Strategic change management in the South African National Defence Force

This study investigated strategic change management in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) during the period 1994 until 2014. Theoretical perspectives on strategic management, institutional culture, leadership and strategic change management in the SANDF were discussed. In addition, a historical perspective on the evolution of South African military culture was given. The study found that a transactional leadership approach was used to transform the SANDF. This transactional leadership approach is commensurate with the preservation of the status quo without radically transforming the institution. On the contrary, the transactional leadership approach fits in well in transforming an institution with a view to bring about a new composite institutional culture, drawn from the integrated institutions. The strategic change management as applied in the SANDF has not succeeded in creating a unified inclusive military culture of the seven former armed forces, from 1994 until 2014. The research has also shown that the institutional culture of the SANDF does not reflect the shared assumptions, beliefs and values of all integrated armed forces. However, the study concluded that transformation in the SANDF as a planned strategic change intervention has not been managed adequately between 1994 and 2014, to achieve the desired results.Public AdministrationD. P. L

Factors associated with self-perceived state of health in adolescents with congenital cardiac disease attending paediatric cardiologic clinics

The purpose of our study was to determine the ways in which adolescents with congenital cardiac disease believed that the condition had affected their life, and how these views were related to their perceived health. Interviews were conducted with a series of 37 adolescents, 17 girls and 20 boys, aged from 11 to 18, as they attended the clinics of 4 paediatric cardiologists in a teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed for recurring themes. A questionnaire was formed consisting of a set of questions for each theme, and additional items eliciting “perceived health”, and administered to a second series of 74 adolescents, 40 boys and 34 girls, who were again aged from 11 to 18 years. Slightly less than half (46%) perceived their health as either “good” or “very good”, and one-third (33%) rated it as “average”. The majority (66%) felt themselves to be “the same” as, or only very slightly “different” from, their peers. The assessment of the seriousness of their condition by the adolescents, the degree to which they saw themselves as different from others, and their perceived health, were not related to the “complexity of the underlying medical condition” as rated by their physician. It was the psychosocial themes, such as exclusion from activities or the effect of the condition on relationships, that were most strongly related to the perception of their health by the adolescents. Improved education of parents, teachers and peers, and attendance at classes for cardiac rehabilitation, might help to ameliorate some of these problems

Setting up an adult congenital heart programme

With the growing number of adult patients with congenital heart defects in the developing world, many institutions and practice groups are beginning or growing their adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) programmes. In this paper, we review:■ Practical considerations in establishing a clinic (Where will your patients come from? How many new referrals annually can you anticipate?);■ Transition and transfer challenges (can you avoid the loss to care of children with moderate and complex congenital heart defects? Is there an agreed age of transfer policy? Is there an available and effective transition process?);■ Institutional considerations (do you really have the support of your institution? Where should your program be located? Where will you admit your inpatients?);■ Patient care imperatives (how will you commit to excellent patient care? How will you meet the needs of your patients? Clearly designate which patients you will need to refer out and to which services they will be referred);■ The composition of the ACHD team (begin with two ACHD cardiologists and skilled echocardiography, consider a mix of pediatric trained and adult trained cardiologists, grow from there in a modular fashion if you can to include more multidisciplinary team members, and duplicate essentialservice positions); and■ Organisation and accreditation of ACHD care (ACHD services need to be managed differently than pediatric services across the full diagnostic and treatment clinicalspectrum)

The management of tetralogy of Fallot after corrective surgery

With the success of contemporary medical and surgical management in congenital heart disease (CHD), adults with repaired CHD now often outnumber their paediatric equivalents. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) has paved the way, not only in the management of native CHD, but also in the management of its repaired form. In this review, we discuss the current surveillance and management of adults with repaired TOF, highlighting outcomes related to these practices

The ecology of southern African wild silk moths (Gonometa species, Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae): consequences for their sustainable use

