Response of Ti microstructure in mechanical and laser forming processes.

Microstructural deformation mechanisms present during three different forming processes in commercially pure Ti were analysed. Room temperature mechanical forming, laser beam forming and a combination of these two processes were applied to thick metal plates in order to achieve the same final shape. An electron backscatter diffraction technique was used to study the plate microstructure before and after applying the forming processes. Substantial differences among the main deformation mechanisms were clearly detected. In pure mechanical forming at room temperature, mechanical twinning predominates in both compression and tensile areas. A dislocation slip mechanism inside the compression and tensile area is characteristic of the pure laser forming process. Forming processes which subsequently combine the laser and mechanical approaches result in a combination of twinning and dislocation mechanisms. The Schmid factor at an individual grain level, the local temperature and the strain rate are factors that determine which deformation mechanism will prevail at the microscopic level. The final microstructures obtained after the different forming processes were applied are discussed from the point of view of their influence on the performance of the resulting formed product. The observations suggest that phase transformation in Ti is an additional microstructural factor that has to be considered during laser forming.

Growth and mating of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii on woody debris.

A total of 36 Cryptococcus neoformans strains originating from South Africa were screened for wood degrading enzymes. All strains tested positive for cellulase activity while none where capable of xylan degradation. Three C. neoformans var. grubii strains, originating from clinical and environmental samples, representing the same genotype (VNI/AFLP1-C. neoformans var. grubii) and MATalpha, were evaluated for growth on debris of two common tree species in South Africa: Acacia mearnsii and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The mating capability of all the C. neoformans strains was evaluated on similar debris. Strains grown on A. mearnsii yielded substantially greater yeast populations. A total of 26%, 6%, 46%, and 80% of the 36 C. neoformans strains tested were either able to mate or develop filaments when crossed on A. mearnsii and E. camaldulensis debris, V8 juice, and yeast carbon base (YCB) agar, respectively. Filamentation and monokaryotic fruiting was observed in 3% of strains when C. neoformans was cultured on either A. mearnsii, E. camaldulensis debris, or YCB. The results indicate that this fungus is capable of completing its life cycle and can produce basidiospores on woody debris. In the future, these findings should be considered when studying the epidemiology, microbial ecology, and proposed infection process of this global pathogen.

Identification of three novel mycoplasma species from ostriches in South Africa.

Mycoplasmas have been implicated in certain clinical syndromes in ostriches and are associated with upper respiratory tract infections. As these infections result in production losses, they are of considerable economic importance to the South African ostrich industry. Although poultry mycoplasmas have been shown to infect ostriches, the existence of unique ostrich-specific mycoplasmas has been suggested. In this study, mycoplasmas were isolated from ostriches in the Klein Karoo, Central Karoo and Garden Route areas of the Western and Northern Cape Provinces of South Africa and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. These sequences indicated that ostriches in these areas carry three unique mycoplasmas and were not infected with chicken mycoplasmas. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences of the three isolated ostrich mycoplasmas showed them to be quite divergent and to fall into two distinct phylogenetic groupings. Unique sequences within the 16S rRNA gene of the ostrich mycoplasmas were subsequently used for the development of specific primers for the detection and diagnosis of mycoplasma infections in ostriches. Chickens kept in close proximity to infected ostriches were not infected with these ostrich mycoplasmas.

Calcium alginate entrapment of the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides for the kinetic resolution of 1,2-epoxyoctane.

Resting cells of the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides (UOFS Y-0471) were immobilised in calcium alginate beads for the enantioselective kinetic resolution of racemic-1,2-epoxyoctane. The initial activity exhibited by immobilised cells was almost 50% lower than that of the free counterpart but was extremely stable when compared to the free cells. The concentration of the immobilised biomass had no effect on apparent enzyme activity but did lead to a decrease in single cell activity. An increase in both the alginate and CaCl2 concentrations used for bead preparation led to a decrease in enzyme stability. An increase in the alginate concentration led to an increase in bead diameter. The stoichiometric equation for cross-linking of alginate was only obeyed when CaCl2 concentrations higher than 0.4 M were utilised for bead preparation.

