A programmable-load CMOS ring oscillator/inverter chain for propagation-delay measurements

A description is given of a test structure consisting of a combination of a ring oscillator and an inverter chain. The circuit can be used to carry out propagation delay measurements on two circuit types and under a number of load conditions. Full characterization only takes one test circuit. The elements of this structure are connected to a programmable load varying from a fan-in of 1 up to a fan-in of 15. In this way, the operating environment of the circuit can be simulated in hardware. The measurements can be carried out by means of a conventional automated digital measurement system providing AC and DC parametric measurement capabilities

Investigating Factors Influencing Customer Online Buying Satisfaction In Gauteng, South Africa

Online shopping has increased significantly worldwide in the last few years. South Africa is no exception, but although this country has experienced an increase in online shopping, it seems to lag behind the rest of the world where this development is concerned. Research into the factors which influence customer online shopping satisfaction is thus imperative in order for South African retailers to develop the correct strategies for online sales. With this information, they can convert potential customers into real customers and retain them. This research investigates the factors which influence customer online buying satisfaction in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The researcher made use of secondary research to construct a model of factors influencing online customer satisfaction and then tested the model among South Africans living in the Gauteng province. A sample of 111 online shoppers was used and quantitative research was conducted by means of a structured questionnaire. It was found that convenience, delivery, and time saving were viewed by customers as the most important reasons for buying online, while branding was viewed as the least important factor. The research results confirmed the model developed by the researcher. Results of the study, as well as recommendations for future research, are presented

Tyd as gawe – God se tyd: Die polsslag van die kerkjaar

When seen as a gift – as God’s time – the careful shaping of the church yearstrengthens the celebratory character of the worship service; contributes to the effective proclamation of the Word; underlies the church’s confession; introduces new people and young people to the faith; forms community; adds to comforting people; exerts healing; anchors the church’s diaconal work; contributes to missionary proclamation to “outsiders”; and reflects the ecumenical character of the church service. This article is a plea for a greater consciousness for the structure and times of the church year, with aview to the conveyance of the full truth of the Gospel and the formative effect in the life of the community of faith

’n Lied moet klink om gehoor te word ... : Faktore wat die resepsie van kerkliedere kan beïnvloed

A hymn must be sung to be heard ... : Aspects that could influence the reception of hymns and psalms. The most recent official hymnal in Afrikaans, Liedboek van die Kerk, was taken into use in 2001. Some hymns and psalms were immediately sung with enthusiasm whereas others remained unused, which is true especially for many of the metrical psalms. The most prominent reason for not singing some hymns or psalms is that they are unknown – text as well as tune. It is, however, often assumed that the reason why hymns and psalms are unknown is primarily because their tunes would be too difficult to sing. The role of the text and other aspects are not taken into account sufficiently. In this article, these one-sided views regarding the tunes are challenged, and it is argued that there could be many other reasons why hymns and psalms are not used

Investigating the relationships between wheat-specific rainfall characteristics, large-scale modes of climate variability and wheat yields in the Swartland region, South Africa

Includes bibliographical references.Wheat producers in the South Western Cape (SWC) of South Africa need to cope with biophysical and socio-economic systems exposing farmers to a multidimensional decision- making environment. The rain fed wheat production in the Swartland region is highly susceptible to the interannual variability of winter rainfall. Producers, therefore, need relevant climatic information to identify ways to improve profitability and to make sound economic decisions. Seasonal forecasting has the potential to provide wheat producers with invaluable information regarding the climatic conditions. However, due to the complex nature of the atmospheric dynamics associated with winter rainfall in South Africa, seasonal forecasting models have been found to have very little skill in predicting the variability of winter rainfall. Such a shortfall has created a gap for which this study has attempted to bridge. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between wheat-specific rainfall characteristics, large-scale modes of climate variability and wheat yields in the Swartland region to assess whether these relationships could provide useful climatic information to the wheat farmers. Six wheat-specific rainfall characteristics (total rainfall ; number of wet days ; number of ‘good’ rainfall events; number of heavy rainfall events; percentage ‘good’ rainfall ; and the number of dry dekads ) on various time scales (winter; seasonal; monthly and dekadal) were correlated against wheat yield records over a 17 year period from 1994 to 2010. From this analysis, the distribution and timing of the rainfall throughout the wheat growing season (April to September) emerged as an important determinant of wheat yield. An accurate statistical wheat prediction model was created using farmer stipulated rainfall- wheat yield thresholds. Three teleconnections (El Niño-Southern Oscillation [ENSO], Antarctic Oscillation [AAO] and South Atlantic sea surface temperatures [SSTs]) represented by eight climate indices (Nino 3.4 Index, Ocean Nino Index [ONI], Southern Oscillation Index [SOI], AAO index, Southern Annular Mode Index [SAM], South Atlantic Dipole Index [SADI], South Western Atlantic SST Index [SWAI] and South Central Atlantic SST Index [SCAI]), were correlated against wheat yield data over a 17 year period from 1994 to 2010. The relationships between the three teleconnections and wheat yield in the Swartland were established. Teleconnection-wheat yield correlations were found to be limited, with regards to the application of this information to farmers, due to the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of how the three teleconnections influence the local climate and, therefore, the wheat yield in the Swartland. The eight climate indices, representing the three teleconnections, were correlated against the six wheat-specific rainfall characteristic indices from each of the three study areas over the period from 1980 to 2012. The state of ENSO during the first half of the year was shown to be correlated with rainfall characteristics during both the first (April to July) and second (July to September) halves of the wheat growing season; however, these correlations differ ed in their sign. Correlations suggested a negative phase of AAO was associated with above normal rainfall throughout the year across the Swartland region. Sea surface temperatures in the central South Atlantic during March to October showed significant negative correlations with rainfall during the latter half of the wheat growing season (July to October) across the Swartland region. This study presented evidence supporting the plausibility and validity for the use of the state of large-scale modes of variability in the prediction of wheat-specific rainfall characteristics and aggregated yields in the Swartland region. This has the potential to provide useful information to wheat farmers in the Swartland to aid in their decision making proces

