Academic literature on the topic 'Opbox'

We have investigated with the pulsed ESR technique at X- and Q-band frequencies the coherence and relaxation of Cu spins S = 1/2 in single crystals of diamagnetically diluted mononuclear [n-Bu4N]2[Cu(opba)] (1%) in the host lattice of [n-Bu4N]2[Ni(opba)] (99%, opba = o-phenylenebis(oxamato)) and of diamagnetically diluted mononuclear [n-Bu4N]2[Cu(opbon-Pr2)] (1%) in the host lattice of [n-Bu4N]2[Ni(opbon-Pr2)] (99%, opbon-Pr2 = o-phenylenebis(N(propyl)oxamidato)). For that we have measured the electron spin dephasing time T m at different temperatures with the two-pulse primary echo and with the special Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) multiple microwave pulse sequence. Application of the CPMG protocol has led to a substantial increase of the spin coherence lifetime in both complexes as compared to the primary echo results. It shows the efficiency of the suppression of the electron spin decoherence channel in the studied complexes arising due to spectral diffusion induced by a random modulation of the hyperfine interaction with the nuclear spins. We argue that this method can be used as a test for the relevance of the spectral diffusion for the electron spin decoherence. Our results have revealed a prominent role of the opba4– and opbon-Pr2 4– ligands for the dephasing of the Cu spins. The presence of additional 14N nuclei and protons in [Cu(opbon-Pr2)]2– as compared to [Cu(opba)]2– yields significantly shorter T m times. Such a detrimental effect of the opbon-Pr2 4− ligands has to be considered when discussing a potential application of the Cu(II)−(bis)oxamato and Cu(II)−(bis)oxamidato complexes as building blocks of more complex molecular structures in prototype spintronic devices. Furthermore, in our work we propose an improved CPMG pulse protocol that enables elimination of unwanted echoes that inevitably appear in the case of inhomogeneously broadened ESR spectra due to the selective excitation of electron spins.

Service and Servitude in View of the Edification of the Church The most important change Christ brings about is that people who, in the past, desired to be served, are now willing to serve. The believer is a person who serves and the church is a service community. The service is comprehensive: we serve God, we serve our fellow believers, we serve in the church, we serve in the world, we serve people when they are in need, wherever they are, and we serve God in our services of worship.

Nanomaterials are desirable for sensing applications. Therefore, MnO2 nanosheets and nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) were used to construct a ratiometric biosensor for quantification of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The MnO2 nanosheets drove the oxidation of colorless o-phenylenediamine to OPDox, which exhibits fluorescence emission peaks at 556 nm. The fluorescence of OPDox was efficiently quenched and the NCDs were recovered as the ascorbic acid produced by the hydrolyzed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) substrate increased. Owing to the selective inhibition of ALP activity by 2,4-D and the inner filter effect, the fluorescence intensity of the NCDs at 430 nm was suppressed, whereas that at 556 nm was maintained. The fluorescence intensity ratio was used for quantitative detection. The linear equation was F = 0.138 + 3.863·C 2,4-D (correlation coefficient R2 = 0.9904), whereas the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.013 and 0.040 μg/mL. The method was successfully employed for the determination of 2,4-D in different vegetables with recoveries of 79%~105%. The fluorescent color change in the 2,4-D sensing system can also be captured by a smartphone to achieve colorimetric detection by homemade portable test kit.