Biocatalysis of nitro substituted styrene oxides by non-conventional yeasts.

Yeast strains (410) from more than 45 different genera were screened for the enantioselective hydrolysis of nitro substituted styrene oxides. These strains included 262 yeasts with known epoxides hydrolase activity for various other epoxides. Epoxide hydrolase activity for p-nitrostyrene oxide (pNSO) (177 strains) and m-nitrostyrene oxide (mNSO) (148 strains) was widespread in the yeasts, while activity for o-nitrostyrene oxide (oNSO) was less ubiquitous (22 strains). The strains that displayed enantioselectivity in the hydrolysis of one or more of the nitro substituted styrene oxides (35 strains) were also screened against styrene oxide (SO). Rhodosporidium toruloides UOFS Y-0471 displayed the highest enantioselectivity for pNSO (ee 55%, yield 35%) while Rhodotorula glutinis UOFS Y-0653 displayed the highest enantioselectivity for mNSO (ee > 98%, yield 29%), oNSO (ee 39%, yield 19%) and SO (ee > 98%, yield 19%). (R)-Styrene oxide was preferentially hydrolysed to the corresponding (R)-diol with retention of configuration at the stereogenic centre. In the case of the nitro substituted styrene oxides the absolute configurations of the remaining epoxides and the formed diols were not established.

Standards to assure quality in nursing research.

The focus of this article is quality assurance in nursing research. Due to well established problems regarding the education of nursing research and increasing pressure to take responsibility for the quality of all educational activities, departments of nursing are obliged to initiate actions to assure quality in nursing research. A nursing department functions within a well-defined external context. The external context comprises of various aspects such as role player expectations and current educational and professional legislation. Standards are the basic components of any quality assurance system (Booyens, 1996:305). Standards give direction to the practitioner and must be compiled within the context of the country's cultural, philosophical and ethical value systems, as well as its social economic and political development. The premise of the study was that if the education of nursing research, indeed the total management of nursing research within the department, is subjected to quality assurance, the outcome of the in terms of nursing research will be positive. The research objective addressed in the study was to formulate and validate standards against which quality in nursing research in a nursing department can be judged. Muller's phases of standard formulation were used as the methodological basis for the study. Optimal, specific standards were formulated using a deductive process and validated by implementing the standards in a department of nursing.

[Profile of baccalaureate curriculum graduate students in 1997]. / Profiel van afgestudeerde B.Cur studente van 1997.

The purpose of this study is to describe the profile of the B.Cur. graduates who completed their studies in 1997 at the Rand Afrikaans University. Theoretical points of departures were used, such as Muller's career management description (Muller, 1998: 353-362) and Northeastern University's five-step model career services (Northeastern University, sa:1). After taking all the factors into consideration that play a role in career management, the researcher will be able to compile a complete profile of the B.Cur. graduates of 1997. It is important to the nursing education institution to know the profile of the graduates, in order to adapt the programme to the needs of the students. With a quantitative survey design, data was gathered telephonically, through a self-composed questionnaire. The structured questionnaire has content validity in terms of conceptualization. Of the thirty-one students, data was gathered on twenty-nine of them. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The profile of the graduates is described according to fourteen factors from the questionnaire.

Role-player expectations regarding the education of nursing research.

This article reports on role player expectations regarding the education of nursing research. The importance of the role player expectations are two-fold: firstly as a factor in the external environment influencing and guiding the formulation phase of the development of standards and secondly, due to the clear indications of problems regarding nursing research in the nursing profession in literature. The role player expectations were elicited using a qualitative, exploratory and contextual design. The role player population included nurse educators, nurses in managerial, clinical and research positions, students and the medical profession. The data was gathered using the naïve sketches and qualitative data analysis was done using Morse & Field's approach (1996:103-107) in combination with Tesch's data analysis approach as cited by Creswell (1994:154-156). Sixty initial categories were narrowed down to six final categories, which are the research learning programme, personnel, students, departmental policies, funding and support systems. The role player expectations were elicited as part of a research study aiming tot develop a self-evaluation system for quality assurance in nursing research and as such, the role player expectations plays a pivotal role in the development of standards for the self-evaluation system.

