INFLATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH TRENDS: GLOBAL AND SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES

This paper explores the global inflation and economic growth trends, with a special focus on South Africa, from the 1970s – the period marked by the crumbling of the Bretton Woods system and the ensuing stagflation – to 2022. Our exploration reveals that global inflation is driven mainly by advanced economies, and there are signs of a negative correlation between the levels of income and inflation rates. We observed a structural break in global inflation in 1995 when inflation substantially decreased and became more stable than before. Our analysis links this structural break and stability in inflation to the emergence of strict monetary policy regimes like inflation targeting. Emerging and developing economies experienced a substantial decrease in inflation after they adopted inflation-targeting policies, as compared to advanced economies. In contrast, AEs benefitted from a significant rise in their economic growth. For South Africa, the trends in inflation and economic growth displayed a different picture. Although negligibly, South Africa’s inflation rose three years after adopting inflation targeting. During the same period, the South Africa experienced rising economic growth. To better understand the relationship between inflation and economic growth, we suggest the use of extensive data and models to investigate the structural breaks experienced

Relationship between alcohol use patterns and knowledge of alcohol-attributable health conditions among undergraduate students' at a university in the Eastern Cape

Background: Alcohol use prevalence has been found to be higher than 50 percent at some universities in South Africa. It is against this background that this study aimed to establish the relationship between alcohol use, knowledge of alcohol-attributable health conditions and biographical characteristics. Literature review: The study was based on a review of literature on prevalence and patterns of alcohol use among university students, knowledge of alcohol-attributable chronic diseases, foetal alcohol syndrome, sexual and reproductive health and alcohol use measurement. Methodology: Data were collected from 213 undergraduate students enrolled for the Statistics service courses on two campuses of the same university. The Mann-Whitney normal approximation and the Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare health knowledge across levels of alcohol use and biographical characteristics. The chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to determine the significance and patterns of associations between alcohol use and health knowledge and biographical characteristics. Results: The prevalence rates of alcohol use and risky alcohol use were found to be 58.2 percent and 42.7 percent, respectively. The mean health knowledge was 42.9 percent, which, is rather low. Males [OR=0.3; 95 percentCI (0.18; 0.68)], returning students [OR=0.5; 95 percentCI (0.25; 0.94)] and those with employed fathers [OR=2.3; 95 percentCI (1.19; 4.47)] were found to be at a higher risk of alcohol use. Health knowledge was significantly higher among alcohol users (Z=-2.7; p=0.0074) and those whose fathers had a post matric education (2=6.4; p=0.0410) and/or employment (Z=-2.7; p=0.0064). Conclusion: While prevalence rates of alcohol use and risky alcohol were high, health knowledge was disappointingly low. This suggests need for interventions designed to minimise alcohol use while at the same time increasing health knowledge

The role of culture and the Roman Catholic Church on HIV and AIDS among the Manyika women of Manicaland, Zimbabwe

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-113)The advent of HIV and AIDS has had a negative impact on the Catholic, Anglican and Methodist churches (as well as others) in Manicaland, Zimbabwe. This was due to the difficulty of accepting the reality of this pandemic. This happened because the disease came with unbearable psycho-social suffering rooted in stigmatisation and discrimination, especially among women, who were the most vulnerable group. This study critically examines and exposes the effects of HIV and AIDS on Manyika women. The researcher argues that, on the one hand, some religious and cultural practices contributed to the spread of the HIV and AIDS infection. On the other hand, some of these practices discouraged the spread of HIV and AIDS pandemic and needed to be enhanced. Furthermore, even if churches are involved in the battle against HIV, their efforts are hindered by cultural practices such as the Manyikas’ unwillingness to discuss taboo issues such as sex and gender in public. This makes women vulnerable. In addition, the problem has been complicated by the fact that the issue of sexuality is not openly discussed in the churches. Using qualitative methods, the researcher conducted interviews with Catholics and found that there is a need to continually engage with these communities. Their lived experiences can be used to bring about their liberation and improve their capacity to deal with their situation. The argument of this study is that there is an urgent need to liberate and empower women in the era of HIV and AIDS. The journey that has already been started by the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (“the Circle”) could assist in the liberation of women to deal with the HIV and AIDS pandemic. In addition, this can build on Catholic Church HIV and AIDS interventions among the Manyika people of Zimbabwe as a premise of that process of liberation.Philosophy, Practical and Systematic TheologyD. Phil. (Theology

