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Summary Polymer science and technology are two key areas for the development of novel materials and processes that influence all aspects of our daily routine from construction, computer science and health care to the exploitation and processing of natural resources. The advancement of these key areas requires basic and advanced polymer science education at school as well as at university level. Africa, being rich in natural resources including crude oil, metals and minerals, will be...

In this paper we examine conditions that underlie vulnerability and resilience possibilities for households and communities that face and respond to climate- and other changes, in nine East and West African countries. We base our analysis on a unique integrated qualitative and quantitative dataset composed of household surveys and village focus group studies carried out across a wide range of environments and agricultural systems. We identify human population growth, commercialization of the...

One of the tools for creating a professional South African public service, committed to the values, principles and ethics of government, is a compulsory, government-wide and generic induction programme. The Public Administration, Leadership and Management Academy (PALAMA) - now the National School of Government (NSG) - was tasked with the development and rollout of such a programme. Due to the size of the South African Public Service, geographic realities, the limitations of traditional...

Abstract Introduction: In this study, the major criterion used by 69 final-year dental students of Al-Quds University, Palestine, to ascertain the presence of approximal carious lesions through radiographs, and their subsequent treatment plan is outlined. Methods: This study was designed to be cross-sectional, whereby a questionnaire containing schematic radiographic diagrams of approximal carious lesions in molars of deciduous and permanent dentition were depicted. Th e extent of caries was...

This paper reports on an exploratory study that explores the instructional patterns within English as a Foreign Language (EFL) secondary school classrooms in Syria. Recently, the Syrian Ministry of Education (MoE) has introduced a new national curriculum which recommends a shift in EFL teachers’ instructional practices. Despite this costly innovation, there has been no attempt to check whether it was working. Adopting a socio-cultural perspective on learning, the study looks at...

Hybrid or electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS) cochlear implants (CIs) are designed to provide high-frequency electric hearing together with residual low-frequency acoustic hearing. However, 30-50% of EAS CI recipients lose residual hearing after implantation. The objective of this study was to determine the mechanisms of EAS-induced hearing loss in an animal model with high-frequency hearing loss. Guinea pigs were exposed to 24 h of noise (12-24 kHz at 116 dB) to induce a high-frequency...

The number of mothers and babies from the developing world who die in pregnancy and childbirth remains unacceptably high. However, concerted efforts over the last 20 years to reduce the number of deaths have produced significant results, leading to a steady fall in maternal and neonatal mortality rates since 1990 (Unicef 2014). One initiative that is having an impact is the 'Making it happen' programme funded by the UK government and run by Liverpool's School of Tropical Medicine. A 'skills...

This exploratory study examined issues and challenges for academic middle managers (AMMs) in the leading of curriculum change in higher education institutions HEIs. The premise of this study was that leadership tasks that involve motivating and inspiring subordinates instead of coercing them are the most effective way of getting the best results from subordinates during the process of curriculum change. The study therefore sought to answer the question: How do AMMs lead curriculum change in...

This study examined the impact a modified laboratory learning environment (MLLE) has on the Biology process skills of secondary school students.It compared the process skills of high and low achievers when taught in a modified laboratory learning environment and also determined how MLLE can improve achievement of students and their retention ability in Biology.274 senior secondary class one (SSI) students were randomly selected from six intact classes for the study.A pre-test post-test quasi...

Success in the prevention of hepatitis B virus (HBV) depends to a large extent on the adolescents' HBV knowledge and their risky behaviours. This study aims to assess the knowledge of and the risky behaviours towards HBV among school students and to determine the significant predictors affecting their knowledge.A cross-sectional study was approved in four Egyptian governorates (Dakahleya, Gharbeya, Cairo, and Beni-Suef) on 574 students aged 11-17years. A questionnaire was filled through a...

This paper presents the results of a study on the impact of climate change on road infrastructure in South Africa. The approach used built on previous work associated with the UNU-WIDER Development under Climate Change (DUCC) effort, emphasizing understanding of the impact of climate change on roads. This paper illustrates how climate change effects on road infrastructure can be evaluated at a national and provincial level to produce quantitative estimates of climate change from multiple...

The supervisory body to all degree awarding institutions in Nigeria, the National University Commission (NUC) had acknowledged long before now that all stakeholders agree that the practice of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) by the conventional dual mode universities is far below acceptable best practice and that at best, they are in transition from the running of part time or sandwich courses to distance learning. Admitting that the National Open University, the only university with...

The study aimed at identifying effects of using technical tools that help in learning crawl swimming for Students of Physical Education floating equipment.To achieve this, the researcher used the Experimental Method on an intentional sample of )16( students with no previous experience in freeswimming.This sample was divided into two equal groups; the control group was taught without the use of technical tools, and the experimental group was taught by using the technical tools assisting...

Education is a right. Education is an extraordinary tool of empowerment and it is essential for the promotion and protection of all human rights. Various international treaties, covenants and conventions since 1948 as well as writings of publicists have stressed the importance of the fundamental right to education. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights (ICESCR), the Covenants on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as well as the...

The improvement of throughput, graduation and retention rates in South African higher education is a national priority. Student academic performance data in one school at a historically disadvantaged South African university has shown that the pass rates have been declining over the past few years. This decline in pass rates has necessitated the undertaking of this study with the intention of investigating the underlying factors impacting student academic performance in the school. The study...

Within the FishBase Consortium, the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren is responsible for data on African freshwater fishes. These activities are part of a larger FishBase for Africa programme, supported by a framework agreement between the Museum and the Belgian Development Cooperation. Within this programme, the team is keeping the information on African fishes up to date. In addition, the programme includes a major capacity building training component. Every year, and alternatingly...