The influence of soccer-specific fatigue on the risk of thigh injuries in amateur black African players
- Authors: Jones, Robert Ian
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Soccer injuries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Thigh -- Wounds and injuries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Hamstring muscle -- Wounds and injuries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Black people -- Wounds and injuries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Fatigue
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5100 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001841
- Description: Background: Epidemiological findings indicate a higher risk of muscular thigh strain injury during the latter stages of both halves of soccer match-play, with muscular fatigue highlighted as a key etiological factor in injury causation. Anthropometric, biomechanical and physiological differences present in the Black African population may elicit unique thigh injury risk profiles, different from those of European and American players. Objectives: The purpose of the current research was to investigate the impact of soccer-specific fatigue on the risk of hamstring and quadricep injury in amateur Black African soccer players, in both the dominant and non-dominant legs. Methods: Participants were required to perform a soccer matchplay simulation (SAFT⁹⁰), consisting of multidirectional and utility movements, as well as frequent acceleration and deceleration. Selected physical, physiological and psychophysical responses were collected at specific time intervals throughout fatigue protocol performance. Results: Heart rate responses were observed to increase significantly (p<0.05) in response to the start of both halves, and remain elevated (but showing no further significant increase) during the performance of the remainder of the fatigue protocol. Significant (p<0.05) changes in both concentric and eccentric isokinetic variables of the knee flexors and extensors highlight the effect of muscular fatigue on performance in soccer match-play. Eccentric hamstring peak torque was observed to decrease significantly over time (60°.s⁻ₑ=17.34%, 180°.s⁻ₑ=18.27%), with significant reductions observed during both halves. The functional H:Q ratio at 180°.s⁻ₑ indicated a significant decrease over time (10.04%), with a significant decrease indicated during the second half of the SAFT⁹⁰ protocol. The passive half time interval did not result in significant changes in isokinetic variables. Isokinetic strength, work and power indicated no significant effects of leg dominance.. ‘Central’ and ‘Local’ ratings of exertion were observed to increase significantly (p<0.05) as a function of exercise duration. Conclusion: The overall reduction in both the eccentric hamstring peak torque and the functional strength ratio was illustrated to be similar to that of other soccer-specific fatigue research. As a result, the risk of thigh strain injuries is suggested to be similar regardless of playing level and race. These time dependent changes may have implications for competitive performance and increased predisposition to hamstring strain injuries during the latter stages of both halves of match-play
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- Date Issued: 2013
The integration of pre-primary education into three mainstream primary schools in the Khomas Region in Namibia: implications for management and leadership
- Authors: Poulton-Busler, Richardine Masoline
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Education, Preschool -- Namibia -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1388 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001581
- Description: One of the goals for Namibia’s Vision 2030, through ETSIP (2005‐2015), is to establish a preprimary year in primary schools for all children aged 5‐6 to be developed first in schools serving the poorest population and OVCs. ECD is widely recognised as having a significant impact on the subsequent learning of children. The high failure and dropout rate in grade 1 made this process an important one. In 2008 the integration of ECD became a reality in five schools in the Khomas region of Namibia. At present there are 29 pilot schools in the Khomas region 29 schools, and 504 in the whole of Namibia. According to the MoE all primary schools should have a preprimary class as ECD has been recognized as a key contributor to positive outcomes in schools. This study sought to investigate various stakeholders’ experiences and views of the integration of pre‐primary into mainstream pre‐primary schooling. The goal was to investigate the management and leadership implications of this integration. The study is an interpretive case study of three pilot primary schools. The research design made provision for data collection through semi‐structured interviews, focus groups and document analysis. The main finding was that, despite numerous challenges, principals are positive about the integration of pre‐primary. There is a sense of appreciation of the importance of pre‐primary. Principals adopt participative and collegial management approaches in leading their schools towards becoming learning organisations. The study also uncovered several significant challenges, such as the need for more training and the provision of infrastructure to make the process more effective.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The interest rate elasticity of credit demand and the balance sheet channel of monetary policy transmission in South Africa
- Authors: Doig, Gregory Graham
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Monetary policy -- South Africa Banks and banking -- South Africa Bank loans -- South Africa Finance -- South Africa Vector autoregression (VAR) approach to econometric modeling Financial statements Interest rates -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1052 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006482
- Description: It has long been accepted that changes in monetary policy have real economic effects; however, the mechanism by which these policy changes are transmitted to the real economy has been the subject of much debate. Traditionally the transmission mechanism of monetary policy has consisted of various channels which include the money channel, the asset price channel and the exchange rate channel. Recent developments in economic theory have led to a relatively new channel of policy transmission, termed the credit channel. The credit channel consists of the bank lending channel as well as the balance sheet channel, and focuses on the demand for credit as the variable of interest. The credit channel is based on the notion that demanders and suppliers of credit face asymmetric information problems which create a gap between the cost of external funds and the cost of internally generated funds, referred to as the wedge. The aim here is to determine the size and lag length effects of changes in credit demand, by both firms as well as households, as a result of changes in interest rates. A secondary, but subordinate, aim is to test for a balance sheet channel of monetary policy transmission. A vector autoregressive (VAR) model is used in conjunction with causality tests, impulse response functions and variance decompositions to achieve the stated objectives. Results indicate that the interest rate elasticity of credit demand, for both firms and households, is interest inelastic and therefore the monetary policy authorities have a limited ability to influence credit demand in the short as well as medium term. In light of the second aim, only weak evidence of a balance sheet channel of policy transmission is found.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The isolation and characterisation of secondary metabolites from selected South African marine red algae (Rhodophyta)
