Examining the maturity of South Africa’s government departments to implement the Infrastructure Delivery Management System (IDMS)

The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the maturity of South Africa’s provincial government departments in engaging with the Infrastructure Delivery Management System (IDMS) towards facilitating effective infrastructure delivery. Furthermore, the study sought to formulate evidence-based interventions that could be utilised by these government departments to engender successful delivery of infrastructure assets and associated services to their beneficiaries. This research was descriptive and employed the quantitative research approach. Data was elicited from three provincial government departments in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Structured maturity modelling questionnaires were deployed for data collection from the respondents. The emergent data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 26. A One-Way ANOVA, aimed at enabling a comparative analysis of differences in the degree of maturity between the three provincial government departments that utilise the IDMS, was conducted. Results from the study indicate that the three departments (cases) had a maturity rating between 3 and 4, signifying well-defined and documented standard processes that can be improved over time. However, an IDMS-ready organisation would ideally have a maturity rating at level 5. In addition, the leadership dimension was found to be a driver of all other dimensions, where a high maturity level under this dimension directly correlates with improved maturity in the other dimensions. It is recommended that adequate management and leadership support is needed to improve organisational maturity in relation to IDMS implementation. The study was confined to KwaZulu-Natal, due to the short survey period for information gathering and data collection. The COVID-19 pandemic also had a great impact on the undertaking of some key research processes mostly affecting the research methodology, particularly during data collection. This study is the first of its kind in South Africa to assess the maturity of provincial government departments to implement the IDMS, which is indicative of an evaluation void gap.

Atypical genotype in a typical phenotype

Introduction: Usually, onset of thelarche heralds puberty. Delayed puberty is worrisome and needs medical attention. Our patient in her late adolescence presented with primary amenorrhea, whose evaluation left us surprised. Case report: An eighteen-year-old scholastically backward girl, presented with complaints of not attaining menarche. Physical examination included a height of 156 cm(10th-25thcentile),weight 51 kg(50th centile), wide carrying angle, multiple nevi and a broad chest, however no other Turner stigmata was noted. Her sexual maturity rating (SMR) was A2P2B1 Laboratory investigations revealed increased gonadotropins (FSH:77mIU/ml; LH:25.4mIU/ml), low estradiol (14 pg/ml) and vitamin-D deficiency (21ng/ml). Ultrasonography of abdomen-pelvis showed small infantile uterus with streak ovaries. Karyotype (50 metaphases) demonstrated mosaicism [47,XXX (29)/45,X(19)/46,XX(2)]. Hormone replacement therapy and vitamin D replacement was initiated. Conclusion: 30-40% of the Turner syndrome are mosaics, the most common being 45,X/46,XX. Mosaicism is the presence of 2 or more cell lines with different chromosomal constitutions. The cell lines are derived due mostly to postzygotic mitotic nondisjunction. X/XX/XXX can present with or without classical turner stigmata. Trisomy X has a spectrum of presentation from normal menses and fertility to recurrent abortions and primary/secondary amenorrhea (primary ovarian insufficiency). Varied clinical phenotype due to three cell lines in a Turner mosaic makes this case unique.

Atypical genotype in a typical phenotype

Introduction: Usually, onset of thelarche heralds puberty. Delayed puberty is worrisome and needs medical attention. Our patient in her late adolescence presented with primary amenorrhea, whose evaluation left us surprised. Case report: An eighteen-year-old scholastically backward girl, presented with complaints of not attaining menarche. Physical examination included a height of 156 cm(10th-25thcentile),weight 51 kg(50th centile), wide carrying angle, multiple nevi and a broad chest, however no other Turner stigmata was noted. Her sexual maturity rating (SMR) was A2P2B1 Laboratory investigations revealed increased gonadotropins (FSH:77mIU/ml; LH:25.4mIU/ml), low estradiol (14 pg/ml) and vitamin-D deficiency (21ng/ml). Ultrasonography of abdomen-pelvis showed small infantile uterus with streak ovaries. Karyotype (50 metaphases) demonstrated mosaicism [47,XXX (29)/45,X(19)/46,XX(2)]. Hormone replacement therapy and vitamin D replacement was initiated. Conclusion: 30-40% of the Turner syndrome are mosaics, the most common being 45,X/46,XX. Mosaicism is the presence of 2 or more cell lines with different chromosomal constitutions. The cell lines are derived due mostly to postzygotic mitotic nondisjunction. X/XX/XXX can present with or without classical turner stigmata. Trisomy X has a spectrum of presentation from normal menses and fertility to recurrent abortions and primary/secondary amenorrhea (primary ovarian insufficiency). Varied clinical phenotype due to three cell lines in a Turner mosaic makes this case unique.