The pupal cocoons of two southern African wild silkmoth species, Gonometa postica and G. rufobrunnea (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), are composed of high quality silk and have potential as a commercially viable resource. However, limited ecological research has been done on these species, and their population dynamics is especially poorly known. A steady and predictable supply of cocoons is paramount to the economic sustainability of a wild silk industry. There is thus an urgent need for documenting and understanding the population dynamics of southern Africa’s Gonometa species. Here, the temporal and spatial variation of pupal (and thus cocoon) abundance, as well as associated natural enemies, are described for both Gonometa species for the first time. The larval parasitoid species emerging from parasitised pupae were quantitatively associated with species-specific emergence holes, making field-identification of these species possible. Eleven sites in total were sampled, over four generations, across the region where both species have historically reached high population densities. Apparent spatial synchrony in pupal abundance found between sites suggests that climate is responsible for observed population size fluctuations. As predicted from their life history traits, temporal variability was lower than expected for classically eruptive species. Gonometa species thus have an intermediate position on the population dynamics gradient. In turn, the responses of natural enemies were not predictable from Gonometa species defensive traits, but appear to be mediated by between-species cocoon strength differences. Using data on the number of G. postica pupae per tree and associated parasitism at several sites, the importance of the degree of spatial explicitness in the quantification of aggregation and the detection of density dependence was illustrated. The spatially explicit method gave different results and more information regarding the spatial pattern of pupal abundance and parasitism than non- and semi-explicit methods. Similarly, the detection of density dependence in parasitism rates was affected by the use of spatially explicit data, with the spatial explicit approach giving different and more biologically informative results than traditional, non-spatially explicit methods. This has marked implications for previous insect-host - parasitoid studies aimed at detecting density dependence. The variability in cocoon size, a surrogate for larval performance, adult fecundity and silk yield, revealed that gender, followed by species, contributed most to observed size differences, with no clear differences between generations or localities. Finally, the between-host plant and withinhost plant distribution ofG. postica and G. rufobrunnea pupae was quantified, chiefly investigating the deterministic nature of the choice of pupation site. The distribution of both species at these scales was found to be markedly non-random, with pupae generally preferring specific tree characteristics and micro-sites. These results now provide the basis for recommending an appropriate utilisation strategy for southern Africa’s wild silk moths. Based on the spatial and temporal variability in pupal abundance observed, a constant and predictable cocoon supply for natural harvesting is unlikely. Long-term, broad-scale documentation of Gonometa species population cycles may make it possible to predict cocoon availability in the future. Until such research is done, it is recommended that the current practise of only collecting cocoons from which moths have emerged be continued. Simultaneously, artificial rearing and seeding as alternative utilisation strategies should be experimentally explored based on the information gathered and patterns identified here.Thesis (DPhil (Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2007.Zoology and Entomologyunrestricte

An Overview of Mites on Grapevine and the Discovery of a new Phytoseiidae Species; Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) spiceae

The common grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is the main species used for wine making, with South Africa being one of the top wine exporting countries. Grapevine is vulnerable to a range of pests, includingmites. We present an overview of phytophagous and predatory mites on grapevine in South Africa anddescribe a new phytoseiid species which was discovered in the winelands region of Wellington, SouthAfrica. Grapevine shoots with leaves were collected over two growing seasons at four farms in Wellington.A nursery, mother block and a commercial vineyard were selected on each farm. The mites were removedwith a mite brushing machine and slide mounted. The Phytoseiidae Database, as well the most recentrelevant literature were used in confirming the new species. Illustrations of the new species were madeusing photographs taken by Zeiss Axioskop TM Research that included a Zen Soft Imaging System. Thenew Typhlodromus species, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) spiceae sp.n., is set apart from closely relatedspecies by setae Z4 being 0.7 times the length of Z5 and by having a short, saccular and thick-walledspermathecal. This species was found together with one phytophagous mite species (Brevipalpus lewisi)and several predatory mite species (Typhlodromus praeacutus, Typhlodromus saevus, Eusieus addoensis). Akey to identify females of the South African species of Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) is provided