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Assessing the challenges that are confronted rural-based SMEs on the implementation of cloud services
No full textThe increase of contemporary technologies such as cloud-based services has attracted various institutions, especially in developing countries. Many businesses have started to show interest in migrating to the cloud to expand their businesses, particularly in urban areas. However, it has become challenging for rural-based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to integrate themselves with ICT innovations such as cloud services as they are facing various challenges like poor development of ICT infrastructure. It is these difficulties that are facing SMEs located in rural areas that are at the core of this study, whose aim is to assess the challenges that rural-based SMEs are facing on the implementation of cloud services. A literature review from the previous studies was used to identify these challenges, which were later transformed into variables that ended up being tested in this paper. These variables include independent variables such as Security, Compatibility, Perceived usefulness, Perceived ease of use, and dependent variable, which are cloud services. A Likert-scale questionnaire-based survey of small business employees was conducted from a small town called Elliotdale, Eastern Cape, South Africa, to assess whether the challenges mentioned above, according to them, have an impact on the implementation of cloud services by SMEs. The data were analyzed to test the reliability and validity of the data-gathering instrument(questionnaires) and inferential statistics such as correlations between independent and dependent constructs, and Regression (predictor). The results indicate that the participants agreed that the challenges mentioned above, such as Security, Compatibility, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, have a significant impact on the implementation of cloud services by rural-based SMEs
Speech to speech translation with translatotron : a state of the art review
No full textA cascade-based speech-to-speech translation has been considered a benchmark
for a very long time, but it is plagued by many issues, like the time taken to
translate a speech from one language to another and compound errors. These
issues are because a cascade-based method uses a combination of methods such
as speech recognition, speech-to-text translation, and finally, text-to-speech trans
lation. Translatotron, a sequence-to-sequence direct speech-to-speech translation
model was designed by Google to address the issues of compound errors associated
with cascade model. Today there are 3 versions of the Translatotron model: Trans
latotron 1, Translatotron 2, and Translatotron3. The first version was designed as a
proof of concept to show that a direct speech-to-speech translation was possible, it
was found to be less effective than the cascade model but was producing promising
results. Translatotron2 was an improved version of Translatotron 1 with results sim
ilar to the cascade model. Translatotron 3 the latest version of the model is better
than the cascade model at some points. In this paper, a complete review of speech
to-speech translation will be presented, with a particular focus on all the versions
of Translatotron models. We will also show that Translatotron is the best model
to bridge the language gap between African Languages and other well-formalized
languages
Perceived benefits of loyalty programs and relationship quality
No full textThe aim of this article is to investigate perceived loyalty program benefits inherent in loyalty programs and how they might affect relationship quality, specifically in the South African FMCG sector. A quantitative study was undertaken where loyalty program members were approached via a national database. Hypotheses were individually tested by means of regression analysis. All three forms of perceived benefits exhibited positive relationships with each of the relationship quality constructs. Retailers that are considering which benefits to include in a loyalty program would find the results instructive. This article also adds to the international body of research in the field of relationship marketing, customer loyalty and retail loyalty programs. This study reiterates the importance of loyalty program design and the potential for attitudinal change towards the retailer.Copyright: 2020. IGI Global. Due to copyright restrictions, only the abstract is available. For access to the full text item, please consult the publisher's website
A phenomenological exploration of the mental health and well-being experiences of radiology staff in the eThekwini District Of South Africa during a health crisis
Get PDFThesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Radiography at the Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2025.Background
Globally, one in 10 health workers contract nosocomial infections while on duty. In
South Africa, frontline healthcare workers have a record of six times more hospital
admissions for the management of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR
TB) compared to non-healthcare workers. As frontline health workers, radiology
staff are at risk of nosocomial infections which are exacerbated during health crises
such as the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To date,
approximately 10% of the COVID-19 cases globally are among healthcare
workers. Health crises have also been associated with aggravated occupational
stress levels, which negatively impact work competencies. However, no known
study has examined the mental health and well-being experiences of the
eThekwini district frontline radiology staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aim
The aim of this study was to explore the mental health and well-being experiences
of radiology staff in the eThekwini district of South Africa during a health crisis.