- Authors: Fakee, Jameel
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Metabolites Marine algae -- South Africa Marine algae -- Therapeutic use Metabolites -- Therapeutic use Marine metabolites Plocamocera Red algae Laurencia Delisea flaccida
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001472
- Description: Secondary metabolites from natural sources are fast growing as popular drug leads. The structural novelty and favourable biological activity that these compounds display contribute to their popularity as drugs of the future. Examples of such compounds include the potent anticancer drug paclitaxel isolated from the bark of a yew tree as well as the more commonly known analgesic aspirin which stems from the bark of the willow tree. The biological activities exhibited by these secondary metabolites are vast and range from antimicrobial to anticancer activity to mention but a few. As a result, the isolation of novel compounds from natural sources is on the rise. The South African seaboard is home to a wealth of various marine algal species which produce fascinating secondary metabolites. For example, Portierria hornemanii was shown to produce halomon, a halogenated monoterpene which has displayed promising cytotoxic activity. This study thus focused primarily on pursuing novel compounds from three endemic South African marine algal species which have never been analysed previously from a chemical perspective. These are Plocamium rigidum (Bory de Saint-Vincent), Laurencia natalensis (Kylin) and Delisea flaccida (Suhr) Papenfuss. Four known compounds and one new halogenated monoterpene, (2E,5E,7Z)-8-chloro- 7-(dichloromethyl)-4-hydroxy-3-methylocta-2,5,7-trienal, were isolated from Plocamium rigidum. The breast cancer (MCF-7 cell line) inhibitory activity for these compounds was assessed and it was observed that an increase in the lipophilic nature of the compounds produced more favourable IC50 values. A pre-cursor to bromofucin type compounds, cis-laurencenyne, was isolated from Laurencia natalensis, as well as a new acetoxy chamigrane type compound, 4-bromo- 3,10-dichloro-7-hydroxy-3,7,11,11-tetramethylspiro [6.6] undec-1-yl acetate. Delisea flaccida was seen to contain two known bromofuranone type compounds isolated as an isomeric mixture, 1-[(5Z)-4-bromo-5-(bromomethylidene)-2-oxo-2,5- dihydrofuran-3-yl] butyl acetate and 1-[(5E)-4-bromo-5-(bromomethylidene)-2- oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl]butyl acetate. These compounds are famous for their ability to inhibit bacterial biofilm production and they have been isolated before from an Australian Delisea spp , Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Date Issued: 2013
The limitations and possiblilites of identity and form in selected recent memoirs and novels by white, female Zimbabwean writers : Alexandra Fuller, Lauren Liebenberg
- Authors: Eppel, Ruth
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Women, White -- Zimbabwe -- Biography Women, White -- Zimbabwe -- Fiction Zimbabwean fiction (English) -- 21st century Women, White -- Zimbabwe -- Autobiography Fuller, Alexandra, 1969- Liebenberg, Lauren St. John, Lauren,1966- Rheam, Bryony
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2185 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001985
- Description: This study examines selected works by four white female Zimbabwean writers: Alexandra Fuller, Lauren Liebenberg, Bryony Rheam and Lauren St John, in light of the controversy over the spate of white memoirs which followed the violent confiscation of white farms in Zimbabwe from 2000 onwards. The controversy hinges on the notion that white memoir writers exploit the perceived victimhood of white Zimbabweans in the international sphere, and nostalgically recall a time of belonging – as children in Rhodesia – which fails to address the fraught colonial history which is directly related to the current political climate of the country. I argue that such critiques are too generalised, and I regard the selected texts as primarily critical of the values and lifestyles of white Rhodesians/Zimbabweans. The texts I have selected include a range of autobiographical and fictional writing, or memoirs and pseudo-memoirs, and I focus on form as a medium enabling an exploration of identity. The ways in which these authors conform to and adapt particular narratives of becoming is examined in each chapter, with a particular focus on the transition from innocence to experience, the autobiography, and the Bildungsroman. Gender is a recurring point of interest: in each case the female selves/protagonists are situated in terms of the family, which, in reflecting social values, is a key site of conflict. In regard to trends in white African writing, I explore the white African (farm) childhood memoir and the confessional mode. Ultimately I maintain that while the texts may be classified as white writing, as they are fundamentally concerned with white identity, and therefore evince certain limitations of perspective and form, including clichéd tendencies, all the writers interrogate white identity and the fictional texts more self-reflexively deconstruct tropes of white writing.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The new Africans: a textual analysis of the construction of 'African-ness' in Chaz Maviyane-Davies' 1996 poster depictions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Authors: Garman, Brian Donald
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Human rights , Posters , African perspective , Stereotypes , Black men , Maviyane-Davies, Chaz -- Criticism and interpretation , Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- Posters -- Research , Ethnicity -- Research -- Africa , Human rights -- Africa , Pan-Africanism
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3413 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001844
- Description: In 1996, Zimbabwean graphic designer Chaz Maviyane-Davies created a set of human rights posters which represent several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, from what he calls an “African perspective”. In this study I investigate how Maviyane-Davies has constructed ‘African-ness’ and probe what he refers to as the “alternative aesthetic” that he is trying to create. I use a visual social semiotic approach to examine the discourses he draws on to re-image and re-imagine Africa and Africans in a manner that contests the stereotypical representations found in political, news and economic discourses about Africa, paying particular attention to the ways he uses images of the body. My analysis of the posters shows how complex and difficult it can be to contest regimes of representation that work to fix racialised and derogatory meanings. In response to the pejorative stereotypes of the black body, Maviyane-Davies uses images of strong, healthy, and magnificent people (mostly men) to construct a more affirmative representation of Africa and Africans. Significantly, he draws on sports, touristic, traditional and hegemonic discourses of masculinity in an attempt to expand the complexity and range of possible representations of African-ness. In so doing he runs the risk of reproducing many of the stereotypes that sustain not only the racialised and gendered (masculinist) representations of Africa, but also a sentimentalisation and romanticisation of a place, a people and their traditions. Apart from women in prominent positions, other conspicuous absences from these images include white people and hegemonic references to Western modernity. I do not believe he is discarding whites and modernity as un-African, but is rejecting the naturalisation of whiteness as standing in for humanity, and particular icons of Western modernity as significations of ‘modernity’ itself
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- Date Issued: 2013