In-situ Health Monitoring Applied to High-Voltage IGBT Power Modules

PhD ThesisThis thesis addresses an important issue of identifying insulated gate bi-polar transistor (IGBT) chip failures in multichip IGBT power modules. IGBT power modules are the dominant semiconductor devices of choice in high-voltage (HV) high-power converter applications which include domestic, commercial, automotive, railway, marine, aerospace and industrial applications. Commonly available HV IGBT power modules in the market are rated at 3.3 kV, 4.5 kV and 6.5 kV. These HV IGBT modules comprise several IGBT chips connected in parallel to achieve high-current capability; hence they are also known as multichip IGBT power modules. IGBT power modules are not flawless. The increased complexity of IGBT power module construction and inhomogeneous semiconductor chips make HV power modules less reliable. IGBT chips and electrical and mechanical interface material within the modules wear out and fail due to thermal cycling, operating environment or mishandling. IGBT failures while in application have repercussions on safety and failure costs. Thus the reliability of IGBTs while in their application is crucial especially in HV applications which comprise critical and large loads. To improve the reliability, an in-situ (online) health monitoring interface for HV IGBT power modules is proposed in this thesis. Two distinct advantages of in-situ IGBT health monitoring are that it allows IGBT module replacement prior to complete failure thus reducing safety and reliability risks. The second advantage is that the interval time for IGBT maintenance work can be tailored towards the real degradation rather an obligatory fixed time interval thus reducing maintenance costs. In large power modules, it is common to have IGBT chips as well as anti-parallel diode chips within the power module. This research focusses only on the health monitoring of the IGBT chips and not the diode chips. The main reason is that IGBT chips experience higher thermal stresses compared to diodes hence IGBT chips are more susceptible to failures compared to diode chips. In practice, IGBT chip failures are accompanied by a change in junction temperature. Thus this thesis proposes the use of temperature- sensitive electrical parameters (TSEPs) for in-situ health monitoring of IGBT power modules. Following a comparison of twelve traditional online TSEPs from literature and five new TSEPs proposed in this thesis, this thesis employs a novel TSEP, gate-emitter prethreshold voltage (VGE(pre-th)) as a health-sensitive parameter (HSP) for chip failure detection in multichip HV IGBT power modules. A VGE(pre-th) online chip loss monitoring circuit has been successfully implemented on a commercially available IGBT gate driver. VGE(pre-th) is measured at a fixed pre-determined instant of the gateemitter voltage (VGE) between the VGE zero-crossing (VGE(0)) and threshold voltage (VGE(th)) during IGBT turn-on. VGE(pre-th) requires low hardware with only a voltage sensor and a counter. Since it is based on the low-voltage (LV) gate side rather than the HV collector side of IGBT, VGE(pre-th) does not require HV isolation or HV insulation. Simulation and experimentation of 16-chip 3.3kV 800A DIM800NSM33-F IGBT power modules from Dynex Semiconductor Limited (Ltd) have shown that VGE(pre-th) has a good accuracy and repeatability; a linear sensitivity of 500 mV/chip loss with IGBT chip failures; a linear virtual junction temperature (Tvj) sensitivity of -2.2 mV/°C and tracks the highest chip temperature. It has thus been concluded that VGE(pre-th) can be used for both Tvj and IGBT chip failure monitoring in HV IGBT power modules. VGE(pre-th) can be tested during normal IGBT turn-on operation or during the off-state of the IGBT. In both cases the same information about temperature and loss of chip number can be detected which makes VGE(pre-th) more versatile than any other TSEP or HSP.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Newcastle University

Histological characterization of interneurons in Alzheimer's disease reveals a loss of somatostatin interneurons in the temporal cortex

Neuronal dysfunction and synaptic loss are major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) which correlate with symptom severity. Impairment of the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inhibitory interneurons, which form around 20% of the total neuronal network, may be an early event contributing to neuronal circuit dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. This study examined the expression of two of the main classes of inhibitory interneurons, parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) interneurons in the temporal cortex and hippocampus of AD and control cases, using immunohistochemistry. We report a significant regional variation in the number of PV and SST interneurons with a higher number identified per mm2 in the temporal cortex compared to the hippocampus. Fewer SST interneurons, but not PV interneurons, were identified per mm2 in the temporal cortex of AD cases compared to control subjects. Our results support regional neuroanatomical effects on selective interneuron classes in AD, and suggest that impairment of the interneuronal circuit may contribute to neuronal dysfunction and cognitive decline in AD

Agricultural chemical exposures and birth defects in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa A case – control study