IMPLEMENTING IT GOVERNANCE TO LEVERAGE IS/IT VALUE IN AN ORGANIZATION CASE STUDY MIS DEPARTMENT OF PT. XYZ

The objective In this research are to know what are the indicator of good performance, what are the CSF, KPI & KGI for ?, how do we measure and compare both of them? The Methodology used for this research is based on framework released by IT Governance Institute but it is being modified (minor changes) for a certain purpose. Based on our analysis the average IT Maturity level of fourteen IT process at MIS Department PT. XYZ is 2.83 more higher than the result from ISACA survey among 47 US company only 2.62. The IT management of PT. XYZ should not make their self satisfied with this result, as multinational company they have to aware for improving regarding their IT governance. Our research also provided & equipped set action plan & methodology for management to achieve the better IT Maturity Level. There are some recommendations for the IT management in order to achieve the better namely: 1. IT Maturity Level Management have to perform continuous improvement, especially for some IT process such as DS1 (Define Service Level) the lowest maturity rating, DS4 (Ensure Continuous Services) the second lowest maturity rating, PO9 (Assess Risk) & PO10 (Manage Project) the third lowest maturity rating. 2. Management also have to consider for doing the full step methodology in the next assessment. 3. Management have to consider for develop performance measurement tools, this tools will help management to manage IT resources & process for aligning with the business objective

CDC Buryu oilseed flax

CDC Buryu, a late maturing oilseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), was registered in 2016 by the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This cultivar had yield (106%) comparable to CDC Bethune and a maturity rating equal to Flanders in all soil zones of the Northern Prairies. The yield advantage over CDC Bethune was greater (>8%) in the Brown soil and Black soil zones of the Northern Prairies. It had medium oil content, oil quality, and seed size and good lodging resistance. It is immune to North American rust (race 371) caused by Melampsora lini and moderately resistant to wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lini and powdery mildew caused by Oidium lini.

CDC Plava oilseed flax

CDC Plava oilseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), registered in 2015 by the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is targeted to the shorter growing season, Dark Brown, Black, Grey, and Dark Grey soil zones of the Northern Prairies. This cultivar has a high seed yield (106%) compared with cultivar (cv.) CDC Bethune and a medium maturity rating equal to cv. Prairie Thunder. It has medium oil content (47.0%), alpha-linolenic acid content (57.8%), seed size (6.1 g thousand seed weight, TSW), and good lodging resistance. It is resistant to North American races of rust caused by Melampsora lini, and moderately resistant to wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini.

CDC Melyn yellow seed coat oilseed flax

CDC Melyn is a yellow seed coat oilseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), registered in 2016 by the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This cultivar has yield (106%) comparable to cultivar AC Nugget (the yield standard for yellow seed coat oilseed flax) and maturity rating equal to Flanders. It has a medium (46.6%) oil content, iodine value (199.4), alpha-linolenic acid content (61%) and a thousand seed weight of 5.0 g. It is immune to flax rust caused by Melampsora lini and moderately resistant to wilt and powdery mildew caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini and Oidium lini, respectively.

“Smoke and screens”: How streaming spreads the habit of smoking.

e13563 Background: In Argentina, half of the media content reaches viewers through streaming platforms. This papers studies the frequency of smoking in fifty of the most watched programs on Netflix Argentina, and the average exposure to this habit in one hour of viewing. Methods: Between October 1, 2019, and January 10, 2020, we observed fifty of the most watched series on Netflix Argentina, set in the twentieth century or afterwards. The programs were grouped by Netflix Maturity Rating to analyze the frequency of smoking in shows available to different age groups. We established if smoking was present in the show and randomly selected one episode of each to time the amount of smoking. All times were standardized to 60 minutes to compare episodes of different duration. Results: Table shows the frequency of smoking in each of the Netflix Maturity Rating categories. The average exposure time to smoking is 2.5 minutes (r = 0-8 min) every 60 minutes. Conclusions: 1) Viewers are exposed to smoking in 64% of the most watched series on Netflix Argentina, for an equivalent of time to at least three tobacco advertisements per hour. 2) Smoking takes place in 50% to 73% of the series available to teenage viewers (rated 13+ or 16+). 3) Netflix has publicly committed to eradicate smoking from its series. We must ensure this commitment is fulfilled and extended to other streaming platforms and production companies. [Table: see text]

Study of sexual maturity rating among female adolescents who have attained menarche

Background: Adolescence is an important stage in the growth and development of girls. There has been a change in sectorial trend in the onset of puberty menarche. Thus, this study is designed to study the change in sectorial trend. In this background the study has been framed with these objectives, to correlate the attainment of menarche among the subjects in relation to their mothers and to study the sexual maturity rating among the study subjects.Methods: This is a cross sectional observation study involving 70 female adolescent girls. Data was collected from study subjects admitted in the department of Pediatrics, KIMS Hospital and those visiting KIMS OPD during September 2018 to February 2019. Study Subjects were examined by the female investigator and data on anthropometry, Tanner SMR staging, and other examination findings were collected using a pretested standardized questionnaire, after taking the consent. Subjects were divided based on the age into six groups.Results: The mean age of attainment of menarche is 12.36 years and mean age at menarche in mothers was 14.18 years. In this study the earliest age of attainment of menarche is 10 years. In our study most of the subjects attained menarche between 12-13 years, which is earlier than the age of attainment of menarche in the mothers which was 14-15 years. All the subjects who attained menarche were in SMR Breast stages 3, 4 and 5 and pubic hair stages 2, 3, 4 and 5.Conclusions: There is a positive correlation between the ages of attainment of menarche in the mothers and the subjects in this study it is found that there is a positive correlation between age, weight, height and SMR Stages.