ENGLISH : The use of different characteristics (the polyphasic approach) to describe bacterial taxa is a prerequisite for a stable classification. The taxonomy of root- and stem-nodulating rhizobia is in a state of transition. As more legumes are studied, new species and genera of rhizobia are described. It is important to study the indigenous South African rhizobia, as without them a complete rhizobial taxonomy is not possible. Furthermore, strains with superior nitrogen fixation abilities may be discovered. Indigenous strains better adapted to the harsh South African environment are possible candidates for commercial inoculants for cropped legumes.Only two local studies have been done on the diversity of the indigenous rhizobia. These studies revealed the diversity of rhizobia existing in the South African context. As part of a polyphasic approach used to identify and determine the diversity of the indigenous rhizobia, 16S rDNA sequencing analysis was performed on some selected rhizobial and putative rhizobial isolates. The aim of the study was to characterise and identify the indigenous isolates by 16S rDNA sequencing analysis and compare our data with those available in the GenBank database. Results showed that most of the indigenous isolates were slow-growers belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium. Two isolates from supposedly non-nodulating legume genera (Cassia and Senna) were found to belong to the genus Bradyrhizobium. Some of the isolates were shown to belong to the genera Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium. The identity of five isolates was not clear and further studies need to be performed to unequivocally determine their taxonomic position. Partial sequence analysis of 16S rDNA proved a valuable tool to characterise and identify the indigenous isolates. However, the method was unable to clearly distinguish between closely related species and strains. AFRIKAANS : 'n Stabiele klassifikasiesisteem vir die beskrywing van bakteriese taksa is slegs moontlik deur verskillende eienskappe (die poli-fasiese benadering) te gebruik. Die taksonomie van die wortel- en stamnodulerende rhizobiums verander gedurig. 'n Volledige rhizobiumtaksonomie is slegs moontlik indien die inheemse Suid-Afrikaanse rhizobiums bestudeer word. Geharde inheemse rasse met voortreflike stikstofbindende vermoens kan ontdek word. Hierdie rasse is kandidate vir kommersiele inokulums vir verboude peulplante. Net twee plaaslike studies is gedoen om die diversiteit van die inheemse rhizobiums te bepaal. Die studies het bewys dat die inheemse rhizobiums baie divers is. As deel van die polifasiese benadering om die diversiteit van die inheemse rhizobiums te identifiseer en te bepaal, is 16S rDNS volgordebepaling gedoen op uitgesoekte rhizobia en sogenaamde rhizobia isolate. Die doel van die studie was die karakterisering en identifisering van die inheemse isolate deur 16S rDNS volgordebepaling en die vergelyking van die data met die beskikbaar in die GenBank databasis. Die resultate wys dat die meeste inheemse isolate stadige groeiers is en dus behoort aan die genus Bradyrhizobium. Twee isolate vanaf sogenaamde nie-nodulerende peulplantgenusse (Cassia en Senna) behoort ook tot die genus Bradyrhizobium. Sommige isolate behoort tot die genusse Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium en Sinorhizobium. Die identiteit van vyf isolate was nie duidelik nie en verdere studies is nodig om hul taksonomiese posisie ondubbelsinnig te bepaal. Die gedeeltelike volgordebepaling van die 16S rDNS was 'n waardevolle hulpmiddel om die inheemse isolate mee te karakteriseer en te identifiseer, alhoewel die metode nie tussen nabyverwante spesies en rasse kon onderskei nie. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 1999. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Private Law / unrestricted

AFRIKAANS: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns vier vanjaar sy eeufees. Hierdie instansie is die kurator van die Hertzogprys, ’n gesogte letterkundeprys en die oudste en bekendste prestigetoekenning wat deur hierdie instansie gemaak word. Die terrein wat deur hierdie proefskrif gedek word, is die Akademie se houding teenoor en bevordering van Afrikaanse drama, met ’n geslypter fokus op die Hertzogprystoekennings vanaf 1915 tot net voor 1972. Etlike gegewens met betrekking tot die prys soos aangebied in reeds gepubliseerde werk, is verwarrend of nie feitelik korrek nie. Ten einde klarigheid daaroor te kry, is ’n grondige studie gemaak van die toekenningsprosedures en die invloed daarvan op die dramabekronings tot voor 1972. Dit was veral verhelderend met betrekking tot die dramaturg Uys Krige. Aanvanklik het die drie literêre kategorieë prosa, poësie en drama gelyktydig in aanmerking gekom vir die prys. Vanaf 1928 roteer dit en kom Afrikaanse dramas elke derde jaar aan die beurt. In vergelyking met die literêre kategorieë