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ESKAPE pathogens and associated quorum sensing systems : new targets for novel antimicrobials development
No full textGlobally, antimicrobial (AMR) or multi-drug resistance (MDR) constitutes a current health challenge that is
predicted to cause increased infections rates with adverse socioeconomic impacts through increase in healthcare
costs. In addition, the group of Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter
baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp. (ESKAPE) pathogens cause debilitating infections
(community and nosocomial) and are classed as priority 1 AMR pathogens. This systematic report therefore
aimed at providing detailed coverage of new targets for novel antimicrobials development against MDR ESKAPE
pathogens to mitigate future AMR spread and improve current public health indices. The prevalent ESKAPE
bacterial group show high resistance to quinolones, lactams, cephalosporins, carbapenems and other antibiotic
groups, and ability to form biofilms linked to various quorum sensing systems (QSSs) that boost their virulence.
These QS pathways have become viable targets in drug design efforts for new antimicrobials development. Also,
since antibiotics discovery and development has waned in the past decade, the emergence of advanced
computational modelling technologies in drug design, repurposing and development efforts may yet bridge the
gap. As such, in this work we provided a comprehensive and systematic overview using relevant, included data
and findings on ESKAPE pathogens, their QSSs to target for novel antimicrobial agents’ development, the con
tributions of computational tools at the heart of novel antimicrobial advancements and their roles in bio
prospecting and developing novel ‘druggable’ candidates and therapies with anti-biofilm, and anti-quorum
sensing activities to mitigate AMR, biofilm and QS-related pathogenicity factors
Maintenance strategy for peri-urban pedestrian infrastructure in Pietermaritzburg city
No full textSocioeconomic factors, such as a high rate of unemployment and low income resulting in the inability to use public transport, coupled with the rising cost of living, have become core elements compelling pedestrians in peri-urban areas to opt for nonmotorized transport systems (NMTs). Peri-urban areas are nonurban locations directly adjacent to metropolitan areas that house a mixture of urban and rural populations, activities and infrastructure. Walking is one of the most sustainable modes of transport; it not only benefits the health and social interaction of users but also contributes positively to the environment by reducing the carbon footprint. However, the disregard of NMT infrastructure maintenance in most peri-urban areas in South Africa poses safety risks, forcing facility users to walk within roadways and possibly increasing the rate of pedestrian road accidents. A lack of maintenance further leads to defects such as uneven walkways, unsecured or broken manholes, malfunctioning traffic and streetlights, and missing road signs. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate and develop maintenance plans to enhance the existing infrastructure and ensure sustainable, accessible and safer transport systems. A mixed- method research approach involving exhaustive site surveys of selected pedestrian walkways in peri-urban to urban areas and further investigation of existing maintenance strategies is proposed. The results will provide critical insights into measures to improve pedestrian walkway accessibility in peri-urban areas. Subsequently, a robust conceptual framework for maintenance strategies for NMT infrastructures in peri-urban areas is proposed
The influence of culture on SMEs risk management practices in Zimbabwe
No full textIn view of the significance of risk management in all businesses, this study was conducted to establish the
influence of culture on the risk management practices of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zimbabwe. The study was motivated by the need to ensure small and medium businesses survive under certain risks. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of culture on the SMEs risk management practices. The study was conducted among SMEs who reside in two provinces of Zimbabwe namely Harare Province and Mashonaland Central province. In order to achieve the main purpose of the study, a mixed method research design was used. The target population of the study include Small to Medium Enterprises from all sectors in Zimbabwe’s ten provinces. The study’s target population was around 780 684 and the sample was 278 respondents. The study used a combination of cluster sampling and simple random sampling methods to select the sample. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to SMEs in Harare and Mashonaland Central provinces. The findings of the study show that culture influences SMEs risk management practices. Cultural factors such as social complexity, fate control and religiosity were found to influence SMEs risk management practices in Zimbabwe whilst social cynicism and reward for application were found not to influence SMEs risk management practices in Zimbabwe. The study concludes the introduction of risk management education for SMEs, increase awareness campaigns, and also increase access to information on risk management by the SMEs
A scoping review of contextual factors contributing to school violence in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region
