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Background: The shifting identity of a first-year class over a decade in terms of demography and representation, inevitably led me to reflect deeply on what I teach them and how I facilitate the learning process. I had to pay close attention to decolonisation and contextualisation. The basic research question is: How does one reflect on the shifting identity of a first-year class and how does one decolonise a first-year module in Practical Theology and Missiology? Aim: To answer the research question by taking the following route. Firstly, aspects of the changed context and shifting identity will be discussed and secondly, attention will be given to what is meant by decolonisation, with specific reference to the curriculum. Thirdly, the focus will be on a proposed curriculum that uses a theo-dramatic approach. Fourthly, I reflect on the learning process (pedagogy) and how it also contributes to a shift in my own identity. Setting: The research is set against the backdrop of changes that took place over the last two decades in Higher Education in South Africa including the commodification of higher education, the lack of adequate financial resources and the #FeesMustFall movement. Methods: As the research design, a case study is selected for the study project. Results: The development of a new pedagogy. Conclusion: With this contribution I attempted to reflect, in the light of the changing profile of the class composition of a first-year module in Practical Theology and Missiology in terms of demography (BCI students), to what extent it also leads to a shift of identities.

Background: Assessment of students for ministerial practice is traditionally performed through assignments and oral examinations, which often only concentrate on the knowledge component and outcomes of the programme. Assessing students in this way lead to a view of religious practitioners as people who are not really in touch with their parishioners and communicating in language that is not addressing their needs and this normally leads to a disjuncture between knowledge, practice and context. Disjuncture of this nature signals a need for a broader set of competencies than simply working with and analysing texts in theological education. Aim: The aim of this research is to develop a set of competencies that responds to the reality that the practice of ministry takes place within a rich diversity of postcolonial settings and practices. Setting: The research was done as part of my own interest in developing a competency framework for religious leaders. I am coordinating the Master of Divinity program as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Ministry at our Faculty of Theology. Both these programs directly relate to the preparation of students for ministerial leadership. Methods: The central research question of this study was formulated as follows: What are the central ingredients for developing a competency framework for ministerial formation from a postcolonial perspective at a research-intensive university in South Africa? The method that was used to answer the research question was a literary study of primary and secondary sources related to a broad set of competencies and then narrowing it down to religious leadership as well as some qualitative empirical research in the form of personal interviews. Results: The research in the article looked at the ways in which a competency framework can help translate generic graduate attributes into a set of competencies that is specific to the field of ministerial training. Some empirical work showed evidence of a growing postcolonial awareness in the development of these competencies. Conclusion: Through this research a competency framework for religious leaders has successfully been developed. The next phase of the research project will be to implement the framework, to have feedback and to make some adjustments. [Paper presented at the Biennale Conference of the International Academy for Practical Theology (14th, Sao Leopoldo, Brazil, Apr 4-8 2019.)]

Much of what is known about non-resident fathers is based on studies conducted in North America and Europe, and on the accounts of only one family member. This article draws from a study which utilised a family systems perspective and obtained the views of four members of ten Black South African non-resident father families (N = 40) with infrequent father–child contact. The aim was to investigate if and how non-resident fathers' contact with adolescent children was influenced by relationships with various family members. Individual interviews were conducted with each of the family member and thematically analysed. Here, we engage with one of the master themes that shows the circular dynamic in families in which various family members held implicit assumptions about who was responsible for father–child contact and, subsequently, did not view the responsibility to be theirs. Infrequent or lack of non-resident father–child contact should therefore be addressed as a family systems issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Much has been written about fathers, fatherhood and premature babies. However, in the South African context, studies about the experiences of fathers having a premature baby are lacking. Aim: This study aimed to explore how South African fathers (n = 10) experience having a premature baby using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Setting: This research study was conducted online using various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Google Meet and through telephonic conversations. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological approach that allowed for the distillation and elucidation of common core experiences among fathers who had a premature baby. Results: The findings demonstrated that the participants experienced intense fears regarding the survival and well-being of their children. They reported experiencing financial difficulties related to hospital bills and experienced being alienated by hospital institutions. Despite these reported barriers, these fathers were adamant in their resolve to support their children and partners during this challenging time. Conclusion: The experiences of fathers were riddled with fear, uncertainty, ambiguity and alienation, which placed them in very precarious situations when trying to navigate their role in a more sensitive and enlightened way. Having a premature infant calls into question the systems that men are positioned within as these systems to a large extent shape these events and how they are experienced. Contribution: This study is original as no other published studies seem to exist in South Africa that speaks to fathers' lived experiences of having a premature baby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Verification of blood collection tubes is essential for clinical laboratories. The aim of this study was to assess performance of candidate