prosa en poësie, is daar relatief min dramabekronings gemaak – veral aan die beginjare van die prys. Deur noukeurige studie is gepoog om die gebrek aan dramatoekennings in perspektief te stel. Klem word gelê op die rol wat prosedures gespeel het, byvoorbeeld minder goeie prosedures wat veroorsaak het dat die verkeerde of geen toekennings gemaak is nie en sodoende bygedra het tot ’n skewe beeld wat bestaan oor Hertzogprystoekennings vir Drama. Sekere toekennings (of gebrek daaraan) kan direk gekoppel word aan foutiewe uitsprake van administratiewe amptenare, onbevredigende prosedures of aan die invloed van persone wat seggenskap oor die prys gehad het. Bepalende bakens en beslissings word aangetoon. Die sestigerjare was in die geskiedenis van die land en van die Akademie vol beroeringe. Met betrekking tot die Akademie se beleid oor die handhawing en bevordering van die Afrikaanse kultuur, het Akademielede van mekaar verskil oor die vertolking en uitlewing daarvan. Dit het gelei tot uiteenlopende menings oor die rigting wat die Akademie moes inslaan, maar ook oor sekere literêre werke. Verskillende menings het geheers oor wie die finale seggenskap oor die Hertzogprys moes hê: die Akademieraad as kurator van die prys volgens die skenkingsakte, of die Letterkundige Kommissie wat die kundiges op letterkundegebied was. Hierdie meningsverskille is op die spits gedryf in 1966 – die jaar waarin Uys Krige vir ’n dramatoekenning aanbeveel is. Die Akademieraadsbesluit om nie daardie jaar ’n prys toe te ken nie, het hewige kritiek ontlok – selfs van Kommissielede, en sou nog vir jare daarna ’n rimpeleffek hê. Die eerste staande Letterkundige Kommissie is aangewys vir die periode April 1968 tot April 1971 en die eerste toekenning waaroor hulle moes besluit, was die Dramatoekenning van 1969. In teenstelling met die stormagtige sestigerjare, het dramabekronings in die jare daarna verloop sonder onmin tussen die Akademieraad, die Fakulteitsraad en die Letterkundige Kommissie. Die jare waartydens ’n Hertzogprys vir Drama toegeken kon word vanaf 1972 tot 2009, word slegs kortliks en skematies gedek om die bespreking af te rond met betrekking tot dié dramaturge wat reeds voor 1972 gedebuteer het, maar eers daarna met die prys bekroon is. ENGLISH: The year 2009 marks the centenary celebrations of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. This institution is the curator of the Hertzog Prize, a sought-after literary prize and the oldest and most prestigious award made by this institution. This dissertation focuses on the Academy’s attitude towards and advancement of Afrikaans drama, with the focus on the Hertzog Prize awards from 1915 until 1971. Certain information relating to the prize as recorded in previously published works on the subject, are confusing and factually incorrect. In an effort to clarify these, an in depth study was undertaken of the award procedures and their influence on the awards for drama up to 1972. It was especially enlightening with regard to the dramatist Uys Krige. Initially the three literary categories prose, poetry and drama were considered simultaneously, but as from 1928 they rotate and Afrikaans dramas are considered every third year. In comparison with the literary categories prose and poetry, there is a paucity of drama awards – especially during the early years of the prize. An effort was made to place the paucity in perspective. Emphasis is placed on procedures with specific reference to those less than perfect ones which lead to incorrect, or the lack of, awards, resulting in a warped image of drama awards. Certain awards or lack thereof, can be attributed to incorrect statements by administrators, unsatisfactory procedures or the influence of people with authority. Defining beacons and decisions are indicated. In the nineteen sixties the country and the Academy experienced years of turbulence. With regards to the Academy’s policy on the protection and advancement of Afrikaans culture, members of the Academy differed on the interpretation and implementation thereof. This lead to differing views on the Academy’s course and on certain literary works. There were different views on who should have the final say on the Hertzog Prize: the Board as curator of the prize according to the deed of gift, or the Commission for Literature as literary experts. These differences lead to a boiling point in 1966 when Uys Krige was nominated for the prize. The Board’s decision not to award the prize lead to severe criticism – even from members of the Committee, and had a ripple effect for years thereafter. The first standing Commission for Literature was appointed for the period April 1968 to April 1971 and the first award they had to adjudicate was the Drama award for 1969. As opposed to the stormy sixties, the awards for drama in the following years were made without discord between the board of the Academy, the Faculty and the Commission for Literature. The years during which the Drama Prize could be awarded during the period 1972 to 2009 are dealt with briefly and schematically in order to conclude the discussion with reference to those dramatists who made their drama debut before 1972, but were only awarded the Hertzog Prize after 1972. / Thesis (DLitt)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Afrikaans / unrestricted

Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om Dansrapsodie – ʼn Afrika-stad van Stefans Grové en Fanfare Festival Overture van Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph ten opsigte van struktuur, melodie, ritme en instrumentasie te ontleed en sodoende vas te stel watter Afrika-etniese elemente gebruik word en hoe dit toegepas is. ʼn Vergelykende studie is gedoen om vas te stel of daar enige ooreenkomste of verskille tussen die twee werke is. Verskeie skripsies, verhandelings en proefskrifte oor werke van Grové en Zaidel- Rudolph is geraadpleeg. Die skrywer kon nie gepubliseerde weergawes van Dansrapsodie – ʼn Afrika-stad en Fanfare Festival Overture opspoor nie, daarom is die ontleding met behulp van afskrifte van die handgeskrewe manuskripte onderneem. Daar is gereeld na die CD-opnames van albei werke (op die Claremont GSE-etiket) geluister. Die verhandeling bestaan uit ses hoofstukke. In die eerste hoofstuk word die agtergrond en motivering vir die studie uiteengesit en Hoofstuk 2 bevat kort biografieë van Grové en Zaidel-Rudolph. Grové se Dansrapsodie – ʼn Afrika-stad word in Hoofstuk 3 ontleed en verskillende Afrika-etniese elemente word beskryf soos wat dit van toepassing op die analise is. Zaidel-Rudolph se Fanfare Festival Overture word in Hoofstuk 4 op dieselfde wyse as Dansrapsodie – ʼn Afrika-stad ontleed. Die laaste twee hoofstukke (Hoofstuk 5 en 6) bevat ʼn vergelyking tussen die aanwending van Afrika-etniese elemente in die twee komposisies, asook gevolgtrekkings en voorstelle vir verdere studie. Die belangrikste gevolgtrekkings is die volgende: <ul> <li> Afrika-etniese elemente word in albei werke op só ʼn manier aangewend dat die komposisie vir ʼn Westerse orkes toeganklik is.</li> <li> In albei werke se struktuur word die roep-en-antwoord-beginsel en herhalende melodieë wat tydens elke herhaling effens gewysig word (permutasie) aangewend. Die melodiese inhoud word deur die mineur terts (ʼn interval van die pentatoniese toonleer) en twyfelagtige tonaliteite oorheers. Ritmiese ostinaatpatrone, die 12/8-metrum en poliritmiek in die Afrika-deel van Zaidel-Rudolph se komposisie bewerkstellig onmiddellik Afrika-etniese assosiasies. Die bongo-tromme en marimba kom in albei komposisies as Afrika-instrumente voor.</li> <li>Grové en Zaidel-Rudolph benader die aanwending van Afrika-etniese elemente in Westerse musiek op verskillende maniere.</li></ul> ENGLISH : The main objective of this study was to analyse the structure, melody, rhythm and instrumentation of Stefans Grové’s Dansrapsodie – ʼn Afrika-stad and Jeanne Zaidel- Rudolph’s Fanfare Festival Overture in order to determine which African ethnic elements are used in the two compositions and how these elements are applied. A comparative study was done to determine what the similarities and differences are between the two works. Several mini-dissertations, dissertations and theses about works by Grové and Zaidel-Rudolph were consulted. The author could not find published versions of Dansrapsodie – ʼn Afrika-stad and Fanfare Festival Overture, therefore the analysis was done with copies of the hand-written manuscripts. The author frequently listened to CD recordings (Claremont GSE label) of both works. The dissertation consists of six chapters. In the first chapter the author explains the background and motivation for the study and Chapter 2 contains short biographies of Grové and Zaidel-Rudolph. Grové’s Dansrapsodie – ʼn Afrika-stad is analysed in Chapter 3 and the different African ethnic elements that apply to this work are described. Zaidel-Rudolph’s Fanfare Festival Overture is analysed in Chapter 4, in the same way as Grové’s Dansrapsodie – ʼn Afrika-stad. The last two chapters (Chapter 5 and 6) include a comparison between the application of African ethnic elements in the two compositions, as well as conclusions and suggestions of topics for future studies. The most important conclusions are the following: <ul> <li> African ethnic elements are applied in such a way that both compositions are accessible for Western (“art music”) orchestras.</li> <li> In both compositions’ structure the call-and-response principle and repeated melodies (that are modified during each repeat) are applied. Both works’melodic content is dominated by the interval of a minor 3rd (an interval from the pentatonic scale) and an ambiguous tonality. Rhythmic ostinatos, the 12/8 metre and polyrhythm in the African part of Zaidel-Rudolph’s Fanfare Festival Overture immediately bring about African ethnic associations. The bongos and marimba as African instruments can be found in both works.</li> <li> Grové and Zaidel-Rudolph approach the application of African ethnic elements in Western art music in different ways.</li></ul> Copyright / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Music / unrestricted