The power of investor sentiment: an analysis of the impact of investor confidence on South African financial markets
- Authors: Argyros, Robert
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Johannesburg Stock Exchange Stockholders Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa Stock Exchanges Investments
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1032 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004169
- Description: Whether investor sentiment has any authority over financial markets has long been a topic of discussion in the field of finance. This study investigates the relationship between investor sentiment and share returns in South Africa. Determining this relationship will add to the existing work which has documented important determinants of share returns on the stock exchange in South Africa, as well adding to the inconclusive link between sentiment and the South African financial markets. Does sentiment influence share returns or do share returns influence sentiment? Using quarterly data for the period 1996-2010, the study makes use of the FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index as a proxy for investor sentiment, and the FTSE/JSE All Share Index to represent the South African financial markets. A regression analysis was conducted along with granger-causality tests, impulse response functions and variance decompositions in order to determine the nature of this relationship. The results showed that investor sentiment has a statistically significant relationship with share returns in South Africa. However, sentiment is only able to account for a very small portion of the variation in returns, with returns able to account for a larger portion of the variation in sentiment. Therefore investor sentiment is not a suitable predictor of share returns in South Africa. In addition, granger-causality tests indicate that returns are actually the leading indicator, suggesting that changes in South African investors’ confidence levels occur following changes in the state of the JSE. The limitations of the study include the infrequent nature of the sentiment measure used, thereby failing to capture important changes in sentiment and their immediate impact on financial markets. In addition, the sentiment of foreign investors must be taken into account due to the large foreign investment in the JSE.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The protection of indigenous knowledge within the current intellectual property rights regime: a critical assessment focusing upon the Masakhane Pelargonium case
- Authors: Msomi, Zuziwe Nokwanda
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Intellectual property -- South Africa -- Case studies Cultural property -- Protection -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Indigenous peoples -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa Masakhane (South Africa) -- Trials, litigation, etc. Pelargoniums -- Therapeutic use Traditional ecological knowledge -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Pharmaceutical industry -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2871 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007744
- Description: The use of indigenous knowledge (IK) and indigenous bio-resources by pharmaceutical and herbal industries has led to concerns about the need to protect IK in order to prevent biopiracy and the misappropriation of indigenous knowledge and resources. While some commentators believe that intellectual property rights (IPR) law can effectively protect IK, others are more sceptical. In order to contribute to the growing debate on this issue, this study uses the relatively new and as yet largely critically unanalysed Masakhane Pelargonium case to address the question of whether or not IPR law can be used to effectively protect IK. It is argued here that discussion about the protection of IK is a matter that must be located within broader discussions about North-South relations and the continued struggle for economic and political freedom by indigenous people and their states. The Masakhane case suggests that IPR law in its current form cannot provide sufficient protection of IK on its own. Incompatibilities between IPR law and IK necessitate that certain factors, most important of which are land, organised representation, and what are referred as 'confidence and network resources', be present in order for IPR law to be used with any degree of success. The study also reveals various factors that undermine the possibility of using IPR law to protect IK. In particular, the study highlights the way in which local political tensions can undermine the ability of communities to effectively use IPR law to protect their knowledge. The thesis concludes with several recommendations that will enable indigenous communities and their states to benefit more substantially from the commercialisation of their bio-resources and associated IK.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The relationship between customer satisfaction and revenue: an empirical study within the corporate banking division of a South African bank
- Authors: Richter, Leonie
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- Customer services -- South Africa Banks and banking -- South Africa -- Accounting Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa Financial services industry -- South Africa Revenue -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:802 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006169
- Description: This is a quantitative study which explores whether there is a positive relationship between customer satisfaction as perceived by corporate customers and revenue generated from such customers of the corporate division of a single South African bank. This research report has three sections, namely the (1) academic paper which comprises a condensed literature review, research methods, results and discussion, (2) an expanded literature review, and (3) an expanded research methodology. Although these three sections are interrelated, they may be considered stand-alone documents. A review of literature contends that customer satisfaction has been a topic of interest for over four decades when, in 1965, the concept was first introduced to literature by Cardozo. Even in these early stages it was hypothesized that higher customer satisfaction would lead to repeat purchasing and cross selling. Thus, for some time, researchers have proposed that a link exists between customer satisfaction and a company’s bottom line, ultimately alluding to the notion of positive associations between customer satisfaction, revenue and profitability. The corporate banking division of a South African bank has dedicated significant time and economic resources to monitoring and improving the satisfaction of their corporate customers each year. With a focus on this single corporate banking division, this quantitative study used secondary customer satisfaction data to establish whether a positive relationship between customer satisfaction with a bank representative or more formally termed, the ‘transactional banker’ (TB) and revenue at an account level exists. The study used a one-dimensional customer satisfaction construct summated from several variables or a one-dimensional multi item scale. This quantitative study made use of secondary data obtained through customer satisfaction surveys conducted with the division’s clients in three waves during September 2010, March 2011 and September 2011. At the time of data collection, telephone interviews were conducted with individuals in corporations who were customers of the corporate division within the bank. These individuals in their respective corporations were identified and surveyed because they (a) managed the primary relationship of the corporation with the banking division and (b) were senior financial decision makers of their organization’s (i.e. had the ability to influence a decision to change banks). Sample sizes of 273 (September 2010), 259 (March 2011) and 310 (September 2011) individual corporate customers were achieved through a method of stratified sampling. In this study, customers were stratified according to the TB who is responsible for their account. Within each stratum a random sample of 10 – 15 participants were included for each of the 30 TB’s. Monthly revenue data, recorded as a) credit revenue, b) overdraft revenue and c) total revenue was sourced from internal company records for each month from September 2010 to January 2012. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess whether a positive correlation between the two variables of customer satisfaction and revenue exists. This was followed by Ordinary Least Square Regression to investigate the magnitude and nature of the relationship between customer satisfaction and revenue using customer satisfaction as the independent variable and revenue as the response variable. Cronbach’s alpha was also used for internal scale validity. The results of the research indicated no statistically significant relationship between a customer’s satisfaction with the performance of their TB and either the credit, overdraft or total revenue generated from such a customer through their account. By highlighting this, these findings, nevertheless, contribute to the growing body of knowledge examining the impact of customer satisfaction efforts on revenue. On the basis of the findings of this study, it cannot be practically recommended that customer satisfaction efforts be terminated or changed within the organization of study owing to several study limitations which were present. Firstly, the study was hampered by small sample sizes due to a lack of the availability of revenue data in some instances, particularly in the case of overdraft revenue. Secondly, the study only focused on a single bank account held with the bank and increases and decreases in revenue based on the balances held within that single account. Since one of the purported consequences of improved customer satisfaction is the purchase of additional products, the current design of the study does not take into account the take up of additional accounts or banking products with the bank. Thus, an increase in revenue for the bank as a whole due to the purchase of additional accounts may be masked. Similarly, the scope of the study does not extend to examining the effect of recommendations made by these corporate customers to others and hence growth of divisional or bank revenue due to the addition of new customers. Finally, this quantitative study does not examine revenue growth when compared to customer satisfaction improvements over time due to a limited sample of customers taking part in the study over a number of periods as well as incomplete revenue data. The recommendations for future research are to examine the relationship between changes in customer satisfaction and changes in revenue at divisional level in the long run within the South African banking industry as the impact of an increase in customer satisfaction may be obscured by salient factors in the short run. It is also suggested that future research look at the correlation between dissatisfaction and revenue, where adequate sample sizes are available. Theoretically, the results of this research do bring into serious question the universal application, especially in the context of the South African banking industry of the Service Profit Chain and Satisfaction Profit Chain which propagate the existence of a positive relationship between customer satisfaction and revenue.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The relationship between leadership and employee work performance in a Nigerian courier company
- Authors: Yobe, Kingsley
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Leadership -- Nigeria Transformational leadership -- Nigeria Industrial management -- Nigeria Business planning -- Research -- Nigeria Employees -- Rating of -- Nigeria Organizational change
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:805 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006858
- Description: A number of authors have portrayed leadership as a vital factor in the success or failure of an organization. Hence Bass (1994; 1997) believes that excellent organizations begin with excellent leadership and organisations reflect their leadership (Maritz, 1995). Therefore, successful organisations reflect their leadership (Maritz, 1995). In an attempt to investigate the aim of this research, various performance and leadership concepts and theories were investigated: the trait concept, behavioural approaches and situational/contingency approaches. Every one of these theories gave a different explanation to leadership. Furthermore, transactional, and transformational leadership were also discussed. The difference between these two models according to Bass and Avolio (1994) is that the work performance of the followers of transformational leadership is usually beyond expectations, while transactional leadership, at best, leads to expected performance. In terms of performance, it is argued that employee work performance can lead to a successful organisational performance. This is because several organisations attribute their business success to the work performance of their employees. According to Collis and Montgomery (1995) employee work performance has a major positive influence on organisational performance. Nevertheless, the accomplishment of an organisation is dependent on the leader’s ability to enhance human resources; hence “effective organisations require effective leadership” (Maritz, 1995). Transformational leadership was identified as the effective leadership style that can motivate workers to improve on their performance by instilling trust and confidence in them. Transformational leadership is superior to both transactional and non-transactional leadership because it makes workers loyal to the mission and vision of their organizations. Bass (1990) states “that the leadership research over the years has proved that loyalty is more powerful than tangible inducements.” Furthermore, non- transactional leaders avoid decision making, allowing their subordinates to take charge of the work process (Bass 1990). This research focuses on the relationship between leadership and employee work performance in a Nigerian Courier Company. In addressing this aim, a Nigerian Courier company was selected as the research context because of its success in the Nigerian turbulent business environment that is plagued by the country’s economic, social, and political troubles (McKern, Meza, Osayande and Denend, 2010). The research hypothesis of this research was generated to investigate leadership and employee performance. Leadership and performance were also identified as the research independent and dependent variables. Thus the research hypotheses were as follows: Hypothesis 1. Null Hypothesis: There is no significant positive linear relationship between employee performance and transformational leadership Alternative Hypothesis: There is significant positive linear relationship between employee performance and transformational leadership Hypothesis 2. Null Hypothesis: There is no significant positive linear relationship between employee performance and transactional leadership Alternative Hypothesis: There is significant positive linear relationship between employee performance and transactional leadership Hypothesis 3. Null Hypothesis: There is no significant positive linear relationship between employee performance and non-transactional leadership. Alternative Hypothesis: There is significant positive linear relationship between employee performance and non-transactional leadership. The general methodology included