tubes from four alternative suppliers for routine diagnostic haematology testing during an impending global shortage of blood collection tubes. Methods: A multicentre verification study was performed in Cape Town, South Africa. Blood from 300 healthy volunteers was collected into K2EDTA and sodium citrate tubes of BD Vacutainer® comparator tubes and one of four candidate tubes (Vacucare, Vacuette®, V‐TUBE™ and Vacutest®). A technical verification was performed, which included tube physical properties and safety. Routine haematology testing was performed for clinical verification. Results: Vacucare tubes did not have a fill‐line indicator, Vacuette® tubes had external blood contamination on the caps post‐venesection and Vacutest® tubes had hard rubber stoppers. K2EDTA tubes of Vacuette®, Vacucare and Vacutest® performed similarly to the comparator. Unacceptable constant bias was seen for PT in Vacucare (95% CI −2.38 to −0.10), Vacutest® (95% CI −1.91 to −0.49) and Vacuette® (95% CI 0.10–1.84) tubes and for aPTT in Vacuette® (95% CI 0.22–2.00) and V‐TUBE™ (95% CI −2.88 to −0.44). Unacceptable %bias was seen for aPTT in Vacucare (95% CI 2.78–4.59) and Vacutest® tubes (95% CI 2.53–3.82; desirable ±2.30), and in V‐TUBE™ for mean cell volume (95% CI 1.15–1.47, desirable ±0.95%) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (95% CI −1.65 to −0.93, desirable ±0.43%). Conclusion: Blood collection tubes introduce variability to routine haematology results. We recommend that laboratories use one brand of tube. Verification of new candidate tubes should be performed to ensure consistency and reliable reporting of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the perceived satisfaction and understanding of hearing assessment feedback, using the Ida My Hearing Explained Tool (IMHET), compared to the standard audiogram reported by adult clients and audiologists. This study is a mixed-method design comparing clients and audiologists' perceptions through a single-blinded, randomised control trial and focus group discussions. After using either the audiogram or IMHET for feedback, clients and audiologists completed the adapted Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). During client's initial audiological consultations, audiologists provided hearing assessment feedback (Total = 51) using the IMHET or audiogram. Twenty-seven clients and seven audiologists participated in focus groups, and/or open-ended questions. Satisfaction was not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the IMHET (76.18; SD: 2.66) or audiogram (75.63; SD: 4.73) for the overall PSQ scores reported by clients and audiologists. Two shared main themes, understanding and satisfaction, were identified for both tools from the focus groups and open-ended questions. A third main theme, recommendations, was identified only for the IMHET. The IMHET is a valuable resource for clients during hearing assessment feedback. Audiologists recommend that the audiogram be used as a supplement when using the IMHET to provide feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare and aggressive malignancy of mature T-cells. Limited epidemiological studies have shown that there is substantial variation in age at diagnosis and subtype distribution between different geographical regions. This is the first epidemiological study of ATLL in South Africa. Methods. A national epidemiological study of ATLL in South Africa was performed. All new cases of ATLL from 2009 to 2019 were identified by laboratory database search in public and private health care sectors. Demographic and diagnostic data were obtained, and the cases were subtyped according to the Shimoyama classification. Results. There were 31 patients with ATLL over the 10-year period, with an incidence of 0.06 per 100000 population. The male to female ratio was 1 : 1 and the median age at diagnosis was 37 years. Acute ATLL was the most commonly seen subtype in South Africa. Conclusion. In this, the first epidemiological study of ATLL in South Africa, we demonstrate that ATLL is a rare disease, that acute ATLL is the most commonly diagnosed subtype, and that ATLL is likely under diagnosed. Patients present at a considerably younger age than the reported age in other nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As little is known about the views of university students on metrosexual masculinities in South Africa, the aim of this study was to investigate the predictors and correlates of a group of 200 undergraduate students' perceptions on whether metrosexuality should be considered as an acceptable form of contemporary masculinity. Results from the structured survey indicated that students' race and levels of religiosity were not associated with the extent to which they viewed metrosexuality as acceptable. By contrast, in relation to sex/gender, female students exhibited more accepting attitudes towards metrosexuality than their male counterparts. Furthermore, the more importance students ascribed to media portrayals of orthodox masculinity as well as to primary gender-role socialisation, the less likely they were to accept metrosexuality. The study contributes to current research on masculinities by investigating metrosexuality as the primary theme, underscoring the similarities between South African and Anglo-American theorisation on the topic, foregrounding the perceptions of millennials in conceptualising and understanding contemporary masculinity, and problematising notions that South African students ascribe to homogenous or monolithic views of masculinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancytopenia is a manifestation of numerous disease entities. The causes of pancytopenia differ with geographic region, socio-economic factors and HIV prevalence. Awareness of the common causes of pancytopenia may aid timely diagnosis. Objective: This study aimed to determine the aetiology of pancytopenia in a South African population. Methods: A retrospective observational study of adult patients presenting with pancytopenia at Tygerberg Academic Hospital, South Africa, from January 2016 to December 2017 was performed. Data on pancytopenia cases were obtained from the laboratory information system and utilised to determine the causes of pancytopenia. Results: A total of 673 cases of pancytopenia were identified. The most common causes of pancytopenia were chemoradiation therapy (25%), sepsis (18%), haematological malignancy (9%), advanced HIV (7%), and megaloblastic anaemia (6%). The diagnostic yield of bone marrow examinations (BME) was 57% (n = 52/91). The aetiology of pancytopenia differed according to age, with malignancy being a more common cause of pancytopenia among the elderly. Conclusion: Several easily recognisable and treatable conditions can manifest as pancytopenia. Prompt management of such conditions, notably sepsis and megaloblastic anaemia, can result in the resolution of the cytopenias and negate the need for a BME. However, haematological malignancy and