Thesis (Master').

Thesis (MA(Psychology))-University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

This piece of research is an attempt to evaluate the relationship between military 'success' and the psychological preparedness of recruits in terms of their self-concepts and locus of control orientations. The new recruit is forced to adapt to the military environment which will, in turn, attempt to change him into an effective soldier. It was noticed by the researcher, who was involved in military training at the time, that a number of recruits, even some with seemingly limited potential, coped well, while others who seemed to have the ability failed to cope adequately. Recruits completed questionnaires which provided the researcher with biographical data and background information. In addition, the Bledsoe Self-Concept Scale and the Nowicki and Strickland Locus of Control Scale were used in order to determine their self-concepts and locus of control orientations respectively, prior to the beginning of national service. Detailed unstructured interviews were also conducted with a sample of military personnel, to provide another basis for gathering data and for clarifying some of the issues involved. Briefly, the chief conclusion of this researcher is that a significant majority of 'successful' recruits in the military environment have a positive self-concept and an internal locus of control. On the basis of the above finding, it is suggested that there is a need to guide pupils about certain aspects of military life before they begin their National Service. There would seem to be a need for this guidance to be incorporated into the school curriculum, together with such practical aspects as cadets, shooting, etc. There is a shortage of this kind of research on the military situation in South Africa, and it is suggested that numerous issues in this field need to be researched for the benefit of future conscripts and the military alike.

Current solutions of coral restoration rely mainly on fragmentation. Though a reliable technique, this asexual form of reproduction does not benefit the genetic diversity of the coral reef. With many global and local stressors threatening corals’ existence, the resiliency of corals to future ocean conditions depends highly on sexual reproduction to produce new genotypes. New technology allows coral spawning/larval release, larval settlement and rearing to be carried out in an aquarium system. Many of the techniques necessary to maintain coral recruits are well-established, however the effects of light intensity remain to be studied for these early life stages. Newly settled corals have been found on vertical surfaces and the undersides of ledges and crevices, suggesting full solar irradiance is detrimental to their health. Newly settled Porites astreoides and Agaricia agaricites recruits were placed under varying irradiance levels to test their survivorship, growth and pigmentation. In the first four weeks post-settlement, growth was significantly different between recruits under a PAR of 10 µmol quanta m-2 s-1 and 240 µmol quanta m-2 s-1. In a separate experiment, growth curves were significantly different between six different irradiance increase regimens in the first 14 weeks post-settlement. This study shows, for the first time, a definitive preference by newly settled coral recruits to lower intensity irradiance, devoid of ultraviolet radiation, in the first four weeks post-settlement, and that Porites astreoides recruits can acclimatize to higher intensities at a rate of ~ 11 µmol quanta m-2 s-1 per week for up to 15 weeks.

Corals are frequently exposed to elevated turbidity and deposited sediment caused from coastal construction, dredging, and/or beach renourishment. This study addresses the effects of turbidity and deposited sediment on the survival and growth of newly settled and 6-week-old Orbicella faveolata recruits and disentangles the effects of turbidity and deposited sediment. We conducted two experiments in which newly settled coral recruits were reared in one of ten different turbidity and deposited sediment treatments for five weeks (0 NTU/ 0 mg cm-2, 3.4 NTU/ 0 mg cm-2, 8.2 NTU/ 0 mg cm-2, 16 NTU/ 0 mg cm-2, 29.1 NTU/ 0 mg cm-2, 0 NTU/ 0 mg cm-2, 3.4 NTU/ 27.7 mg cm-2, 8.2 NTU/ 50 mg cm-2, 16 NTU/ 101 mg cm-2, 29.1 NTU/ 220 mg cm-2). The highest turbidity treatment in the absence of deposited sediment (29.1 NTU/ 0 mg cm-2) had the best survival, suggesting that turbidity in the absence of sediment is beneficial to coral recruits, as it decreases harmful light levels. However, when recruits were exposed to both turbidity and deposited sediment, representative of normal coastal construction conditions, high turbidity when coupled with deposited sediment (16 NTU/ 101 mg cm-2 and 29.1 NTU/ 220 mg cm-2) had negative effects on coral recruits. Based on the results from the first experiment, the experiment was repeated with six-week-old symbiotic recruits for two weeks to determine if the sensitivity to light and benefits of high turbidity were related to the presence of symbionts. Six-week-old recruits also had the highest survival in the highest turbidity treatment, suggesting that light sensitivity by coral recruits is not dependent on the presence of symbionts within the first six weeks post-settlement. While the low light associated with turbidity increases recruit survival, turbidity is a proxy for deposited sediment, which has negative effects on coral recruits. Based on the results from this study, regulations should prevent turbidity from exceeding 8.2 NTU to prevent excessive deposited sediment on coral reefs, and its deleterious effects on corals.

