bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A psychometric evaluation of measures of effective well-being in an insurance company
Authors: Coetzer W J , Rothmann S
Published: August 2012

The objectives of this study were to validate two measures of affective well-being, namely the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) for employees in an insurance company, to assess their construct equivalence for different language groups and to determine the relationship between burnout and work engagement. A cross-sectional survey design with an availability sample (N = 613) was used. The MBI, UWES and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Structural equation modelling confirmed a three-factor model of burnout, consisting of Exhaustion, Cynicism and Professional Efficacy and a three-factor model of work engagement consisting of Vigour, Dedication and Absorption. Acceptable construct equivalence of the three-factor model of burnout and work engagement for different language groups was confirmed. A second-order factor analysis of the scales resulted in two factors, namely burnout and work engagement.
The contruction and evaluation of an attention questionnaire
Authors: Schepers Johann M
Published: August 2012

The principal objective of the study was the construction and evaluation of an attention questionnaire. A corollary of the study was to determine the common factors between the Attention Questionnaire (AQ) and the Locus of Control Inventory (LCI). The AQ and the LCI (1999) were applied jointly to a sample of 1577 first-year university students. To start with the AQ was subjected to a principal factor analysis. It yielded three factors which were identified as Concentration Ability, Arousal and Distractibility. Three scales were formed which yielded reliabilities of 0,886, 0,757 and 0,863 respectively. Multiple battery factor analysis was used to establish the common factor structure of the two instruments. Autonomy and Internal Control were strongly related to Concentration Ability.
The prevalence and nature of sexual harassment in the workplace: A model for early identification and effective management thereof
Authors: Ramsaroop A , Parumasur S Brijball
Published: August 2012

This study investigates the prevalence and nature of sexual harassment and, assesses the impact of supervisory relations, levels of interaction, appearance and personality and types of behaviour. The study was undertaken at a tertiary institution using a sample of 74 employees, drawn by means of simple random sampling. Data was collected using a self-developed questionnaire, which was statistically tested and, analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicate that the sub-dimensions of the study impact significantly on sexual harassment. Based on the findings, a model for early identification and effective management of sexual harassment in the workplace was generated.
Exploring the roles and contributions of industrial psychologists in South Africa against a multi-dimensional conceptual framework (part 2)
Authors: Barnard Graeme , Fourie Linda
Published: August 2012

The study was undertaken to explore the professional roles and contributions of industrial psychologists in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 23 registered psychologists to gain their views on the roles and contributions within each of the dimensions of a conceptual framework of organisational success developed earlier. A process of analytical induction, supported by thematic content analysis, revealed a range of generic roles yet specific industrial psychological contributions. The implications of the findings for the development of academic curricula, the establishment of clarity among industrial psychologists and the fostering of awareness in organisations regarding the value of these professionals are discussed.
Job characteristics, ill health and negative work-home interference in the mining industry
Authors: Oldfield Gary , Mostert Karina
Published: August 2012

The objective of this research was to test a structural model including job demands, job resources, ill health and negative work-home interference (WHI). Random samples (N = 320) were taken from employees working in the mining industry. The results indicated that job demands and job resources had an impact on ill health, and that ill health was associated with negative WHI. It was also found that job demands had a direct relationship with negative WHI, in addition to the indirect relationship through ill health. Job resources were not related not negative WHI.
A Critical-Reflective Evaluation Of The Usefulness Of The Motivational Styles Questionnaire
Authors: Lawrence Derry-Lee , Schmidt Conrad
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of Motivational Styles Questionnaire (MSQ) from a critical reflective perspective. The MSQ was administered to a random sample of managerial and consulting employees within the banking and information technology sector (N = 221). In order to examine the underlying factor structure and the corresponding reliabilities, a principal factor analysis was conducted, which yielded promising results. The findings of the critical analysis further revealed a number of gaps in the recommendations regarding the use of this instrument.
The strategic importance of motivational rewards for lower-level employees in the manufacturing and retailing industries
Authors: Arnolds CA , Venter DJL
Published: August 2012

One of the biggest challenges that managers face in executing business strategies to achieve competitive advantage, is the employment of motivational techniques that build wholehearted commitment to operating excellence. Much confusion however still exists on the question of which rewards really motivate employees. This study investigates which rewards motivate lower-level employees (N = 367) in both manufacturing and clothing retail firms. The results show that the most important individual motivational reward for blue-collar employees is paid holidays and for frontline employees, retirement plans. The most important motivational reward category for both blue-collar and frontline employees is fringe benefits (paid holidays, sick leave and housing loans).
Psychological wellness constructs: relationships and group differences
Authors: Gropp Liezl , Geldenhuys Dirk , Visser Deléne
Published: August 2012

