Perceptions of staff and students about the NC(V) model of workplace Engineering artisan training offered by South African TVET colleges

Vocational training is a contentious issue in South Africa, where large per centages are regularly cited for unemployment statistics, and in particular for youth and post-school unemployment. Vocational study programmes at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are often seen as one possible remedy to these problems. The Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) long-term objective is to increase the number of learners that will qualify as artisans, which represent a major scarce/critical skills area in South Africa. However, the throughput and certification rates of TVET students are disconcertingly low, with National Certificate (Vocational) (NC(V)) Engineering courses regularly cited as having some of the lowest rates. This article reports on a small research study on the perceptions of TVET staff and students about NC(V) Engineering programmes, conducted at two TVET colleges in South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data from NC(V) Engineering students and lecturers. The most important findings of the study include that there is a critical collaboration gap between industry and the TVET sector and that both NC(V) staff and students experience the need for addressing the (im)balance of time spent on practical versus theoretical training as part of NC(V) programmes. A clear understanding of the perceptions and concerns of TVET NC(V) Engineering lecturers and students may assist in addressing issues locally, at individual TVET colleges, and globally, at national policy and Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) level, that could in future serve to contribute to improved academic performance, including higher throughput and certification rates, of NC(V) Engineering students

Home ground advantage - fact or fallacy? A comment on the 2004 Super 12 rugby competition

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was an advantage to playing at home in the 2004 Rugby Union Super 12 competition. The question was relevant because this unusual competition involved travelling across time zones during the competition, potentially negating any home ground advantage caused by fatigue from travel and changing time zones. Main outcome measure. The mean points difference (points for the team minus points against the team) for ‘home’ and ‘away’ fixtures was calculated for each team before the semi-final stage of the competition. Result. Combined results for all 12 teams showed that the points difference was positive and significantly greater at ‘home’ than ‘away’ fixtures (7.4 ± 6.9 points v. -7.4 ± 7.9 points, home v. away) (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The combined mean positive points difference at home indicates a home ground advantage, and that on average teams scored more points than their opposition when playing at home. This has implications for the ‘fairness’ of the competition as 6 teams had 6 home matches whereas the other 6 teams had 5 home matches in the 2004 Super 12 competition

Advances In Ti6Al4V Additive Manufacturing in South Africa

Published Conference ProceedingsSouth Africa has the potential to add significant value to its titanium natural resource. Initiated by a National Research and Technology Foresight Project in 1999, a national consensus has grown regarding this beneficiation opportunity. It culminated in the establishment of the Titanium Centre of Competence in 2009. Additive manufacturing was included as technology platform of the Titanium Centre of Competence. In 2013 the Department of Science and Technology commissioned the development of a South African Additive Manufacturing Technology Roadmap. This paper elaborates on the growth of additive manufacturing in South Africa, emphasising the successes achieved with producing customised medical implants from Ti6Al4V powder. Examples of internationally leading work on such implants in maxillofacial reconstructive surgery are given. The national Collaborative Programme in Additive Manufacturing and the sub-programme on qualification of Ti6Al4V medical implants and aerospace parts produced through additive manufacturing, are discussed. Initial achievements of this programme are shared

The mature female clothing shopper : profiles and shopping behaviour

The original publication is available at http://www.sajip.co.zaCITATION: Visser, E.M., Du Preez, R. & Du Toit, J.B. 1996. The mature female clothing shopper : profiles and shopping behaviour. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 22(2):1-6, doi:10.4102/sajip.v22i2.603.This study was designed to profile the mature female clothing shopper. More specifically certain variables that could be attributed to differences in consumer behaviour were investigated. Mature female clothing shoppers were segmented as clothing moderates, clothing enthusiasts and the clothing unconcerned. These three cluster groups significantly differed regarding clothing involvement, clothing orientation, activities, interests, opinions, family orientation, needs and media usage. No significant differences were found among the three groups regarding evaluative criteria for clothing and clothing store attributes. Profiles of the clusters were developed, along with applicable marketing implications. Recommendations for further research are made.Hierdie studie is onderneem ten einde die vroulike kledingverbruikers van 55 en ouer te tipeer. Die veranderlikes wat 'n bydrae kon lewer ten opsigte van die verskille in verbruikersgedrag is ondersoek. Die verbruikers is gesegmenteer as die kledinggematigdes, kleding- entoesiaste en die kleding-onbetrokkenes. Die drie groeperings verskil beduidend van mekaar ten opsigte van die volgende veranderlikes naamlik: kleding-betrokkenheid, kleding-oriëntasie, aktiwiteite belangstellings, opinies, familie oriëntasie, behoeftes en media gebruik. Geen beduidende verskille kon gevind word tussen die drie groeperings ten opsigte van die veranderlikes evalueringskriteria van klere en winkeleienskappe nie. Profiele van die verskillende trosse is ontwikkel en die bemarkingsimplikasies is uitgewys. Aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing word gedoen.Publishers' Versio