The high levels of crime in South Africa are a popular topic of conversation amongst South Africans. As a result of the high levels of crime in South Africa, many South Africans employ private security companies in order to protect themselves and their property. The opinion exists that these private security costs should be allowed as a deduction against their taxable income. The study investigates certain factors that may influence crime, the private security industry and these companies’ perception on the duties of the South African Police Service. In order to determine private security companies’ perception on the duties of the South African Police Service, a questionnaire was conducted. The results reflected not only that private security companies are more effective and proactive in the prevention of crime, but also that they have a faster reaction time to emergency calls than the South African Police Service. This can lead one to argue that it has become a necessity to incur private security costs in South Africa. It also discusses current South African tax legislation in comparison with international trends. The study concludes whether the deduction of private security costs for the individual against taxable income is allowed in South Africa. AFRIKAANS : Die hoë vlakke van misdaad in Suid-Afrika is ‘n gewilde onderwerp van bespreking onder Suid-Afrikaners. As gevolg van die hoë vlakke van misdaad in Suid-Afrika stel baie Suid- Afrikaners privaat sekuriteitsmaatskappye aan om hulself en hul eiendom te beskerm. Menige Suid-Afrikaners is van mening dat hierdie privaat sekuriteitsuitgawes as ‘n aftrekking teen hul belasbare inkomste toegelaat moet word. Die studie ondersoek sekere faktore wat misdaad kan beinvloed, die privaat sekuriteitsmaatskappy industrie en hierdie maatskappye se opinie van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens se verantwoordelikhede. ‘n Vraelys is gebruik om privaat sekuriteitsmaatskappye se opinie rakende die verantwoordelikhede van die Suid-Afrikaansie Polisiediens te bepaal. Die resultate dui daarop dat privaat sekuriteitsmaatskappye nie net meer effektief en proaktief is in die voorkoming van misdaad as die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens nie, maar ook dat hulle ‘n vinniger reaksietyd het na ‘n noodoproep ontvang is. Dit kan tot aannames lei dat dit ‘n noodsaaklikheid geword het om privaat sekuriteitsonkostes in Suid-Afrika aan te gaan. Die studie stel ook ondersoek in na huidige Suid-Afrikaanse belastingwetgewing in vergelyking met die internasionale werkswyse en sluit af met die antwoord op die vraag of privaat sekuriteitsuitgawes belastingaftrekbaar is vir Suid-Afrikaanse individue. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Taxation / unrestricted

INTRODUCTION - Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) has a known relationship with obesity and more specifically with central obesity. Traditionally the physiological contribution of PAI-1 is seen as an indicator of fibrinolysis with increased PAI-1 levels contributing to decreased fibrinolysis. In more recent years, assays have been developed that not only uses proxy markers, such as PA-1, which is considered to be representative of fibrinolysis , but global assays that report on the global fibrinolytic potential of an individual, often reported as clot lysis time (CLT). Investigations into the relationship of CLT with obesity are scarce. Preliminary evidence shows that the relationship of CLT with obesity may differ from that of PAI-1 with obesity although in depth investigations in this regard are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between fibrinolysis markers (PAI-1act and CLT) and various markers of body composition in the South African Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) data collected during 2010. METHODS - Data collected in the PURE study in 2010 were cross-sectionally analysed. The participants (n = 1288) were apparently healthy black South-African men and women 35 years and older, residing in urban and rural settlements in the North-West Province. Experimental methods included anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, hip circumference, waist circumference, skinfolds (triceps, chest, abdominal, thigh and supra iliac skinfolds) and body composition measurements by means of air-displacement plethysmography and biolelectrical impedance analysis. Laboratory analysis of fibrinolysis markers, PAI-1act and CLT were also performed. MAIN FINDINGS - In men, similarities were seen regarding the relationship between PAI-1act and body composition