The objective of the study was to examine the relationships between several constructs that were hypothesised to be components underlying psychological wellness and to establish whether there were differences between managerial and non-managerial groups or between Black and White groups in respect of the wellness variables. The Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), Locus of Control Inventory (LOC), Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC), and the Bar-On EQ-I were administered to a random sample of 200 employees of a financial services company. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups on several of the wellness variables with the manager and White groups obtaining higher scores on these variables than their comparison groups. However, in respect of External Locus of Control, the non-manager and Black groups obtained the higher scores. Factor analytic results demonstrated that the wellness variables clustered in two correlated factors (r = 0,43) labeled psychological wellness and self-actualisation.
The validation of the perceived wellness survey in the South African Police Service
Authors: Rothmann S , Ekkerd J
Published: August 2012

The objectives of this study were to assess the validity and reliability of a Setswana translation of the Perceived Wellness Survey (PWS) in the South African Police Service and to investigate differences in the perceived wellness of police members, based on gender, qualification, age and rank. A cross-sectional survey design with an accidental sample (N = 673) of Setswana speaking police personnel was used. The Perceived Wellness Survey (PWS) and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Two reliable factors, namely wellness and unwellness, were extracted in a random sample (n = 335) and in a replication sample (n = 338). However, an alternative interpretation was also possible. Statistically significant differences were found between perceived wellness of employees in terms of age and rank.
Antecedents of work engagement in a multinational oil company
Authors: Olivier AL , Rothmann S
Published: August 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the antecedents of work engagement. Stratified random samples (N=171) were taken of employees in a multinational oil company. The Work Engagement Scale and the Work Experiences Scale were administered. The results confirmed that psychological meaningfulness and psychological availability were significant predictors of work engagement. Psychological meaningfulness displayed the strongest positive relationship with engagement. The relationship of co-worker relations and work role fit with work engagement was mediated by the psychological condition of meaningfulness. Cognitive, emotional and physical resources had the strongest effect on psychological availability. Co-worker relations and co-worker norms predicted psychological safety. The relationship between resources and work engagement was mediated by the psychological condition of availability.
The effects of test interpretation styles and the status of tests in career counseling
Authors: Frade Nelia , De Bruin Gideon P
Published: August 2012

The effects of two styles of test interpretation, namely directive and collaborative, and clients’ perceptions of the technical status of tests, namely high and low, were compared for 32 postgraduate psychology students who served as career counseling clients. Clients who received a collaborative interpretation perceived their counselor as more attractive and trustworthy than did clients who received a directive test interpretation. Interpretation style did not have an effect on session impact. Clients’ perceptions of test status had a noticeable, but statistically non-significant effect on counselor evaluations and session impact. Implications for test-interpretation practice are discussed.
The construction and evaluation of a generic Work Performance Questionnaire for use with administrative and operational staff
Authors: Schepers Johann M.
Published: August 2012

The principal objective of the study was the construction and evaluation of a work performance questionnaire for use with administrative and operational staff. Work performance is a multidimensional construct that indicates how well a worker performs in his/her work, the degree of initiative he/she takes, the ingenuity he/she shows in the fnding of solutions for problems, and the manner in which he/she uses the human resources at his/her disposal. Two questionnaires were constructed – one for staff performing managerial functions (the full scale) and one for staff in non-managerial positions (the shortened scale). The sample consisted of 278 staff at a South African university. The full scale yielded a reliability of 0,983 and the shortened scale a reliability of 0,978. The implications of the fndings are discussed.
Perception of organisational commitment, job satisfaction and turnover intentions in a post-merger South African tertiary institution
Authors: Martin Adam , Roodt Gert
Published: August 2012

A merger can be considered both a phenomenological and signifcant life event for an organisation and its employees, and how people cope with and respond to a merger has a direct impact on the institutional performance in the short to medium term. It is within this context that post-merger perceptions of a tertiary institution were investigated. A predictive model (determined the “best” of 15 predefned models) of turnover intentions was developed for employees of a South African tertiary institution (having undergone its own recent merging process). A systematic model-building process was carried out incorporating various techniques, among others structural equation modelling and step-wise linear regression. The fnal predictive model explained 47% of the variance in turnover intentions. Contrary to expectations, commitment does not correlate more strongly than satisfaction does with turnover intentions.
Coping with stress in the workplace
Authors: Oosthuizen Janine D. , Van Lill Burger
Published: August 2012

