List of Titles

Quick View

Shifting the priority from giving voice to listening: journalism new

- Garman, Anthea, Malila, Vanessa

Authors: Garman, Anthea , Malila, Vanessa
Date: 2015
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: vital:38355 , http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC175773
Description: If, as the critics have argued, the South African media prioritise the voices of elite, middleclass South Africans, then the majority of South Africans are certainly invisible in the mainstream media. Kate Lacey argues that "listening is at the heart of what it means to be in the world, to be active, to be political" (2013: 163), and as such more than just providing a 'voice' for citizens, the media needs to be engaged in active listening to allow audiences to feel 'heard'. Servaes and Malikhao argue that people are 'voiceless' not because they have nothing to say, but because "nobody cares to listen to them" (2005: 91).
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2015

Quick View

How general-purpose can a GPU be?

- Machanick, Philip

Authors: Machanick, Philip
Date: 2015
Language: English
Type: article , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61180 , vital:27988 , http://dx.doi.org/10.18489/sacj.v0i57.347
Description: The use of graphics processing units (GPUs) in general-purpose computation (GPGPU) is a growing field. GPU instruction sets, while implementing a graphics pipeline, draw from a range of single instruction multiple datastream (SIMD) architectures characteristic of the heyday of supercomputers. Yet only one of these SIMD instruction sets has been of application on a wide enough range of problems to survive the era when the full range of supercomputer design variants was being explored: vector instructions. Supercomputers covered a range of exotic designs such as hypercubes and the Connection Machine (Fox, 1989). The latter is likely the source of the snide comment by Cray: it had thousands of relatively low-speed CPUs (Tucker & Robertson, 1988). Since Cray won, why are we not basing our ideas on his designs (Cray Inc., 2004), rather than those of the losers? The Top 500 supercomputer list is dominated by general-purpose CPUs, and nothing like the Connection Machine that headed the list in 1993 still exists.
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2015

Quick View

Subjective well-being in Africa

- Botha, Ferdi, Snowball, Jeanette D

Authors: Botha, Ferdi , Snowball, Jeanette D
Date: 2015
Language: English
Type: article , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61084 , vital:27946
Description: Research on quality of life and subjective well-being (SWB) has witnessed a remarkable growth over the past four decades or so. Since Easterlin’s (1974) seminal contribution on the relationship between happiness and income, thousands of studies have followed that examine the intricacies of subjective well-being (for reviews, see Frey and Stutzer, 2002; Dolan et al., 2008; MacKerron, 2012). These studies have uncovered some very important aspects of individual well-being and have pointed to the fact that money or income is not always (as is often assumed) the most important determinant of SWB.
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2015

Quick View

Thermoluminescence of the persistent-luminescence phosphor, BaAl2O4: a stuffed tridymite

- Pandey, A, Chithambo, Makaiko L

Authors: Pandey, A , Chithambo, Makaiko L
Date: 2018
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/113048 , vital:33693 , hhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2018.01.004
Description: BaAl2O4 is a stuffed tridymite used as a long-lasting phosphor. The thermoluminescence of BaAl2O4 prepared by solution-combustion is reported. Analysis of the sample using X-ray diffraction shows that it formed as a single phase compound with a hexagonal structure following annealing at 1200 °C. A broad photoluminescence emission band between 300 and 650 nm was detected due to excitation at 248 nm. The phosphor showed a natural TL peak at 102 °C for measurement at 1 oCs−1 and, when beta irradiated to 100 Gy, two broad peaks at 123 and 318 °C also for heating at 1 oCs−1. The analysis of the main glow peak at 123 °C suggests that it is a combination of several collocated peaks, that is, peaks embedded within each other. We resolved four such components labelled peaks 1 to 4. The thermoluminescence decreases with heating rate in a way consistent with thermal quenching whose activation energy was determined as ∼0.65eV using peak 3. Interestingly, this value of the activation energy for thermal quenching for BaAl2O4, a stuffed derivative of silica, is similar to literature values for quartz (a silica), suggesting that the recombination centre in the two cases may be similar.
Full Text: false
Date Issued: 2018

Quick View

UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030: what chance for success in restoring coastal ecosystems?

- Waltham, Nathan J, Elliott, Michael, Lee, Shing Yip, Lovelock, Catherine, Duarte, Carlos M, Buelow, Christina, Simenstad, Charles, Nagelkerken, Ivan, Claassens, Louw, Wen, Colin K-C, Barletta, Mario, Connolly, Rod M, Gillies, Chris, Mitsch, William J, Ogburn, Matthew B, Purandare, Jemma, Possingham, Hugh, Sheaves, Marcus

