Changes in plasma progesterone and LH concentrations during the progesterone synchronised oestrus in sheep

No Abstrac

Microwave-assisted methods for the synthesis of pentacyclo[5.4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undecylamines

Efficient methodologies for the preparation of pentacyclo[5..4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undecane (PCU) amine derivatives are described via microwave-assisted synthesis. The obtained results revealed that microwave-assisted synthetic procedures under controlled conditions (power, temperature and time) are very convenient, high yielding, efficient and low-cost methods for the preparation of PCU amine derivatives. The new methods show several advantages including operational simplicity, good performance, significant reduction in reaction time, less by-product formation and easier purification.Web of Scienc

Influence of employee perceptions of corporate social responsibility on affective commitment

Orientation: The study attempted to establish the role played by different perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities on the organisational commitment of employees. Research purpose: To investigate the nomological network of variables playing a role in the relationship between Perceived CSR and Affective Commitment. Motivation for the study: Understanding the contribution of perceived corporate social responsibility to the organisational commitment of employees could inform managerial attempts to facilitate positive employee attitudes. Research approach/design and methods: The current study utilised structural equation modelling to evaluate the hypothesised multivariate causal relationships in the proposed model. A convenience sample of 172 employees of a consumer goods company completed several questionnaires, including measures of Affective Commitment, Perceived CSR, Organisational Social Identity, Perceived Organisational Justice, Psychological Contract, as well as three cultural value orientations. Main Findings: The most significant finding of the study was the positive relationship between Perceived CSR and Affective Commitment. The results revealed that Perceived CSR has a positive impact on Perceived Organisational Justice and fulfilment of the Relational Psychological Contract. Both variables impacted on Organisational Social Identity, which was positively related to Affective Commitment. Practical/managerial implications: Organisations should ensure that employees are made aware of their CSR policies and activities through corporate communication. Organisations should also invest their resources in dealing with social problems that are regarded as important by employees and engage in fair human resource practices. Contribution/Value-add: Engagement in CSR activities could help retain and attract talented candidates and increase commitment and identification with the organisation

Intention to quit in the financial services industry : antecedents and managerial implications

CITATION: Van der Merwe, B., Malan, J. & Bruwer, R. 2020. Intention to quit in the financial services industry : antecedents and managerial implications. South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 23(1):a3710, doi:10.4102/sajems.v23i1.3710.The original publication is available at https://sajems.orgBackground: A review of the literature revealed that the demanding and often challenging nature of work increases the turnover intention of employees. This trend is especially evident within the South African financial services industry. Aim: The research goal was to explore and empirically test a theoretical model identifying the most salient causes of turnover intention among sales employees employed by financial organisations operating in the South African financial service industry. Setting: The study was conducted on employees operating within the financial service industry in South Africa. Methods: The current study collected quantitative data from 102 employees of insurance or banking or investment companies, using a web-based compilation of standardised questionnaires. This followed a previous study by the research group that collected quantitative and qualitative data from 122 employees operating in an insurance environment, using a combination of an open-ended questionnaire and standardised instruments. Results: The results of the current study confirmed the significance of the paths between turnover intention and employee engagement, time wasted on non-core activities, perceived career development opportunities, and perceived supervisor support, mediated by perceived employee engagement. Conclusion: A replication of this study using a longitudinal research design is recommended in order to overcome the methodological limitations of the current study. The conceptual model developed in this study identified relationships that could be used as guidelines to effectively manage the retention of personal financial advisors in the financial service industry in South Africa.https://sajems.org/index.php/sajems/article/view/3710Publisher's versio

Hervormde Barthiaanse Skrifbeskouing: Waarheidsbegrip

The ‘Hervormde’ blend of Barthian view of Scripture leads to a specifically nuanced concept of biblical truth. Biblical truth is neither knowledge, dogma or faith propositions, nor historical, scientific or geographical truth. Biblical truth is a Person, sharing in dialogue with humanity regarding a relationship of God for humanity. Biblical truth is relational and metaphorical. Its imperatives are demythologisation, and ideological and cultural critique. This concept of truth is in contrast to the truth concept of most church members, because of their literal and often fundamentalist views of Scripture. In order to convey understanding of the truth concept, the ‘Hervormde’ view of Scripture should be discussed with them. A confession should be formulated for post-modern believers

Synthesis and biological evaluations of NO-donating oxa- and aza-pentacycloundecane derivatives as potential neuroprotective candidates