Characterisation of Ti6Al4V (ELI) Powder Used by the South African Collaborative Program in Additive

Conference ProceedingsThe South African Additive Manufacturing Strategy recommends research and development towards “Qualified AM parts for medical and aerospace” as one of the national priorities. In response to this, the national Collaborative Program in Additive Manufacturing includes a sub-programme on “Qualification of Additive Manufacturing of Ti6Al4V for Medical Implants and Aerospace Parts”. This sub-programme entails comprehensive systematic research aimed at establishing a database of material and process data needed for qualification of the AM powders, AM processes and post-process treatments used for medical and aerospace applications. The paper describes the approach taken to characterise the Ti6Al4V (ELI) powder in the as received state and after exposure during repeated AM build cycles, by determining the physical and chemical properties of powder used in two selective laser melting (SLM) machines and a laser engineered net shaping (LENS) machine. Properties of the powder that were determined include the particle size, particle size distribution, morphology, oxygen and nitrogen gas content, and elemental composition. Characterisation techniques employed are Scanning Electron Microscopy, Laser Diffraction, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and Inert Gas Fusion. The results of the analyses on as-received powder and powder after exposure to numerous build cycles in the different AM machines are presented and discussed

Towards Qualification of Additively Manufactured Ti6Al4V (ELI) Medical Implants

Published ArticleIn recent years, the production of customized medical implants through additive manufacturing by the Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing in South Africa has grown significantly. While satisfactory results have been obtained and the quality of life of many patients has been improved, further research is required to enable the production of qualified components. This paper shares the growing acceptance of additive manufacturing, as well as the establishment of a South African Additive Manufacturing Strategy. An overview of the progress made by the Collaborative Programme in Additive Manufacturing is presented. The scope of the metals research performed towards the qualification of additive manufacturing of Ti6Al4V medical implants is discussed. Examples are given of internationally leading work on utilizing these implants, which were additively manufactured under an ISO 13485 system, in maxillofacial reconstructive surgery. Lastly, the development of an affordable polyurethane artificial heart valve is presented as a different type of medical implant

OneStop:JWS Online&#x27;s access point to SBML,SBGN and MIRIAM compliant annotation

We have developed an online model constructor and validator called OneStop, which is compliant with SBGN, SBML and MIRIAM standards. Key features of OneStop are: 1) a human readable input form (in addition to SBML upload and saving); 2) live visualization (SBGN graphics) of the reaction network during the construction phase; and 3) online access from any machine with a compatible browser. Sophisticated error feedback simplifies the debugging process during model construction significantly and guides the efforts of new users in a step by step fashion. OneStop is seamlessly integrated with the JWS Online model repository and simulator and also facilitates the importation of models from the BioModels database. In addition, OneStop is part of the SysMO-SEEK platform, which is used for data and model management in the Pan-European SysMO consortium

Role of widows in the heterosexual transmission of HIV in Manicaland, Zimbabwe, 1998–2003

