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A case study was conducted with a student leadership body of a private multicultural international secondary school in North-West Province , South Africa, to indicate that the emotional intelligence leadership development challenges of student leaders can be identified through a questionnaire as a measuring instrument, which can then be utilized in promoting training and development of student leaders. The questionnaire results were used to construct emotional intelligence leadership profiles for the 12 participating student leaders, followed by semi-structured interviews with them to verify the results qualitatively. The results of the questionnaire and two of the interviews are reported. It was established that it was possible to develop a reliable instrument to measure the emotional intelligence leadership development challenges of student leaders, which can be used in promoting their training and development.

This article argues the case that the decline in the numbers of school leavers entering science, technology, engineering and mathematics study courses worldwide and in South Africa in particular, is linked to negative attitudes towards Technology. The issue is regarded as critical since a negative trend in new entrants into the technology sector contributes to the technological skills shortage experienced locally and abroad. The purpose of the research was to determine learners' perception of the concept of technology in general; their current attitude-status on seven dimensions of attitude towards technology; and factors that affect attitude. To this effect the article reports on the results of a technology perceptions-and-attitudes survey (derived from the PATT-US attitude-questionnaire) conducted on 95 Grade 10-to-12 learners during the 2009 National Science Week initiative held in the Northwest Province of South Africa. The initiative was hosted to promote science and technology awareness amongst the school going youth of the Northwest Province. The Grade 10-to-12 group included in the research represented future school leavers in the Northwest Province who would possibly consider entering into a technological career. The results of the study indicated that age, gender and grade-level of learners presented as factors that statistically significantly affected attitudes towards and perceptions of technology. The findings of the study raised the question whether the various dimensions of attitudes measured in the study influence learners' choice of a career in technology in different ways.

The relevance of short learning programmes as an alternative to full-time tertiary degree courses at open and distance learning institutions forms the primary focus of this article. A new kind of student is on the increase in higher education: the mature student who prefers to study part-time in order to combine his or her studies with the advancement of his or her professional life. This kind of student is often interested in short duration, non-degree courses, such as short learning programmes, which have a high degree of specificity in order to update or expand the knowledge needed to enhance their occupational lives. Course applicability and effectiveness, evaluated as student satisfaction with these programmes, are vital in terms of the strategic planning of institutions. This article reports on an analysis of the dimensions that determine satisfaction with short learning programmes at a distance learning institution. Data was obtained by an electronic survey of students who had completed short learning programmes. Findings indicate that teaching staff, teaching methods and course administration are key elements to achieving satisfaction, and students' loyalty to the institution is expressed in their intention to continue with their studies and to recommend the programmes to other prospective students.