Concept analysis: some limitations and possible solutions.

Concepts are the basic building blocks of scientific knowledge or theoretical frameworks for any discipline. The strength of the theories that guide a discipline is dependent on the quality of the concept analysis. Thus, the utilisation of poorly understood concepts in research and theory development will result in questionable reliability and validity. Concept analysis is associated with the research design of philosophical inquiry. The purpose of philosophical inquiry is to perform research using intellectual analysis to clarify meaning. Traditionally, no empirical (qualitative or quantitative) investigations were used to clarify the meaning of concepts. The lack of empirical investigation to clarify concepts, results in certain limitations in the methodology of concept analysis. It seems that methodological innovations for enhancing concept analysis is urgently required. The purpose of this article is to describe the utilisation of qualitative and quantitative strategies with literature review in concept analysis as a possible solution to limitations. This article will firstly, describe the limitations in the traditional Wilsonian methods of concept analysis and will secondly demonstrate how the introduction of qualitative and quantitative methods with literature review can overcome some of the limitations. An example a research study on quality of life (Ferrans, 1997:110) will be used to demonstrate how qualitative and quantitative empirical methods with literature review can enhance the quality of concept analysis.

Expectations of stakeholders regarding home care provision in rural Namibia.

As in many countries, the disease pattern in Namibia has changed, health problems are increasing and outweigh the capacity of the existing health resources. Government health facilities in Namibia have limited capacity to accommodate all sick people, especially those who are chronically and terminally ill. Many hospitals in rural Namibia are overcrowded, patients sleep on the floors and, in some cases, children share beds. Morbidities relating particularly to AIDS, chronic conditions and other physical and emotional disabilities are likely to require long-term home care. In most instances, the health system is also not prepared to provide home care, nor provide the support that is required by the caregivers of disabled, chronically sick people. To ease the burden of care felt by the state at health facilities, the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia has, on several occasions, called upon the community and other stakeholders in health care to assist in caring for their loved ones at home (NBC, 1996; MOHSS, 1996). The purpose of the study was to develop and describe a model for capacity building for quality home care in rural Namibia. This article focuses on the first phase of the bigger study, namely the expectations of stakeholders regarding home care provision in rural Namibia. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive case study design was used. Five cases were purposively selected and thirty stakeholders were interviewed. Data were analysed using a combination of the approaches of Tesch and Morse and Field. To ensure trustworthiness, triangulation and other measures of Lincoln and Guba were used. The expectations were categorised into structures, process and outcome-related expectations. Stakeholders in rural Namibia appear to have dependency tendencies and still expect all resources and services to be provided by someone else, be it the government, the church, the headman and/or any other non-governmental agencies. There is a need empowerment and capacity building in the community and awareness must be created of the responsibility of the community in dealing with home care provision.

Selection of magister learners in nursing science at the Rand Afrikaans University.

Selection of learners implies that candidates are assessed according to criteria with the purpose of selecting the most suitable learners for the course. A magister qualification is on level 8A of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The purpose of a magister qualification in Nursing is the development of advanced research, clinical, professional, managerial, educational, leadership and consultative abilities (knowledge, skills, values and attitudes) for the promotion of individual, family, group and community health. From the above introduction it becomes clear that there is a high expectations of a person with a magister qualification. Such a person should be a specialist, scientist, leader and role model in the profession. A magister programme is human-power intensive as well as capital intensive for both the learner and higher education institutions. It is therefore important to select learners with the ability to achieve the outcomes of the programme. Limited research has been conducted on the selection of post graduate learners. This leads to the question whether the current selection criteria (undergraduate mark and the mark in Research Methodology) are reasonable predictors of success for the magister programmes. In order to answer this question, hypotheses with the following variables were formulated. Achievement/success in the magister programme as reflected by The mark for the dissertation or mini-dissertation. The level of input by the supervisor during the magister programme. The quality of the research article reflecting the research in the magister programme. Undergraduate mark Mark for Research Methodology In order to test the hypotheses a quantitative correlation design was used incorporating documented data of 74 magister graduates. Descriptive and inferential data analysis (Pearson's correlation coefficient, ANOVA and multivariate test) were used. The findings showed Research Methodology to be the best indicator of success in the magister programmes.

