Master of Science / Department of Biology / Brett K. Sandercock / Grassland birds are declining throughout their native range. The Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and Oklahoma contain large tracts of tallgrass prairie, but intensification of agricultural practices may be contributing to ongoing population declines. Common rangeland management practices include annual burning coupled with heavy grazing by cattle. This system, known as intensive early stocking and burning, promotes homogeneous utilization of forage by cattle but may not provide habitat for some grassland bird species. Patch-burn grazing is an alternative management system that aims to restore heterogeneity on rangelands by recreating the fire-grazing interaction that would have historically occurred throughout the Great Plains. From 2011-2013, we examined responses of grassland birds to traditional rangeland management and patch-burn grazing by conducting vegetation surveys, line transect surveys, and nest monitoring on privately-owned pastures in Chase County and Greenwood County, Kansas. Vegetative heterogeneity was higher on patch-burned pastures, with unburned patches having higher visual obstruction and less bare ground. Densities of grassland birds differed by species and among habitat strata. Unburned patches on patch-burned pastures were associated with increased densities of Dickcissels (Spiza americana), Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) and Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum). Henslow’s Sparrows (A. henslowii) were only detected on patch-burned pastures. Nest survival of grassland songbirds was similar among management systems but varied by year. Probability of nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) varied among years and between treatments for Dickcissels and Grasshopper Sparrows, with overall lower rates on burned areas and during drought years. For Dickcissels and Grasshopper Sparrows, there was a significant reduction in host clutch size between parasitized versus unparasitized nests. Overall, nest survival of grassland songbirds in managed rangelands was low. Patch-burn grazing improved rangeland conditions and provided habitat for more species of birds, but did not increase nest survival. Drought conditions in 2012 and 2013 may have influenced the results of this study, as many landowners were unable to burn as planned. Further study is needed to determine underlying factors driving variation in nest success and parasitism rates for grassland birds, particularly on private lands which make up the vast majority of remnant tallgrass prairies.

M.A. / Violence in South Africa has reached epidemic proportions. Violence against women is one area in which this social undercurrent continuously plays itself out. People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) and Rape Crisis, Cape Town (RCCT) are two organizations that use lay counsellors to focus specifically on counselling women who have endured rape and domestic violence. Burnout is widely recognized as a consequence of this helping profession. This quantitative study comprised of 26 female counsellors from POWA and RCCT, who completed questionnaires that included demographic data, the Maslach Burnout Inventory to measure levels of burnout and personal accomplishment, and the COPE that measures different coping styles. The statistical analysis used was Pearson's correlation t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results showed that this small sample group do not feel burned out, but rather have a sense of personal accomplishment. The counsellors listed eleven of the fourteen coping styles suggested as useful, and five of these appeared significantly so. Certain differences in coping techniques became apparent when analysed according to demographic data. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

M.A. / Ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church are also exposed to work stress, which can lead to burnout, as well as job dissatisfaction. The study (under consideration) was undertaken to examine the connection between Sense of Coherence, burnout, job satisfaction and intentions to resign from their positions as ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church. The participants were 91 ministers of the Synod of Southern Transvaal. Sense of Coherence was measured by using the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (Antonovsky, 1987); burnout by using the Aangepaste iltgaslach Burnout Inventory (Odendal, 1984); and job satisfaction by using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (Weiss, Dawes, England & Lofquist, 1967). The unique relationship between variables was clarified by doing a route analysis. The results indicate that: (a) ministers with a low Sense of Coherence are more inclined to suffer from burnout than those with a high Sense of Coherence; (b) when controlled for burnout there is no strong or statistically significant connection between Sense of Coherence and job satisfaction; (c) . burnout has a strong and statistically significant negative relationship with job satisfaction, and (d) burnout is a good predictor of pastors intension to resign. Because of its influence on burnout, Sense of Coherence indirectly has a mildly strong influence on ministers' intention to resign. According to this, pastors with a high Sense of Coherence are less prone to burnout and therefore also less inclined to resign. Similarly, Sense of Coherence (via its influence on burnout) has a mildly strong positive influence on job satisfaction. Accordingly ministers with a high Sense of Coherence have higher levels of job satisfaction because this high Sense of Coherence protects them from burnout.