unexplained pancytopenia strongly rely on a BME to establish a diagnosis. Pancytopenia investigations, when guided by appropriate clinic-laboratory findings, can promptly identify the underlying aetiology, while also identifying cases where an expedited BME is required. This is valuable in resource-conscious medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the factors associated with the occurrence and abundance of external and blood parasites in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), an endangered seabird that breeds exclusively on the coasts of Namibia and South Africa. External parasites were collected using the dust-ruffling method from 171 African Penguins admitted at a rehabilitation facility in the Western Cape, South Africa. Additionally, blood smears were obtained upon admission and weekly during rehabilitation and examined for blood parasites. Fleas Parapsyllus longicornis humboldti, ticks Ornithodoros capensis and lice Austrogoniodes demersus were recovered from 93, 63 and 40%, respectively, of the penguins upon admission to the centre. Rescue location and age group were identified as significant determinants of flea abundance, whereas month of admission was a significant determinant of tick abundance. Blood parasites were also common on admission, with Babesia being the most frequent (46% prevalence) whereas Borrelia was recorded sporadically (1.2%) and Plasmodium was recorded once. The prevalence and abundance of ticks on admission was positively associated with Babesia infection on admission. Our findings demonstrate the variability and contributing factor of parasite infections in an endangered species of penguin, and highlight the need for additional research on the parasite–host dynamics involving these potential disease vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large number of xenophobic attacks that broke out in different places in South Africa during 2008 was still continuing unabated 10 years later. We were stressed to come to terms with the reality that this occurred in a country that is globally considered to be an example of reconciliation. It is clear that we were confronted by the politics of fear, which were manifested in xenophobia and all the other -isms. In this article, the primary causes of these xenophobic outbreaks were scrutinised and placed within the wider framework of a culture of fear. The central research question is: Why are we still struggling with this phenomenon more than a decade after it first appeared on South African soil? In-depth analysis will be performed on what is lying behind the culture of fear underlying these acts of violence. After exploring some of the factors related to a culture of fear by making use of a sociological frame, the author moved on to answer a second question: How do we, as preachers, researchers and practical theologians, respond in a theological way to the challenges posed by a xenophobic culture in our preaching activities? Finally, the impact of violence and fear on the practice of preaching within a Christian context was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the end of apartheid and the advent of democratic elections, South Africa has made great strides, but we still continue, at times, to be unable to practise sawubona. On one level, this is not surprising given our history of separateness. The article asks whether fresh expressions of church, such as the community supper at St Peters in Mowbray, Cape Town, indeed create a space for genuinely 'seeing' each other and practicing being human together. The article also explores some of the problems inherent in ethnographic work amongst the poor and the vulnerable by asking whether some types of ethnographic work actually practice a form of epistemic violence and muses upon the idea of the postcolonial gaze and 'othering' in ethnography in contexts of poverty in the global South. Can ethnography, in some cases, be a form of academic pornography? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the relationship between religiosity, hope, and subjective well-being among 430 South African university students (n = 324) and their family members (n = 104) (70 2% female; 88 4% black; 8 4% white) Data were gathered utilising measures of religiosity, hope, satisfaction with life, and affect balance We applied structural equation modelling to examine both the direct effects of religiosity on hope, as well as the indirect effects of religiosity on life satisfaction and positive and negative affect via hope as mediator Findings suggest pathway and agency hope to mediate the relationships between religiosity and life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect Specifically, religiosity predicted higher levels of life satisfaction and positive affect, and lower levels of negative affect via agency hope The results suggest agency hope to mediate the relationship between religiosity and subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many children in South Africa are orphaned or subjected to maltreatment, leaving them in need of care and protection. Foster care is one form of alternative care for such children. Retention of foster parents, or foster care placement stability, is one of the many challenges related to foster care, globally and in South Africa. This instability can have an adverse impact on children, and although some research speaks to the problem, the experiences of South African role players regarding this problem have not been documented, to date. To improve foster care retention in South Africa, local, contextualized studies exploring the drivers of foster care placement instability are required. The aim of this qualitative study was thus to explore designated social workers' (DSWs) and foster parents' experiences about the reasons prompting foster care transfers. A purposively selected sample of ten foster parents and ten DSWs in the Gauteng province of South Africa took part in the study. A descriptive qualitative study was adopted as basis for this study, which entailed thematic analysis of 20 semi-structured interviews. It was found that children's behavioural problems, a shortage of resources, a lack of parenting skills, problematic relationships between foster parents and foster children, and previous traumatic events, led to most foster care transfers. A key finding from this study, which appears not to be evident in previous studies, centres on the critical role played by money, or rather its absence, in contributing to foster care placement instability. When considered in conjunction with findings emerging from previous studies, our findings underscore the importance of obtaining a contextualized understanding of local, cultural factors at play in foster care delivery. To improve foster care retention in South Africa, which is fraught with challenges not yet reported elsewhere, it is recommended that screening procedures for foster parents be revised, and that allocation of resources to DSWs be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In South Africa, not much is known about MetS in farm working communities. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of the MetS in a farm working population from the Boland winelands district of the Western Cape, South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional study was followed among farm workers (aged 20-60 years) from surrounding wine estates. The questionnaires used described socio-demographic status, ethnic background, alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise and daily medication. Anthropometric assessments were performed and blood pressure measurements taken prior to blood sampling for serum insulin, glucose and fasting lipogram profiles.Results: The prevalence of the MetS was higher in women (46.3 vs 29.3%). Both men and women in the MetS group had a significantly higher waist circumferences (WC; p < 0.001 for both), whilst higher glucose levels were only significantly higher in the women (p < 0.001). Correlations showed significant differences between body mass index (BMI), WC and waist to hip ratio (W:H) and the different MetS risk factors.Conclusions: The female population in this study showed higher prevalence rates for the individual risk factors and the MetS overall. There is an urgent need to develop culturally sensitive health promotion programs addressing risk factors for metabolic syndrome among farm workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While South Africa has one of the highest hypertension rates globally, there are few data on masked hypertension (MHT) and white-coat hypertension (WCHT). This study measured the frequency of MHT and WCHT in low-income (<$500 US per month) South African adults, evaluating cardiovascular risk by arterial stiffness. Participants (n=101, 50% male; mean age 39.4±9.7 years) were recruited from a large North-West Province employer. Clinic and 24-hour blood pressure (BP) and pulse wave analysis were recorded. Clinic BP identified 18% of patients as hypertensive, while 24-hour BP showed that 63% of patients were hypertensive. The frequency of MHT was high (33 of 81, 41%) with only one case of WCHT. In comparison to those with normal clinic and 24-hour BP, augmentation index and pulse wave velocity were significantly higher in those with hypertensive 24-hour BP irrespective of clinic BP, indicating that, in this group, masked and sustained hypertension carry a similar elevated cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst significant research has been conducted on religious affiliation and on general levels of religiosity in the South African context, few studies specifically investigated the religious lives of South African university students in a comprehensive way. This is unfortunate as such research could significantly inform and support the effectiveness of youth and student ministries. As such, this article explored the religious lives of students at a university in the Gauteng province of South Africa, focusing specifically on students' self-assessed religiosity, the maturity of their religious attitudes, their spiritual well-being, the religious practices in which they engage and the relationship between such practices and their spiritual well-being. Gender, racial and religious differences concerning these variables were also investigated. Data were collected from 356 undergraduate students by means of a structured survey consisting of the Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire, the Religious Fundamentalism Scale and two other scales aimed at assessing religiosity and religious practices. Results indicated that 98.9% of participants were religious with the majority (86.9%) being Christian. Generally, students espoused highly fundamentalist religious attitudes but had high levels of spiritual well-being. Prayer and virtual or in-person attendance of religious gatherings such as church services were the most prevalent religious practices whereas fasting and meditation were practiced least. All practices were positively correlated with students' spiritual well-being. Based on these findings, the article concludes with several specific, practical recommendations relevant to student ministries and those working with university students in religious contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the psychosocial well-being of an indigenous cultural community in South Africa, using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Data on life satisfaction and emotional, social and psychological well-being were collected from 521 local residents (48% female) of Ndumo in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa using the Satisfaction-with-Life Scale and Mental Health Continuum. In addition, interviews were conducted with 20 Ndumo residents (35% female). Findings revealed that community members had above-average levels of psychosocial well-being and exhibited significant resilience towards countering socio-economic under-resourcing, including poverty and unemployment. The community resources found to aid resilient living included being able to live off the land, a pleasant climate, personal safety, hope for a better future, and instrumental, material, and social support from philanthropic organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The weather directly impacts ventilation systems, especially large industrial systems found in underground mines. Underground mine ventilation systems have high cost implications that add to the financial strains and uncertainties of future mining operations. In addition, the dynamic nature of underground ventilation systems makes the accurate prediction of underground conditions extremely difficult using traditional steady-state methods. Therefore, improved prediction methods of dynamic underground environmental conditions are needed to ensure cost-effective ventilation systems. This paper investigates simulating the sensitivity that underground ventilation systems have to fluctuating ambient conditions. Simulation software was applied to a case study on a gold mine in South Africa. The results showed that transient software can now be applied to entire mine ventilation systems, and can improve predicting the underground environment because of fluctuating ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has extended life expectancy and enhanced the well-being of HIV-positive individuals. Since there are concerns regarding HAART-mediated onset of cardio-metabolic diseases in the long-term, we evaluated the anthropometric profile of black HIV-infected individuals in a peri-urban setting (Western Cape, South Africa). Methods: A cross sectional study design was followed to describe the gender differences in different HAART treatment groups. HIV-positive patients (n = 44 males, n = 102 females; 20-40 years) were recruited for three groups: 1) control (HIV-positive, HAART-naïve), 2) HIV-positive (<3 years HAART), and 3) HIV-positive (>3 years