Lees- en spellingagterstande van leerders met serebrale gestremdhede: Interaksie van werkgeheue, fonologiese prosessering en visueel-ruimtelike aspekte tot leer

The causes and characteristics of the reading and spelling deficits of learners with cerebral palsy (CP), as well as the working memory processing are discussed. Due to the vision, hearing and speech disabilities of these learners, the phonological loop in the working memory receives and rejects an unclear message, because the sub-vocal repetition store in the phonological loop does not know how to process it. Thus the phonological loop is interrupted and these learners cannot develop the phonological awareness needed for reading and spelling skills. Therefore, traditional teaching strategies are of no value to teach these learners. However, the plight of these children is that many teachers in South Africa are not trained to support this language-processing problem in these learners. Possible intervention strategies for supporting the phonological loop of CP learners are discussed. Visual imagery and the Davis strategies have been identified as suitable intervention strategies for supporting the reading and spelling deficits of learners with CP. The value of this theoretical paper is that it could provide teachers who have no training to support the language-based problems of children with CP early in their lives with some information about intervention strategies.Keywords: Cerebral Palsy, Reading and Spelling Deficits, Phonologica

Body colouring task 2003

This Field Manual entry has been superceded by the published version: Van Staden, M., & Majid, A. (2006). Body colouring task. Language Sciences, 28(2-3), 158-161. doi:10.1016/j.langsci.2005.11.004

Seed germination in goose grass (Eleusine indica)

Low germination of freshly harvested Eleusine indica caryopses indicated some form of dormancy. Water uptake studies indicated that the covering structures of the propagules are permeable to water. As scarification breaks the dormant condition a mechanical effect for the covering structures is indicated. With ageing, dormancy becomes progressively less and the seeds become more sensitive to gibberellic acid applications which increase germination significantly

Self-reported symptoms of eating disorders amongst university dance students

Eating disturbances are common amongst female athletes, especially those participating in dance. We investigated the prevalence and correlates of eating disorder risk symptoms amongst female student dancers. Fifty-eight female university dancers completed a self-report measure of eating disorders and eating disorder correlates, along with factors hypothesised to be associated with the concept, including perfectionism and anxiety. Height and body mass were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). Results indicated that psychological variables correlated positively with eating disorder risk, and that BMI and ineffectiveness were correlates best associated with eating disorder risk for these dancers. Results indicated that the screening of dancers using a self-report measure can help to identify dancers suffering from poor psychological health of which one characteristic is disordered eating. Given the implications of well-being and performance, we suggest that future research should investigate factors associated with eating disorders and that course administrators and health practitioners consider these factors when facilitating and optimising the mental health and performance of dancers

Die ontwikkeling en evaluerying van ‘n visuele geletterdheidsprogram vir dowe grondslagfaseleerders met lees- en spellingagerstande

No Abstract.Journal for Language Teaching vol Vol. 42 (1) 2008: pp. 49-6

Does religious identification of South African psychiatrists matter in their approach to religious matters in clinical practice?

BACKGROUND. It is not known whether psychiatrists’ approach to religious matters in clinical practice reflects their own identification or non-identification with religion or their being active in religious activities. OBJECTIVE. This question was investigated among South African (SA) psychiatrists and psychiatry registrars, including the importance they attach to the religious beliefs of patients for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. METHODS. Respondents from the SA Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) completed a purpose-designed questionnaire anonymously online. Respondents were compared statistically with regard to whether they identified with a religion, and the regularity of their participation in religious activities. Further comparisons were made based on gender and years of clinical experience. RESULTS. Participants who identified with a religion showed no statistical differences in comparison with those who did not, regarding: how they viewed the importance of a patient’s religious beliefs for purposes of diagnosis, general management, psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, recovery from an acute episode, maintenance of recovery or remission, time to be spent on religious education, referral for religious/ spiritual counselling according to patient’s own beliefs; referral when patient and participant are of different religions; and whether referral is considered harmful when a patient’s religious beliefs are similar to or different from the participant’s. Statistically significant differences were found where participants who did not identify with a religion were more likely to indicate religion had ‘little importance’ for the purpose of understanding the patient and to indicate ‘no’ when asked if they would refer a patient for religious/spiritual counselling. When comparing regularity of participation in religious gatherings, participants who indicated their participation as ‘no/never’ were more likely to answer ‘no’ when asked if they would refer a patient for religious/spiritual counselling, even when of a similar religion to that of their patient. In comparing genders, males were more likely to answer ‘yes’ than females when asked if they considered religious/spiritual counselling (in accordance with the patient’s own religious beliefs) potentially harmful when the patient’s religion was different from the participant’s. CONCLUSION. It appears that SA psychiatrists’ identification with religion and regularity of participation in religious gatherings do not influence their approach to religious matters of their patients in most respects. The exception seems to be for those psychiatrists who do not identify with a religion (~16%), who tend to respond that they do not refer for religious counselling and that they consider the patient’s religious identification to be of little importance in understanding the patient.http://www.sajp.org.zahb201

