: Background: Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) exposes dental healthcare workers (HCWs) to infectious disease-causing blood-borne pathogens, which can adversely affect employee performance, health, wellness, morale, productivity, and service delivery. Public sector dental-HCWs provide primary dental services to low-income individuals and communities, and are constantly at risk of experiencing occupational injuries i.e., NSIs. Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of NSIs among public sector dental-HCWs in the Johannesburg Metro district, and to evaluate current management practices. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted. The study sample size was pre-determined and consisted of 36 participants (public sector dental practitioners in the region). The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The data management and analyses were performed using SPSS (Version 27) software. Descriptive analyses and bivariate (chi-square) tests were performed to assess the association between various socio-demographic, behavioural, clinical, and managerial factors and NSI status. The findings from the analyses were presented in figures and tables, and results were reported using p-values. Results: The prevalence of NSIs was 47.2% (n=17). Most NSIs occurred whilst changing local anaesthetic ampules (35%), and during needle recapping (29%). Only 38.9% of dental-HCWs reported to have Occupational Injury Guidelines in their clinics, and only 41.7% reported to have Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Guidelines (which were found to be outdated). Only one variable, response to injury, was a significant predictor of NSI status (p<0.05). There was no significant association between the other socio-demographic, behavioural, clinical, and managerial factors and NSI status. Conclusion: The study draws attention to high-risk activities and behaviours, as well as shortcomings in the workplace. The primary source of needle-stick injuries is the needle attached to a dental syringe, which is manually operated by clinicians during dental procedures, using both hands. Shortcomings identified include the common practice of needle-recapping,..M.A. (Public Health
Photobiomodulated differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts
Full text linkAbstract: Osteoporosis is regarded as the most progressive of all mitochondrial bone disorders in humans (Phetfong et al., 2016). Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken, increasing the probability of bone fractures (Sozen et al., 2017). The field of regenerative medicine (RM) offers the potential to heal tissues and organs damaged by injuries, chronic disease, or aging (Mason and Dunnill, 2008). The most promising form of RM is stem cell (SC) therapy due to the characteristics that SCs portray including the ability to self-renew and differentiate into a variety of cell lineages (Polak and Bishop, 2006). Research shows that the transplantation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) enables the formation and strengthening of new bones, aids in an increase of bone consistency and reduces fracture associated outcomes (Hu et al., 2018). The benefits of using ADMSCs in SC therapy include the absence of ethical problems, as a minimally invasive process efficiently isolates ADMSCs from adipose tissues, resulting in a high cell abundance and yield (Frese et al., 2016). In vitro, ADMSCs require the presence of both biological and chemical growth factors (GFs) within their culture medium for successful differentiation into osteogenic cell lineages (Trentz et al., 2010). Despite the presence of GFs, ADMSCs are preferentially differentiated into adipogenic lineages (Lee et al., 2014) and therefore, the use of GFs in conjunction with a mechanical stimulant such as photobiomodulation (PBM) is necessary for the control of lineage specific differentiation (Akyol et al., 2015). Photobiomodulation is the application of visible and near-infrared (NIR) light by coherent or incoherent light sources to cells and tissues (Anders et al., 2019). When endogenous chromophores absorb light, photochemical and photophysical responses occur (De Freitas and Hamblin, 2016). An increased mitochondrial oxidative metabolism induced by PBM, facilitates cell function, proliferation, migration, and tissue regeneration (De Freitas and Hamblin, 2016). Treatment of ADMSCs using PBM, promoted the growth, development, and differentiation of SCs into various cell lineages...M.Tech. (Biomedical Sciences
Whole-Genome characterisation of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheal stool samples
Full text linkM.Tech. (Biomedical Science)Abstract: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a rod-shaped Gram-negative bacterium that exists as a commensal indicator or as a pathogenic type. Intestinal pathogenic E. coli infect and cause diarrheal disease syndrome in the gastrointestinal tract, while extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli causes disease in other systems. Furthermore, E. coli has a variety of strains, each with its genotype that differs from wild-type E. coli. The genotype will then influence the phenotype that is expressed and each strain's physiology and life cycle. As a result, various E. coli strains will live in different animals. At present intestinal pathogenic E. coli that have been identified includes Diffusely Adhering E. coli (DAEC), Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Diffusely Adhering E. coli (DAEC), Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), Shiga Toxin (Stx) producing E. coli (STEC) and lastly the Adherent Invasive E. coli (AIEC). Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), Neonatal Meningitis Associated E. coli (NMEC), and Sepsis-Associated E. coli (SEPEC) are some of the extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli strains. Intestinal pathogenic E. coli has been the contributing factor in children under five to cause diarrheal illness worldwide. There is a lack of adequate information regarding the genetic diversity of E. coli strains isolated from South Africa, which could have a mixture of virulence genes, antimicrobial resistance genes and other genes which might assist the bacteria in increasing its bacterial virulence and infectivity. Several methods are available for detection and enumeration of E. coli from different sources. These include genotyping methods such Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST), Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), including Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). WGS is now a widely used technique for characterising the bacterial genome in terms of molecular epidemiology, virulence, and antibiotic resistance. It is important in describing and improving our understanding of bacterial evolution, transmission, and outbreaks..