HAART). Results: All participants underwent comprehensive anthropometric and bio-electrical impedance analyses. No significant differences were observed in the male treatment groups. HAART-naïve females are mostly overweight (73.90 ± 2.79). This is followed by a period of muscle wasting seen in the triceps skinfold (29.30 ± 2.19 vs 20.63 ± 1.83; p < 0.01), muscle mass (22.23 ± 0.46 vs 19.82 ± 0.54; p < 0.01), and fat free mass (49.40 ± 1.08 vs 44.16 ± 1.21; p < 0.01) upon HAART initiation (<3 years HAART). Thereafter all parameters measured had levels similar to that seen for the female HAART-naïve group. Females on <3 years HAART exhibited significantly decreased body cell mass (p < 0.01), protein mass (p < 0.01), muscle mass (p < 0.01), fat free mass (p < 0.01), and fat mass (p < 0.001) versus matched HAART-naïve controls. The W:H ratio for the female treatment groups placed the females overall at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease compared to the males. Conclusions: This study found striking gender-based anthropometric differences in black South African HIV-positive individuals on HAART. We also conclude from this observational study that no significant differences were found in the different male treatment groups. All female body composition parameters initially showed lower values (<3 years HAART). The female treatment group (>3 years HAART) displayed values similar to that seen in the HAART-naïve group. Higher W:H ratios in females receiving longer-term HAART potentially increases their risk for the future onset of cardio-metabolic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was confined to the singing and conducting sessions of an intensive in-service training workshop in the Learning Area for Arts and Culture. The article describes the strategies that were planned and used in the singing and conducting sessions at this training workshop. This workshop was presented in 2008 at the Raaswater River Lodge, North-West Province of the Republic of South Africa in joint collaboration with the Music Department of the University of Jyväskylä of Finland and the University of the North-West of the Republic of South Africa. The focus of this intensive in-service training workshop for Arts and Culture was to enable educators from previously disadvantaged communities to teach music in the different learning areas of Arts and Culture. The participants were Tswana-speaking primary and secondary teachers from the geographical areas of the North-West province of South Africa and the Republic of Botswana. Teaching was done on the basis of a constructivist approach according to an action research plan. Questionnaires, informal interviews and personal observation during the singing and conducting sessions were employed by the researcher to collate information. Results obtained from these questionnaires and assessment opportunities were used to draw conclusions and provided a critical reflection on all observations. Feedback from the teachers during the sessions is reviewed. Re-planning of follow-up sessions of singing and conducting sessions as part of a subsequent intensive training course is outlined. Goals for a next training workshop are also reviewed. The following map gives an indication of the location of the in-service training that will be discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study explored the sources of meaning in life among a group of 243 South African university students, using a sequential exploratory mixed methods design. First, data from semi-structured questionnaires (n = 40) were subjected to qualitative content analysis; next, from the emerging themes, a quantitative questionnaire was developed and administered to 203 students. Mean scores were computed and compared across gender and cultural groups. Relationships, especially with family, as well as hope, education, achievement and religion were found to be most important sources of meaning, followed by service, creative self-expression, material possessions, hobbies, health and pets. The qualitative analysis revealed that most of these sources were valued more for their perceived instrumental utility than for their intrinsic qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws attention to the lack of research that has been conducted in relation to dreams within the field of sociology, and argues that dreams and dreaming should rightfully be subject to sociological inquiry. The article also reports on a qualitative study of contemporary dream-related beliefs and practices among a culturally diverse sample of 20 students. Data from semi-structured interviews were subjected to discourse and thematic qualitative content analysis. Findings suggested that participants’ dream beliefs and practices were influenced by Christian religious, traditional African, popular psychological, and bio-medical dream discourses, which were most often transmitted through a process of socialization via their mothers, and subsequently modified by the participants’ education and personal observation of their dreams. The most significant belief axis determining the dream role adopted by the participants related to the degree to which dreams were believed to be important. Where dreams were seen as such, the dreamer's role involved dream interpretation, dream sharing, and sometimes taking action on the basis of dream interpretations. These roles were not adopted when participants viewed their dreams as unimportant. However, all participants assumed the role of dream teller by sharing their dreams with others for the purpose of entertainment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of two doses (8 mg and 25 mg once daily) of a 2:1 standardized extract of the South African medicinal plant Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E. Br., trademarked Zembrin,® in healthy adult volunteers over a three-month period. Design: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled single center study. Setting: Tiervlei Trial Centre, Karl Bremer Hospital, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa. Participants: The study took place between February 2 and July 27, 2009. Thirty-seven healthy adults were recruited from the general population. Intervention: Participants were randomized to receive either one of two doses of study medication, or an identical placebo, taken once daily for 3 months. Of the 37 subjects, 12, 12, and 13 subjects received 8 mg extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin), 25 mg extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin), and placebo treatment, respectively. Outcome measures: No efficacy variables were assessed. The safety and tolerability variables comprised of vital signs, physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), laboratory assessments (hematology, biochemistry, and urinalysis), and the recording of adverse events (AEs). Results: There were no apparent differences between the three treatments with regard to vital signs, 12-lead