Get PDFSchool violence is a prevalent phenomenon across Southern African Development Community (SADC), affecting children’s psychosocial and mental well-being. As part of SADC’s educational goals, access to quality education is a priority and is beneficial for the region’s economic growth and development. This goal cannot be achieved without addressing school violence at its roots. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s five-step framework, this scoping review explored evidence of contextual factors that contribute to school violence in the region. Twenty-four articles were included, and six themes were identified: home contextual factors, parental factors, community risk factors, school contextual factors, sociability factors, and demographic and individual characteristics. The findings suggest that factors contributing to school violence were from the learners’ immediate environments, including exposure to violence at home and poor parental methods, interactions with teachers and lack of appropriate disciplinary methods and processes, disruptive ideas related to masculinity, lack of understanding and intolerance to demographic and individual differences, and exposure to violence, drugs, and alcohol at the community level. To address this phenomenon, a comprehensive approach is needed, which includes developing clear school policies, teacher training on managing disruptive behaviours and professionalism, mapping incidents of school violence, and interventions involving collaboration between schools, parents, and school social workers to curb school violence
Critical success factors and external support of retailing fashion design entrepreneurs : a comparison between selected areas in Germany and South Africa
Get PDFSubmitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing and Retail Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2025This study presented a comparative analysis of the critical success factors of fashion
design entrepreneurs within the retail industry, focusing on the distinct markets of
South Africa and Germany. The recognised problem was that the specific critical
success factors for retailing fashion design entrepreneurs had not been clearly
identified, making it difficult to assess the influence and relevance of available external
support. Therefore, this study pinpointed these critical success factors and determined
how external support can be optimised to effectively direct resources towards the
factors. There were thus two main assumptions to this study; first, for retailing fashion
design entrepreneurs to succeed, they required external support. The second
assumption was that institutions or organisations supporting fashion design
entrepreneurs aimed to influence the critical success factors of fashion businesses
significantly. Through a comprehensive examination of the various theories, this study
aimed to bridge the gap in existing literature, offering a perspective on the interplay
between retail strategies, intrinsic factors, and external support mechanisms across
different countries. Overall, one framework and four theories were integrated
throughout this study: the natural selection theory, retail mix framework (in relation to
the retail strategy matrix), and the kano model, applied for the conceptualisation and
analysis of this study; the shopping preference theory and the balanced scorecard
theory implemented for interpretation purposes and to offer a clear industry and
academic outline. The explanatory mixed-methods approach that blended quantitative
and qualitative analyses was adopted to determine the critical influences of localised
support strategies for retailing fashion design entrepreneurs. First, a consumer survey
was conducted in both South Africa (n = 511) and Germany (n = 532) to determine
critical success factors of retailing fashion design entrepreneurs from a market
perspective. A non-probability sampling with quotas was conducted in this respect, to
ensure representativeness. Second, retailing fashion designers were interviewed in
South Africa (n = 9) and Germany (n = 6) to evaluate the influence and relevance of
external support, in relation to the critical success factors identified with consumers.
The limitations and delimitations of this study were due to the depth and breadth
shaped by the sample size, quotas reached, the operationalisation construct applied
and the reach of the geographical area. For instance, the factors operationalised were
based solely on the retail mix, while the quota (for the sample size) predominantly represented LSM 7 in South Africa and a monthly net household income between €
3001 to € 5000 in Germany. Additionally, the limited scope of geographic areas
studied, only included South Africa and Germany to draw comparative insights from
two markedly different market environments.
The findings revealed, while there were common critical success factors across both
markets, which were the retail place, slow fashion products, and refocusing of price,
there were also distinct differences influenced by local market dynamics, consumer
behaviour, and the availability of external support. For instance, in South Africa, the
emphasis on leveraging local identity and overcoming logistical challenges stood out;
whereas in Germany, the focus was more on technological adoption and integration
into the global market. This comparative study highlighted the importance of contextspecific strategies and the adaptability of fashion design entrepreneurs to their unique
retail market conditions. The implications of this research provided valuable insights;
first for fashion designers, by providing critical factors they should focus on in retail to
leverage consumer patronage, which is omnichannel retailing as a form of place and
functional slow fashion products. While for external support organisations, industry,
retail stakeholders, and policymakers, the study provided clear outlines for crafting
supportive ecosystems that nurture entrepreneurship and economic growth within the
fashion retail sector. For example, providing streamlined and less bureaucratic
processes, centralised information hubs related to support available, and a financing
structure for retailing fashion design entrepreneurs in South Africa and Germany. For
the scientific community, this study offered a unique perspective of the retail mix within
the context of retailing fashion design entrepreneurs, providing streamlined retail mix
factors found through exploratory factor analysis. As a result, instead of 6Ps, this study
found retailing fashion design entrepreneurs should focus on 5Ps as their retail mix
and 2Ps as critical success factors. In summary, this study advocated for an integrated
approach combining academic theories with strategic business practices for external
support organisations, tailored to each market's critical success factors for retailing
fashion design entrepreneurs.