BACKGROUND: AIDS is the main driver of young widowhood in southern Africa. METHODS: The demographic characteristics of widows, their reported risk behaviours and the prevalence of HIV were examined by analysing a longitudinal population-based cohort of men and women aged 15-54 years in Manicaland, eastern Zimbabwe. The results from statistical analyses were used to construct a mathematical simulation model with the aim of estimating the contribution of widow behaviour to heterosexual HIV transmission. RESULTS: 413 (11.4%) sexually experienced women and 31 (1.2%) sexually experienced men were reported to be widowed at the time of follow-up. The prevalence of HIV was exceptionally high among both widows (61%) and widowers (male widows) (54%). Widows were more likely to have high rates of partner change and engage in a pattern of transactional sex than married women. Widowers took partners who were a median of 10 years younger than themselves. Mathematical model simulations of different scenarios of sexual behaviour of widows suggested that the sexual activity of widow(er)s may underlie 8-17% of new HIV infections over a 20-year period. CONCLUSIONS: This combined statistical analysis and model simulation suggest that widowhood plays an important role in the transmission of HIV in this rural Zimbabwean population. High-risk partnerships may be formed when widowed men and women reconnect to the sexual network

Getting to the core: Internal body temperatures help reveal the ecological function and thermal implications of the lions’ mane

It has been proposed that there is a thermal cost of the mane to male lions, potentially leading to increased body surface temperatures (Ts), increased sperm abnormalities, and to lower food intake during hot summer months. To test whether a mane imposes thermal costs on males, we measured core body temperature (Tb) continuously for approximately 1 year in 18 free-living lions. There was no difference in the 24-hr maximum Tb of males (n = 12) and females (n = 6), and males had a 24-hr mean Tb that was 0.2 ± 0.1°C lower than females after correcting for seasonal effects. Although feeding on a particular day increased 24-hr mean and 24-hr maximum Tb, this phenomenon was true of both male and female lions, and females had higher 24-hr mean and 24-hr maximum Tb than males, on both days when lions did not feed, and on days when lions did feed. Twenty-four-hour Tb was not influenced by mane length or color, and 24-hr mean Tb was negatively correlated with mane length. These data contradict the suggestion that there exists a thermal cost to male lions in possessing a long dark mane, but do not preclude the possibility that males compensate for a mane with increased heat loss. The increased insulation caused by a mane does not necessarily have to impair heat loss by males, which in hot environments is primarily through respiratory evaporative cooling, nor does in necessarily lead to increased heat gain, as lions are nocturnal and seek shade during the day. The mane may even act as a heat shield by increasing insulation. However, dominant male lions frequent water points more than twice as often as females, raising the possibility that male lions are increasing water uptake to facilitate increased evaporative cooling. The question of whether male lions with manes compensate for a thermal cost to the mane remains unresolved, but male lions with access to water do not have higher Tb than females or males with smaller manes.EM201

Getting to the core: Internal body temperatures help reveal the ecological function and thermal implications of the lions’ mane

It has been proposed that there is a thermal cost of the mane to male lions, potentially leading to increased body surface temperatures (Ts), increased sperm abnormalities, and to lower food intake during hot summer months. To test whether a mane imposes thermal costs on males, we measured core body temperature (Tb) continuously for approximately 1 year in 18 free-living lions. There was no difference in the 24-hr maximum Tb of males (n = 12) and females (n = 6), and males had a 24-hr mean Tb that was 0.2 ± 0.1°C lower than females after correcting for seasonal effects. Although feeding on a particular day increased 24-hr mean and 24-hr maximum Tb, this phenomenon was true of both male and female lions, and females had higher 24-hr mean and 24-hr maximum Tb than males, on both days when lions did not feed, and on days when lions did feed. Twenty-four-hour Tb was not influenced by mane length or color, and 24-hr mean Tb was negatively correlated with mane length. These data contradict the suggestion that there exists a thermal cost to male lions in possessing a long dark mane, but do not preclude the possibility that males compensate for a mane with increased heat loss. The increased insulation caused by a mane does not necessarily have to impair heat loss by males, which in hot environments is primarily through respiratory evaporative cooling, nor does in necessarily lead to increased heat gain, as lions are nocturnal and seek shade during the day. The mane may even act as a heat shield by increasing insulation. However, dominant male lions frequent water points more than twice as often as females, raising the possibility that male lions are increasing water uptake to facilitate increased evaporative cooling. The question of whether male lions with manes compensate for a thermal cost to the mane remains unresolved, but male lions with access to water do not have higher Tb than females or males with smaller manes.NCS201