Methods
A social constructivist position was implemented with the qualitative, Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology. Data were collected in two
independent phases in a multi-method approach, through the use of semistructured
one-on-one interviews in the first phase and focus groups in the second
phase. Non-probability sampling was implemented through use of maximum
variation sampling. The sample comprised 24 staff working in private and public
radiology departments within the eThekwini district of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)
province in South Africa. Phase 1 of data collection involved 13 participants who
had one-to-one semi-structured interviews while Phase 2 constituted five and six
participants for the two focus groups respectively. Audio recordings of the
interviews were transcribed into text data, coded and categorised into themes through the use of the IPA. The Delphi method was employed to validate the
resultant mental health support framework.
Findings
A detailed insight into the mental health and well-being experiences of frontline
radiology staff during the COVID-19 pandemic was established. Resultantly, seven
themes were developed, namely: duties and roles during the COVID-19 pandemic,
personal and work-related challenges, emotional and psychological experiences
when carrying out duties, impact on emotional well-being, impact of resultant
mental health status on professional competencies, coping strategies, and
interventions for mental health effects. The study evidenced that frontline radiology
staff within the eThekwini district experienced mental health challenges such as
stress, fear and anxiety.
Clinical implications
The developed mental health support framework could be adopted by radiology
departments to enhance staff mental wellness and coping abilities during health
crises. Resultantly, standards of radiological images, diagnosis and patient care
will be maintained.Durban University of Technology (DUT)
Antioxidant and antihypertensive activities of bioactive peptides derived from fish collagen and milk lactoferrin
Get PDFSubmitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2025.Bioactive peptides (BPs) are short sequences of amino acids known for their physiological
benefits, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic properties.
BPs can be derived from various food proteins; from plant, meat, milk, and marine sources,
through methods such as microbial fermentation or enzymatic hydrolysis. This study explored
the potential of BPs derived from milk lactoferrin (LF) and fish collagen using in silico and in
vitro analyses. The inhibitory potential of BPs derived from LF, a multifunctional milk
glycoprotein found in bovine and human milk, against angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) enzyme were analysed. Initially, in silico digested
bovine and human milk-derived-LF sequences were screened for potential ACE and DPP-IV
inhibitory activity using AHTpin and StackDPPIV, respectively. Molecular docking results
revealed that bovine LF peptides ‘EPYF’ (−10.1 kcal/mol) and ‘WQWR’ (−9.3 kcal/mol) had
significantly lower binding energies with ACE and DPP-IV, respectively. In addition, in vitro
analysis of bovine LF hydrolysates demonstrated IC50 values of 0.48 ± 0.01 mg/ml (ACE) and
0.93 ± 0.02 mg/ml (DPP-IV). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
analysis identified the peptides ‘EPYF’ and ‘WQWR’ which are potential inhibitors of ACE
and DPP-IV, respectively, present within the parent peptide sequences of the bovine LF
hydrolysates. These findings suggested that bovine LF peptides, due to their bioactive potential
and functional similarities to human LF, may serve as a viable alternative to human LF.
Subsequently, the research evaluated the inhibitory potential of BPs derived from fish collagen.
The first step involved extracting collagen from the pretreated snapper salmon skin using an
acid-solubilisation technique, followed by characterisation through biophysical analyses, such
as SDS-PAGE and CD spectroscopy. Thereafter, the extracted collagen was hydrolysed using
a pre-digestive approach. Papain was used as the pre-digestive enzyme due to its broad
specificity, which effectively breaks down collagen and releases a range of BPs. Pepsin and
trypsin were also key enzymes utilised in the in vitro digestion process to mimic human
gastrointestinal conditions, since they are present in the stomach and small intestine,
respectively. In this regard, snapper salmon skin collagen was hydrolysed using two
approaches: pre-digestion followed by pepsin-trypsin digestion (PDPTD) and pepsin-trypsin
digestion alone (PTD). This yielded fish collagen hydrolysates (FCH), and the peptides were
fractionated using various cut-off membranes (10 kDa).