In order to utilize the neuroprotective properties of polycyclic cage compounds, and explore the NO-donating ability of nitrophenyl groups, an array of compounds was synthesized where the different nitrophenyl groups were appended on oxa and aza-bridged cage derivatives. Biological evaluations of the compounds were done for cytotoxicity, neuroprotective abilities, the inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated Ca2+ influx, the inhibition of voltage-mediated Ca2+ influx, and S-nitrosylation abilities. All of the compounds showed low toxicity. With a few exceptions, most of the compounds displayed good neuroprotection and showed inhibitory activity for NMDA-mediated and voltage-gated calcium influx, ranging from high (>70%) to low (20–39%) inhibition. In the S-nitrosylation assay, the compounds with the nitro moiety as the NO-donating group exhibited low to good nitrosylation potency compared to the positive controls. From the biological evaluation of the tested compounds, it was not possible to obtain a simple correlation that could explain the results across all of the biological study domains. This can be ascribed to the independent processes evaluated in the different assays, which reiterate that neuroprotection is a result of multifactorial biochemical mechanisms and interactions. However, these results signify the important aspects of the pentacylcoundecylamine neuroprotectants across different biological study realms.IS

Hyphenation of supercritical fluid chromatography and two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for group type separations

The Fischer–Tropsch (FT) process produces a variety of compounds over a wide carbon number range and the synthetic crude oil produced by this process is rich in highly valuable olefins and oxygenates, which crude oil only contains at trace levels. The characterization of these products is very challenging even when using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–TOF-MS). The separation between cyclic paraffins and olefins is especially difficult since they elute in similar positions on the GC × GC chromatogram and since they have identical molecular masses with indistinguishable fragmentation patterns. Previously, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractionation procedure was used prior to GC × GC–TOF-MS analysis to distinguish between alkenes and alkanes, both cyclic and non-cyclic, however, there was co-elution of the solvents used in the HPLC fractionation procedure, and the volatile components in the gasoline sample and the dilution introduced by the off-line fractionation procedure made it very difficult to investigate components present at very low concentrations. The hyphenation of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) to GC × GC is less complicated and the removal of the supercritical CO2 can be easily achieved without any loss of the volatile sample components, eliminating the introduction of co-eluting solvents as well as the dilution effect. This paper describes the on-line hyphenation of SFC to a GC × GC system in order to comprehensively characterize the chemical groups (saturates, unsaturates, oxygenates and aromatics) in an FT sample.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/chromahb2013ai201

Leadership Approaches to Negotiate Challenges in a Changing Education Landscape

The argumentative point of departure of this scholarly book is the common conviction of specialists in the field of education in South Africa that the national education system is not at a satisfactory level – in both the academic and the public discourse. Such allegations are made and, frequently, stronger adjectives than ‘non-satisfactory’ are used. Results of international test series in which South Africa has participated, such as the 2015 TIMSS tests, confirm the negative verdicts found in the (public and scholarly) discourse. This book aims to argue that although the lack of performance could be attributed to a multiplicity of factors, one factor that can make a difference in the achievement levels obtained by learners in schools is leadership. The book demonstrates that a particular problem of both the scholarly and the public discourse on education in South Africa is an overtone of defeatism or resignation, blaming all ills in the education system and educational institutions on historical legacies and/or contextual factors (such as socio-economic deprivation in the catchment areas of schools) or poor resources and infrastructure. This collected work was inspired by a recently published spate of articles on top-performing schools (including top-performing schools in rural communities), in which it was demonstrated that good leadership can overcome such contextual and other challenges. The book unpacks the issue of leadership in South African schools from a variety of perspectives, thus contributing to the development of the scholarly discourse on Educational Leadership in South Africa. The target audience of the book is scholars of Educational Leadership. The research reported in the chapters draw on a wide range of methodologies, including empirical (survey) research (questionnaires and interviews), critical literature surveys, and the comparative method

Section 2(3) of the Wills Act 7 of 1953 : a retrospective and critical appraisal of some unresolved issues

This article traces the history of s 2(3) of the Wills Act 7 of 1953 – the Act’s so-called ‘condonation provision’. It examines the reasons for the legislature’s introduction of a rescue provision in regard to formally irregular wills and amendments of wills, and surveys the manner in which South African courts have engaged with testamentary condonation to date. The article pays particular attention to three matters regarding s 2(3) that still pose challenges to courts in their engagement with testamentary rescue: the precise ambit of the condonation provision’s document requirement; some difficulties associated with the subsection’s intention requirement; and the question whether the subsection demands substantial compliance with execution and/or amendment formalities before condonation can occur. The authors submit that these unresolved matters require further legislative attention.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_ju_jur.htmlam201