Should abdomino-perineal resection be considered when a defunctioning stoma is required for anal canal squamous cell carcinoma?

Includes bibliographical references.Combined modality treatment (CMT) is the preferred treatment for anal squamous cell carcinoma, but a small subgroup needs a defunctioning colostomy with temporary intent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stoma closure rate of patients needing defunctioning colostomies prior to CMT for anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH). The key objective was to assess if abdomino-perineal resection (APR) should be offered as primary treatment modality for the subgroup of patients needing a defunctioning stoma and CMT

Kernaspekte rondom die voeging van gades en vennote by 'n aansoek vir verpligte sekwestrasie

Core aspects pertaining to the joining of spouses and partners in an application for compulsory sequestration Joining parties as respondents in an application for compulsory sequestration is possible beyond instances where spouses are married in community of property or in cases involving partnerships. The practice in the Gauteng Division of the High Court is that several respondents are not allowed in a joint application for their individual sequestration, unless there is a complete identity of interests. The correctness of this established practice, as supported by the decision in Ferela (Pty) Ltd v Craigie and Others 1980 3 SA 167 (W) and Breetveldt and Others v Van Zyl and Others 1972 1 SA 304 (T), was drawn into question by the findings in Business Partners Ltd v Vecto Trade 87 (Pty) Ltd and Others 2004 5 SA 296 (SE) and Maree and Another v Bobroff and Another [2017] ZAGPJHC (7 March 2017), where the requirement of a “complete identity of interests” was substituted for a “substantial coincidence in the interests” of the respondents. With the 2017 decision in Strutfast (Pty) Ltd v Uys and Another 2017 6 SA 491 (GJ), there is a return to the former practice. The authors analyse this case and contend that it was correctly decided. However, the authors also draw attention to what the Strutfast case did not decide, and postulate that this implies that joining is also possible in alternative situations

’n Veranderende benadering tot sosiale verantwoordelikheid: ’n histories-normatiewe gevallestudie oor die Noordwes-Universiteit (Potchefstroomkampus)

A changing approach to social responsibility: a historic-normative case study of the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) As a direct consequence of its Christian character, the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE) engaged in local corporate responsibility programmes for a number of decades. When the PU for CHE was merged at the end of 2003 to become the North-West University (NWU) (including the PU for CHE) which emerged in 2004, these programmes continued at the Potchefstroom Campus, but were stripped of their Christian grounding. Now the University has a “value-driven” approach. This article tracks the changes to the normative character as well as the continued changes to the university’s position on social responsibility. It was found that the North-West University’s normative points of departure have yet to be linked clearly to its community activities, and that formal corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities must be clearly differentiated from normal university business as well as student activities such as rag. It is argued that the problematic overlapping of profit-generating activities should be distinguished from all CSR programmes and the contribution of sponsors disclosed at all times. Developments late in 2008 seemed to indicate that some of the most important problem areas be addressed when a new approach to “community engagement” is fleshed out. This could result in the NWU achieving the CSR goals set by both government and the University itself regarding its so-called do-values and developing a guiding philosophy on “community en-gagement”

Evaluation of Outcomes Associated with a Leisure-time Activity Program for Disadvantaged Youth

The SLEAK (Skills, Learning and Educational Activities for Kids) program was established in 2008 as a joint partnership between a community leader and the Division of Occupational Therapy Stellenbosch University. The vision of the SLEAK program is to create a sustainable, non-profit, leisure-time activity program for the youth (10-13 years of age) of the community in order to curb drug and gangster-related activities and to foster healthy work-related skills in the youth to make them responsible and productive members of their community. The SLEAK program was evaluated in its entirety and this article will focus on the results for the outcomes set for the children in the SLEAK program. The results indicated that although it is still a rather small project, it seems as if the project is effective in what it set out to achieve and that it could serve as a pilot for starting projects in similar communities