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The FCH that did not undergo pre-digestion exhibited IC50 values of 0.54 ± 0.03 mg/ml (ACE
inhibition), 2.25 ± 0.02 mg/ml (DPP-IV inhibition), and 0.04 ± 0.01 mg/ml (ABTS antioxidant
activity). In contrast, pre-digested FCH showed lower IC50 values of 0.33 ± 0.06 mg/ml, 1.67
± 0.08 mg/ml, 2.38 ± 0.31 mg/ml, and 0.03 ± 0.00 mg/ml for ACE inhibition, DPP-IV
inhibition, DPPH antioxidant activity, and ABTS antioxidant activity, respectively. FCH (from
both PDPTD and PTD methods) were subjected to peptide identification and the identified
peptides underwent in silico analyses to assess their physicochemical properties and potential
bioactivities. Molecular docking analysis of pre-digested FCH peptides identified the peptide,
IGFPGFPG, with significant ACE and DPP-IV inhibitory activities, exhibiting low binding
energies to ACE (−11.2 kcal/mol) and DPP-IV (−9.1 kcal/mol). The study concluded that pre digested collagen peptides demonstrated improved bioactive potential, as reflected by their
lower IC50 values and docking score. Overall, the study concluded that BPs derived from
bovine milk LF and fish collagen have potential as antioxidants and inhibitors of ACE and
DPP-IV. These findings underscore their potential for use in developing dietary supplements
and functional foods, which could offer a myriad of health-promoting properties.
The influence of social media use on corporate reputation at a higher education institution
Get PDFThe use of social media in organisations can assist in the creation and maintenance of a good brand, reputation and image largely due to the potential of developing interactive relationships with various stakeholders. This not only aids in building stakeholder relationships, but also in increasing an organisation’s visibility. The aim of this research was to assess how a higher education institution, specifically the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in South Africa, uses social media platforms to build and maintain a positive corporate reputation. Additionally, the research examined how the institution actively engages with their target audience on social media platforms. A quantitative methodology was adopted with a sample population of 180 students from the DUT. Data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires to students and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Findings revealed that social media plays an important role for organisations as a vital tool to build and maintain corporate reputation online, as well as communicating effectively and actively with various target audiences. The research recommends that organisations prioritise investing in social media platforms and communicate effectively and actively with their audiences online. </jats:p
Funding modalities for non-profit organisations in Mpumalanga Province
Get PDFSubmitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Public Administration, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2025.There is a significant increase in the number of non-profit
organisations registered in South Africa each year. By the end of
September 2022, 266,531 NPOs were registered. This number
increased from 248,902 in 2021 to 228,822 in 2020. Studies have
shown that NPOs contribute enormously to solving social
problems where the state cannot provide society with the most
needed support. To this end, funding is crucially important for
NPOs to function effectively in their service delivery drive. This
study examined the relationship between the challenges and
funding arrangements for NPOs in South Africa, focusing on NPOs
in Mpumalanga Province.
The number of donors is decreasing while charitable organisations
that need support to sustain their organisations and programs are
increasing. Using qualitative methods of data collection and
analysis, the study identified financing options for NPOs in the
Province and explored different routes and methods of raising
funds for financing the activities of the NPOs. With data from indepth interviews, the study noted the disparities in funding and the
implications for the activities of the NPOs. The study recommends
the primacy of awareness programs and capacity-building forums
for NPOs in Mpumalanga Province, where NPOs discuss
challenges and share ideas about what works and how to improve
when it comes to raising funds.