Problem-based case study to enhance critical thinking in student nurses.

The use of traditional teaching methods, for example the lecture method, does not stimulate critical thinking in student nurses. This problem can be solved by the utilisation of problem-based case study in the classroom/clinical setting. The purpose of this study is to describe guidelines for the implementation of problem-based case study in a clinical setting among first year, comprehensive course students at the Northern Province College of Nursing: Sovenga campus. The research design of this study was qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual and was conducted in the following phases: Phase 1: The development and implementation of a program for problem-based case study in the clinical setting; Phase II: The experiences of student nurses who were exposed to problem-based case study in the clinical setting; Phase III: The perceptions of tutors regarding the implementation of problem-based case study in the clinical setting (focus group), and; ase IV: Guidelines for the implementation of problem-based case study. The data from Phases I, II and III were used to formulate guidelines for the implementation of problem-based case study. The sample group consisted of all 69 first year student nurses at the Northern Province College of Nursing: Sovenga campus and ten tutors teaching clinical courses at the same campus. The Tesch (1990) approach is used for data analysis. Nine guidelines for the implementation of a problem-based case study approach were formulated and recommendations for development of an instrument to measure critical thinking in nursing were recommended.

Ethical Standards for the Occupational Health-Nursing Practitioner Regarding the HIV Positive Person in the Workplace

The occcupational health-nursing practitioner often becomes involved in ethical dilemmas with regard to the handling of HIV-positive people in the workplace in that the interests of the HIV-positive people conflict with the interests of the employer. Therefore; the occupational health-nursing practitioner could find himself ? Herself acting as mediator between the two parties. Despite the existence of legal norms ancl ethicirl standards to regulate the interests of the HN-positive person in the workplace; no guidelines exist as to how these norms and standards should be operrationalised during interaction between the HN-positive person; the occcupational health-nursing practitioner and the employer: The occupational health-nursing practitioner is therefore rrncertain us to the manner in which to act professionally within the laid-ilown ethical standards for HN positive people in the workplace.The purpose of this study is to provide guidelines and criteria for the operationalisation of ethical standards for the occupational health-nursing practitioner regarcling the HN-positive person in the workplace. This is done through a literatrrre study with specific reference to current ethical frameworks within the occupational health-nursing context; after which the research is focused on two target groups; namely the occupational haalth-nursing practitioners and HIV-positive persons in the workplace. The design of the research is qualitative; explorative and descriptive. In order to assist the occupational health-nursing practitioner to handle the HIVpositive person in the workplace in an ethical manner guidelines and criteria were compiled for the operationalisation of the standards

An integrated approach to ethical decision-making in the health team.

When making ethical decisions there are different perspectives that health care professionals may use. This may lead to conflict and insufficient co-operation between the members of the health team. Two of these perspectives are the ethics of justice and the ethics of care. In a bid to gain a better understanding of the nature of ethical decision-making in the health team, a comparison was drawn between the ethics of justice and the ethics of care. The investigation into and comparison between the ethics of justice and the ethics of care revealed that the deficiencies in each of the two perspectives in isolation, in fact, necessitate the application of a combination of both perspectives. The aim of the article is to describe how the members of the health team can, in an integrated manner, apply both the ethics of justice and the ethics of care in their ethical decision-making. The central argument of the article is based on the following premises: (1) the inadequacy of the ethics of justice and the ethics of care in isolation necessitates that both these perspectives be applied; (2) the application of both these perspectives again requires an extended rationality and discourse and (3) discourse, in its turn, requires that the emphasis falls on a specific telos and that the participants in the discourse be endowed with certain virtues in order to abide by the rules of discourse.

A comparison between the ethics of justice and the ethics of care.