the use of a valid and reliable instrument known as the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the company’s performance appraisal process. These instruments were used to collect information about employee work performance. The validity and reliability of the MLQ is not in doubt because it was formulated from the full range leadership development theory of Bass and Avolio (1997) and has been used extensively worldwide (Bass and Avolio, 1997). The research data was analysed using Statistica (StatSoft, 2011). Once the data was imported the necessary leadership factors were calculated as per the MLQ scoring key. From the eight factors a further three factors were generated namely transformational, transactional and nontransactional leadership. The data was checked and described using frequency tables and descriptive statistics, followed by correlation matrices coupled with their corresponding scatter plots. The research data was tested for consistency and reliability. Sekaran (2000) states that in order to determine the reliability of a measure one needs to test for both consistency and stability. For this research, linear correlation and regression analysis was used. The outcome of the first investigated hypothesis confirmed that there is a strong significant, positive linear relationship between employee performance and transformational leadership (ρ<0.0001). However, the findings on the null hypothesis, states that transformational leadership has no significant positive linear relationship with employee performance. The null hypothesis is REJECTED, because the model is significant at ρ<.0001. Thus, the alternative hypothesis is ACCEPTED because it concludes that there is sufficient evidence, at the 5% level of significance, that there is significant positive linear relationship between employee performance and transformational leadership. The second hypotheses found that with 5% level of significance there is no significant positive linear relationship between transactional leadership and employee performance (ρ =0.317). It must be noted that since the correlation is not significant the null hypothesis which states that there is no significant positive linear relationship between employee performance and transactional leadership was NOT REJECTED. The outcome of the third hypotheses support the null hypothesis, because the negative linear relationship between employee performance and non-transactional leadership is not significant (ρ = 0.6718). This informed the conclusion that at the 5% level of significance, there is no positive linear relationship between non-transactional leadership and employee performance. The findings of this research favour the conclusion drawn by Brand, Heyl and Maritz (2000) that suggested a more significant relationship between transformational leadership and employee performance, than any other leadership style. Evidence put together in the retail and manufacturing sector of South Africa, and the armed forces of the United States of America, Germany and Canada, point in the direction of the strong, positive effects of transformational leaders (Brand, et al., 2000). Again the effectiveness of transformational leadership can be reinforced by the research directed by Ristow, Amos and Staude (1999), which resolved that the effectiveness of transformational leadership was greater in a South African cricketing environment. Hayward, Davidson, Pascoe, Tasker, Amos and Pearse (2003) conducted research in a pharmaceutical organisation and found a positive linear relationship between transformational leadership and employee work performance. These research outcomes clarify the investigation by Pruijn and Boucher (1994) which established “that transformational leadership is an extension of transactional leadership” (Bass, 1997). The difference between these two models according to Bass and Avolio (1994) is that the work performance of supporters of transformational leadership is usually beyond expectation, while the behaviour of the supporters of transactional leadership, at best, leads to anticipated work performance. This research will be used to improve the relationship between the leaders and employees of the courier company under investigation. It will be useful for the placement of individuals to leadership positions in the company. It will also impact on how future leadership training will be conducted by the company, and of course add to the body of knowledge. This is supported by research conducted in the service sector which states that “transformational leadership affects performance over and above transactional leadership” (Geyery and Steyrer, 1998).
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- Date Issued: 2013
The role of the sandprawn, Callichirus kraussi, as an ecosystem engineer in a temporarily open/closed Eastern Cape estuary, South Africa
- Authors: Njozela, Cuma
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Estuarine biology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Decapoda (Crustacea) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Biotic communities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bioenergetics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Shrimps -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5583 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001539 , Estuarine biology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Decapoda (Crustacea) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Biotic communities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bioenergetics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Shrimps -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The role of the sandprawn, Callichirus (=Callianassa) kraussi (Stebbing), as an ecosystem engineer was assessed in the lower reach of the temporarily open/closed Kasouga Estuary situated along the Eastern Cape coastline of southern Africa over the period April 2010 to June 2011. The study comprised two distinct components, a field study and a caging experiment. The field study assessed the correlation between sand prawn densities and selected physico-chemical (organic content of the sediment and bioturbation) and biological (microphytobenthic algal concentrations and macrobenthic abundance and biomass) variables in 50 quadrants in the lower reach of the estuary. Densities of the sand prawn within the quadrants ranged from 0 to 156 ind m⁻² (mean = 37 ind m⁻²). There were no significant correlations between the densities of the sandprawn and the estimates of the organic content of the sediment and the abundance and biomass of the macrofauna (P > 0.05 in all cases). Numerical analyses failed to identify any effect of the sandprawn density on the macrofaunal community structure. The rate of bioturbation was, however, strongly correlated to the sand prawn density. Similarly, the microphytobenthic alga concentrations were significantly negatively correlated to the sand prawn densities ((P < 0.05). The absence of any distinct impact of the sandprawn on the macrobenthic community structure appeared to be related to their low densities in the lower reach of the estuary during the study. To better understand the role of the sandprawn as an ecosystem engineer, a caging experiment was conducted using inclusion and exclusion treatments (n= 5 for each treatment). Densities of the sandprawn in the inclusion treatments (80 ind m⁻²) were in the range of the natural densities within the estuary. The experiment was conducted over a period of 18 weeks in the lower reach of the estuary during summer. The presence of the sandprawn, C kraussi, contributed to a significant decrease in the microphytobenthic algal concentrations and the abundance and biomass of the macrofauna (P < 0.05 in all cases). The decrease in the microphytobenthic algal concentrations in the presence of the sandprawn appeared to be related to the res-suspension of the sediments (bioturbation) generated by the burrowing and feeding activities of the sandprawn. The observed decrease in macrofaunal abundances and biomass in the inclusion treatments appeared to be mediated by both the decreased food availability (mainly the microphytobenthic algae) and the burial of organisms within the sediments. Numerical analysis indicated that the sandprawn did, however, not contribute to a change in the species composition of the macrofauna. Results of the current study indicate that C.kraussi plays an important role in structuring the invertebrate community and energy flow within temporarily/open closed Kasouga Estuary.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The Rotterdam Rules : a South African perspective