After the placebo-controlled extension of the pivotal US trial of glatiramer acetate for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis ended, 208 participants entered an open-label, long-term treatment protocol. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was added to the planned evaluations of these subjects to determine the consequences of long-term treatment on MRI-defined pathology and evaluate its clinical correlates. Of the 147 subjects that remained on long-term follow-up, adequate images were obtained on 135 for quantitative MRI analysis. The initial imaging sessions were performed between June 1998 and January 1999 at 2447+61 days (mean+standard deviation) after the subject's original randomization. Clinical data from a preplanned clinical visit were matched to MRI within 3+51 days. At imaging, 66 patients originally randomized to placebo (oPBO) in the pivotal trial had received glatiramer acetate for 1476+63 days, and 69 randomized to active treatment with glatiramer acetate (oGA) were on drug for 2433+59 days. The number of documented relapses in the 2 years prior to entering the open-label extension was higher in the group originally randomized to placebo (oPBO=1.86+1.78, oGA=1.03+1.28; P=0.002). The annualized relapse rate observed during the open-label study was similar for both groups (oPBO=0.27, +0.45 oGA=0.28+0.40), but the reduction in rate from the placebo-controlled phase was greater for those beginning therapy with GA (oPBO reduced by 0.66+0.71, oGA reduced by 0.23+0.58; P=0.0002). One or more gadolinium enhancing lesions were found in 27.4% of all patients (number of distinct enhancements=1.16+2.52, total enhanced tissue volume=97+26 ml). The risk of having an enhancement was higher in those with relapses during the open-label extension (odds ratio 4.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0 to 10.7; P=0.001). The odds for finding an enhancement was 2.5 times higher for those patients originally randomized to placebo (CI 1.1 to 5.4; P=0.02) compared to those always on glatiramer acetate. MRI-metrics indicative of chronic pathology, particularly measures of global cerebral tissue loss (atrophy), were uniformly worse for those originally on placebo. These observations enrich our long-term follow up of the clinical consequences of treatment with glatiramer acetate to include its apparent effects on MRI-defined pathology. They show that the effect of glatiramer acetate on enhancements is definite, but modest, consistent with the drug's described mechanisms of action, and that a delay in initiating treatment results in progression of MRI-measured pathology that can be prevented.

Afrikaanse kinder- en jeugliteratuur is ’n genre wat tradisioneel sedert sy ontstaan deur blanke outeurs vir ’n blanke leserspubliek geskep is. Die snelle toename in geletterdheid van die gekleurde en ook swart lae van die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing hoop hedendaagse skrywers egter om literatuur vir 'n gemengde teikengroep te konsipieer. Dit het dus nodig geword om ernstig te besin òf en hoe Afrikaanse kinder- en jeugliteratuur die gekleurde kind en ook die swart kind wat Afrikaans as 'n tweede of derde taal lees, aanspreek. Daar moet gevra word of die beeld van die swarte in die Afrikaanse kinder- en jeugliteratuur die swart/bruin kind se selfbeeld opbou. Maak dit horn trots om homself te wees, of dehumaniseer dit hom deurdat hy verneder word?

Analysis of the structure, argument and pragmatics of Galatians: An initial orientation Initially three methodological pitfalls regarding the analysis of the overall structure of Galatians are discussed: that of historical reconstruction of its polemical situation, of the rhetorical model and of the bipartite Pauline division between theological exposition and paraenesis. Then the macrostructural relations, the argument and the pragmatics of Galatians are analysed. Two main sections are identified, the first (Galatians 1:11-4:11) consisting of a double argument for the legitimacy of Paul's gospel, the second (4:12-6:10) being an appeal concentrating on Christian freedom.

Analysis of the structure, argument and pragmatics of Galatians: a more detailed overview Following on a previous article in this journal a more detailed overview is presented, describing the structure, argument and pragmatic thrust of Galatians down to the level of its constituent pericopes and paragraphs. Although Galatians is in more than one respect a highly emotional document, its overall pattern displays strong cohesion and a consistent persuasive focus.

This work suggested that Cu2+ ion coordinated by the peptide with a histidine (His or H) residue in the first position from the free N-terminal reveals oxidase-mimicking activity. A biotinylated polymer was prepared by modifying His residues on the side chain amino groups of lysine residues (denoted as KH) to chelate multiple Cu2+ ions. The resulting biotin-poly-(KH-Cu)20 polymer with multiple catalytic sites was employed as the signal label for immunoassay. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) was determined as the model target. The captured biotin-poly-(KH-Cu)20 polymer could catalyze the oxidation of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) to produce fluorescent 2,3-diaminophenazine (OPDox). The signal was proportional to PSA concentration from 0.01 to 2 ng/mL, and the detection limit was found to be eight pg/mL. The high sensitivity of the method enabled the assays of PSA in real serum samples. The work should be valuable for the design of novel biosensors for clinical diagnosis.

This paper proposes a method based on a new word embedding approach for matching business process model. The proposed method aligns two process models in four steps. First activity labels are extracted and pre-processed to remove meaningless words, then each word composing an activity label and using a semantic similarity metric based on WordNet is represented with an n-dimensional vector in the space of the vocabulary of the two labels to be compared. Based on these representations, a vector representation of each activity label is computed by averaging the vectors representing words found in the activity label. Finally, the two activity labels are reported as similar if their similarity score computed using the cosine metric is greater than some predefined threshold. An experiment was conducted on well-known dataset to assess the performance of the proposed method. The results showed that the proposed method shared the first place with RMM/NHCM and OPBOT tools and can be effective in matching process models.