ECG, body weight, and physical examination from screening to the end of the 3-month treatment period. No significant changes were observed in hematology or biochemistry parameters between initial screening and the end of the study. Both doses of extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) were well-tolerated. The most commonly reported AE was headache, followed by abdominal pain and upper respiratory tract infections, all with greater incidence in the placebo group than in the treatment groups. Unsolicited positive effects on well-being were noted in patient diaries by some participants taking extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin), including improved coping with stress and sleep. Conclusion: Both doses of extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) (8 mg and 25 mg) were well tolerated when used by healthy human subjects once daily for 3 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori infects the stomachs of one in two humans and can cause sequelae that include ulcers and cancer. Here we sequenced the genomes of 97 H. pylori isolates from 52 members of two families living in rural conditions in South Africa. From each of 45 individuals, two H. pylori strains were isolated from the antrum and corpus parts of the stomach, and comparisons of their genomes enabled us to study within-host evolution. In 5 of these 45 hosts, the two genomes were too distantly related to be derived from each other and therefore represented evidence of multiple infections. From the remaining 40 genome pairs, we estimated that the synonymous mutation rate was 1.38 × 10-5 per site per year, with a low effective population size within host probably reflecting population bottlenecks and immune selection. Some individuals showed very little evidence for recombination, whereas in others, recombination introduced up to 100-times more substitutions than mutation. These differences may reflect unequal opportunities for recombination depending on the presence or absence of multiple infections. Comparing the genomes carried by distinct individuals enabled us to establish probable transmission links. Transmission events were found significantly more frequently between close relatives, and between individuals living in the same house. We found, however, that a majority of individuals (27/52) were not linked by transmission to other individuals. Our results suggest that transmission does not always occur within families, and that coinfection with multiple strains is frequent and evolutionarily important despite a fast turnover of the infecting strains within-host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the spiritual value and role of dreams in the lives of South African Christians, based on the findings of a qualitative research project in which semistructured interviews were used to examine the dream-related beliefs and practices of contemporary Christians. The findings indicated that dreams are still considered to be of distinct religious value and importance by a significant number of the Christian participants who took part in the study. Specifically, the participants reported that their dreams often serve as source of spiritual inspiration, insight and guidance, as well as feedback on decisions and ways of living. It was also indicated that dreams sometimes constituted an important natural resource in coming to terms with bereavement. In response to this, the article closes with a call for a re-evaluation of the position and value of dreams in contemporary Christianity, and offers several practical suggestions for working with dreams in a spiritual context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When developing new perspectives and paradigms for practical theology in South Africa, we obviously have to take our South African context seriously. We live in a post-conflict society in which gigantic sociocultural shifts have taken place since 1994. Many institutions and groups endeavour to address the conflict, injustices and pain of the past, including the Institute for the Healing of Memories (IHOM). The Institute makes use of a specific methodology in their workshops. Having participated in these workshops in congregational contexts as well as in the training of theological students, in this article I investigated the methodology of the Institute as a framework for new perspectives on practical theology in South Africa. Making use of Victor Turner's theoretical construct of 'social drama' as one way of looking at the methodology of the IHOM, I reflected critically on the challenges that it poses to practical theology by making use of a 'rhetorical frame' and trying to delineate some constructive proposals for further reflections on practical theological paradigms and perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigated religious and social transformations within a specific religious tradition in South Africa. After clarifying the charged concept of 'transformation', the authors showed that transformation is about more than changed systems and structures, for, on a deeper level, it is also about the change in relationships and attitudes between the different cultural groups in South Africa. The argument was supported by making use of data from the SA reconciliation barometer 2010 and the 2009 Transformation audit. In the next part of the paper, the authors took a closer look at the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) as a case in point. The basic question they asked was how do these social transformations affect the religious transformations within the DRC and vice versa? By making use of Mary Douglas's concept of 'the enclave' it was proposed that a new enclave developed in the DRC after 1994, the characteristics of which were investigated in the remainder of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common legskate from southern Africa, misidentified for the last half century as Cruriraja parcomaculata, is redescribed as C. hulleyi. A number of morphometric and meristic characters are identified that distinguish C. hulleyi from C. parcomaculata (=triangularis). Cruriraja hulleyi exhibits midback thorns in a continuous row above the anterior half of the abdominal region, the interdorsal space is usually greater than half the dorsal-fin base length, the clasper eperon is not bifurcate, and the clasper ventral surface lacks dermal denticles. Relative to C. parcomaculata, C. hulleyi is larger, has a shorter snout, smaller eyes, a more obtuse snout angle, fewer lower jaw tooth rows, more turns in the spiral valve, more nuchal thorns, exhibits scapular thorn patches and more predorsal midline thorns, and has a spatulate rather than pointed distal tip of the anterior lobe of the pelvic fin. The two species occur in allopatry, with C. hulleyi ranging from Namibia to the Eastern Cape Coast of South Africa and C. parcomaculata distributed from kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to