666 research outputs found

    'n nuwe benaderingsmetode in verband met die studie van die kontak tussen blank en bantoe.

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    Die menslike verstand is daarop ingestel om feitelikhede te absorbeer en te onthou. Dit is ’n proses wat vanaf die oomblik van geboorte opgemerk word. Hierdie feiteversameling bly nie losstaande en dus niksseggende feite nie maar die menslike verstand is daarop ingestel om hierdiefeitelikhede om te bou en tot ’n rasionale beeld daar te stel

    Jan Romein in Suid-Afrika

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    Do we assess what we set out to teach in obstetrics: An action research study

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    Background. Medical education empowers students to transform theoretical knowledge into practice. Assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes determines students’ competency to practice. Assessment methods have been adapted, but not evaluated, to accommodate educational challenges. Objectives. To evaluate whether assessment criteria align with obstetrics learning outcomes. Methods. We conducted a collaborative action research study, in which we reviewed and analysed learning outcomes and assessments according to Bigg’s model of constructive alignment. Data were analysed as per levels of Bloom’s taxonomy. Results. Final-year students have two 3-week modules in obstetrics, with 75% overlap in learning outcomes and assessments. Ninety-five percent of learning outcomes were poorly defined, and 11 - 22% were inappropriately assessed. Summative assessments were comprehensive, but continuous assessments were rudimentary without clear educational benefit. There is a deficiency in assessment of clinical skills and competencies, as assessments have been adapted to accommodate patient confidentiality and increasing student numbers. The lack of good assessment practice compromises the validity of assessments, resulting in assessments that do not focus on higher levels of thinking. Conclusion. There was poor alignment between assessment and outcomes. Combining the obstetrics modules, and reviewing learning outcomes and assessments as a single entity, will improve the authenticity of assessments

    The infl uence of banks’ internal performance on market performance: a non-parametric approach

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    The purpose of the study is to determine the degree to which banks’market performance, as measured by market value ratios, is aff ectedby their internal performance. Annual fi nancial statement reportswere used to determine the internal and market performance oflisted banks on the JSE Limited over a ten-year period. The internalperformance measures used are the profi tability ratios in the DuPont analysis and two Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models toestimate effi ciency. Income statement data were included as theoutput of the fi rst model to determine banks’ operating effi ciency,and balance sheet data were included as the output of the secondmodel to determine banks’ fi nance and investment effi ciency. Thestudy concluded that market value ratios correlate better withprofi tability ratios than the income statement output-based andbalance sheet output-based effi ciencies. This study is the fi rst tocompare two DEA models and profi tability ratios with market valueratios. The value of the study is therefore that it indicates thatprofi tability ratios should be used as a proxy for market value ratiosrather than effi ciency measures that focus separately on incomestatement data and balance sheet data

    Are reviewers suggested by authors as good as those chosen by editors? Results of a rater-blinded, retrospective study

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    BACKGROUND: BioMed Central (BMC) requires authors to suggest four reviewers when making a submission. Editors searching for reviewers use these suggestions as a source. The review process of the medical journals in the BMC series is open – authors and reviewers know each other's identity – although reviewers can make confidential comments to the editor. Reviews are published alongside accepted articles so readers may see the reviewers' names and recommendations. Our objective was to compare the performance of author-nominated reviewers (ANR) with that of editor-chosen reviewers (ECR) in terms of review quality and recommendations about submissions in an online-only medical journal. METHODS: Pairs of reviews from 100 consecutive submissions to medical journals in the BMC series (with one author-nominated and one editor-chosen reviewer and a final decision) were assessed by two raters, blinded to reviewer type, using a validated review quality instrument (RQI) which rates 7 items on 5-point Likert scales. The raters discussed their ratings after the first 20 pairs (keeping reviewer type masked) and resolved major discrepancies in scoring and interpretation to improve inter-rater reliability. Reviewers' recommendations were also compared. RESULTS: Reviewer source had no impact on review quality (mean RQI score (± SD) 2.24 ± 0.55 for ANR, 2.34 ± 0.54 for ECR) or tone (mean scores on additional question 2.72 ANR vs 2.82 ECR) (maximum score = 5 in both cases). However author-nominated reviewers were significantly more likely to recommend acceptance (47 vs 35) and less likely to recommend rejection (10 vs 23) than editor-chosen reviewers after initial review (p < 0.001). However, by the final review stage (i.e. after authors had responded to reviewer comments) ANR and ECR recommendations were similar (65 vs 66 accept, 10 vs 14 reject, p = 0.47). The number of reviewers unable to decide about acceptance was similar in both groups at both review stages. CONCLUSION: Author-nominated reviewers produced reviews of similar quality to editor-chosen reviewers but were more likely to recommend acceptance during the initial stages of peer review