The researchers investigated a simplified process model, a so-called salutogenic approach, of coping with stress in the workplace. Two constructs of salutogenic functioning, namely sense of coherence and locus of control (three dimensions: internal, external locus and autonomy), as well as the stress levels of 240 employees from a parastatal organisation were measured. As expected, individuals with a stronger sense of coherence and a stronger internal locus of control experienced lower levels of stress and vice versa. Nevertheless, in a regression analysis only the sense of coherence and external locus of control variables contributed significantly to variance in the criterion variable stress.
Thinking style preference, emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness
Authors: Herbst Tessie H. , Maree Kobus G.
Published: August 2012

In this study, the researchers investigate the relationship between thinking style preference, emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness in an institution of higher education. The measuring instruments used were the Neethling Brain Preference Profle (NBPP) and the Mayer, Salovey and Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), as well as the Kouzes and Posner Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). The sample comprised 138 managers within a higher education institution. The researchers found some evidence to support the relationship between thinking style, emotional intelligence (EI) and leadership effectiveness. The researchers concluded that facets of brain dominance and emotional intelligence may be potentially useful predictors of transformational leadership behaviours.
A conceptual framework of integrity
Authors: Barnard Antoni , Schurink Willem , De Beer Mariè
Published: August 2012

This article reports on the fndings of a qualitative study in which the construction of integrity of some business leaders was explored. Data were gathered through ten in-depth interviews with six South African business leaders commended to be champions of integrity. A grounded-theory approach to the data analysis elicited fve themes. These themes and their interrelatedness are discussed in this article and a conceptual framework of integrity is proposed. Integrity is conceptualised as a multifaceted and dynamic construct based on a moral foundation and inner drive that is managed by cognitive and affective processes manifesting various integrity-related behaviours.
Psychological career resources of working adults: A South African survey
Authors: Coetzee Melinde
Published: August 2012

The main objective of this study was to explore broad trends regarding how individuals from various age, educational, marital, race and gender groups in the South African organisational context differ in terms of their psychological career resources, as measured by the Psychological Career Resources Inventory. A sample of 2 997 working adults registered as students at a South African higher distance education institution participated in this study. The results indicate significant differences between the various biographical variables and the participants’ psychological career resources. In the context of employment equity, and with more women entering the workplace, this study is expected to contribute important knowledge that will inform career development practices concerned with enhancing employees’ career meta-competencies as an important element of their general employability.
The psychometric properties of the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale
Authors: Jonker Cara S. , Vosloo Christel
Published: August 2012

the objective of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (SEiS). the psychometric soundness of the SEiS was tested. A cross-sectional survey design was used for this study. A sample (n = 341) was taken from Economical Science students from a higher-education institution. The results obtained using the cross-sectional design supported a six- dimensional factor structure of the SEiS. the six factors are Positive Affect, Emotion-Others, happy Emotions, Emotions-Own, Non-verbal Emotions and Emotional Management. A multi-analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine differences in terms of biographical data. the results indicated signifcant differences between gender and language groups.
Store Image: Toward a Conceptual Model Part 1
Authors: Du Preez Ronel , Visser Elizabeth , Janse Van Noordwyk Hester
Published: August 2012

The lack of a universal definition and conceptual model of store image guided the aims for this research, namely to 1) delineate the underlying structure of the store image construct; 2) formulate a definition of store image; and 3) develop a model of the underlying theoretical structure of store image. An in-depth literature review was done to specify the domain and to delineate the underlying structure of this construct. The knowledge gained was incorporated into the model of apparel store image that served as point of departure for the development of a scale to measure the importance of apparel store image dimensions.
Validation of the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ) in a chemical factory
Authors: Van Schalkwyk Lourens , Rothmann Sebastiaan
Published: August 2012