BACKGROUND: South Africa is one of the major users of pesticides on the African continent. The Eastern Cape is the second largest province in South Africa. There has been growing concern about the occurrence of certain birth defects which seemed to have increased in the past few years. In this paper we investigate associations between exposure to agricultural chemicals and certain birth defects. Few such studies have been undertaken in the developing world previously. METHODS: Between September 2000 and March 2001 a case – control study was conducted among rural women in the area of the Eastern cape to investigate the association between women's exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of birth defects. Information on birth defects was obtained from the register of the Paediatrics Department at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane, one of the largest referral hospitals in the province. The cases were children who were diagnosed with selected birth defects. The controls were children born in the same areas as the cases. Exposure information on the mothers was obtained by interview concerning from their activities in gardens and fields. Data were analysed using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 89 case mothers and 178 control mothers was interviewed. Babies with birth defects were seven times more likely to be born to women exposed to chemicals used in gardens and fields compared to no reported exposure (Odds Ratio 7.18, 95% CI 3.99, 13.25); and were almost twice as likely to be born to women who were involved in dipping livestock used to prevent ticks (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.15, 3.14). They were also 6.5 times more likely to be born to women who were using plastic containers for fetching water (OR 6.5, 95% CI 2.2, 27.9). Some of these containers had previously contained pesticides (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.06, 3.31). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a link between exposure to pesticides and certain birth defects among the children of rural South African women who work on the land. Education programmes for women alerting them to the dangers to their babies from the use of pesticides and alternative farming methods and elimination of the reuse of pesticide containers are indicated as preventive measures

The effect of national economic policy inconsistencies on the general citizens in Harare Central Business District and the economy of Zimbabwe

A number of national economic policy inconsistencies have occurred in Zimbabwe since the year 2010. This study was carried out to assess the effect of national economic policy deficiencies on the standard of living of ordinary citizens in Harare Central Business District and the economy of Zimbabwe. The researcher applied the pragmatism philosophy and mixed methods approach whereby a combination of qualitative and quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to organise and analyse raw data gathered from participants. It was found that inconsistent national economic policy leads to macro-economic instability, unemployment, shortage of residential accommodation, reduced human welfare, inefficient service delivery, unclear property rights and widening of the gap between rich and poor people. This was caused by the following factors; lack of citizens engagement, poor policy coordination, lack of policy clarity, lack of due diligence and reactionary approach to policy making by public officials. The researcher found that; engagement of ordinary citizens, removal of political connotations, policy coordination and harmonization and executive commitment can help improve national economic policy formulation in Zimbabwe

An assessment of the effectiveness of operational risk management practises at PSMI Westend Hospital.

The study was motivated by persistent operational risk exposures which could be pointed in daily operations at PSMI Westend Hospital and challenges have led to failed quality services and smooth running of operations in the organisation. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of operational risk practices at the organisation and to establish alternatives which can be used to mitigate and take control of the operational risk exposure the organisation is facing. The research explored literature for enhancing an understanding on the categories, measures, factors and management strategies of operational risks. The study took descriptive research design. Data was collected using only self-administered questionnaire thus relying on the quantitative nature of research study. Data analysis was conducted by using Microsoft office suit to generate descriptive and inferential statistics. The research findings of the study indicated that weak operational risk management strategies were being used to management the risk exposures which were affecting the organisation and its service provision as so many challenges were heighted in the study. Alternative strategies on management of risks which arose due to failed process, human error and disruptions of information systems which the organisation uses were also suggested in the study. Based on the findings of the research it was concluded that the organisation should invest in technologies that assist in the detection and monitoring of operational risks, setting of capital reserves which are used to manage operational risks as when they occur and provide refresher courses to all staff such that management of operational risk cannot be a management issues only but rather every staff member’s business

Cropguard and pest control system

This project was focused at designing and implementing an android cropguard and pest control application system which will assist farmers to acquire farming knowledge and know how they can deal with pests and diseases so as to improve the output. Experts in farming will be able to offer expert advice to farmers and as well acquire additional knowledge and try new crops. Farmers would be able to report their needs to the ministry of agriculture and make the ministry of agriculture recognize farmers in different regions. Ministry of Agriculture Information Technology will be able to assign roles to the experts and extension officers and create a knowledge base which will be useful in the future. Experts remains in their line of expertise thereby could not try different crops. They remain with limited information but through the use of the proposed system they will be able to increase their knowledge. Administrators spends a lot of time in offices but due to the use of the system they will be able to try farming during weekends and public holidays which intern benefit them and their families. Farmers has no knowledge of where exactly they ca access farming products and their prices. Farm shops has no knowledge of which products should always be available in storag