The role that integration and coordination of ministries play in the discovery and development of a missional congregation’s identity is being investigated in this study. The theory of the building up of a congregation is being investigated after which the identity and missional being of a congregation is subjected to scrutiny. It is being argued that the missional congregation identity is a gift from the triune God. This identity is corporative, relational and dynamic and is initiated by God. The challenge for congregations in a post-Christianity world lies in the fact to anew reclaim and deepen their missional identity. As a result of the research conducted for this study, it is assumed that the intentional integration and coordination of the ministries facilitate the discovery and development of the identity. In this study Nel’s argument that ministries need each other to facilitate the discovery and development of identity is tested. There is synergy between the different ministries in a systems approach and the effectiveness of the ministries is much greater than it would be if they were to function on their own. The various ministries need each other to fully come into their own. Osmer’s four tasks of practical theology were implemented in this study. The empirical research (quantitative as well qualitative) was conducted among the ministers of the Highveld Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church. One-hundred-and-thirty-nine of the 144 ministers agreed to take part in the quantitative research followed by partly structured interviews with 16 randomly selected ministers. During the empirical study every attempt was made to obtain data in connection with the understanding of ministers regarding the building up, identity and missional being of a congregation as well as the integration and coordination of the ministries that are present in their congregations. The probability exists that an identity-driven missional congregation in which the ministry is integrated and coordinated, could go from strength to strength in the world. The research has shown that some of the ministers seem to show a flawed understanding that identity is a relational reality. At the same time there exists quite possibly a defective understanding that a congregation’s reason for existence originates in its identity, and that the contributions that the integration and coordination of the ministry play in the discovery and development of the identity, are not fully understood. Most of the ministers are aware of the fact, that they need to develop their congregations as missional congregations, but the ministers do not always have the knowledge, competence, inclination and experience to make the move. An endeavor is made to better understand these core concerns and in the last chapter strategic plans, with an eye on desired outcomes, are presented.
Die rol wat die integrering en koördinering van bedienings in die identiteits-ontdekking en -ontwikkeling van ʼn missionale gemeente speel, word in hierdie studie ondersoek. Die teorie van gemeentebou word verken, waarna die identiteit van die kerk en missionale gemeentewees onder die loep kom. Daar word geargumenteer dat die missionale gemeente se identiteit deur die drie-enige God geskenk word. Dié identiteit is korporatief, relasioneel en dinamies en word deur Hom geïnisieer. Die uitdaging vir gemeentes in ʼn post-Christendom wêreld lê daarin om opnuut hul missionale identiteit te herwin en te verdiep. Die navorsingsvermoede van die studie is dat die doelbewuste integrering en koördinering van die bedienings identiteits-ontdekking en -ontwikkeling fasiliteer. In hierdie studie word Nel se argument dat die bedienings mekaar nodig het om identiteits-ontdekking en -ontwikkeling te fasiliteer beredeneer, maar ook getoets. Binne ‘n sisteembenadering is daar sinergie tussen die verskillende bedienings en die bedienings se effektiwiteit is veel meer as wanneer hulle op hul eie funksioneer. Die verskillende bedienings het mekaar nodig om tot hul volle reg te kom. Osmer se vier take van prakties-teologiese interpretasie is in dié studie uitgevoer. Die empiriese navorsing (kwantitatief sowel as kwalitatief) is onder die leraars van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk se Hoëveld Sinode gedoen. 139 leraars (uit ʼn totaal van 144) het ingestem om aan die kwantitatiewe navorsing deel te neem, waarna half-gestruktureerde onderhoude met 16 ewekansig verkose leraars gevoer is. Tydens die empiriese studie is gepoog om data te bekom met betrekking tot leraars se verstaan van gemeentebou, identiteit, missionale gemeentewees, sowel as die integrering en koördinering van die bedienings wat by hul gemeentes teenwoordig is. Die vermoede bestaan dat ʼn identiteitsgedrewe missionale gemeente, waar die bedienings geïntegreer en gekoördineer word, van krag tot krag in ʼn post-Christendom wêreld kan gaan. In die navorsing is gevind dat daar ʼn gebrekkige besef by van die leraars bestaan dat identiteit ʼn relasionele werklikheid is. Daarbenewens bestaan daar heel moontlik ʼn gebrekkige begrip dat ʼn gemeente se bestaansdoel uit haar identiteit voortspruit. Die bydrae wat die integrering en koördinering van die bedienings in identiteits-ontdekking en -ontwikkeling speel, word heel moontlik ook nie ten volle begryp nie. Meeste van die leraars weet dat hul gemeentes as missionale gemeentes moet ontwikkel, maar die leraars het nie aldag die kennis, vaardighede, lus en ondervinding om dié skuif te maak nie. Daar word gepoog om dié kernsake beter te verstaan en in die laaste hoofstuk word strategiese planne met die oog op verlangde uitkomste voorgelê.
Practical Theology
PhD
Unrestricted