Coral reef decline worldwide has led to the need for coral reef restoration. The use of sexual reproduction in restoration efforts is required to increase genetic diversity; however, the procedures for rearing newly-settled coral recruits ex situ still need to be optimized. Recruits initially require low light irradiance, but it is unclear when higher irradiances are required to enhance growth and survival. Here we determined the optimal light regime for Orbicella faveolata and Acropora cervicornis recruits. Newly settled recruits were reared under treatments with varied rates of increasing irradiance (after reaching 5 weeks of age), and their survival, growth, and coloration was assessed weekly until they were 16 weeks old. Orbicella faveolata and Acropora cervicornis growth and survival were significantly affected by light irradiance regimes. Coloration also varied between treatments with a general trend of darkening pigmentation over the sixteen weeks. We found that low irradiances (< 40 mmol photons m-2s-1) were optimal for new recruits up to 8-10 weeks of age, which is possibly related to the full establishment of symbiosis and/or the ability to feed and digest food. Aposymbiotic recruits were able to survive for a longer period under low irradiances but experienced high mortality when exposed to higher irradiance, regardless of their age, possibly due to low levels or the lack of mycosporine like amino acids and other antioxidants produced by the Symbiodiniaceae that protect against high irradiances and reactive oxygen species. After Weeks 8-10, high irradiance levels similar to the ones that are optimal for adults (> 120 mmol photons m-2s-1) were required by zooxanthellate coral to survive and to boost their growth. This further suggests that the acquisition of symbionts from the family Symbiodiniaceae is at least one key component in the shift toward tolerating higher irradiances.