Academics well-being as a pillar of institutional autonomy : a study on work-life balance in higher education amidst and post Covid-19
Get PDFIn higher education, intricate relationships among academic freedom, academic welfare, institutional autonomy, and public accountability have become increasingly evident. This research investigates the critical issue of balancing work and home lives for academics and its significant ramifications. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of work life balance on academics productivity at a specific university in South Africa. Three sophisticated quantitative approaches, the JD-R Model, structural equation modelling (SEM), and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) 27 statistical software, were applied in the study of 175 full-time academics. The results of this research indicated a substantial negative connection among academics performance and work life imbalance (β = -0.232†, p < 0.100). This is an example of how difficult it is to be an academic and have a life. It is evident that productivity and meaningful contributions to an institution will increase when academics are able to successfully manage their personal and professional lives. However, institutional autonomy has an impact on administrative decisions and measures, which in turn affect the work environment, resources at disposal, job security, and overall welfare of academics
The effect of performance appraisal on employee performance at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
No full textPerformance appraisal (PA) is commonly used to manage as well as to measure employees’ performance at various organisations. Large or small organisations are always seeking much better ways to effectively enhance and improve employee performance thus maximising profit. The main aim of the study was to investigate the effect of PA on employee performance at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). The hypothesis for this study was that the PA process will have a positive impact on employee performance at the UKZN while the null hypothesis was that the PA process will not have any impact on employee performance at the UKZN. The study employed a quantitative research method. The study also used a descriptive research design to help the researcher describe the characteristics of the population in an accurate and systematic approach. A stratified random sampling technique was employed, employees were divided and categorised into groups representing departments or schools they belong to, and then a simple random sampling in each group was applied. The sample size was determined to be 225 academic and support staff. Findings showed that PA has a positive impact on employee performance at UKZN. The study recommends that managers and supervisors must continue to set clear work goals and work targets for their employees as it is noted that employees are more effective and highly motivated when they know what is required from them and their work target. Appraisers must give frequent feedback to employees and help them improve in areas where they are lacking
Exploring the adoption of robotics in teaching and learning in higher education institutions
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) has become a prevalent part of many businesses, including higher education. AI is progressively gaining traction as an instrumental engagement tool in higher education institutions (HEIs). The premise underlying this trend is the potential of robots to foster enhanced student engagement and, consequently, elevate academic performance. Considering this development, HEI’s must probe deeper into the possible adoption of robotics in educational practices. This paper aims to conduct a comprehensive exploration into the adoption of robotics in teaching and learning in the higher education space. To provide a holistic perspective, this study poses three questions: what factors influence robotics uptake in HEIs, how can robots be integrated to improve teaching and learning in HEIs, and what are the perceived benefits of robotics implementation in teaching and learning. A bibliometric analysis and comprehensive review methodology were employed in this study to provide an in-depth assessment of the development, significance, and implications of robotics in HEIs. The dual approach offers a robust evaluation of robotics as a pivotal element needed for the enhancement of teaching and learning practices. The study’s findings uncover the increasing adoption of robotics within the higher education sphere. It also identifies the challenges encountered during adoption, ranging from technical hurdles to educational adjustments. Furthermore, this paper offers guidelines for various stakeholders for the effective integration of robotics into higher education
The effects of climate change on employee health and safety : evidence of existing studies
No full textAn escalation in carbon dioxide emissions has increased greenhouse gases, directly influenced climate change and subsequently impacted the health and safety of employees. The objective of this review is to analyse the effects of climate change on employee H&S and propose strategies to alleviate these impacts. In line with the preceding assertion, an integrative literature review was conducted across multiple online research databases to consolidate findings from various studies. Databases utilised included Web of Science, Emerald, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus, SpringerLink, and ResearchGate. Key information gathered includes publication year, title, study purpose, sample size, and findings. The conclusions drawn were based on a comprehensive review of available evidence. The study found that climate change poses significant risks to the H&S of employees, particularly about climate-related illnesses. The research has also indicated that preventative actions can be implemented to minimise these impacts. This study underscores the significance of addressing climate change to safeguard the welfare of employees
Managing diabetes : the need for support
Get PDFBackground: This study aimed to determine the psychosocial aspects of diabe tes management and treatment.
Methods: A qualitative research method was used to guide this study. The study
population was diabetic patients over the age of 50 years. A semi-structured
interview was used to obtain data, which was transcribed and coded and later
developed into themes.
Results: Five broad themes emerged from the analyses, viz., patient understand ing of diabetes, psychological effects, the impact of diabetes on life, experiences
of support and treatment and management of diabetes.
Conclusion: The findings from this study highlight the personal health and social strain of diabetes, as well as the challenges experienced in terms of the stress
and anxieties associated with the disease