According to this study, research indicates that there is not a lot of information surrounding the focus on prayer in church polity and therefore attention is lacking in this field during the training of office bearers and thus the content and composition of prayers leaves one untouched. The focus of this study is a theoretical approach to the place and content of prayer in church polity according to the practical ministry of prayer during three consecutive synods of the Reformed Churches in South Africa. The content of chapter one focuses on the idea that both Scripture and theological literature offer material to be integrated into a synthesis of what the ius constituendum imply and where to the practise as ius constitutum is measured with the purpose on an increased focus on prayer in church polity. Chapter two elaborates on the different aspects of prayer in conjunction with church polity in which the communal prayer of church leaders imposes certain requirements to the prayer leader in connection with the use of language, content and agenda that is embedded on the confession that Christ is the Head of and reigns over his Church. In the third chapter the focus is fixed on the four core elements of the church: unity, holiness, catholicity, apostolicity and the implication it has on prayer in the reformed church polity regarding more explicit intercession in prayer. The fourth chapter is an empirical examination of 121 prayers that was recorded during the 2003, 2006 and 2009 synods of the GKSA in accordance to the ius constituendum as discussed in chapters two and three summarised under twenty headings. The final chapter suggests corrections based on hermeneutical interaction between the ius constituendum and ius constitutum and resulting in improved formulated prayers that focus on the affairs of the agenda. Prayer ministry should not be left to the improvisation of the moment, but detail preparation should be done. Errors which were pointed out in this study, should thus be prevented. In church government, prayers should reflect the agenda in all prayer elements focusing on the kingdom of God from within the church with an outward spiral to the whole cosmos.
Thesis (Ph.D. (Church Polity))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011

Every local church, although part of a greater denomination, finds itself in a unique context with unique ministerial needs. It is of the utmost importance for every local church to be contextual in its ministry, to eventually being effective in its ministry. To make this possible a Scriptural view of the interplay between the unity of the church, the diversity of the church and the fulfilment of the calling of the church, currently not existing, is a key factor. The primary goal of this research is to provide guidelines to churches to assure the contextualization of their calling and ministerial strategy. This is done by motivating the necessity thereof, and by providing Scriptural principles for the interplay between the unity of the church, the diversity of the church and the fulfilment of the calling of the church. The research is done according to the practical-theological methodology of Gerben Heitink (1 999). • The first part of the study consists of a hermeneutical process giving perspective on the current state of affairs in ministerial theory and practice, as well as providing Scriptural principles. Chapter 2 of the hermeneutical investigation wants to determine in what manner the interplay between the unity of the church, the diversity of the church and the fulfilment of the calling of the church is currently being recognized when a local church determines their specific calling and ministerial strategy. Furthermore a brief overview is given regarding the state of affairs in South Africa which has an effect on the climate in which ministry has to take place. This ensures the contextualization of the study. In Chapter 3 Scriptural principles are developed regarding the interplay between the unity of the church, the diversity of the church and the fulfilment of the calling of the church. In Chapter 2 a description is made of the situation that has to change and in Chapter 3 the principles are developed by which the change has to take place. The research in Chapter 3 focuses on the periscope of Acts 21:17-26 and related periscopes. • The second part of the study comprises of an empirical investigation of Afrikaans speaking reformed church members in Eastern Pretoria to determine how they view the interplay between the unity of the church, the diversity of the church and the fulfilment of the calling of the church. • The third part comprises the strategic perspective that integrates the research results of Chapters 2, 3, and 4 to develop a theory of practice. This practical theory provides guidelines to local churches to help them determine their specific calling and ministerial strategy in the light of the interplay between the unity of the church, the diversity of the church and the fulfilment of the calling of the church. The result of this study shows that the interplay between the unity of the church, the diversity of the church and the fulfilment of the calling of the church is a key factor in determining the specific calling and ministerial strategy of a local church to ensure their obedience to Gods calling. Beacons were developed in the light of the Scriptural interplay and presented as guidelines for the local church. The beacons are in short: 1 - Identifying the unique context; 2 - Ascertaining of the current interplay; 3 - Ascertaining of the Scriptural interplay; 4 - Breaking through traditions; 5 - Create balance in the interplay; 6 - Ensure unity in communal interest; 7 – ensure diversity, not in own interest; 8 - Accommodating each other.
Thesis (M.Th. (Practical Theology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006