In the latest years the Swedish armed forces have gone from an armed force with conscripts to voluntary men and women. When the basic training is voluntarily may the question be if the new men and women have the same approach to Desirable competences and pedagogy that is used by their officers during their training. Desirable competences are a part of the model transformational leadership and are divided into task related competence, management competence, social competence and capacitate to cope with stress. To deal with this problem I have used questionnaires from conscripts and a new questionnaire made on voluntary recruits. I have compared the results in a case study method and it shows a positive progress from the recruits view how the officers use examples from the transformational leadership. The study shows that recruits want officers to make demands, motivate and inspire them. The recruits want to know the goal with the education and they want the officers to make demands on them. / Försvarsmakten har de senaste åren gått från värnplikt till en Försvarsmakt som bygger på frivilliga män och kvinnor. När grundutbildningen är frivillig kan männen och kvinnorna ha en förändrad syn på önskvärda kompetenser och pedagogik som används av officerarna under utbildningen. Önskvärda kompetenser är en del av Utvecklande ledarskap och kompetenserna är uppdelade i Fackkompetens, Chefskompetens, Socialkompetens och Stresshanteringsförmåga. För att hantera problemet har jag använt enkätundersökningar från värnpliktiga och en ny enkätundersökning gjord på rekryter. Resultaten från dessa har jämförts utifrån en fallstudiemetod och det visar en positiv utveckling i hur rekryterna ser på att officerarna använder exempel från utvecklande ledarskap. Undersökningen visar också att rekryterna vill att officerarna skall ställa krav, motivera och inspirera. Rekryterna vill veta målet med utbildningen och de vill att officerarna ställer krav på dem.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This study evaluates selected features of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program (CEP) and its contributions to Navy recruiting. The ASVAB-CEP is a Department of Defense program created in 1968, operating in 12,598 high schools throughout the nation as of 2004. ASVAB-CEP data for all military services (1998-2004) were examined, along with previous studies and literature on the program. An online survey was developed and administered to Navy Recruiters-in-Charge (RINCs). Results show a steady decline of high school juniors and seniors tested, high schools tested, recruiter leads, and accessions. Survey results indicate that RINCs are generally positive toward the program as a source of leads and in gaining access to schools, but question the value in testing sophomores. Several recommendations are offered to improve the program. In addition, further research is recommended. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown a high injury rate in the lower extremities among military recruits. A correlation has been shown between female gender or a low level of physical activity prior to basic military training and a higher risk of injury. AIM: To investigate the self-reported injury rate in the lower extremities among Swedish recruits and the difference in injury rate between men and women. Another aim was to investigate correlation between self-reported injury rate in the lower extremities and self-reported physical activity, and to study this correlation for both men and women. METHOD: A quantitative study with a prospective, descriptive, comparative and correlative design. Data from two different questionnaires were answered by 177 recruits. RESULTS: 26% of the recruits reported injury in lower extremities after completing the basic training. There was a significant difference (p=0.006) in self-reported injury between female and male recruits. The level of prior physical activity and the injury rate amongst the recruits had a low correlation. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a high injury rate among Swedish recruits, especially among the female recruits. No correlation between self-reported physical activity and the injury rate in lower extremities was found. / BAKGRUND: Tidigare studier visar på hög skadeprevalens i nedre extremiteter hos militära rekryter under grundläggande militär utbildning. Samband har setts mellan kvinnligt kön eller låg fysisk aktivitetsnivå före utbildningsstart och ökad skaderisk. SYFTE: Undersöka den självrapporterade skade-/besvärsprevalensen i nedre extremitet hos svenska rekryter efter avslutad grundläggande militär utbildning (GMU), samt studera skillnader mellan könen i detta avseende. Syftet var också att undersöka sambandet mellan självrapporterad fysisk aktivitetsnivå inför GMU och skade-/besvärsprevalensen i nedre extremiteter efter genomförd utbildning samt studera sambandet för män respektive kvinnor. METOD: En kvantitativ studie med prospektiv, deskriptiv, komparativ och korrelerande design. Data från två olika enkäter besvarades av 177 rekryter. RESULTAT: 26% av rekryterna rapporterade skada/besvär i nedre extremitet vid avslutad utbildning. Signifikant skillnad (p=0,006) kunde ses i självrapporterad skade-/besvärsprevalens mellan kvinnliga (42%) och manliga (21%) rekryter. Nivå av fysisk aktivitet och skade-/besvärsprevalensen hos rekryterna hade inget signifikant samband och låg korrelation. KONKLUSION: Resultaten tyder på hög skadeprevalens inom GMU, framförallt hos kvinnliga rekryter. Något samband mellan självskattad nivå av fysisk aktivitetsnivå och skade-/besvärsprevalens i nedre extremitet fanns inte hos rekryterna. Sambandet fanns varken för män eller kvinnor på gruppnivå.

Aim: To describe and analyze the demographic profile and the dental treatment needs, workload and costs of the 2007 and 2008 CF recruit population (N=10,641). Method: Treatment procedures and costs were aggregated and calculated, beginning from the date of a member’s enrolment, over a period that ranged between 13 to 36 months. Associations between treatment services and the demographic variables were tested using one-way ANOVA and chi-square tests. Independent samples T-test was used to compare means. Linear regression models were used to determine the influence of demographic variables on treatment cost. Results: Treatment needs and costs varied with recruit age, gender, rank, first language (French/English), birthplace (Canada/Foreign), tobacco use, province and census tract. The cost of treatment for the entire population was $13.9M. Mean cost per recruit was $1224 over an average period of 26 months. Outsource costs ($2.9M) were driven by referrals for restorative, endodontic and oral surgery procedures.