    Grape Maturity and Wine Quality

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    Several indices calculated from grape juice analyses were submitted to statistical analyses in order to determine correlations of these indices with quality of wine made from grapes at different stages of maturity. Curvilinear relationships were obtained enabling an optimum point to be calculated relating grape maturity to maximum wine quality. The application of skin contact in the case of white wine cultivars resulted in earlier maxima for wine quality, thus compensating to an extent for earlier harvesting. The cultivars Chenin blanc, Colombar, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon were examined as outlined above over several years

    Differentiation between Wines Originating from Different Red Wine Cultivars and Wine Regions by the Application of Stepwise Discriminant Analysis to Gas Chromatographic Data

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    Stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA) was applied to gas chromatographic data of some volatile compounds extracted with freon from red wines. By means of this statistical method, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon wines (1978 vintage) could be classified into separate groups, the most effective variables being hexanol and i-amyl acetate. Pinotage wines from three, and Cabernet Sauvignon wines from two localities (1979 vintage) were subjected to classification according to origin. Successful classifications were obtained using the variables ethyl acetate, ethyl caprate, i-amyl acetate as well as a compound tentatively identified as i-valeric acid

    Objective quality rating of Pinotage wine

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    Relationships between wine composition and three quality parameters were investigated employing a linear multiple regression statistical model. For this purpose a least squares curve fitting computer programme was applied to analyses of 17 Pinotage wines for 6 fatty add esters. Overall quality, taste and aroma ratings were determined by a taste panel and utilized as dependent variables. lt was found that 2 esters viz. n-hexylacetate and ethyl-n-octanoate allowed excellent prediction equations to be set up for the quality ratings when incorporated into multiple regression equations.Objektive Beurteilung der Weinqualität bei der Sorte PinotageDie Beziehungen zwischen der Weinzusammensetzung und drei Parametern der Weinqualität wurden untersucht, wobei das statistische Modell einer mehrfachen linearen Regression verwendet wurde. Zu diesem Zweck wurden die bei 17 Weinen der Sorte Pinotage gewonnenen Analysenergebnisse über 6 Fettsäureester in ein Computerprogramm zur optimalen Kurvenanpassung eingegeben. Durch ein Gutachtergremium wurden die Gesamt-Weinqualität, der Geschmack und der Geruch bewertet; die Daten dieser Qualitätsbeurteilung wurden als abhängige Veränderliche benützt. Es wurde festgestellt, daß 2 Ester, nämlich n-Hexylacetat und Äthyl-n-octanoat eine ausgezeichnete Vorhersage der Weinqualität ermöglichten, wenn ihre Werte in Mehrfachregressions-Gleichungen eingesetzt wurden

    Classification of White Cultivar Wines by Origin using Volatile Aroma Components

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    Stepwise discriminant analysis was applied to gas chromatographic data of some volatile compounds obtmiieabjiTreonextracliOii"of dry white table wines. By means of this statistical method, successful classifications according to origin of Colombar wines from two regions, and Chenin blanc wines from three regions, were obtained. The components with the highest discriminatory value were i-amyl acetate, hexyl acetate and i-butanol, in the case of the Colombar wines and hexanol and 2-phenyl ethanol in the case of the Chenin blanc wines
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