Mozambique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable-rate (VR) application of inputs in South African cash crop production is mainly concerned with fertilizer and lime, and this indicates the importance of these inputs in cash crop production, However, the profitability of VR application of inputs has not yet been investigated under South African conditions. This paper studies the maize yield response to variable-rate application of phosphorus (P) and the profitability thereof in South Africa, on the basis of data collected on a 104-hectare experimental field on alarm in the Bothaville district. The strip-plot design of 180 strips was used for this on-form research experiment. This design involved treatments that run in the same direction across the field as planting and harvesting. The objective is to determine the maize crop response functions under different P rates and to estimate the profitability of VR relative to the single-rate (SR) application of P. The methodology involves modelling maize yield response functions for P under VR and SR treatments, and for different management zones. A spatial quadratic regression model is developed, according to which yield is estimated as a function of applied P, the treatment and management zones. The results indicate that yield response to P varies between VR and the SR application methods, as well as between management zones. Variable-rate treatment results in higher profits than the SR treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this article is to reexamine the role of the Phillips curve for monetary policy analysis in South Africa by augmenting the model for major structural changes in the balance-of-payments and labor market. The main findings show that a linear Phillips curve with an output gap in levels accurately describes South Africa's nontrended inflation experience during 1971(Q1)-1984(Q4), whereas a piecewise concave curve with an output gap in growth rates correctly predicts the decelerating inflation pattern during 1986(Q1)-2001(Q2). The concave curve after 1985 imparts a deflationary bias that requires expansionary demand-side policies to stabilise the inflation rate. An important corollary is that expansionary demand-side policies can raise the average growth rate of the output gap over time without sacrificing stabilization objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the land ownership and occupancy of Bastaard farmers in the nineteenth century in South Africa. During this period, landholding of Bastaard farmers declined as a result of growing competition for land in the region along with the changes in the land policy in the colony. Loan farms in the region constituted the principal form of tenure in pastoral districts in the colony.

This study emphasizes the importance of identifying the origin of inflation in the present context of inflation targeting by many emerging market and transition economies. The analysis shows, based on South African data, how structural (supply) and demand inflation can be distinguished. The results indicate that South Africa's inflation experience between 1973q1 and 1998q4 is characterized by two monetary regimes. During the first regime (1973q1-1984q4) the long-run cause of inflation is demand-pull. The second regime (1987q1-1998q4) represents major changes to structural ('imported') and cost-push inflation. The two-year period 1985-1986 signifies structural change from the first to the second regime. Moreover, the results in the second regime remain robust when the inflation model is subjected to 'new' out-of-sample data until 2001q2. Evidence of structural ('imported') inflation in the second regime suggests that inflation should not entirely be squeezed out of the system nor should it necessarily be kept at the lowest possible level, because some inflation may be regarded as the natural by-product of the growth and development process. South Africa's inflation experience points to several lessons for existing (and potential) emerging market and transition economies with some form of inflation targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies a 'generalised' version of Thirlwall's balance-of-payments (BOP) constrained growth model by testing for long-run relationships between the output growth rates of OECD countries and two neighbouring regions; South Africa (SA) and the rest of the Southern African Development Community (RSADC). The empirical results find strong support for the 'generalised' BOP growth model, which stresses the mutual interdependence of the world economy where one country's growth rate depends on others'. Although the policy implications are not mutually exclusive, they may be viewed from the individual perspectives of SA and RSADC. SA is only BOP constrained with respect to OECD. The message to SA's policy makers is that faster growth rates may be the result of an improvement in the structural demand features of its exports to OECD. RSADC is only BOP constrained with respect to SA. Growth-promoting policies in SA may have a high and positive impact on the whole SADC region. Policy-makers in RSADC, however, are advised to reduce their dependence on SA by improving the structural demand features of their exports to OECD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines whether money should continue to play an important role in the formulation of monetary policy in South Africa, even though the monetary policy framework has changed to an inflation targeting strategy. Theoretical exposition of the arguments for and against a monetary growth targeting strategy; Cointegration and long-run estimates in single equations; Formal tests for weak and super exogeneity of money.

The Mangaung-University of the Orange Free State Community Partnership Programme (MUCPP) is a comprehensive health care project established in April 1991 in the Free State province. It is largely funded by the W. F. Kellogg Foundation, United States. The partnership is a triumvirate consisting of the Mangaung community, the University of the Orange Free State (UOFS) and the Department of Health of the Free State province. The Food Garden Management Programme is a very important programme in MUCPP. In 1996, the MUCPP food garden was awarded 'Peace Garden of the Year' in the corporate class of a national competition. The definition of a food garden in this article is a piece of land (± 100 m[sup 2]) at the back of a resident's house that is used for the production of vegetables, chickens and rabbits, mainly for own consumption. The focus here will be primarily on vegetable gardening and its influence on community development programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which analyzed South Africa's money supply process along several competing but mutually exclusive theoretical paradigms over the period 1966-1997. Overview of the main theoretical paradigms on the exogenous/endogenous nature of the money supply; Details on an econometric methodology; Conclusions and policy implications.