The objectives of this study were to assess the psychometric properties of the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ) and to investigate the differences in sense of coherence among demographic groups in a chemical factory environment. The OLQ and a biographical questionnaire were administered to chemical factory employees (N = 583). A three-factor model (manageability, meaningfulness and comprehensibility) was confirmed through structural-equation modelling. From the original 29-item OLQ, an 11-item OLQ and a 6-item OLQ were first derived with good fit statistics. With the 11-item OLQ, signifcant differences in sense of coherence among some demographic groups viz. qualifcation and job level were then confrmed.
Exploring antecedents and consequences of burnout in a call centre
Authors: Visser Willie A. , Rothmann Sebastiaan
Published: August 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between six characteristics of call centre work environments, burnout, affective commitment and turnover intentions. These characteristics were competing management goals, work overload, electronic performance monitoring, lack of career opportunities, lack of skill variety and emotional labour. A convenient sample of employees (N = 146) was obtained from a call centre. Multiple regression analysis showed that work overload, lack of career opportunities, skill variety and emotional labour were the most important predictors of burnout. Burnout had a direct effect on turnover intentions. Affective commitment partially mediated the relationship between burnout and turnover intention.
Entrepreneurial cognitions: Linking willingness and ability expert scripts to self-efficacy and new venture creation decisions
Authors: Urban Boris
Published: August 2012

In bringing the concept of expert scripts to bear upon the venture creation decision and following a script-scenario construction model the existence and degree of mastery of scripts are inferred from a selection of items consisting of paired script recognition and distracter cues. These cognition cues are then linked to motivation, operationalised with the general self-effcacy construct. Individuals with varying demographics who met qualifying criteria from an unrestricted range of businesses and industries (n = 161) were surveyed. Moderate support was found to consistently recognise and select statements that evidence expert entrepreneurial scripts. Associations with self-effcacy were modest, suggesting weak links between entrepreneurial cognition and motivation.
Predicting work Performance through selection interview ratings and Psychological assessment
Authors: Nzama Liziwe , De Beer Marie , Visser Delene
Published: August 2012

The aim of the study was to establish whether selection interviews used in conjunction with psychological assessments of personality traits and cognitive functioning contribute to predicting work performance. The sample consisted of 102 managers who were appointed recently in a retail organisation. The independent variables were selection interview ratings obtained on the basis of structured competency-based interview schedules by interviewing panels, fve broad dimensions of personality defned by the Five Factor Model as measured by the 15 Factor Questionnaire (15FQ+), and cognitive processing variables (current level of work, potential level of work, and 12 processing competencies) measured by the Cognitive Process Profle (CPP). Work performance was measured through annual performance ratings that focused on measurable outputs of performance objectives. Only two predictor variables correlated statistically signifcantly with the criterion variable, namely interview ratings (r = 0.31) and CPP Verbal Abstraction (r = 0.34). Following multiple regression, only these variables contributed signifcantly to predicting work performance, but only 17.8% of the variance of the criterion was accounted for.
Die onstuitbare gang van die wetenskap
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2012

Ten einde nie in té vae algemeenhede te verval nie, sal skrywervan hierdie standpunt hom beperk tot die natuurwetenskap, endan slegs tot enkele terreine binne hierdie bepaalde gebied.
Tool condition monitoring and machining process optimisation - A review
Authors: Scheffer C. , Heyns P. S.
Published: August 2012

New developments in sensor technology, signal processing and control systems can result in more efficient manufacturing. Not all new process monitoring and optimisation schemes have yet been implemented. In this article, an extensive survey of recent developments in the field is presented, with the focus on tool condition monitoring of numerically controlled machines. The purpose of this review is to create an awareness of progress in the international arena and consequently contribute to a sharper focus in South African research efforts, and also to contribute to the implementation of new technology which can improve the competitiveness of the South African manufacturing industry.
Distribution and habitats of Lymnaea natalensis, snail intermediate host of the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica, in South Africa
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2012

This paper focuses on the geographical distribution and the habitats of Lymnaea natalensis, the snail intermediate host of the liver fluke, Fasciola gigantica, as reflected by the collection sites of its 4 552 samples currently on record in the National Freshwater Snail Collection (NFSC) of South Africa. Although this species was represented in a variety of waterbodies, the majority of samples(±70%)came from rivers, brooks and dams and in 70.8% of the cases the water was described as permanent and in 71.8% as slow flowing or standing. The results of life-table studies conducted by various authors indicated that temperature should be a relatively unimportant factor in determining its geographical distribution, but that the availability of permanent water should be decisive for its presence in a given habitat. These results are in agreement with the finding that only 7.5% of the samples of this species in the NFSC were collected in habitats which were described as seasonal. Furthermore, it gives a logical explanation for the sporadic occurrence, or total absence of this species in the more arid regions of South Africa. Water impoundments and irrigation networks contribute to a large extent towards creating perennial habitats which would be suitable for L. natalensis. As intermediate host for one of the liver fluke species which already is an economic factor in South Africa, this certainly is an aspect which ought to be reckoned within the planning and construction of new irrigation schemes.
The plant Family Asteraceae: 3. The fruit
Authors: Herman P. P.J.
Published: August 2012

