Logo-od: the applicability of logotherapy as an organisation development intervention.

The study investigated the relationship between “resistance to or readiness for change” (ROR-change) and “meaning seeking”, and whether a logotherapy-based intervention – Logo-OD – would impact on resistance to change. A quasi-experimental design and various statistical procedures were applied to test formulated hypotheses. Of a survey population of 1 637 individuals, 193 and 76 respondents formed part of the pre- and post-test samples respectively. Whereas a significant relationship was established between said constructs, no significant effect of Logo-OD was observed. These results supported the primary conclusions emanating from the literature: the role of Logo-OD is one of a positive trigger event for organisational change

Characterization of a small helicopter UAV’s main rotor blade through Image Processing

Abstract: Image processing is applied to the task of characterizing the response of a miniature helicopter’s main rotor to collective control inputs under static conditions. The objective is to measure the pitch of the main rotor blade in relation to collective control inputs and deduce a transfer function model from the data..

Point-of-care and lung ultrasound incorporated in daily practice

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a fast-growing clinical utility and is becoming an essential clinical skill for all practitioners attending to critically ill patients. Ultrasound equipment is now smaller, more affordable and readily available in clinical work areas. POCUS is performed by a non-cardiologist physician at the patient’s bedside as an adjunct to the physical examination. It is easily taught, non-invasive and allows for real-time clinical information. Bedside use of ultrasound imaging aids with rapid diagnosis of severe and life-threatening pathological conditions. It can be repeated, may change clinical management, and impact on patient outcome. POCUS has a broad clinical use, including, but not limited to, focused assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE), lung ultrasound imaging, extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (e-FAST), vascular access and regional blocks. It may also be extended to detect endotracheal intubation and the estimation of intracranial pressure. Assessment of cardiac pathology by POCUS, performed by a novice examiner, has been shown to compare with the gold standard of an expert. Training is paramount. The physician should know his limitations and always relate the information back to the clinical scenario and context. By incorporating POCUS as part of our armamentarium and into our daily medical practice, we might see it reach its full clinical potential, optimising patient care and improving patient outcomes

N,N-Bis(diphenyl­phosphino)ethyl­amine

In the title compound, C26H25NP2, the diphenyl­phosphino groups are staggered relative to the PNP backbone, even though the ethyl substituent coordinated to the N atom is not sterically bulky. The N atom adapts an almost planar geometry with two P atoms and a C atom of the allyl group attached to it in order to accommodate the steric bulk of the phenyl groups and the alkyl group. The distortion of the trigonal-pyramidal geometry of the nitro­gen is further illustrated by the bond angles which range between 114.0 (1) and 123.7 (1)°. There are no classical inter­molecular inter­actions

'n Kontekstuele teorie van entrepreneurskap.

A contextual theory of entrepreneurship. Industrial psychologists studying the domain of entrepreneurship tend to focus on the independent variables that predispose entrepreneurial behaviour. The challenge, therefore, was to give expression to the nature of entrepreneurship (as dependant variable) from an industrial psychological perspective. This was done by means of the development of a contextual theory of entrepreneurship. Firstly, the fundamental actions were identified that would give expression to the contextual process of entrepreneurship, after which form was given to its structure. This structure was utilised putting in place a typology of entrepreneurship. The geometric characteristics of the structure were explained. Possibilities for application as well as directions for entrepreneurship development, suggested by the theory were discussed

Work-based identity and work engagement as potential antecedents of task performance and turnover intention: Unravelling a complex relationship

Orientation: Work-based identity, used as a reference to the self, is the answer to the question ’Who am I at work?’ Work-related identities, derived from different social foci through identity formation processes, have as behavioural guides a significant influence on employee behaviour, which, in turn has an impact on work outcomes. Engagement, presented in different conceptualisations, is viewed by practitioners and academic researchers as an important antecedent of employee behaviour.Research purpose: The main purpose of the study was to investigate whether work-based identity and work engagement differed (in combination with personal alienation, helping behaviour and burnout) as potential antecedents (amongst numerous others) of task performance and turnover intention.Research design: A census-based sampling approach amongst 23 134 employees in the employment of an ICT company yielded a sample of 2429 usable questionnaires. Scales used in the study were the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS-20), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Work-based Identity, Personal Alienation, Helping Behaviour, Turnover Intention and Task Performance Scales.Main findings: The findings indicate that work-based identity and work engagement give similar appearing results as potential predictors of turnover intention and task performance. Practical/managerial implications: Reducing withdrawal behaviours and enhancing work performance are everyday challenges for organisations. Interventions focused on enhancing work-based identity and work engagement in the work environment should have a meaningful impact when these behaviours need to be addressed.Contribution/value-add: Work-based identity as a multidimensional construct has the potential, with further refinement, to become a valuable construct that can play a leading role in future work engagement research.</p

Mineral-PET: Kimberlite sorting by nuclear-medical technology

A revolutionary new technology for diamond bearing rock sorting which has its roots in medical-nuclear physics has been taken through a substantial part of the R&D phase. This has led to the construction of the technology demonstrator. Experiments using the technology demonstrator and experiments at a hospital have established the scientific and technological viability of the project

A prospective observational study of preoperative natriuretic peptide testing in adult non-cardiac surgical patients in hospitals in Western Cape Province, South Africa

Background. International guidelines recommend risk stratification to identify high-risk non-cardiac surgical patients. It is also recommended that all patients aged ≥45 years with significant cardiovascular disease should have preoperative natriuretic peptide (NP) testing. Abnormal preoperative B-type NPs have a strong association with postoperative cardiac complications. In South African hospitals, it is not known how many patients with significant cardiovascular disease scheduled for intermediate- to high-risk surgery will have raised NPs.Objectives. To determine the prevalence of abnormal (raised) NPs in non-cardiac surgical patients with cardiac clinical risk factors. A secondary objective was to develop a model to identify surgical patients who may benefit from preoperative NP screening.Methods. The inclusion criteria were patients aged ≥45 years presenting for elective, non-obstetric, intermediate- to high-risk non-cardiac surgery with at least one of the following cardiovascular risk factors: a history of ischaemic heart disease or peripheral vascular disease (coronary equivalent); a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack; a history of congestive cardiac failure; diabetes mellitus currently on an oral hypoglycaemic agent or insulin; and serum creatinine level &gt;175 µmol/L (&gt;2.0 mg/dL). Blood samples for N-terminal-prohormone B-type NP (NT-proBNP) were collected before induction of anaesthesia. The preoperative prognostic threshold for abnormal (raised) NT-proBNP was ≥300 pg/mL. A generalised linear mixed model was used to determine the association between the risk factors and an abnormal NT-proBNP level.Results. Of 172 patients, 63 (37%) had an elevated preoperative NT-proBNP level. The comorbidities independently associated with elevated preoperative NT-proBNP were coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease, congestive cardiac failure, diabetes mellitus, and a creatinine level &gt;175 µmol/L.Conclusions. We strongly recommend that non-cardiac surgical patients aged ≥45 years undergoing intermediate- or high-risk non-cardiac surgery with a history of coronary artery disease/peripheral vascular disease, congestive cardiac failure, diabetes mellitus or elevated creatinine have preoperative NP testing as part of risk stratification