The parameters of the problem within which the principal aim of the present article will be addressed can be described as follows. When making ethical decisions there are different perspectives that health care professionals may use. This may lead to conflict and insufficient co-operation between the members of the health team. Two of these perspectives are the ethics of justice and the ethics of care. The ethics of justice constitutes an ethical perspective in terms of which ethical decisions are made on the basis of universal principles and rules, and in an impartial and verifiable manner with a view to ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of all people. The ethics of care, on the other hand, constitutes an ethical approach in terms of which involvement, harmonious relations and the needs of others play an important part in ethical decision-making in each ethical situation. To seek some sort of way of avoiding conflict and promoting a mutual understanding about ethical decisions in the health team, there is a need to examine the ethics of justice and ethics of care. In order to understand the ethics of justice and ethics of care, the purpose of this article is to compare the two ethical perspectives. It is argued that the ethics of justice and the ethics of care represent opposite poles. If the members of the health team were to use only one of these two perspectives in their ethical decision-making, certain ethical dilemmas would almost certainly remain unresolved. Both the fair and equitable treatment of all people (from the ethics of justice) and the holistic, contextual and need-centred nature of such treatment (from the ethics of care), ought therefore to be retained in the integrated application of the ethics of justice and the ethics of care.

Community-based curriculum in psychiatric nursing science.

As community-based health care delivery is now a prominent feature of the health care system in South Africa, nursing curricula are being challenged to prepare student nurses for community-based nursing roles and responsibilities. The purpose of this study was to describe guidelines for a community-based curriculum in psychiatric nursing science for a nursing college in KwaZulu-Natal. A qualitative, quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was employed. To reach the purpose of the study, a situational analysis was done in three phases to identify the principles for a community-based curriculum for psychiatric nursing science. PHASE I: A document analysis of relevant government policies and legislation. PHASE II: Statistics from psychiatric hospitals and community psychiatric clinics. PHASE III: Focus group interviews with nurse educators and literature control and conceptual framework. The principles obtained from the three phases were used to formulate the guidelines for a community-based curriculum in psychiatric nursing science. (PHASE IV): Eight guidelines with practical implications are described for the implementation of a Community-based curriculum in Psychiatric Nursing Science.

The community health clinics as a learning context for student nurses.

The purpose of the research study was to describe guidelines to improve the community health clinics as a learning context conductive to learning. The objectives of the study commenced by getting the perception of student nurses from a nursing college in Gauteng; community sisters from ten community health clinics in the Southern Metropolitan Local Council and college tutors from a college in Gauteng. The research design and method used, consisting of a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual approach and the design was divided into two phases. Phase one consisted of a field/empirical study and phase two of conceptualization. In all the samples follow-up focus group interviews were conducted to confirm the findings. To ensure trustworthiness, Lincoln and Guba's model (1985) was implemented and data analysis was according to Tesch's model (1990 in Creswell 1994:155) based on a qualitative approach. The conceptual framework discussed, indicating a body of knowledge, was based on the study and empirical findings from phase one to give clear meaning and understanding regarding the research study.

Critical thinking by nurses on ethical issues like the termination of pregnancies.

This research forms part of a larger interdisciplinary research project on the termination of pregnancies. The focus of this part of the project is on the ethical issues related to termination of pregnancies. The practice of the professional nurse is confronted with ethical dilemmas and disputes. Whether the nurse chooses to participate in the termination of pregnancies or not, the core function of the nurse is that of counseling and ethical decision-making. Effective counseling requires empathy, respect for human rights and unconditional acceptance of a person. Making ethical decisions implies making critical decisions. It is self-evident, therefore, that such decisions should be based on sound arguments and logical reasoning. It is of vital importance that ethical decisions can be justified on rational ground. Decision-making is a critical thinking approach process for choosing the best action to meet a desired goal. The research question that is relevant for this paper is: Are nurses thinking critically about ethical issues like the termination of pregnancies? To answer the research question a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design was used (Mouton, 1996:103-169). Registered nurses were selected purposively (Creswell, 1994:15). 1200 registered nurses completed the open-ended questionnaires. Focus group interviews were conducted with 22 registered nurses from a public hospital for women and child health services. Data analysis, using secondary data from open-ended questionnaires and transcribed focus group interviews, were based on the approach of Morse and Field (1994:25-34) and Strauss and Corbin (1990). The themes and categories from open coding were compared, conceptualized and linked with theories on critical thinking (Paul, 1994; Watson & Glaser, 1991 and the American Philosophical Association, 1990). The measures of Lincoln and Guba (1985) and Morse (1994) related to secondary data analysis were employed to ensure trustworthiness. Based on these findings the researcher concluded that nurses are not thinking critically when making ethical decisions concerning the termination of pregnancies. Recommendations are made as a possible solution for this problem.