The fruit of the family Asteraceae are known as cypselas. Their shape, size and colour vary and they may differ in ornamentation, hairs and glands. Different outgrowths, like wings and spines, are present. One genus, Chrysanthemoides, is known to have fleshy fruits. The pappus, representing the calyx of other flowering plants, can be present or absent. When present, the pappus can consist of hairs or scales or both, arranged in one or many rows. Pappus hairs are barbellate or plumose, but the scales show much variation in shape, size and colour. The pappus and different outgrowths of the cypselas facilitate dispersal.
Guidlines for the choice of economic public infrastructure projects
Authors: Pienaar W. J.
Published: August 2012

This article provides guidelines for selecting public infrastructure projects based on economic criteria. Project evaluation, selection and prioritisation criteria are listed, followed by a description of the way in which the result of each evaluation technique should be interpreted. Criteria that should be adhered to in the selection of mutually exclusive projects and the prioritisation of functionally independent projects in order to maximise net social benefit in the long run are supplied. Application of the proposed investment decision rules is illustrated through the use of examples. Two techniques are proposed that can be used as additional decision-making instruments when evaluated projects show similar degrees of long-term economic viability.
Analogies between processes in physiology and engineering
Authors: Shaw I. S.
Published: August 2012

Physiology and engineering as fields of study are nowadays lectured at different university departments and even different faculties. Despite the great differences between the corresponding terminologies and methodologies, there exist very interesting and insight- provoking analogies between seemingly unrelated subjects encountered in these fields. There is also an emerging effort to develop experts that are familiar with both physiological and engineering terminologies and that are also able to apply them in a creative manner. Even people with many years of experience on the one hand in physiology, medicine, zoology and on the other hand, in electronic, control and mechanical engineering often have the need for additional knowledge in their mutual fields of endeavour . The purpose of this work is to engender an interest in this respect by pointing out especially pertinent cases of analogies.
Prey manipulation in a grassland community at an inland airport in South Africa
Authors: Kok A. C. , Kok O. B.
Published: August 2012

Terrestrial invertebrates and very small vertebrates were collected using pitfall and mouse traps in undisturbed long grass and grass which were kept permanently short over a period of 15 months (March 1994 – May 1995) at the Bloemfontein airport. Numerically insects contributed more than 90% of the overall sample. Twice as many individuals occurred in short grass compared to those in the long grass. The available food source for predominantly insectivorous avifauna at inland airports can thus be effectively reduced (indirectly also bird numbers) by implementing a so-called long grass policy as a control strategy. A significant and sustainable decrease in harvester termite numbers and activities was accomplished by administering bait treated with Gaucho in disturbed grass areas. As an important component in the diet of birds in grassland communities, bird numbers, and hopefully also bird aircraft strikes, can thus be reduced.
Avifauna in grassland communities at some inland airports in South Africa.
Authors: Kok A. C. , Kok O. B.
Published: August 2012

Over a period of eleven years (January 1985 – December 1995) approximately 5 000 individuals representing 51 bird species which, potentially, posed a threat to aviation were collected at the Bloemfontein airport. More than half of the species concerned can be considered as medium sized terrestrial birds of which the crowned plover (Vanellus coronatus) is by far the most important. A similar species composition occurred at the Kimberley airport, in contrast to the greater percentage of water associated birds at the Johannesburg airport. Indirectly, food availability appears to be one of the main environmental factors involved in the presence of the five dominant bird species at the Bloemfontein airport.
The evolution game: A simple algorithm for the determination of an evolutionary stable strategy
Authors: Schoombie S. W. , Erasmus M. H.
Published: August 2012

As a result of the complex nature of genetic models used to describe intricate survival strategies of living organisms during the process of evolution, principles of game theory are often used as an alternative. In such cases it is important to be able to determine which strategy – out of a set of possible strategies – would be optimal, in the sense that populations of which all members are using this strategy, can not be invaded by individuals following any other possible strategy from the feasible set. Such a strategy is known as an Evolutionary Stable Strategy (ESS), and much research has been done on the properties of an ESS, as far as it could be associated with mathematical population growth models. In this article we discuss a simple algorithm by which an ESS can be calculated in the case of non linear discrete models with a single strategy variable. We also give the theoretical basis of the algorithm, and show that it can be used even in the case of fairly complicated population situations.
Opsommings van referate gelewer tydens die jaarkongres van die Afdeling Biologie van die S.A. Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. Die kongres het plaasgevind op 19 Junie 2002 by die Departement Soölogie van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch.
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2012