This article argues the case that the decline in the numbers of school leavers entering science, technology, engineering and mathematics study courses worldwide and in South Africa in particular, is linked to negative attitudes towards Technology. The issue is regarded as critical since a negative trend in new entrants into the technology sector contributes to the technological skills shortage experienced locally and abroad. The purpose of the research was to determine learners’ perception of the concept of technology in general; their current attitude-status on seven dimensions of attitude towards technology; and factors that affect attitude. To this effect the article reports on the results of a technology perceptions-and-attitudes survey (derived from the PATT-US attitude-questionnaire) conducted on 95 Grade 10-to-12 learners during the 2009 National Science Week initiative held in the Northwest Province of South Africa. The initiative was hosted to promote science and technology awareness amongst the school going youth of the Northwest Province. The Grade 10-to-12 group included in the research represented future school leavers in the Northwest Province who would possibly consider entering into a technological career. The results of the study indicated that age, gender and grade-level of learners presented as factors that statistically significantly affected attitudes towards and perceptions of technology. The findings of the study raised the question whether the various dimensions of attitudes measured in the study influence learners’ choice of a career in technology in different ways. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A case study was conducted with a student leadership body of a private multicultural international secondary school in North- West Province , South Africa, to indicate that the emotional intelligence leadership development challenges of student leaders can be identified through a questionnaire as a measuring instrument, which can then be utilized in promoting training and development of student leaders. The questionnaire results were used to construct emotional intelligence leadership profiles for the 12 participating student leaders, followed by semi-structured interviews with them to verify the results qualitatively. The results of the questionnaire and two of the interviews are reported. It was established that it was possible to develop a reliable instrument to measure the emotional intelligence leadership development challenges of student leaders, which can be used in promoting their training and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Understanding the primary and interactive effects of patch-size, within-patch location and degree of algal fouling on epifaunal assemblages is important for seagrass ecology and management, especially in fragmented habitats. In this paper we examine the influence of these factors on epifaunal assemblages in the Heuningnes Estuary, which is one of South Africa''s oldest protected systems. Multivariate analyses indicated that all seagrass properties significantly affected epifaunal assemblages and that two gastropods viz. Assiminea globulus and Haminoea alfredensis contributed most to the dissimilarities between factors. Abundance of epifauna and A. globulus were significantly greater at the edges of seagrass beds, whereas species diversity was higher in the interior. Differences in assemblage structure between inner cores and outer edges of seagrass beds are most likely due to the physical properties of each of these zones as well as competitive interactions and habitat preferences of species that utilize each section. Epifaunal richness and A. globulus abundance were significantly greater in large beds compared to small ones and the degree of algal fouling on seagrass beds inversely affected epifaunal abundance, species richness and A. globulus abundance. Importantly, there was a strong interaction between within-patch location and patch-size, indicating that the effects of within-patch location can be altered by patch-size. When explored further, ordinations indicated that epifaunal assemblages in cores and edges became more dissimilar as bed size increased. Similarly, differences in epifaunal abundance, and diversity as well as abundance of A. globulus and H. alfredensis between cores and edges of seagrass beds became greater with increasing bed size. Our results indicate the importance of large beds in enhancing spatial heterogeneity, richness and diversity and the need for adequate protection to prevent their fragmentation in future. This is especially pertinent given the small number of large beds currently found in the system. We discuss the importance of current management strategies in the Heuningness Estuary, specifically the artificial maintenance of an open mouth state, in the persistence of large seagrass beds in the system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The objectives of the study were to determine whether consumers who read food labels, were also more aware of health and lifestyle issues, in terms of nutrition and other health-related lifestyle behaviours, and whether there was a relationship between food-label reading, health awareness and lifestyle behaviour. A quantitative descriptive (survey) design was selected to investigate the relationship between food-label reading on the one hand, and health awareness and lifestyle behavior on the other. Method: A two-stage, stratified-proportionate and systematic sampling strategy was applied to select a sample of 357 Gauteng respondents to complete a telephonic questionnaire. Respondents who were most likely to read food label information were selected. Food label information is prescribed by comprehensive label legislation. Data report on respondents' label-reading habits, attitudes towards health awareness, lifestyle behaviour and biographic data. Nonparametric analysis, scale reliability tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni multiple comparisons of means tests were used to analyse the results. Results: Results indicate that the two-thirds of respondents who, to some extent read nutritional information on food labels, were concerned about their personal health, were interested in health-related information, and followed a healthy lifestyle, such as regularly eating fresh fruit and vegetables, cutting back on alcohol, and other positive lifestyle behaviours. They were unsure about how their own knowledge of nutrition, and their understanding of nutrition information on food labels, compared with that of other consumers. Conclusion: A relationship was found between patterns of reading food labels, health awareness and lifestyle behaviour. People who often read food labels were more health-conscious, and maintained a healthier lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The focus on paediatric radiation dose reduction supports reevaluation of paediatric imaging protocols. This is particularly important in the neonates where chest radiographs are frequently requested to assess respiratory illness and line placement. This study aims to assess the impact of neonatal chest radiographic protocols on patient dose in four hospitals in different countries., Methods: Exposure parameters, collimation, focus to skin distance (FSD) and radiation dose from 200 neonatal chest radiographs were registered prospectively. Inclusion criteria consisted of both premature and full-term neonates weighing between 1000 and 5000 g. Only data from the examinations meeting diagnostic criteria and approved for the clinical use were included. Radiation dose was assessed using dose area product (DAP)., Results: The lowest DAP value (4.58 mGy cm 2 ) was recorded in the Norwegian hospital, employing a high kVp, low mAs protocol using a DR system. The Canadian hospital recorded the highest DAP (9.48), using lower kVp and higher mAs with a CR system, including the addition of a lateral projection. The difference in the mean DAP, weight, field of view (FOV) and kVp between the hospitals is statistically significant (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Use of non-standardised imaging protocols in neonatal chest radiography results in differences in patient dose across hospitals included in the study. Using higher kVp, lower mAs and reducing the number of lateral projections to clinically relevant indications result in a lower DAP measured in the infant sample studied. Further studies to examine image quality based on exposure factors and added filtration are recommended., Implications for Practice: Reevaluation of paediatric imaging protocols presents an opportunity to reduce patient dose in a population with increased sensitivity to ionising radiation., (Copyright © 2019 The College of Radiographers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)