M.Cur. (Psychiatric Nursing) / Burnout has severe consequences for the psychiatric nurse as individual and for the mental health delivery system because of an increase in staff turnover and a decrease in the quality of patientcare. Psychiatric nurses suffering from burnout have the potential to experience job satisfaction, if job satisfaction can be facilitated. Job satisfaction of the psychiatric nurse will promote the mental health for her as individual, her patients, colleagues, family and the community. The following aims were set for the research project: Exploring and describing the aspects which cause and promote burnout amongst psychiatric nurses at a private psychiatric hospital; and to formulate guidelines for the psychiatric nursing specialist to facilitate job satisfaction of psychiatric nurses, as an integral part of mental health by means of mobilisation of resources. Nursing for the Whole Person Theory was used as the theoretical framework for this qualitative,contextual study. Botes' Model (1995:4-9) for Nursing Research was used to structure theresearch. The measures which were used to ensure reliability,validity and credibility of the research, were that of Guba (inKrefting, 1991:214-222).A pilot study was conducted to prevent obstacles during gathering and analysis of data. Specific criteria were set for selectionof participants. After conducting a pilot study, fiveparticipants were purposively selected from the target populationat a private psychiatric clinic.Individual focus interviews were recorded on tape and latertranscribed. Data gathering and data analysis were divided in two phases. Three questions were asked during -Phase 1 regarding burnout, and one during - Phase 2- regarding guidelinesfor the prevention of burnout. Data was analyzed systematicallyand descriptive, combining Tesch's (in Creswell, 1994:115) and Kerlinger's (1986:479) methods.

M.A. / The changing South African workforce is reflected in the fact that in the period between 1960 and 2001, female employment has increased substantially. For South Africa, being part of the global economy brings its own stress as more women have to earn a living to provide an extra income for the family. The resulting stress from the often opposing demands of work and family has lead to increasing attention being paid to the matter. Further, many individuals experience job insecurity and career worries and this impacts directly on their reported job satisfaction. When there are overwhelming job demands, and too few job resources, these individuals may experience further declines in job satisfaction. The present research has endeavoured to explore this subject. Job demands, job resources and self-directed learning are thought to impact on an individual‟s job satisfaction. This conceptualisation is based on the Job Demands-Resources model which states that overwhelming job demands coupled with few job resources will result in individuals experiencing burnout and disengagement from work. The aim of this study was to explore the moderating role of self-directedness in a Job Demands-Resources model for working women (N = 168). Each participant completed the Sources of Work Stress Inventory, the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory, the Workplace Self-Directed Learning Scale, and a biographical questionnaire. Specific hypotheses were formulated pertaining to the relationships between job resources, job demands, self-directed learning and job satisfaction, and self-directed learning as a moderator in the relationship between job resources and job satisfaction as well as job demands and job satisfaction. The relationships between job demands, job resources, self-directed learning and job satisfaction were investigated by means of Pearson product-moment correlations. The results indicated that Work-Life Balance (r = -0.246, p < 0.01), Career Worries (r = -0.451, p < 0.01), Job Insecurity (r = -0.338, p < 0.01), and Work Relationships (r = -0.465, p < 0.01) had statistically significant negative relationships with Job Satisfaction. Work Drive (r = 0.270, p < 0.01) and Self-Directed Learning (r = 0.512, p < 0.01) yielded statistically significant positive relationships with Job Satisfaction, while Work Involvement (r = 0.150) surrendered no statistically significant relationship with Job Satisfaction. Career Worries, Job Insecurity, Work Relationships, and Self-Directed Learning all yielded practically meaningful relationships of r > 0.30 with Job Satisfaction. Results of the multiple regression analyses revealed a statistically significant predictive relationship between both Job Demands and Job Satisfaction (R² = 0.232, F(3, 164), = 16.482, p = < 0.001), and Job Resources and Job Satisfaction (R² = 0.335, F(3, 164), = 27.514, p = < 0.001). Job Demands accounted for approximately 23% of the variance in Job Satisfaction. A subsequent analysis of the effect sizes revealed that Career Worries (β = -0.374, r = -0.335, t = -4.891, p < 0.001) and Job Insecurity (β = -0.179, r = -0.145, t = -2.123, p < 0.05) were statistically significantly related to Job Satisfaction in the presence of the three job demands. Results of the multiple regression analyses further showed that Job Resources accounted for approximately 34% of the variance in Job Satisfaction. Work Relationships (β = -0.512, r = -0.505, t = -7.922, p < 0.001), Work Drive (β = -0.268, r = 0.259, t = 4.073, p < 0.001) and Work Involvement (β = 0.164, r = 0.157, t = 2.471, p < 0.05) were statistically significantly related to Job Satisfaction in the presence of all three Job Resources. Results of the hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that Work Drive was the only job resource variable relationship with job satisfaction that appeared to be moderated by Self-Directed Learning. The relationships between the various job demands and job satisfaction were not moderated by self-directed learning.