markers and the relationships observed between CLT and body composition markers. In contrast, in the women more and stronger associations were observed between CLT and body composition markers compared to that observed between PAI-1act and body composition markers. CLT showed a linear relationship with body composition markers where PAI-1act levels plateaued at higher body composition categories. Possible reasons for the observed differences may be related to differences in adipose tissue distribution and sequence of accumulation between men and women. PAI-1 is associated with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) where high amounts of stromal cells are found. In men preferential accumulation of VAT may explain similarities in the relationship of PAI-1act with body composition and that of CLT with body composition. Proportionally less VAT, but more subcutaneous adipose tissue in women may explain the observed increase in CLT compared to PAI-1act levels that plateaued over body composition tertiles and categories. CONCLUSION - PAI-1act has a stronger association with central obesity while CLT has a stronger association with total body fat. In women PAI-1act and CLT showed different associations with body composition markers, whereas associations of PAI-1act and CLT with body composition were similar in men. PAI-1act is strongly influenced by type of body fat accumulation whereas CLT is associated with obesity independent of type and sequence of body fact accumulation. Significant associations observed between CLT and body composition variables are, therefore, at least in part, independent of PAI-1act. Additional factors such as, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), α-2-antiplasmin, plasminogen, prothrombin and fibrin clot structure that influence CLT and are also related to obesity may additionally contribute to the link between CLT and obesity. / MSc (Dietetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Exposure of employees to traumatic experiences in the workplace is a reality that many organisations face. Although not every person exposed to a traumatic experience will necessarily develop post-traumatic stress, the workplace still has a responsibility to assist individuals to deal with psychological reactions after a traumatic experience. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is one such organisation, where employees run a particularly high risk of being exposed to traumatic experiences while performing their tasks. In order to help employees of the SAPS to debrief their trauma, trauma counsellors are necessary. Within the SAPS, trauma counsellors are trained in an adapted version of Mitchell’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) model, with the underlying focus to establish a sense of safety for the police official. The trauma counsellors in the SAPS are trained by means of an experiential learning experience, where journaling is utilised to capture personal experiences during the training. The objective of the study was therefore to explore the experience of counsellors during a trauma counselling training programme. A qualitative research design was utilised following a phenomenology approach. The social constructivism paradigm was also utilised in this research study. Trauma counsellors (N=12) in the SAPS were used as case study for this research, where a purposive homogeneous non-probability sampling technique was implemented. The journal entries made by the participants during the nine day training programme were used as a data collection method. Four categories were extracted from the data, namely, thoughts regarding trauma counsellor’s experiences, emotion experiences of counsellors, the impact of daily experiences on counsellors and the participants’ view on how their competence of efficiency would change in the future. The results showed that the training programme was an effective strategy to train the counsellors. The counsellors showed increased self-awareness and self-insight after the training. The participants gained insight and understanding of how police officials experience trauma. The findings showed that the participants felt empowered and more confident to assist police officials with their trauma recovery. In relation to their training, counsellors made recommendations for the future training of trauma counsellors within the SAPS. Finally, recommendations were made for future research as well as the implications of the study for the industrial psychology practise. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and mental health within a cohort of black African teachers. A review of literature revealed that teachers frequently experience mental- and general health problems (e.g. Ngidi & Sibaya, 2002; Olivier & Venter, 2003; Johnson, Cooper, Cartwright, Donald, Taylor & Millet, 2005; Parker, Martin, Colmar, & Liem, 2012). However, very little could be found on personality traits and how this relates to the health and well-being of teachers, especially in the challenging South African context. This study forms part of the SABPA (Sympathetic Activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans) project conducted within AUTHeR (Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research). The overarching purpose of this multidisciplinary project was to investigate the markers of bio-psycho-social health in urbanized teachers. This longitudinal project ran from January 2008 to November 2012 and involved a total of 409 Black and White secondary school teachers. The research was conducted in the North West province of South-Africa. This study focused on the 200 urbanized Black teachers who were recruited by means of convenience sampling from the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda educational district in the Potchefstroom area in the North West province during 2008. The sample included 101 men and 99 women, ranging between the ages of 25 and 60 years. Ethical permission for the SABPA and FORT3 projects was obtained from the ethics committee of the North-West University (ethical clearance numbers NWU-00036-07-S6 and NWU-00002-07-A2 respectively). Participants filled out informed consent forms prior to data collection, and after the objectives of the study and the research procedures were explained to them, all their questions were answered. Data collection for the baseline phase of the project lasted for 50 days during February to May 2008. Four participants arrived at the North-West University (NWU) Metabolic Unit on the Potchefstroom campus after work each day. After being welcomed and oriented, a battery of psychometric tests was administered in English. A secondary analysis was performed on data obtained by means of the Basic Traits Inventory-Short, Mental Health Continuum-Short Form and the General Health Questionnaire-28 in order to determine the relationship between personality functioning and mental health of the participants. Results showed that this cohort of teachers from the North West province experience distress in the workplace, but that they also experience surprisingly high levels of mental health. The findings suggest that there are few differences between the male and female subgroups in this regard. The study also found that there is indeed a relationship between personality traits and the general- and mental health of participants. Neuroticism showed a significant positive correlation with psychological distress, while Conscientiousness showed a significant negative correlation. All five personality traits showed significant correlations with the mental health of educators. Neuroticism correlated negatively with mental health, while Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness and Agreeableness correlated positively with mental health. Furthermore, certain personality traits (i.e. Neuroticism and Extraversion) were shown to be significant predictors of teachers’ levels of general and mental health. The strong association found between this cohort of teachers’ personality functioning and their general and mental health contributes toward an understanding of the processes that underlie the distress and mental health of teachers, and could play an important role in future attempts toward health promotion. / MSc (Clinical Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

INTRODUCTION - Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) has a known relationship with obesity and more specifically with central obesity. Traditionally the physiological contribution of PAI-1 is seen as an indicator of fibrinolysis with increased PAI-1 levels contributing to decreased fibrinolysis. In more recent years, assays have been developed that not only uses proxy markers, such as PA-1, which is considered to be representative of fibrinolysis , but global assays that report on the global fibrinolytic potential of an individual, often reported as clot lysis time (CLT). Investigations into the relationship of CLT with obesity are scarce. Preliminary evidence shows that the relationship of CLT with obesity may differ from that of PAI-1 with obesity although in depth investigations in this regard are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between fibrinolysis markers (PAI-1act and CLT) and various markers of body composition in the South African Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) data collected during 2010. METHODS - Data collected in the PURE study in 2010 were cross-sectionally analysed. The participants (n = 1288) were apparently healthy black South-African men and women 35 years and older, residing in urban and rural settlements in the North-West Province. Experimental methods included anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, hip circumference, waist circumference, skinfolds (triceps, chest, abdominal, thigh