- Authors: Gordon, Goscelin Lucy
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rotterdam Rules (2008) , Contracts, Maritime , Maritime law , Maritime law -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001865 , Rotterdam Rules (2008) , Contracts, Maritime , Maritime law , Maritime law -- South Africa
- Description: The objective of this paper is to investigate the Rotterdam Rules, and to ascertain whether South Africa should accede to or ratify them. In order to accomplish this, South Africa's current maritime transport regime will be examined, and existing "problem areas" will be identified. This will be followed by a comparative analysis between the Rotterdam Rules and the Hague-Visby Rules, which South Africa applies as part of national law to regulate the carriage of goods by sea. As a new maritime Convention, the Rotterdam Rules have attracted widespread criticism and support, and whether such is justified will also be considered. Finally potential considerations South Africa should take into account in electing whether or not to accede or ratify the Rules have been assessed from a political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental standpoint as at 31 December 2011
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- Date Issued: 2013
The talisman
- Authors: Reed, Graham Conan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Fiction , Short stories , English , South Africa , Creative writing (Higher education) , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , English language -- Writing
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5967 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001817
- Description: The Talisman is an adventure story set in a future where much of today's cultural memory and technology has been lost. Following a hunting accident, a young man named Forest survives a life-threatening wound and embarks on a quest for knowledge. Rising sea levels, bands of marauders, wild animals and the perils of survival in the broken world are not the only problems facing the survivors. The nature of the collapse of the society, what triggered it and its subsequent unfolding, bequeaths an existential quandary upon them that only Forest, and a rare text as old as the earth itself, can unravel
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- Date Issued: 2013
The tax treatment of receipts and accruals arising from equity option contracts
- Authors: Doidge, Stephen
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Derivative securities Options (Finance) Swaps (Finance) Income tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Taxation -- South Africa Futures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:903 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007921
- Description: In this thesis the tax treatment of equity option contracts is examined. The writer gives an overview of the derivatives market in general and discusses the nature and effect of equity options in detail. Limited amendments have been made to the South African Income Tax Act No 58 of 1962 ('the Act') since the emergence of derivative instruments and at present only three types of derivative instruments are recognised: forward exchange and option contracts relating to forward exchange, interest rate swaps based on notional capital amounts and option contracts. Other than section 241 of the Act which deems all receipts and accruals from foreign exchange contracts to be income, the other sections dealing with derivatives do not concern themselves with capital or revenue classification. Accordingly, the classification of receipts and accruals arising from an equity option transaction is generally governed by the ordinary principles of South African tax law with the added problem of there being limited South African case law applying these general prinCiples to such transactions. The research undertaken in this thesis results in the establishment of a framework designed to determine the classification as revenue or capital the receipts and accruals arising from equity option contracts. Speculating, trading and investing in equity options is examined with regard to the general principles of South African tax and available case law. Hedging transactions are analysed with specific reference to their exact nature as well as general tax principles and available case law. The analogy of Krugerrands is used to draw parallels with the tax treatment of receipts and accruals arising from equity options used for hedging purposes. Once the theoretical framework has been established for revenue or capital classification, the actual tax treatment of both revenue and capital receipts is examined with reference to the Act and issues such as the gross income definition, the general deduction formula, trading stock and timing provisions are analysed and applied to receipts and accruals arising from equity option transactions. The thesis concludes with a summary of the findings and recommendations are made based on the research conducted.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The use of tax incentive measure in conjunction with carbon taxes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve economic growth: a comparative study with lessons for South Africa
- Authors: Poole, Richard
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Elasticity (Economics) , Substitution (Economics) , Carbon taxes , Carbon taxes -- South Africa , Greenhouse gas mitigation , Greenhouse gas mitigation--South Africa , United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change -- (1992). Protocols, etc. -- 1997 Dec. 11 , Kyoto Protocol , Substitution elasticity
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:875 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001607 , Elasticity (Economics) , Substitution (Economics) , Carbon taxes , Carbon taxes -- South Africa , Greenhouse gas mitigation , Greenhouse gas mitigation--South Africa , United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change -- (1992). Protocols, etc. -- 1997 Dec. 11