’Point of view’ is an investigation of changeable surface patterns in the textile design field. The investigation is performed in order to get a deeper understanding of the relationship between changeable surface patterns and three-dimensional contexts to explore alternative methods.  The aim is to design surface patterns in a three dimensional context developed through printing and layering techniques, and to explore how the patterns change depending on the observer’s perspective. Practice based design experiments were carried out to explore materials and printing techniques such as transfer, digital and burn out. The patterns were in turn placed on a cubic frame with inner and outer layers, and studied for their effects on one another.  The project resulted in a series of surface patterns that were applied in a spatial context. The findings propose an alternative method for designing changeable surface patterns in a three-dimensional setting, using layers, transparency and distance as factors.

This Master´s Thesis focuses on mapping the occurrence of stress in the occupation of pedagogues, its significance, influence and circumstances which affect it. Furthermore, this thesis maps the occurrence of the burn-out syndrome phenomenon, its manifestations and influences which affect it. Also, the thesis deals with stress management and its potential use in the pedagogic field. In this matter, it mostly deals with time management, self-reflection and the influence of positive orientation. In this thesis, the used methods were the use of questionnaires among the educationalists and also dialogues with selected headmasters. The results confirm the existence of connection between the values of the burn-out syndrome and the length of pedagogic career, the age of a person, sex and other studied aspects. Nevertheless, it is important to point out, that the hypotheses based on the studied literature were not confirmed.

AFRIKAANS: Sedert die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in Suid-Afrika in 1994 het die Suid¬Afrikaanse Polisiediens voortdurende transformasie ondergaan. Misdaad, traumatisering en selfmoord van polisiebeamptes het toegeneem. Die werkslading en eise aan die professionele hulpdienste (sielkundiges, maatskaplike werkers, kapelane) in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens het dienooreenkomstig verhoog. Hierdie studie is ‘n eksploratiewe ondersoek by 'n aantal sielkundiges in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens oor die verskynsel van psigiese uitbranding. Hierdie is die eerste studie oor psigiese uitbranding by sielkundiges in die organisasie. Die meeste outeurs beskou psigiese uitbranding as 'n verskynsel wat met die werksomgewing geassosieer word en spesifiek met die professionele rol van hulpverlening. Die Iiteratuurstudie oor psigiese uitbranding toon egter dat die term vir 'n groot verskeidenheid prosesse, simptome, definisies, oorsake, fases en gevolge gebruik word. Verskeie outeurs wys op die alomvattende en nie-kritiese gebruik van die term, asook die gebrekkige geïntegreerde teoretiese fundering in die veld. Groepanalise dien as 'n integrerende teoretiese raamwerk en die data is verkry deur die k1eingroep as basis vir 'n tweedaagse groepanalitiese werkwinkel te gebruik. Sielkundiges van verskeie geografiese streke in Suid¬Afrika het die werkwinkel vrywillig bygewoon. 'n Ondersoeksituasie is aan die einde van die werkwinkel geskep waar ongestruktureerde vrae gebruik is. 'n Fenomenologiese benadering tot die ondersoeksituasie en data-analise is gebruik. Die navorsingsresultate is beskrywend en toon dat psigiese uitbranding 'n ervaringsrealiteit by sielkundiges in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens is. Die kleingroep as data-genererende konteks, die navorsingsvrae en die vrye gespreksformaat het tot refleksie oor individuele ervarings, kleingroepervarings, asook grootgroep- en sosiale realiteite gelei. Die wederkerigheid tussen die genoemde ervarings en die self in verhouding tot verskeie aspekte dien as 'n beskrywende raamwerk vir die resultate. Die analisering oor die refleksie van die sosiale realiteit in die navorsing toon dat sielkundiges die organisasie en die sosiale konteks as traumaties ervaar en sekondêr getraumatiseer word deur met polisielede te werk. Die organisasiesisteem en die organisasie-as-geheel dra by tot ervarings van traumatisering. Dit maak die fondasie matriks uit waar getraumatiseerde individuele en groepsprosesse manifesteer en geregresseerde en primitiewe funksioneringseienskappe, ongeïntegreerdheid en angs openbaar word. Die studie toon dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens as transisionele en getraumatiseerde konteks tot 'n toestand van sosiale immobilisasie en paralise lei wat sosiale ontwikkeling, dialoog en kommunikasie beperk. Die potensiaal van die organisasie as grootgroep om tot integrasie by te dra, word deur hierdie prosesse ingeperk en inhibeer groei en transformasie. ENGLISH: Since the first democratic general election in South Africa in 1994, the South African Police Service, as an organisation, has undergone continual transformation. The level of crime, traumatisation and suicide of police officials have increased since then. The workload and demands on the helping professions (psychologists, social workers and chaplains) have increased accordingly. This study is an explorative investigation into the phenomenon of psychological burnout and the manifestation of this burnout among a number of psychologists employed by the South African Police Service. This is the first study involving psychological burnout that has been undertaken among psychologists in this organisation. Most authors view psychological burnout as a phenomenon that is associated with the work environment and specifically with the professional role of those rendering assistance. The literature dealing with psychological burnout, however, reveals that the term is used for a variety of processes, symptoms, definitions, causes, phases and consequences. Various authors have pointed out both the all-inclusive and non-critical use of the term as well as the lack of an integrated theoretical grounding in the specific field. Group analysis served as an integrating theoretical framework and the data was obtained by using the small group as a basis for a two-day group analytical workshop. Psychologists attended the workshop on a voluntary basis from various geographical regions in South Africa. An investigative situation, using unstructured questions, was created at the conclusion of the workshop. A phenomenological approach to the investigative situation and data-analysis were utilised in the research. The research results are descriptive and reveal that psychological burnout occurs among the psychologists. The small group (as a• data-generating context), the research questions and the format of exploration led to reflection on individual experiences, small and large group experiences as well as social realities. The mutuality between the aforementioned experiences as well as the self in various relations serves as a descriptive framework for results. An analysis of the reflection on social reality in the research firstly reveals that the psychologists experience the organisation and the social context as traumatic and secondly that the psychologists are traumatised by working with police officials. The organisation system and the organisation-as-a-whole, contribute to traumatic experiences. This comprises the foundation matrix in which traumatised individual and group related processes manifest, and primitive and regressed qualities, lack of integration and anxiety are revealed. The study reveals that the transition and traumatising context in the South African Police Service lead to a condition of social immobilisation and paralysis, which limits social development, dialogue and communication. These processes restrict the potential of the organisation as large group to assist in integration and this in turn inhibits growth and transformation. / Thesis (PhD (Psychotherapy))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

