University of South Africa

About: University of South Africa is a education organization based out in Pretoria, South Africa. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Population. The organization has 8478 authors who have published 19960 publications receiving 237688 citations. The organization is also known as: Unisa.

The influence of hydrating agents on the hydration of industrial magnesium oxide

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The influence of different hydrating agents on the pH of the hydrating solutions, rate of hydration of MgO to Mg(OH)2 and product surface area was studied as a function of temperature of hydration. Hydrating agents used were aqueous solutions of ammonium chloride, magnesium acetate, magnesium nitrate, nitric acid, acetic acid, magnesium chloride, sodium acetate and hydrochloric acid and distilled water as control. These were chosen to determine either the effect of addition of a common ion, the effect of changing the solution pH or due to the presence of an acetate ion, found earlier to have a beneficial effect on the hydration of MgO. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the hydration behaviour of the hydrating agents up to 50 °C, where less than 10% of magnesium hydroxide was formed. The amount of hydroxide increased at temperatures above 60 °C. When compared with the hydration in water, all the hydrating agents, with the exception of sodium acetate, showed a significant increase in the degree of hydration. Sodium acetate formed the lowest amount of magnesium hydroxide, ranging between 1.2 and 12.2% magnesium hydroxide. The largest percentage (56.7%) of magnesium hydroxide was formed from hydration in magnesium acetate. CONCLUSION: It seems that MgO hydration is a dissolution-precipitation process controlled by the dissolution of MgO. The increased degree of hydration in magnesium acetate is possibly due to the presence of acetate and Mg2+ ions. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

South African psychology can and should provide leadership in advancing understanding of sexual and gender diversity on the African continent

Abstract: Internationally, there have been significant advancements in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) rights, for instance, in relation to equality and marriage. In stark contrast, many African countries, however, continue to actively discriminate against, persecute, and even prosecute LGBTI individuals. Criminalisation constitutes the most blatant form of state-sponsored homophobia. In this regard, 36 African countries had laws criminalising same-sex sexual acts in 2013, some with the death penalty and many with sentences of imprisonment of 10 years and more (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association [ILGA], 2013).

Insurance Policy Thresholds for Economic Growth in Africa

Abstract: This study investigates the role of insurance in economic growth on a panel of 48 countries in Africa for the period 2004–2014. The research question the study seeks to answer is: what thresholds of insurance penetration positively affect economic growth in Africa? The empirical evidence is based on the Generalized Method of Moments. Life insurance increases economic growth while the effect of non-life insurance is not significant. Increasing both life insurance and non-life insurance has negative net effects on economic growth. From an extended analytical exercise, 4.149% of life insurance premium (% of GDP) is the minimum critical mass required for life insurance to positively affect economic prosperity, while 1.805% of non-life insurance premium (% of GDP) is the minimum threshold required for non-life insurance to positively affect economic prosperity. Thresholds are also provided from the Hansen (J Econom 93(2):345–368, 1999) Panel Threshold Regression technique using a balanced sample of 28 countries.

Restorying the Self: An Exploration of Young Burn Survivors’ Narratives of Resilience

Abstract: The results of this exploratory study reflect a shift from public health studies that aim to examine the risk and prevalence of burn injury, toward eliciting survivors' subjective meaning-making processes beyond the injury event. We drew on a narrative framework to explore how young survivors' experiences of burn injury led to reconstructions of self and shifts in thinking about others and the world. Although participants' narratives revealed elements of heightened self-awareness, need for acceptance, and desire for recognition, these stood alongside counter narratives denoting positive, transformative, and resilient aspects of healing that reflected a rebirth of the self, life having purpose, and psychospiritual growth. A multidimensional and relational framework for resilience acknowledges the "deficient," but also recognizes the pathways to growth, healing, meaning, and purpose. This shift toward person-centered meanings has value in informing interventions beyond the immediate "wound care," toward the survivors' lifelong (re)negotiation of identity, appearance, psychological adjustment, and social reintegration.