[Evaluation of arguments in research reports]. / Evaluering van argumente in navorsingsverslae.

Some authors on research methodology are of opinion that research reports are based on the logic of reasoning and that such reports communicate with the reader by presenting logical, coherent arguments (Böhme, 1975:206; Mouton, 1996:69). This view implies that researchers draw specific conclusions and that such conclusions are justified by way of reasoning (Doppelt, 1998:105; Giere, 1984:26; Harre, 1965:11; Leherer & Wagner, 1983 & Pitt, 1988:7). The structure of a research report thus consists mainly of conclusions and reasons for such conclusions (Booth, Colomb & Williams, 1995:97). From this it appears that justification by means of reasoning is a standard procedure in research and research reports. Despite the fact that the logic of research is based on reasoning, that the justification of research findings by way of reasoning appears to be standard procedure and that the structure of a research report comprises arguments, the evaluation or assessment of research, as described in most textbooks on research methodology (Burns & Grove, 1993:647; Creswell, 1994:193; LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 1994:441/481) does not focus on the arguments of research. The evaluation criteria for research reports which are set in these textbooks are related to the way in which the research process is carried out and focus on the measures for internal, external, theoretical, measurement and inferential validity. This means that criteria for the evaluation of research are comprehensive and they should be very specific in respect of each type of research (for example quantitative or qualitative). When the evaluation of research reports is focused on arguments and logic, there could probably be one set of universal standards against which all types of human science research reports can be assessed. Such a universal set of standards could possibly simplify the evaluation of research reports in the human sciences since they can be used to assess all the critical aspects of research reports. As arguments from the basic structure of research reports and are probably also important in the evaluation of research reports in the human sciences, the following questions which I want to answer, are relevant to this paper namely: What are the standards which the reasoning in research reports in the human sciences should meet? How can research reports in the human sciences be assessed or evaluated according to these standards? In answering the first question, the logical demands that are made on reasoning in research are investigated. From these demands the acceptability of the statements, relevance and support of the premises to the conclusion are set as standards for reasoning in research. In answering the second question, a research article is used to demonstrate how the macro- and micro-arguments of research reports can be assessed or evaluated according to these standards. With evaluation it is indicated that the aspects of internal, external, theoretical, measurement and inferential validity can be evaluated according to these standards.

Nursing ethics in a developing country.

Nursing is a true profession, distinguished by its philosophy of care, its full-time commitment to human wellbeing, its particular blend of knowledge and skills and its valuable service to the community (Curtin & Flaherty, 1982:92). Ethics is vital to nursing. Being a professional implies ethical behaviour and knowledge of what it means to be ethical (Pera & Van Tonder, 1996:v). Ethics is the foundation of committed service to humankind. When nurses practice is an ethical manner they should adhere to ethical principles like autonomy, beneficence, justice, veracity, fidelity, confidentiality and privacy. From this conceptual framework two questions can be asked, namely: Does the behaviour of nurses in health services in South Africa comply with the principles of ethics? How can ethical behaviour be facilitated in nurses in South Africa? The first question was answered by doing a critical analysis of thirty-two case studies of recent ethical phenomena in health services. The ethical principles will be used as criteria for this analysis. Some of the ethical case studies will be presented in this paper to indicate the problems in relation to autonomy, beneficence, justice, veracity and fidelity. It will be demonstrated that from deontological ethical theories nurses are not doing their duty as advocates for the vulnerable patient and from utilitarianism the poor and uneducated patients are being exploited. To empower patients in developing countries it is of vital importance for nurses to behave in an ethical manner. From a literature study a program for rational interaction for moral sensitivity (Rossouw, 1995) and virtue-based ethics in Nursing Education is identified to facilitate moral behaviour amongst nurses in developing countries.