Text in Afrikaans
Die probleemstelling van hierdie studie is naamlik: "Kan die groei of bestaan van kleingroepe in 'n gemeente 'n invloed hê op die vlak van koinonia wat die gemeente beleef." Hierdie vraag het relevant geword omdat die mens waarmee die kerk werk, gedurig verander. Sedert die "verligting" van die sewentiende eeu lewe ons in 'n tyd wat as die "modemisme" bekend staan. Die modemisme word gekenmerk deur die beklem­toning van die rasionele en individualisme van die individu. Sedert die tweede wereldoorlog het daar 'n verskuiwing begin plaasvind van 'n "modemistiese" na 'n "postmodemistiese" samelewing. Die postmodemis ontgogel deur die onvermoe van die modemisme om vrede in die wereld te verseker het 'n behoefte na "community" of koinonia begin ontwikkeL Dit het weer belangrik geword om iewers te behoort. Die tradisionele bedieningspraxis wat baie gesteun het op die beginsels van die modernisme is besig om ontoereikend te word vir die uitdagings van die post­ modernistiese mens. Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n bedieningspraxis te ondersoek en te beskryf wat die behoefte na koinonia aan spreek - daardie diep innige omgang van mense met mekaar in liefde. Die term verwys na die diep lewens en Iotsverbondenheid wat 'n christelikegeloofsgemeenskap met mekaar behoort te deel. Die tradisionele bedieningspraxis het die ideaal na koinonia in die erediens gesien. Die uitgangspunt van hierdie studie is dat dit nie haalbaar is nie. 'n Nuwe bedieningspraxis waarin die kleingroep prominent figureer is eerder die ruimte waarbinne koinonia beleef kan word. Dit beteken dlat die studie 'n paradigmaskuif voorstaan van 'n tradisioneel "verkondigings" of"Herder-kudde-model" na 'n "liggaams"- of"charismatiesemodel". Die doel van die studie is om die postmoderne mens te lei na geloofsvolwassenheid, dit is die uiteindelike doel van 'n gemeentebouprogram. Hierdie groei na geloofsvolwassenheid is 'n pastorale proses waar lidmate deur 'n egte belewing van koinonia in 'n kleingroep, wat as 'n verlengde familie funksioneer, groei na geloofsvolwassenheid. Die studie steun die "selgemeentemodel" as bedieningspraxis om die groei na geloofsvolwassenheid in 'n gemeente te fasiliteer. Hierdeur sal koinonia as een van die wesenskenmerke van die kerk weer tot sy reg kom in die kerk.
This study deals with the problem statement: "Can the growth or existence of small groups within a congregation influence the level of community experienced within that congregation?" The question is relevant because the church works with everchanging human beings. Since the "revolution" of the seventeenth century, we have been living in a period of "modernism" characterised by the emphasis being placed on rationalism and individualism. Since the Second World War a shift has taken place from a "modernistic" to a "post-modernistic" society. Post-modernistic man, disillusioned by the inability of the modernistic world to ensure peace, has developed a need for community. Involvement with other people and the need to belong has once again become important. Traditional ministry, based on the principles of modernism, has become inadequate to fulfil the challenges and requirements of post-modernistic man. The purpose of this study is to investigate a ministry practice which will address these requirements of community - namely a deep and profound relationship of caring between people. The term refers to a strong bond of common destiny which people should experience within a religious community. Traditional practices of ministry upheld the belief that this ideal of community could be attained within religious services. The premise of this study is that such a level of community is not achieved within traditional ministry practices. A new practice, in which small groups feature prominently, would be more conducive to a spirit of community. The study suggests a paradigm shift from the traditional model of"gospel preaching" or "pastoral-herd", to a more physical or charismatic model. The purpose of this study is to guide post-modernistic man towards religious adulthood, which is the ultimate goal of a congregational building program. This is a pastoral process where members of the congregation grow towards adulthood through a fervent experience of community within a small group, functioning as an extended family. The study promotes the "cell-church model" as appropriate ministry practice to facilitate the congregation's growth towards religious adulthood. Through this approach, community will once more take its rightful place as one of the quintessential features of the church.
Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology
Th. D. (Praktiese Teologie)