There is a growing body of literature on the risk for secondary trauma amongst professional trauma workers. Nonetheless, there is scant published literature on the impact of trauma work on volunteers; particularly when such volunteers are indigenous to the highly traumatized communities which they serve. The study examined a group of parents (N=16) who volunteered in a school-based trauma support project in an impoverished, gang-ridden South African urban community in which they themselves reside. Aims were to 1) Explore the psychological impact of indigenous trauma volunteerism; 2) Explore volunteers’ perceptions of costs and benefits of volunteerism. Data collection was chiefly qualitative, using focus group and individual interviews. The Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Subscales (Stamm, 2002) were administered in order to determine risk for burnout, risk for compassion fatigue and potential for compassion satisfaction. The Stressful Life Experiences Screening Short Form (Stamm, 1997) was administered in order to gather descriptive information regarding personal trauma histories. Project documentation was reviewed. Analysis and interpretation of qualitative data involved a combination of both etic (theory-based) and emic (data and context-based) techniques. The volunteers’ experiences were co-constructed in interaction with three settings: 1) Experiences of training and supervision were affirming and empowering; 2) Experiences of the school context were mediated by the degree of access and integration into the school environment; 3) Experiences of the community context were mediated by the dynamics of identification, role fluidity and inter-setting negotiation. The primary cost of involvement was distress relating to limitations on capacity to help fellow community members with whom they strongly identified, and whom they felt intrapsychically, interpersonally and socially pressured to assist. These limitations included limited client resources, limited personal resources, limited occupational resources and limited systemic resources. Other sources of distress included context-related boundary management difficulties, institutional (school-related) stressors, difficulties in persuading children to disclose abuse and material costs of volunteering. Coping was facilitated by empowering training, supervision, peer support, and self-care practices. Benefits included acquisition of psychological, interpersonal and occupational skills, improved personal relationships, social support, validation, personal healing and role satisfaction.