Geen abstrak.
Physiognomy in Graeco-Roman times
Authors: Retief François , Cilliers Louise
Published: August 2012

Physiognomy, the discipline which endeavours to deduce from individuals’ exterior features their character, disposition, even destiny, originated in Pre-Socratic times. In this article the development of physiognomy in the Graeco-Roman era is reviewed, with emphasis on seminal publications like the pseudo-Aristotelean Physiognomonica (3rd century BC), Polemon’s works (2nd century AD) and the so-called Anonymus Latinus (4th century AD). Its general impact on society and on the arts, literature and rhetorical techniques in particular is revisited, as well as its connections with medicine and mantic disciplines.
There is a tide in the affairs of men ... The challenge of devising effective and fair(er) selection mechanisms
Authors: Maree J. G.
Published: August 2012

Initially, research regarding student admission to fields of study at tertiary training institutions focused primarily on a search for mechanisms to decrease the number of at-risk students significantly – an extremely complex matter. Recent changes in South African society compel tertiary institutions to reflect on their own character and aims in an innovative way. At the moment the focus is mainly on possible ways of giving the traditionally disadvantaged part of South African society a fairer chance of gaining access to, and achieving success at tertiary institutions. The pressure on tertiary institutions to ensure that the demography of the student population becomes more representative of the population in general is increasing dramatically. Since the ratio black : white students who are admitted to these courses is still totally unsatisfactorily (to the disadvantage of black students) and not at all in line with the aims of the government, student selection in fields of study such as Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering and Psychology will probably remain in the firing line in the foreseeable future. In this article, the researchers investigate the achievement of senate-discretionary students at the Education Faculty of the University of Pretoria and arrive at the conclusion that neither a minimum M score of 11, nor an admission test score accurately predicts success at a tertiary institution. Outcomes-based Education and changing ways of assessing and ‘scoring’ in Grade 12 create an even more complex situation. In order to facilitate the escalating challenge of fair selection and admission to tertiary institutions, a national two-year strategy is advocated.
Cmmunity development: The risks and opportunities of affirmative business enterprises’ participation in construction in South Africa
Authors: Hauptfleisch A. C. , Meintjes G. J.
Published: August 2012

This research focuses on community development, specifically the upliftment and empowerment of previously disadvantaged people, through the participation of affirmative business enterprises (ABEs), in construction projects in South Africa. The significant change in the government’s approach to procurement of goods and services in the construction industry since 1994 and the development and implementation of affirmative procurement strategies by the government after 1994, gave rise to this research. Based on a literature study and a survey done by means of a questionnaire, this study identifies and evaluates the risks and opportunities as a result of the participation of ABEs in construction projects.  The experience gained and lessons learned by construction managers of established construction enterprises, who were involved in managing these risks and opportunities, are analysed.  On the basis of the foregoing, recommendations are made to enhance the successful outcomes of future development projects.
Die Statistiese Terminologieprojek en die web
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2012

Geen Abstrak
The plant family Asteraceae: 5. Classification and the subfamily Cichorioideae
Authors: Herman P. P.J.
Published: August 2012

The classification of the plant family Asteraceae is discussed. The family belongs to the division Spermatophyta (Magnoliophyta), subdivision Angiospermae, class Dicotyledoneae (Magnoliopsida), subclass Asteridae, superorder Asteranae and the order Asterales and is divided into three subfamilies: the Barnadesioideae (not in Flora of southern Africa region), the Cichorioideae and the Asteriodeae. The subfamily Cichorioideae is further divided into eight tribes of which one (Liabeae) does not occur in southern Africa and one genus (Corymbium) is not assigned to a tribe. The subfamily Asteriodeae is divided into 10 tribes. The subfamily Cichorioideae and its tribes are more fully described in this article. The genera belonging to these tribes are listed and their distribution given.
The mother as hidden regulator
Authors: Panzer Annie , Viljoen Margaretha
Published: August 2012