AFRIKAANS: Die waardering van die Afrika-onafhanklike kerke het gedurende die twintigste eeu grootliks verander, vanaf negatief tot positief. Die meer positiewe waardering hang saam met 'n ruimer en meer akkommoderende ekklesiologiese beeld waartoe gedurende die afgelope nagenoeg veertig jaar in die Sendingwetenskap gekom is. Teologiese opleiding as 'n ondememing onder die AOK het in die verlede gemengde sukses behaal. Westerse kerke het geneig om hulle eie model na die AOK oor te plant. Daar was min bereidheid om in terme van inheemse behoeftes en strukturele tradisies te dink. Aan die kant van die AOK was daar weer agterdog oor die motiewe van Westerse kerke en is sodanige opleidings relatief swak ondersteun. Vanuit Bybelse en historiese gegewens wil hierdie proefskrif 'n meer geloofwaardige opleidingsbenadering aanbied wat ook kerkopbou in die hand sal werk. Heling speel 'n sleutelrol in feitlik al die AOK en skakel met die sogenaamde profeetamp, 'n unieke funksie of bediening in die AOK. Die proefskrif stel 'n geïntegreerde of ekumeniese-genesingsopleidingsmodel voor om die AOK se profete in teologiese opleiding te betrek. Dit kom daarop neer dat integrasie bewerk moet word tussen tradisionele benadering, Westerse medies-biologiese metodes, sowel as Bybelse pastorale bedieningsmetodes. Daar moet vir 'n kragontmoetende benadering en vertrekpunt ruimte gemaak word, maar dit moet verder begelei word na 'n waarheidsontmoeting met die groot Waarheid wat 'n persoonlike ontmoeting is. By die leraars word 'n multidimensionele ekumeniese kerkopboumodel voorgestel wat kerugma, koinonia en diakonia sinkronies en diakronies benut. Aanduidings in die praktyk (aan die hand van diakonia en koinonia as assesseringskriteria) was dat derglike opleiding 'n transformasieproses begin het wat tot groter balans kan lei. Van die profete wat oorspronklik bloot diakonies te werk gegaan het, het tot 'n verchristelikte ubuntu of koinonia beweeg. Die leraars is weer kruisbestuif deur meer koinoniale insigte wat onder andere uitmond in diakoniese uitkomste. Ook die Westerse kerke of sendende kerke moet tot groter balans in eie denke en benadering kom. Eensydige beklemtonings, soos op die kerugma, kerkplanting, persoonlike vroomheid of geloofservarings of aan die ander kant op diakonia, moet plek maak vir 'n meer gebalanseerde en holistiese benadering. Sommige opleidingsinstitute is goeie evangelisasiekatalisators maar, gaan gebrek om aan ware klinies-pastorale insigte. Eksegeties-hermeneutiese insigte word seIde kontekstualiserend gekommunikeer. Materiaal is dikwels nog eensydig sinkronies of diakronies en kultuurontkennend. Indien die Westerse opleiding enigsins relevant wil wees, sal hulle meer van koinonia moet maak as die verlore dimensie in Westerse kerklike lewe, maar 'n lewende werklikheid in die AOK. Sonder die element van koinonia wat kontekstualisering verseker en die dualismes van teorie en praktyk, ekstraksie en abstraksie deurbreek, sal die Westerse instansies irrelevant in teologiese opleiding van die AOK bly. Aan die ander kant sal die Westerse instansies moet waak teen 'n ooroptimistiese siening van die AOK en byvoorbeeld redeneer dat alle kerke op een of ander manier sinkretisties is en dat die AOK toegelaat moet word om hulle eie gang te gaan. Dit is nie alleen histories onrealisties nie, maar ontken ook die onderlinge verbondenheid en verantwoordelikheid van die een, heilige, algemene en Christelike kerk. ENGLISH: Appraisal of the African indigenous/independent/initiated churches (AIC's) changed quite markedly during the twentieth century: from negative (at the beginning of the century) to positive (at the end thereof). The more positive judgement followed a change during the past forty years of Missiological understanding of the essence and role of church. Theological training during the past fifty years of the leaders