and supra iliac skinfolds) and body composition measurements by means of air-displacement plethysmography and biolelectrical impedance analysis. Laboratory analysis of fibrinolysis markers, PAI-1act and CLT were also performed. MAIN FINDINGS - In men, similarities were seen regarding the relationship between PAI-1act and body composition markers and the relationships observed between CLT and body composition markers. In contrast, in the women more and stronger associations were observed between CLT and body composition markers compared to that observed between PAI-1act and body composition markers. CLT showed a linear relationship with body composition markers where PAI-1act levels plateaued at higher body composition categories. Possible reasons for the observed differences may be related to differences in adipose tissue distribution and sequence of accumulation between men and women. PAI-1 is associated with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) where high amounts of stromal cells are found. In men preferential accumulation of VAT may explain similarities in the relationship of PAI-1act with body composition and that of CLT with body composition. Proportionally less VAT, but more subcutaneous adipose tissue in women may explain the observed increase in CLT compared to PAI-1act levels that plateaued over body composition tertiles and categories. CONCLUSION - PAI-1act has a stronger association with central obesity while CLT has a stronger association with total body fat. In women PAI-1act and CLT showed different associations with body composition markers, whereas associations of PAI-1act and CLT with body composition were similar in men. PAI-1act is strongly influenced by type of body fat accumulation whereas CLT is associated with obesity independent of type and sequence of body fact accumulation. Significant associations observed between CLT and body composition variables are, therefore, at least in part, independent of PAI-1act. Additional factors such as, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), α-2-antiplasmin, plasminogen, prothrombin and fibrin clot structure that influence CLT and are also related to obesity may additionally contribute to the link between CLT and obesity. / MSc (Dietetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Exposure of employees to traumatic experiences in the workplace is a reality that many organisations face. Although not every person exposed to a traumatic experience will necessarily develop post-traumatic stress, the workplace still has a responsibility to assist individuals to deal with psychological reactions after a traumatic experience. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is one such organisation, where employees run a particularly high risk of being exposed to traumatic experiences while performing their tasks. In order to help employees of the SAPS to debrief their trauma, trauma counsellors are necessary. Within the SAPS, trauma counsellors are trained in an adapted version of Mitchell’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) model, with the underlying focus to establish a sense of safety for the police official. The trauma counsellors in the SAPS are trained by means of an experiential learning experience, where journaling is utilised to capture personal experiences during the training. The objective of the study was therefore to explore the experience of counsellors during a trauma counselling training programme. A qualitative research design was utilised following a phenomenology approach. The social constructivism paradigm was also utilised in this research study. Trauma counsellors (N=12) in the SAPS were used as case study for this research, where a purposive homogeneous non-probability sampling technique was implemented. The journal entries made by the participants during the nine day training programme were used as a data collection method. Four categories were extracted from the data, namely, thoughts regarding trauma counsellor’s experiences, emotion experiences of counsellors, the impact of daily experiences on counsellors and the participants’ view on how their competence of efficiency would change in the future. The results showed that the training programme was an effective strategy to train the counsellors. The counsellors showed increased self-awareness and self-insight after the training. The participants gained insight and understanding of how police officials experience trauma. The findings showed that the participants felt empowered and more confident to assist police officials with their trauma recovery. In relation to their training, counsellors made recommendations for the future training of trauma counsellors within the SAPS. Finally, recommendations were made for future research as well as the implications of the study for the industrial psychology practise. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015