- Description: In 1997 industrialized nations, the Third Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, met in Kyoto, Japan to sign a treaty (the “Kyoto Protocol”) in terms of which industrialized nations would be required to reduce their greenhouse gas emission by at least five percent below 1990 levels by the end of the “first commitment period” 2008-2012. South Africa is not regarded as an industrialized nation, but nonetheless acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. The literature reviewed in the present research reveals that, although idealistic, the Kyoto Protocol has been problematic. Fourteen meetings of the Conference of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol between 1997 and 2011 have achieved little more than to repeatedly defer and redefine Kyoto obligations. This research was undertaken to document the existing environmental taxation policies employed in selected international jurisdictions with a view to providing a framework for environmental tax policy formation in South Africa to assist this country in meeting its “greenhouse gas” emission targets, while at the same time promoting economic growth. A doctrinal research methodology was adopted in this study as it mainly analysed and interpreted legislation and policy documents and therefore the approach was qualitative in nature. An extensive literature survey was performed to document the various environmental policies that have been legislated in the selected jurisdictions. Comparisons were drawn with proposed tax policy measures for South Africa. The literature indicates that in the selected international jurisdictions carbon taxes achieved less-than-optimal results, largely due to political and industry-competitive agendas. With South Africa planning to introduce a carbon tax, it is submitted that the implementation of a carbon tax regime in isolation will be counter-productive, given South Africa’s economic profile. On the basis of the literature reviewed, it was concluded that South Africa should consider “recycling” carbon tax revenues within the economy to fund a broad-based tax incentive regime that will stimulate the change to non-carbon energy whilst promoting growth through sustainable development
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- Date Issued: 2013
The value of non-native fish species : a study of recreational angling in the Amathole district
- Authors: Kinghorn, James Wolmarans
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Fishing -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Introduced fishes -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Fisheries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Non-native fish species , Recreational angling , Amathole district
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEcon
- Identifier: vital:930 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001456
- Description: Experience has shown that effective fisheries governance requires a sound understanding of fisheries as systems incorporating both ecological and human dimensions. The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries requires that the human components of these systems be considered when developing management and governance frameworks. While the potential for inland fisheries to contribute towards societal welfare and the development of rural livelihoods is becoming increasingly apparent, developing South African inland fisheries requires a careful consideration of both their positive and negative impacts, given that they revolve mainly around five of the world‟s top 100 invasive species. This thesis aimed to explore the value of inland recreational fisheries to rural livelihoods in the Amathole District of South Africa, to the regional economy, and to anglers themselves. Three methods were used to isolate this value. Economic impact analysis was used to estimate the combined total economic impact of the 2011 Divisional Tournament (n=31) and the 2012 Amatola Bass Classic (n=100) on the regional economy of the Amathole District, estimated to be R106 625. The travel cost method was applied to data from the 2012 Amatola Bass Classic in order to estimate the social welfare generated by this tournament. The Negative Binomial model, corrected for truncation and endogenous stratification, estimated this value at R 1 960 090. The sustainable livelihoods framework was used to conduct a broad-based analysis of the value of Amatola Wild Trout, the firm which constitutes the fishery surrounding the rural village of Cata. It was found that the fishery had been responsible for a modest pecuniary impact on the community of Cata within its first two years of establishment, although significant improvements in human capital were found to have resulted from the development of the fishery. These results provide insights into the economic dimension of fisheries in the Amathole District, and will prove useful when weighing up the positive and negative impacts of non-native fish species, particularly when informing decisions regarding their potential eradication.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The violence of language : contemporary hate speech and the suitability of legal measures regulating hate speech in South Africa
- Authors: Janse van Rensburg, Leanne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Hate speech -- South Africa , Hate speech -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Racism in language , Freedom of speech -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001866 , Hate speech -- South Africa , Hate speech -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Racism in language , Freedom of speech -- South Africa
- Description: This thesis unites law and social science so as to give a comprehensive account of the phenomenon of racial hate speech in South Africa as an obstacle to transformation. Hate speech is presented as a form of violent language and an affront to the constitutional rights of freedom of speech, equality and dignity. To establish the nature of hate speech, the fluid quality of language is explored so as to show how language can be manipulated, on the one hand, as a means to harm, and employed, on the other hand, as a tool to heal and reconcile. This double gesture is illustrated through the South African linguistic experience of past hate and segregation and the current transformation agenda. It is through this prism that hate speech regulation is discussed as an uneasy fit in a country where freedom of expression is constitutionally protected and where language plays an important role in bringing about reconciliation, and yet words are still being employed to divide and dehumanise. This reality necessitates a clearly articulated stance on the regulation of language. The thesis accordingly interrogates the current legal standards in relation to hate speech with reference to international law that binds South Africa and the constitutional standard set for the regulation of language and the prohibition of hate speech. Thereafter, the current and proposed legislative prohibitions on hate speech, the residual common law provisions governing expression and the regulation of language in the media are outlined and analysed. These legal frameworks are explored in terms of their content and their application in various fora so as to ascertain what the South African approach to hate speech prohibition is, whether it is consistent and, ultimately if it is indeed suitable to the South African experience and the realities of language. This thesis concludes that contemporary hate speech measures lack a coherent understanding of what hate speech entails and a general inconsistency in approach as well as application is found in the treatment of hate speech complaints in South Africa. This is explained through the fallibility of language as a medium to regulate expression and solutions are offered to not only taper current and proposed hate speech provisions but to also consider alternative forms of resolving hate speech complaints
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- Date Issued: 2013
Towards identifying how knowledge management concepts may be applied to enhance the tendering process in South African public sector institutions
- Authors: Kasi, Sizukisa Bridget
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Letting of contracts -- South Africa , Knowledge management , Public contracts -- South Africa , Transparency in government -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:1150 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007741 , Letting of contracts -- South Africa , Knowledge management , Public contracts -- South Africa , Transparency in government -- South Africa