of the AIC's had mixed success. Western churches tended to transplant their own model to the AlC's and did not really try to accommodate indigenous needs or structural traditions. On the other hand the AlC's tended to be suspicious of the motives of Western churches. Therefore they tried to be self-sufficient in training. This dissertation aimed to develop a more credible and viable approach in such training from Biblical and historical perspectives. Another aim was to make such training subservient of the ideal of developing of the AIC's as church. Healing plays a key role in the AlC's with the so-called prophetical office as a unique function and ministry. The dissertation proposes an integrated or ecumenical healing model to address the training needs of the prophets. The model aims to integrate Western medical-biological methods, traditional African healing and Biblical-ministerial principles. A ministry of confronting the powers (as accepted in many AlC's) must be transformed toward meeting the Truth and focused toward building a personal relationship between the ill member and his/her Saviour linked with the koinonia of the faith community. In the case of the ministers a multidimensional, ecumenical church development model is proposed which aims to realise kerygma, koinonia and diaconia in a synchronical and dia¬chronical manner. Preliminary indications from such training (done as part of this research) were that a transformation process was started which promised inter alia greater balance between diaconia and koinonia. Prophets, who formerly operated solely in the diaconial sphere of healing, began to show greater appreciation of the importance of koinonia (albeit a Christianised ubuntu). The ministers began to understand that true koinonia couldn't be separated from diaconia, since it follows from the faith relationship with God. On the other hand it became clear that Western churches also need some re-examination of their own traditions, theological presuppositions, ideas and missiological strategies. No church can afford to focus on one or two aspects in training, like kerygma, church planting, personal piety or experiential faith, or diaconia on the other hand. What is needed is a balanced, holistic view and approach. Many places of training are excellent catalysts of evangelism, but do not really succeed in training for the healing ministry, because e.g. clinical input is precluded due to a strict pietistic understanding of the ministry. Exegesis and hermeneutical skills are not really contextualised and therefore tend to remain an ethereal ideal. Training material suffer either from synchronical or diachronical one-sidedness, or cultural/contextual ignorance. If Western churches' or training institutes' ideal is relevancy in the training of the AlC's, much more must be made of koinonia - the lost dimension in Western Christianity, but a living reality in the AIC's. Without the element of koinonia contextualisation will be nothing but an idle dream, because it facilitates the bridging of dualisms (such as theory and practice, extrac¬tion and abstraction etc), which proofed to be the undoing of many training enterprises in Africa. On the other hand Western churches and agencies must guard against an over-optimistic view of the AlC phenomenon. In many instances such a view is justified with the argument that all churches are or have been syncretistic in one way or another. Therefore the AIC's must be left to their own resources to develop a true African Christianity and ecclesiastical model. However, such argument is not historical realistic and denies the mutuality, interdependency and mutual responsibility of the one, holy, universal and Christian church.
Thesis (DD (Science of Religion and Missiology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
Science of Religion and Missiology
unrestricted