Effect of photobiomodulation on apoptosis and inflammation in an In Vitro diabetic wounded fibroblast model
Full text linkD.Tech. (Biomedical Sciences)Abstract: The tissue repair process commences with hemostasis, followed by inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling. The inflammatory phase occurs in response to stimulatory agents released by injured cells, including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). These cytokines contribute to inflammatory cell recruitment and pain at the injury site and, in addition, TNF-α also plays a crucial role in regulating apoptosis and in activating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) activity stimulates prostaglandin (PG) production, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is partly responsible for inflammation and pain associated with tissue injury. The initial inflammatory phase is an important component in tissue healing as it stimulates the removal of necrotic tissue debris and foreign bacterial matter and prepares the injured area for the proliferative and remodeling stages. The transition from the inflammatory stage to the proliferative phase is crucial for complete and effective wound repair. In patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), an unresolved inflammatory phase is a major contributor to persistent wounds that do not repair successfully. The overexpression of IL-6, TNF-α and cox-2 has been reported in hyperglycemic states and excessive levels of these mediators prolong inflammation during the wound healing process. Hyperglycemia contributes to the elevated production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Such AGEs form through a non-enzymatic reaction between saccharides (such as glucose) and proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. High levels of AGEs affect cell function to negatively impact the wound healing process in diabetic wounds through various mechanisms including direct cross-linking of proteins to affect their structure and purpose and by affecting the migratory profile and proliferation of cells important to wound healing including phagocytic cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. Elevated AGE levels indirectly disturb cell functioning by binding to receptors on the plasma membrane. The most common receptor for AGEs, also known as RAGE, is a multiligand receptor found on the surface o
The allure of disability : a rhetorical analysis of three YouTube™ advertisements
Full text linkAbstract: I’m one of 650 million people that suffer from a disability. At the time of my diagnosis, I was a communication design student, which led me to question the seemingly simple design of the International Symbol of Access and how it fails to represent invisible disabilities. As my investigation deepened, I encountered the full range of disabilities represented in YouTube™ advertisements that promote well-established brands and utilise disability as a rhetorical device to gain empathy from viewers in order to promote commercial products and services. The purpose of my paper is a comparison of three YouTube™ advertisements created for Microsoft™ Xbox™, Consol™, and Toyota™, respectively. All three advertisements were created by reputable design agencies, and despite promoting three very different products and brand identities, all feature the disabled. In this study, I demonstrate how these advertisements make use of the rhetorical appeals of logos, ethos, pathos and kairos to strengthen the bonds between the viewer and the brand in digital advertising. The language of media is a rhetorical language, and when combined with Disability Studies, is useful to develop a better understanding of how visual arguments can impact perceptions of the disabled. I focus on the appeals, symbols, stigmas, and social meanings associated with disabilities and how they can lead to negative stereotyping. My findings reveal that the selected sample displays a spectrum of narratives, representing disability in three different ways, namely disability as tokenism, disability as representation and disability as endorsement.M.A. (Design
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