Authors: Waltham, Nathan J , Elliott, Michael , Lee, Shing Yip , Lovelock, Catherine , Duarte, Carlos M , Buelow, Christina , Simenstad, Charles , Nagelkerken, Ivan , Claassens, Louw , Wen, Colin K-C , Barletta, Mario , Connolly, Rod M , Gillies, Chris , Mitsch, William J , Ogburn, Matthew B , Purandare, Jemma , Possingham, Hugh , Sheaves, Marcus
Date: 2020
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149836 , vital:38887 , https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00071
Description: On 1 March 2019, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (New York) declared 2021–2030 the “UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.” This call to action has the purpose of recognizing the need to massively accelerate global restoration of degraded ecosystems, to fight the climate heating crisis, enhance food security, provide clean water and protect biodiversity on the planet. The scale of restoration will be key; for example, the Bonn Challenge has the goal to restore 350 million km2 (almost the size of India) of degraded terrestrial ecosystems by 2030. However, international support for restoration of “blue” coastal ecosystems, which provide an impressive array of benefits to people, has lagged. Only the Global Mangrove Alliance (https://mangrovealliance.org/) comes close to the Bonn Challenge, with the aim of increasing the global area of mangroves by 20% by 2030. However, mangrove scientists have reservations about this target, voicing concerns that it is unrealistic and may prompt inappropriate practices in attempting to reach this target (Lee et al., 2019). The decade of ecosystem restoration declaration also coincides with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which aims to reverse deterioration in ocean health. If executed in a holistic and coordinated manner, signatory nations could stand to deliver on both these UN calls to action.
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2020

Quick View

Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Engineering and Management

- Slinger, Jill, Stive, Marcel, Luijendijk, Arjen

Authors: Slinger, Jill , Stive, Marcel , Luijendijk, Arjen
Date: 2021
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177521 , vital:42829 , https://doi.org/10.3390/w13070976
Description: There is a growing scientific and engineering interest in exploring how natural processes can provide management solutions to resolve the degradation and vulnerability of coastal environments. Climate change and associated sea level rise together with drivers, such as subsidence, reduced sediment supply and coastal squeeze represent major risk factors for coastal systems sustainability. Using natural processes to deal with these risk factors presents a nontrivial challenge. This special issue focuses on nature-based solutions and state-of-the-art interventions in the coastal environment.
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2021

Quick View

COSATU press statement on the CEC decisions

- COSATU

Authors: COSATU
Date: May 1998
Subjects: COSATU
Language: English
Type: text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109730 , vital:33184
Description: The COSATU Central Executive Committee met in its first session of the year over two days (5-6May 1998). The CEC received reports on a variety of issues and tool a number of policy decisions and approaches by on these matters. The CEC was characterised by anger and frustration on the scale of job losses in many industries and the failure of the current macro economic strategies to turn this tide around. Below are some of the issues discussed. The CEC endorsed the proposals submitted by Labour in NEDLAC on job 4^ creation in preparation for the Presidential Job Summit. The proposals will be further discussed in the coming Central Committee of COSATU scheduled for the 23-35 June 1998. COSATU shall use the Central Committee to further expand on the broad framework submitted in NEDLAC and get more proposals in line with how labour has categorised issues for the agenda of the Job Summit, i.e. (i) Measures to create jobs (ii) Measures to stop current job losses (iii) Measures to support the unemployed, (iv) Measures to assist the informal sector to be formal (v) Identification of long term issues to be negotiated beyond the Job Summit. COSATU is extremely concerned by the failure of both government and business to submit their proposals at NEDLAC. It is worth to note that various deadlines for them to submit proposals have passed. A million-dollar question is : Why does the government and business seem reluctant to submit their proposals? Clearly both government and business have abundance of capacity to deal with the proposals in a relatively short space of time. This is a major concern for COSATU. Whilst the delays continue, job losses are continuing unabated and the time bomb continue to click.
Full Text:
Date Issued: May 1998

Quick View

Beyond the threshold: explorations of liminality in literature. A book review

- Dass, Minesh

Authors: Dass, Minesh
Date: 2013
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142520 , vital:38087 , DOI: 10.1080/10131752.2013.783395
Description: Beyond the Threshold: Explorations of Liminality in Literature, an edited collection of essays, is the culmination of research project on liminality done under the title “Poetics of boundaries and Hybridity”. This venture was undertaken in what is now known as the Research Unit Languages and Literature in the South African Context at North-West University. Some of the articles were initially presented at a conference on “Hybridity, Liminality and Boundaries” which was held in Potchefstroom from 30 June to 2 July 2005. Furthermore, shorter versions of some chapters have already been published in a special edition of Literator (Vol. 27. 1).
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2013

Quick View

Inggs Undertakers: a brief history of the firm; and explanatory notes on the data captures from the diaries