Profile of the geriatric patients hospitilised at Universitas hospital, South Africa

Background: The elderly population in Africa is unevenly distributed across the continent, with the highest percentage of elderly living in the Southern African region. In 1996, the elderly population of South Africa (65 years and older) was roughly 6.7%, and was calculated to be 10.4% by 2025. If the latter expectation is anywhere near realistic, it stands to reason that the Department of Health should make timely provision for the care of these future patients, as the prevailing disease patterns within a population change as that population ages. Thus, there is an urgent need for profiles of elderly patients in order for adequate training to be implemented and for beds and equipment to be ready when needed. Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken of all data available from a clinical audit done at Universitas Hospital's Geriatric Unit. All patients aged 65 years and older who were admitted by Internal Medicine's Geriatric Unit over four years were analysed in order to compile a profile of geriatric patients hospitalised at Universitas Hospital. Results: The study group consisted of 791 elderly patients. Their average age was 81 years (range: 65 to 101 years of age) and they were hospitalised for an average of 11 days, with an average use of five medications per patient. Women represented 66% of the patients and the mortality rate was 17% in the total study group. The main admitting clinical problems were hypertension, heart failure, ischemic heart disease and anaemia. Most of the patients did not smoke or use alcohol. Out of a group of 523(due to the fact that it was a retrospective study, data for this criteria were only available for 523 of the 791 patients), 235 (45%) were self-supporting and 32% were known to use living aids. The majority of the patients were single and an equal amount were living in old age homes and with their families. The main special examinations used in their treatment were chest X-rays, nuclear examinations of the liver, ECG, heart sonar and CT of the brain, and gastroscopies. Almost all of the patients had undergone full blood count analysis and U+E determinations, and in more than 50% of cases, creatine, albumin and glucose measurements were taken. Conclusion: For successful geriatric care at Universitas Hospital there will be a need for at least 11 days hospitalisation, and a unit with good training in internal medicine, psychiatry, urology, orthopaedy and oncology. The main supporting services will be physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social welfare. Laboratory analyses will include full blood count, urea and electrolyte measurements, urine examination, and creatine and glucose measurements. Special investigations will mainly be radiology and cardiology sonar examination. How well we care for elderly patients in the future will be an indicator of the quality of our healthcare system in general. We need to redesign our social insurance and welfare systems to fit the realities of our current situation. South African Family Practice Vol. 49 (2) 2007: pp. 1

In vitro propagation of some Cyrtanthus species

Shoots and roots were initiated on bulb explants of Cyrtanthus brachyscyphus, C. elatus, C. falcatus, C. guthrieae, and C. mackenii var. mackenii. C. breviflorus produced small amounts of wound callus only. The species differed in their response to the different levels of plant growth regulators used. In general shoot formation was most favourable with high concentrations BA (2 mgl−1) and lower concentrations NAA (1 mgl−1). Best root formation was obtained with low BA and NAA (0–0.5 mgl−1) concentrations. Cyrtanthus brachyscyphus was the most prolific shoot producer, with a 3-fold increase at every sub-culture. C. elatus, C. guthrieae, and C. mackenii var. mackenïi were less vigorous and on average showed a 1.5-fold increase at every sub-culture. C. falcatus produced a low number of shoots from the explants and this did not increase with subsequent sub-cultures. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized in vermiculite in a mist house (100% survival)

Phenotyping of dark and light adapted barley plants by the fast chlorophyll a fluorescence rise OJIP

Chlorophyll a fluorescence of dark adapted leaves of barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) upon exposure to actinic light was measured. We compared the photosynthetic behaviour of ten cultivars of barley plants in the dark and light adapted states. A significant relationship between the light adaptation (S1 to S2 transition) of the photosynthetic Performance Index (lPI/dPI) and the normalised Area (lSm/dSm) evaluated by the JIP-test was observed. The two parameters might provide a basis to rank the plants according to their tolerance to light stress conditions, i.e. the studied cultivars can be split into three groups with a different response to high light stress: tolerant, intermediate and sensitive