A human baby is born with a decidedly immature brain, and is absolutely dependent on an intense relationship with its mother (or primary caregiver) for brain maturation. In the short term, maternal regulation contributes to a more joyful baby, while in the long term it leads to the internalisation and development of self-regulatory capabilities. The ability to regulate one’s own emotional states is based on the development of right orbitofrontal dominance of dual limbic circuits, i.e. the excitatory sympathetic ventral tegmental circuit, and the inhibitory parasympathetic lateral tegmental circuit. Thus the child will be able to calm down after nigh overwhelming emotions by activating the parasympathetic system, but also to bounce back after setbacks by activating the sympathetic system. The mother influences the parcellation of the two limbic systems and thus the permanent excitation-inhibition autonomic balance of its prefrontal regulatory system. Repeated unregulated emotional states in the practicing period from 12-18 months pave the way for various psychological and psychiatric disorders in adulthood. It is worrisome that many children pass through this critical time in nursery schools, where a shortage of adult staff may lead to the scenario where a child’s emotions are repeatedly not modulated, with dire consequences for the internalisation of its future self-regulating capabilities.
Sustainable land use and soil quality: organic matter as an indicator
Authors: Du Preez C. C.
Published: August 2012

In this review the most recent approach to sustainable land use and the role that soil quality plays therein are described briefly. The requirements to which indicators must conform for the meaningful evaluation of the quality of soil and sustainability of land use are also elucidated. Thereafter the processes of physical, chemical and biological soil degradation are given. A concise discussion follows on the extent of physical and chemical soil degradation in South Africa, of which there is reliable information. Biological soil degradation is treated in more detail. Attention is given firstly to the role of soil organic matter in biogeochemical cycles. Thereafter the influence of different land use systems in the central parts of South Africa on the organic matter content and consequently the nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur reserves of soils is discussed by using examples. The conclusion is that organic matter is an important indicator of soil quality and thus also of sustainable land use.
Opsommings van plakkate en referate gelewer tydens die S.A. Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns se jaarlikse biologiesimposium
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2012

Geen Abstrak
The discovery of an engraving near Mapungubwe that could have been used as an abacus
Authors: Durand J. F.
Published: August 2012

A rock engraving discovered near a Khami settlement near Mapungubwe may contribute to our knowledge about the mathematics of a people well known for their trade relations with people from the Middle East. The feature is described and an interpretation of its possible uses as an abacus and as a map is forwarded.
Genetic algorithms in computer aided inductor design
Authors: Fivaz Jean , Cronjé Willem A.
Published: August 2012

The goal of this investigation is to determine the advantages of using genetic algorithms in computer-aided design as applied to inductors.  These advantages are exploited in design problems with a number of specifications and constraints, as encountered in power electronics during practical inductor design. The design tool should be able to select components, such as cores and wires, from databases of available components, and evaluate these choices based on the components’ characteristic data read from a database of manufacturers’ data-sheets.  The proposed design must always be practically realizable, as close to the desired specifications as possible and within any specified constraints.
Distribution and habitats of Gyraulus connollyi, snail intermediate host of intestinal flukes of the family Echinostomatidae, in South Africa
Authors: De Kock K. N. , Wolmarans C. T.
Published: August 2012

This paper focuses on the geographical distribution and habitats of Gyraulus connollyi, snail intermediate host of intestinal flukes of the family Echinostomatidae as reflected by the 969 collection sites on record in the database of the National Freshwater Snail Collection (NFSC) of South Africa. The presence of this species was reported from 13 different types of water-bodies, however, the highest percentage by far was collected in streams and rivers and in habitats of which the water was described as perennial, clear and fresh. A predominantly stony substratum and the presence of vegetation were also reported for the majority of habitats. The effect size was calculated for each variable to determine its importance for the occurrence of this species. An integrated decision tree constructed from the data indicated that temperature, altitude and type of water-body were the most important of the factors evaluated that could have an effect on the geographical distribution of this species. This was supported by the effect size values calculated for each variable. A temperature index calculated for each species in the database ranked G. connollyi seventh out of 53 due to its association with low temperatures. Although human echinostomosis has not yet been diagnosed in Africa, concern is expressed that G. connollyi is able to serve as first intermediate host in the transmission of echinostomosis.
Engels-Afrikaans Oseanologiewoordeboek / English- Afrikaans Dictionary of Oceanology
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2012

Geen Abstrak
The use of questionnaires and parasitological analyses to identify groups at low risk of becoming infected with bilharziasis and the factors that might contribute to this in a community in the endemic area in South Africa
Authors: Wolmarans C. T. , De Kock K. N. , Le Roux J.
Published: August 2012