La prise en charge des pathologies malformatives ou acquises dans le cadre pédiatrique a fait des progrès considérables au cours des dernières décennies. Cependant certaines prises en charge chirurgicale ne sont toujours pas optimales. C'est pourquoi la médecine régénérative représente une voie d'intérêt en chirurgie pédiatrique. Si différents types cellulaires ont été proposés, les cellules stromales issues du tissu adipeux sont une source intéressante de cellules pour l'ingénierie tissulaire car elles sont abondantes, faciles à prélever et sans problème éthique sous jacent, tout en conservant de multiples potentialités de différenciation. Si de nombreuses publications rapportent l'utilisation des ASC issues de donneurs adultes pour des protocoles précliniques ou cliniques, peu d'études se sont intéressées aux cellules issues de donneurs pédiatriques. L'objectif de ce travail était donc d'obtenir des données exhaustives sur les cellules d'enfant et notamment en fonction de leur âge. Outre les données in vivo, nous avons mis en place un protocole d'étude dans deux modèles murins. 77 enfants ont été prélevés de 1 g de tissu adipeux sous cutané selon les protocoles de collection biologique ASChild 1 et 2. Les cellules ont été séparées en 2 groupe (> et <à 1 an) et mis en culture afin d'étudier différents paramètres (taux d'extraction et de prolifération, phénotype, immunomodulation, formation de CFU-F, potentiel de différenciation en différentes lignées). Peu de différences ont pu être mis en évidence en fonction de l'âge si ce n'est un taux d'extraction cellulaire et une prolifération légèrement plus importante chez les donneurs les plus jeunes. De plus, une étude globale de l'expression génique en utilisant une technique de puce microarray n'a décelé une expression différentielle dans seulement 305 gènes (217 down et 8 up regulés) des pASC par rapport aux ASC adultes, sans différence notée entre les différents groupes d'âge. Afin d'évaluer le potentiel angiogénique des cellules pédiatriques (caractéristique bien connue des ASC), nous avons utilisé un modèle d'ischémie aigue de membre murin. Une ligature du pédicule fémoral était réalisée puis les cellules préalablement mises en culture étaient injectées au sein des loges musculaires de la patte (1 million de cellules dans 60 microl). 29 souris ont pu être traitées selon ces modalités par 6 prélèvements pédiatriques (2 du groupe 1, n=9 et 4 du groupe 2, n=20) et comparées à 30 souris injectées avec du Nacl. Le suivi longitudinal sur 14 jours a mis en évidence une amélioration de la microvascularisation grâce à l'étude microangiographique. D'autre part l'étude histologique a confirmé la viabilité des cellules au terme du suivi ainsi que la proximité des cellules avec les structures vasculaires. Afin de préciser le potentiel des pASC dans la cicatrisation cutanée, 4 prélèvements (2 groupes 1 et 2 groupes 2, n=20) ont été étudiés dans notre modèle murin de brûlure par ébouillantement et comparée à des souris contrôle (n=10). Les pASC permettent une amélioration des paramètres de cicatrisation (épithélialisation, contraction) au cours du suivi de 21 jours. Une amélioration de la vascularisation cutanée évaluée par laser doppler est observée en parallèle. Enfin les cellules ont pu être suivie pendant 21 jours in vivo et possèdent là encore une bonne viabilité au terme du suivi. Ce travail a permis de définir des paramètres essentiels dans l'optique d'une utilisation future des pASC dans la prise en charge des pathologies malformatives ou acquises de l'enfant. Néanmoins certains paramètres doivent être encore précisés comme le potentiel de tumorogénicité à long terme et le mode de délivrance le plus optimal. / Adipose derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASC) are currently tested in regenerative medicine to promote tissue reconstruction after injury. In autologous purpose the possible loss of therapeutic function and cell properties during aging have been questioned in adult. To date no reliable information is available concerning ASC from pediatric patients and a better knowledge is required to intend their use for clinical applications. To address this issue, subcutaneous adipose tissue was collected from 27 donors aged 0-1 year and 50 donors aged 1-12 years and compared to adult ASC. Cells from the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and subsequent cultured ASC were tested in vitro for their extraction and proliferation yield, phenotype, immunomodulation effect, CFU-F content, adipogenic, osteoblastic and angiogenic potentials. Only a slightly higher amount in cell number and proliferative rate were found. None of the other parameters was significantly different. In vivo, pediatric ASC induced an increase in microangiographic score in a mouse model of limb ischemia, even though improvement in vascular density was not significantly correlated to limb rescue. Finally mRNA analysis using microarray approach identified that only 305 genes were differentially expressed (217 down- and 88 up-regulated) in pediatric versus adult ASC, confirming that ASC from both groups of age shared very close intrinsic properties. Finally, we assessed the potentiality of pASC in a murine burn model, designed to cope with our daily practice as pediatric surgeons. We confirmed that cellular therapy based on pASC is effective as it improves early wound healing parameters (epithelialization, retraction). Laser Doppler analysis shows an higher local cutaneous blood flow with ASC than with NaCl. Moreover, we were able to follow the presence of the cells during 21 days. This work precises essential pASC features, which assessment was mandatory before considering a clinical use for malformative or acquired pathology during childhood. Nevertheless, precise understanding of ASC action mechanism needs to be completed as long term inocuity needs to be confirmed and mode of delivery to be adapted to a potential surgical use.