M.A. (Bible Studies)
Recent New Testament research has proved that the Apocalypse should be treated as a full literary text. The application of narratological insights on plot development. focalisation/point of view and reader response as well as employing some insights from the socio-cultural milieu, enables the text as dramatic narrative to deliver its own message more dynamically. The reader becomes involved in this dramatic narrative in the performative use of language. With this in mind, the structure of Revelation can be compared with a music composition in three acts. The social context and rhetorical- situation are functionally reflected in the language which serves as a catharsis in assuring that God is in control of church, cosmos and history ...

This dissertation proposes the implementation of an Outphasing PA architecture for mobile communication transmitters. In this work, the main focus is the development of a functional prototype that demonstrates power efficiency improvements at high power back-off, when compared to traditional configurations. The proposed architecture suggests the signal component separator to be implemented in the digital domain, allow the device to become more flexible. Also, unlike the traditional Outphasing, the input power at the branches is not constant: it can change freely to benefit PAE at higher OPBO. The amplifier was implemented using two 10 W GaN HEMT and it obtained a maximum power between 43.42 dBm and 43.73 dBm in bandwidth of [2.25;2.40] GHz (its operational bandwidth). The drain efficiency, the maximum values vary between 64.3 % and 58.4 %, and the maximum PAE between 55.9 % and 58.4 %. For 2.30 GHz, its best operational frequency, PAE is higher than 50 % until -6.0 dB of OPBO. To be able to implement this configuration on a mobile communication system in a less demanding manner for the digital processing unit, the usage of polynomial equations, that describe the power of the input signal into the necessary branch signals, has been studied in this document. In the performed tests, it was observed that the power and the efficiency performances of the PA does not substantially change, even with the usage of low order polynomials. Yet, low order polynomials may compromise the linearity of the amplifier. When tested with a LTE signal with PAPR of 10.33 dB or with a 4-carrier GSM signal with PAPR of 6.2 dB, both with a bandwidth of 10 MHz, the amplifier shows considerable amounts of distortion. That is demonstrated in the three evaluated performance metrics: AM-AM; AM-PM; and ACLR. The average efficiency levels reach 50 % for the GSM signal and 36 % for the LTE one. After digital predistortion was applied, an improvement of the evaluated metric was observed. This scenario was tested for the LTE signal, using the 7th order polynomial in the signal component separator. The ACLR lowered from -21 dBc to -56 dBc; the AM-AM variation from 2.3 dB to 0.6 dB; and the AM-PM variation from 61.0o to 3.2o. This while the average efficiency increased from 30 % to 36 %. In the end, the objectives of this work were concluded, and the produced prototype can equate to some of the state-of-the-art reference works.
Esta dissertação propõe a implementação de uma aquitectura Outphasing de amplificador de potência para transmissores de comunicações móveis. O principal foco do trabalho é a obtenção de um protótipo funcional, que demonstre melhorias em termos de rendimento de potência em regime de back-off, em relação a outras configurações tradicionais. A arquitectura proposta sugere que o separador de sinais seja implementado no domínio digital, conferindo maior versatilidade ao dispositivo. Para alem disso, ao contrario do Outphasing tradicional, a potência dos sinais de entrada dos ramos do PA não e constante: poderá variar livremente para beneficiar o PAE a maiores OPBOs. O amplificador foi implementado usando dois GaN HEMT de 10 W e obteve uma potência máxima entre 43.42 dBm e 43.73 dBm na banda [2.25; 2.40] GHz (a sua banda de operação). Desta forma o amplificador possui 6.5 % de largura de banda. Em termos de rendimento de dreno, os valores máximos variam entre 64.3%e 68.7%, enquanto que o PAE máximo varia entre 55.9%e 58.4%. Para 2.3GHz, a sua melhor frequência de operação, o PAE mantém-se superior a 50 % ate -6.0 dB de OPBO. Para poder implementar esta configuração num sistema de comunicações móveis de forma menos exigente para a unidade de processamento digital, foi estudada a implementação do separador de sinais através de equações polinomiais que traduzam os sinais de entrada do sistema nos sinais necessários para os ramos. Nos testes feitos, foi possível verificar que o desempenho do PA, em termos de potência e eficiência, não varia substancialmente, mesmo quando a ordem do polinómio é baixa. No entanto, esta redução da ordem do polinómio pode comprometer a linearidade do amplificador. Quando testado com um sinal LTE com 10.33 dB de PAPR ou com um sinal GSM de 4 portadoras com 6.2 dB, ambos com 10 MHz de largura de banda, o amplificador demonstra níveis de distorção consideráveis. Isso é demonstrado nas três métricas de desempenho avaliadas: AM-AM; AM- PM; e ACLR. Os níveis de eficiência média atingem os 50 % para o sinal GSM e 36% para o sinal LTE. Após a utilização de pré-distorção, o amplificador melhorou as métricas avaliadas. Este cenário foi testado para o sinal LTE e utilizando um polinómio de 7a ordem no separador de sinais. O ACLR baixou de -21 dBc para -56 dBc; a variação AM-AM de 2.3 dB para 0.6 dB; e a variação AM-PM de 61.0o para 3.2o. Isto enquanto o rendimento médio aumentou de 30 % para 36 %. No final, os objectivos do trabalho foram concluídos, pelo que o protótipo produzido se equipara a alguns trabalhos de referência na literatura.
Mestrado em Engenharia Eletrónica e Telecomunicações