Groups at low risk of becoming infected with Schistosoma haematobium, as well as factors minimising such a risk, were identified in a study in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Urine samples were collected from 623 persons of whom 276 were males. Schistosome ova were isolated by filtering the entire urine sample through a VisserHelminth Filter®. The isolated ova were counted and expressed as numbers per 10 ml urine. Information with regard to age, sex, level of schooling, knowledge of the disease, history of previous anti schistosomiasis treatment, visits to the river and details of activities performed at the river was obtained from the people tested by means of a questionnaire. A peak in prevalence as well as intensity of infection in especially the males in the 3-9 and 10-14 age groups was found. In the 3-9 year age group the availability of a toilet was found to correlate well with the absence of schistosome infections while no such factors could be found in the 10-14 year and older than 23 year age groups. The availability of either a house or communal tap was identified as a factor that correlates well with the absence of infection in both males and females in the 15-22 year age group. Knowledge of the disease and bathing in the river were respectively identified as factors in females in the 3-9 and older than 23 year age groups, which correlate well with the absence of infection. The majority of males and females had low infection rates, while only 3,6% of the males and 2,7% of the females were heavily infected.
Factor rings of the Gaussian integers
Authors: Patterson Cody , Smith Kirby C. , Van Wyk Leon
Published: August 2012

Whereas the homomorphic images of Z (the ring of integers) are well known, namely Z, {0} and Zn (the ring of integers modulo n), the same is not true for the homomorphic im-ages of Z[i] (the ring of Gaussian integers). More generally, let m be any nonzero square free integer (positive or negative), and consider the integral domain Z[ √m]={a + b √m | a, b ∈ Z}. Which rings can be homomorphic images of Z[ √m]? This ques-tion oﬀers students an inﬁnite number (one for each m) of investigations that require only undergraduate mathematics. It is the goal of this article to oﬀer a guide to the in-vestigation of the possible homomorphic images of Z[ √m] using the Gaussian integers Z[i] as an example. We use the fact that Z[i] is a principal ideal domain to prove that if I =(a+bi) is a nonzero ideal of Z[i], then Z[i]/I ∼ = Zn for a positive integer n if and only if gcd{a, b} =1, in which case n = a2 + b2 . Our approach is novel in that it uses matrix techniques based on the row reduction of matrices with integer entries. By characterizing the integers n of the form n = a2 + b2 , with gcd{a, b} =1, we obtain the main result of the paper, which asserts that if n ≥ 2, then Zn is a homomorphic image of Z[i] if and only if the prime decomposition of n is 2α0 pα1 1 ··· pαk k , with α0 ∈{0, 1},pi ≡ 1(mod 4) and αi ≥ 0 for every i ≥ 1. All the ﬁelds which are homomorpic images of Z[i] are also determined.
Egyptian medicine
Authors: Retief F. P. , Cilliers L.
Published: August 2012

Our understanding of ancient Egyptian medicine is seriously hampered by problems in the decipherment of the Egyptian writing, and the relative scarcity of medical writings from pharaonic times. No Egyptian medical equipment has survived. In this study the most recent understanding of medicine in pharaonic Egypt (3100-332 BC) is reviewed as it comes to the fore in inscriptions on walls and monuments, the writings of visiting historians, but mainly the contents of 10 so-called medical papyri written between circa 2500 BC and the 4th century BC. A clearly recognizable system of empirical medicine evolved from a background of magico-religious medicine during the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BC) and flourished virtually unchanged for more than 2 millennia. Scientific empirical medicine co-existed with magical medicine during this time. The two entities influenced each other, and in the process Egypt produced mankind’s first scientific medical literature with a logical system of disease assessment and therapy, relatively free of magic. At the end of the pharaonic era a superior Greek medical system gradually became dominant, and when hieroglyphics were replaced by coptic Egyptian in the 5th century AD, the uniquely Egyptian contribution to medicine passed into oblivion, until early Egyptian writing was deciphered in the 19th and 20t centuries.
Old and new tendencies in ecotoxicology: the relevance of stress ecology and ecotoxicogenomics
Authors: Reinecke S. A.
Published: August 2012

The relatively young science, ecotoxicology, has changed substantially during the last decade from a more practically oriented science to a basic one with more focus on problem solving and the search for causalities in the study of effects. In this article the origin and position of the discipline is analysed, as well as the influence of new developments in the fields of bio-informatics and genetics. The merit of this is discussed and the conclusion made that ecotoxicology can be seen as a separate science, notwithstanding its multidisciplinarity. A review is given of the historic development of the subject and its connection with broad ecology as an example of stress ecology. The importance of incorporating the most recent research developments in biology into ecotoxicology, such as bio-informatics, multivariate statistics and genomics, is discussed. The view is expressed that ecotoxicology will be changing in the near future to include ecotoxicogenomics. This will be a result of the interaction between ecotoxicology and ecology on the cross roads with genomics and bio- informatics.