- Inggs Undertakers

Authors: Inggs Undertakers
Date: 20uu
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: essays , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/116283 , vital:34361 , Cory Library for Humanities Research
Description: A BRIEF HISTORY IF THE FIRM: Alexander Will, a Blacksmith of Aberdeen in Scotland, arrived in this country aboard the “Bermondsey” in November 1859. He was accompanied by his wife Sarah (nee Hay) and two small sons. The couple eventually had a family of 5 sons and 3 daughters. It is not known when the firm began but there is evidence that it was functioning in 1879 and may well have begun about 6 years prior to that. Unfortunately the diaries have only survived from 1900. Sarah died in 1914 and Alexander in March 1915. Their son, John Chalmers Will, then ran the firm until his death in 1952 when it passed to a relative, Oliver Douglas Inggs and became known as Inggs Undertakers. Oliver was known far and wide as “O.D.” and the locals knew the firm always as “Will’s Parlour” until the last of the generation that remembered the Will connection had passed on! O.D. ran the business and was an active participant in the daily affairs until his death on 30 June 1996 at the very advanced aged of 92 years. Still under the name of Inggs Undertakers it passed to the Wolmarans family – Mary Bowker (formerly Wolmarans) being a niece of O.D.’s and in 2004 is still being operated by Mary who is now a widow.
Full Text:
Date Issued: 20uu

Quick View

Temperature dependence of optically stimulated luminescence of α-Al2O3: C, Mg

- Kalita, Jitumani M, Chithambo, Makaiko L

Authors: Kalita, Jitumani M , Chithambo, Makaiko L
Date: 2017
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115708 , vital:34217 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2017.08.009
Description: Thermal assistance and thermal quenching are two independently acting thermodynamic phenomena that simultaneously affect the stimulation of luminescence. We have studied thermal assistance to luminescence optically stimulated from α-Al2O3:C,Mg. Since thermal assistance causes only a minor change in the luminescence intensity, measurements were made after the sample had been pre-exposed to stimulating light to reduce its intensity significantly, that is, in the slow component of its decay curve. The luminescence intensity was monitored as a function of measurement temperature between 30 and 130 °C. The intensity goes through a peak at 60 °C due to competing effects of thermal assistance and thermal quenching. The initial increase of intensity is attributed to dominant thermal assistance whereas the subsequent decrease of intensity is ascribed to dominant thermal quenching. The activation energy for thermal assistance was calculated for the main electron trap of an un-annealed sample as 0.324 ± 0.020 eV and in a sample annealed at 900 °C as 0.416 ± 0.028 eV. Implications of such differences in the value of the activation energy for thermal assistance are considered.
Full Text: false
Date Issued: 2017

Quick View

Remembering Jakes - Chancellor, our chancellor

- Badat, Saleem

Authors: Badat, Saleem
Date: 2012
Language: English
Type: text
Identifier: vital:7584 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006574
Description: From introduction: Gerwel was an exceptional, courageous, gifted and pioneering South African intellectual, scholar, leader and citizen. He had a profound commitment to creating a just and humane society. Through a long and distinguished association with the higher education sector, as an academic, dean, vice-chancellor, chairperson of the Committee of University Principals in the early 1990s, chancellor, and chairperson of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Gerwel was an outstanding champion of higher education. As chancellor, he challenged Rhodes to become socially conscious and think critically and imaginatively about access, equity and transformation, and about its role in socioeconomic development issues in South Africa, especially in the Eastern Cape.
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2012

Quick View

Introduction [to the book "Scatter the Shrilling Bones" by Sithembele Isaac Xhegwana]

- Wright, Laurence

Authors: Wright, Laurence
Date: 2003
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: vital:7056 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007417
Description: preprint , Scatter the Shrilling Bones by Sithembele Xhegwana comprises an ordered sequence of poems that conveys a journey both literal and spiritual. Revisitation is the organizing principle of the collection – the return to rural sources and origins by a consciousness estranged and illumined by modernity (cf. ‘The Return’). Underlying the collection is the theme of the night journey, whose archetype in western culture is Odysseus’ descent to the underworld – a pattern identified as such in the concluding essay ‘Starting from my Place: Notes on an Aesthetic’. The underworld here is literally the return to the home territory – a journey from Cape Town to the rural Eastern Cape – but also a revisiting of the mental world of traditional Africa: ‘Here at home, here all guilt begins’ (‘Homecoming’). The return journey is haunted by nightmare memories of mental illness, the schizophrenic episodes accompanying (or occasioned by?) the poet’s initial encounters with modernity. This illness is represented as both pathological and cultural – a price paid for challenging and rejecting the old certainties while grappling with new assumptions: “He undermines the ancestors, That’s why he suffers. Let him.” (‘To Himself’)
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2003

Quick View

I love laser : it's my guiding light

- Nolan, Cathy

Authors: Nolan, Cathy
Date: 2011
Subjects: Nyokong, Tebello
Language: English
Type: Article , text
Identifier: vital:7184 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006274 , http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0019/001906/190645e.pdf#190680 , Nyokong, Tebello
Description: What is the common thread that could possibly link denim jeans, cancer and pesticides? None is evident. Yet when South African chemist Tebello Nyokong describes her fascinating research, the link that emerges is light. Nyokong, a specialist in nanochemistry, loves laser, and is using it in ways that could have a revolutionary impact on medicine and the environment.
Full Text:
Date Issued: 2011

Quick View

Showing items 1 - 20 of 196