Examines the conceptual and applied problems which have faced South African educational institutions in coming to terms with geographical information systems (GIS), one of the greatest changes and challenges to the discipline of geography. Role and place of GIS; Potential course outline; Integration of GIS with tertiary level geography.

Understanding solid waste composition has frequently been cited as one of the most valuable resources to those responsible for the proper management of solid waste. The unique contribution of this article lies in the fact that a waste characterisation study, conducted in a remote rural town in South Africa, was combined with an illegal dumping contents mapping and a household survey. This enabled researchers to gain a more thorough understanding of household waste management practices and challenges in this community, bridging the knowledge gap that is created when illegal dumping and household perceptions are omitted from waste characterisation studies in study areas where illegal dumping is an ongoing concern. The study therefore contributes to understanding the waste behaviour of households within the larger context of the town's waste management practices. Results indicate that, in order for municipalities to fully understand how to manage their waste, the contents of illegal dumping, where present, and household surveys should also be included in waste characterisation assessments. • Waste characterisation studies influence decisions which increase effectiveness in waste management. • Combining waste characterisation, illegal content mapping and a household survey, guide improved waste management. • Poor communities in South Africa struggle to manage several waste fractions. • Managing illegal dumping needs to be done alongside the communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which investigated neuropsychological and neurological function in organic solvent exposed paint manufacturing workers in South Africa. Method used; Results; Discussion.

Examines the financing problems anticipated for the beneficiaries of land reform in the Free State province in South Africa. Discussions that highlight the criteria for detecting impending financial problems; Liquidity problems based on the analysis of data gathered from emerging farmers.

Critiques the use of the South African Wechsler, which is based on the 1939 Wechsler-Bellevue Adult Intelligence Scale, on the grounds that it is not in the public interest. Outdated and unknown statistical properties of the test; History of the test; Call for the development of another scale to be based on the 1981 revision of the Wechsler.

The present study demonstrated that Winter's (1973) power arousal procedure and scoring system for the need for power, which were developed in the United States, are valid for English-speaking South African female graduates. Subjects in whom the need for power had been aroused by a prerecorded inspirational speech (n = 20) had significantly higher n Power scores than matched nonaroused subjects (n = 20), T(8, 31) = 56.17, p < .01. Further, it was argued that the fear of assertiveness is a component of the need for power, and a scoring system for measuring this motive was suggested. Fear of assertiveness was shown to correlate significantly with various behavioral and dispositional measures of assertiveness, relating especially to a dependency pattern of behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to find empirical support for the hypothesis that South African journalists have a high need for power, which would express itself in heavy drinking, in disinhibited sensation seeking, and in behaviors characteristic of McClelland's Stage One (voyeuristic) and Stage Three (acting out), developmental stages of the power motive. Fifty-seven journalists were compared to 55 controls of the same age, sex, language, and socioeconomic grouping as the newsmen. Winter's need for power (n Power) measure, Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and an Activities Questionnaire, which included questions on alcohol consumption, were administered to all Ss. Journalists were found to score higher on n Power, and on SSS, to drink larger quantities of alcohol more frequently and to prefer Stage Three behaviors more often than controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: New measurements have been made on the ferric to ferrous ratio as well as the sulphide capacity for platinum group metals (PGM) melter-type slags. In South Africa, these slags are produced from the smelting of low-grade copper–nickel sulphide ores, Nell [Nell, J., 2004. Melting of platinum group metal concentrates in South Africa. The South African institute of Mining and Metallurgy 104 (7), 423–428]. The typical mass compositions are 5–10% Al2O3, 2–15% CaO, 5–30% FeO x , 15–25% MgO and 40–60% SiO2 with a molar basicity defined as (CaO+MgO)/SiO2 of 0.6–1. The industrial furnaces operate at temperatures ranging from 1450 to 1600°C under fairly reducing conditions (typically a pO2 close to 10−8 atm at 1500°C). The gas–slag equilibrium was studied by subjecting a synthetic slag to controlled atmospheres in a vertical tube-furnace using Ar–CO–CO2 (–SO2) gas mixtures. The ratio of ferric to ferrous was determined at 1450°C for oxygen activities, defined as pCO2/pCO, ranging from 0.11 to 1.75 by analysing the quenched slags using the standard titration and XRF techniques. The measured Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio increased from 0.029 to 0.110 with the increasing oxygen activity. Slight non-ideal iron redox behaviour was observed, as has been reported for low alumina and low iron-containing slags. The present results are in good agreement with the trends found in the literature for similar multi-component slag systems (mostly iron bath smelting slags). Sulphide capacity was measured at partial pressures of oxygen and sulphur of approximately 10−9 and 10−3 atm respectively, with total-iron contents of 8.2 and 15.6wt%, and temperature ranging from 1450 to 1525°C. The present sulphide capacity data ranged from 10−4.43 to 10−3.71. The expected increase in sulphide capacity with increasing temperature was observed, and at a given temperature, the sulphide capacity increased with an increase in iron oxide content. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]