- Description: The state of the Tendering Process in South African Government Institutions has become an area of concern in recent years with issues related to transparency, governance and rigid retrospective procedures being cited as impediments to efficiency. In tum, Knowledge Management (KM) and its ability to be applied to all types of organisations to increase efficiency has been popularised extensively. An analysis of KM literature suggested that the principles of KM may be used to increase efficiency and create competitive advantage. This study attempted to identify whether the benefits gained by other organisations through the application of Knowledge Management principles, could be applied to the Tendering Process in South African Government Institutions. The study sought to identify how Knowledge Value Chain by Wang and Ahmed (2005) may be leveraged to create an enhanced Tendering Process. The study then reviewed the Tendering Processes conducted in Australia, United States of America, Malaysia and South Africa and sought to identify the common steps in a tendering process in order to construct a standard tendering process. The Knowledge Value Chain was then applied to this process to create a standard tendering process enhanced by Knowledge Management Principles. The model was compared to the processes currently conducted in two Government institutions and two parastals. The findings indicated that the model is well suited for Government Organisations and would assist in the creation of greater transparency, however the practical implementation of the model is yet unlikely as the model suggest electronic access to information, and the process in South African Government Institutions is predominately paper-based.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Trade union responses to the casualisation of labour in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Loni, Kholosa Siphe
- Date: 2013 , 2013-04-23
- Subjects: Labor unions -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Casual labor -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Precarious employment -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Temporary employees -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Research -- South Africa Industrial relations -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Labor and globalization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3286 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003056
- Description: This thesis focuses on trade union responses to casualisation of labour in the Eastern Cape. In the context of increased globalization, some employers have attempted to achieve high production outputs while saving on operational costs. The ‘flexible firm’ model is used as but one theory to explain increased flexibility in the workplace. In an effort to achieve increasingly flexible firms that may swiftly respond to subsequent challenges such as increased international competition, employers have been seen incorporating more non-standard workers in the form of casual, temporary, part-time, and seasonal workers. This has been a matter of concern for the unions for numerous reasons: some nonstandard workers are subjected to sub-standard working conditions, irregular working hours and little or no benefits; casual work is arranged in such a way that it is virtually impossible for these workers to join a union – a predicament which bears a high possibility of a decline in the typically standard worker–based membership of trade unions; and non-standard workers are often faced with the representation gap predicament which entails that they are not adequately protected by labour legislation. The thesis explores the responses of trade unions to these challenges, and the proposals that they have made in this regard, by focusing on the sectoral dynamics of non-standard labour in the province. It further discusses the regulation of non-standard labour, as poor representation of some non-standard workers bears consequences for the regulation of the practice of non-standard work. The research adopted qualitative research techniques in the form of semi-structured interviews, and used purposive and snowball sampling in accessing relevant data for analysis purposes.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Understanding Generation Y : an investigation of how Hilton College can use technology for communication
- Authors: Wyngaard, Richard Clive
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Generation Y -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal Cell phones -- Social aspects Mobile communication systems -- Social aspects Information technology -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:796 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004332
- Description: Background to the academic research. Hilton College is an all boys private school in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands. Since the beginning of 2012 boys have been permitted to carry their phones during the school day, (Thomson, 2012). Wireless internet access was also extended across the campus to allow boys and staff to bring their own devices to class and have access to the internet (Machlachlan, 2012). In the past, communication between staff and boys was either verbal or through the use of a daily notice, called the Daily Routine Order (DRO). The DRO is placed at the dining room tables each day and boys are expected to check for any notices that may pertain to them. These notices are emailed to a secretary who prints them out and places them in the dining room each day at lunch. 2. Objectives to the research. This research sought to establish whether current communication methods were effective or whether the prevalence of mobile phones and wireless devices had presented the school with a more effective method. It was important therefore, to investigate what devices were on campus, how those devices were used and when they were used. In addition to this, the research sought to establish communication preference among staff and boys. 3. Research Methodology. The research was conducted through the use of a qualitative survey that was conducted among both staff and boys. Staff and boys were surveyed to establish generation, device prevalence, device usage and device preference. This data was collected using an anonymous qualitative survey that was administered through the use of Google docs in the school labs. 187 Boys in 3 grades 8 and 9 participated in the survey along with 18 staff members. The data was then analysed and compared to data from similar research that had been conducted elsewhere in the world. Because of significant age differences between boys and staff it was critical to establish whether device usage among staff and boys was tied to their generation. Of particular interest were the device behaviours associated with the Millennial generation, who were born between 1982-2002 (Strauss 2005:10). This generational ‘benchmark’ allowed the researcher to compare the Hilton College cohort to those whose device behaviours and usage had occurred and been discussed in generational research elsewhere. It also allowed for certain assumptions to be made about staff and boys based on their generational profile. 4. Findings It was found that staff and boys exhibited communication traits that were consistent with their generation and consistent with other research in this field. It was also found that staff and boys preferred mobile and digital forms of communication over verbal announcements and the DRO system. For this reason, it was recommended that the Hilton College establish a system that took advantage of technology to improve on communication. Various recommendations were given by the researcher that took advantage of current technologies. These included the use of SMS, Instant Messaging, Social Networks and email. It was also recommended that the school consider prescribing devices that allow for communication between staff and boys.
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- Date Issued: 2013