The development of a model for decision-making for the adoption and maintenance of the next generation integrated library systems at South African public universities
Get PDFA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2025.The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has influenced all academic libraries in higher education
institutions, and Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals who have accrued their
skills and experience over decades are still facing challenges in managing a variety of print and
digital resources with limited resources and budgets. It has become imperative in all academic
libraries that there is a disparity in the emerging technologies and skills required by LIS
professionals in managing library systems. The aim of this doctoral study was to explore the
nature and extent of adoption and maintenance of the next generation ILS in academic libraries,
to develop a model for the adoption and maintenance thereof. The theoretical frameworks
Technological Acceptance Models (TAM), Unified Theory Use of Technology Acceptance
Model (UTAUT), Gardner Hype Cycle model, and Siguenza-Guzman framework were used to
examine competencies, skills and technological knowledge of the adoption and maintenance
of the next generation integrated library system of LIS professionals as managers of library
management systems (LMS) in the digital environment. A sequential explanatory mixed
method design framed the research approach. During the quantitative phase, a web based
exploratory survey was administered to LIS professionals at academic libraries in South Africa.
The emerging themes from the web-based exploratory survey was used to design the interview
schedule for the second qualitative phase. The results from both phases were analysed and
interpreted to present the findings. The results from data collected were then triangulated with
the theoretical frameworks and reviewed literature. The key findings revealed that most
academic libraries have begun to adopt the maturing next-generation ILS, with early adopters
stating that academic libraries need more collaborations through library consortiums to move
towards a shared next generation ILS, allowing for increased collaboration while reducing costs
on individual software purchases. Consequently, LIS professionals need acquire technical and
technological skills to support library users for learning, teaching, and research in the Fourth
Industrial Revolution. The study recommends system, methods, and processes that the Library
and Information Science sector can implement to ensure that LIS professionals gain the
necessary expertise to manage their library management system in the digital environment.
Finally, the study proposes the development of a model of decision-making for the adoption
and maintenance of next generation ILS for LIS professionals in academic libraries in South
Africa.
Development of electrochemical immunosensors for detection of insulin antibodies using Indolepyrazole nanoparticles
Get PDFSubmitted in fulfilment of the academic requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2025.Insulin antibodies have shown to be a strong predictor of diabetes development
in genetically susceptible individuals and the development of type 1 diabetes is
strongly associated to the presence of antibodies that attack beta cells (islet
cells), such as insulin. The development of a sensitive, selective, efficient, and
economical insulin detection system is crucial for the diagnosis and management
of diabetes. The existing methods can produce results that are very specific,
highly sensitive, and dependable. They include notable disadvantages, including
high costs, extensive time requirements, the necessity for substantial sample
preparation, and the emission of hazardous radiation. Electrochemical assays,
characterised by their high sensitivity and selectivity, rapid reaction time,
straightforward automation, dependable results, and relatively low cost, can
address the drawbacks of conventional approaches. Furthermore,
electrochemical sensors utilising biosensor technology provide the most
efficacious approach for the detection of antibodies to antigens.
Electrochemical immunosensors have emerged as powerful tools for the rapid
and sensitive detection of biomarkers. The detection of insulin antibodies is
critical for the management of autoimmune responses in diabetic patients. This
study aimed to develop and optimise an electrochemical immunosensors for the
detection of insulin antibodies using indole-pyrazole capped cobalt or gold
nanoparticles. Nanoparticles (cobalt or gold) capped with novel indole-pyrazole
derivatives (bis indole-pyrazole or chromone indole-pyrazole) were synthesised and immobilised onto the surface of a bare platinum electrode. Indole-pyrazole
derivatives were selected due to their electron-rich, conjugated structures and
potential to enhance charge transfer and sensor sensitivity. This modification
enhanced the specific surface area and stability of the sensor platform. Insulin
antigen was then introduced to promote antibody binding, followed by blocking
with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to prevent non-specific binding and improve
the accuracy, sensitivity, and reliability of the immunosensor. Each metal
nanoparticle had two sensors: one capped with bis indole-pyrazole and the other
with chromone-indole-pyrazole. All sensors demonstrated high detection ability
for insulin antibodies, with a low detection limit, good selectivity, sufficient
stability, and excellent recovery rates. This demonstrates the potential of the
developed immunosensors for quantifying insulin antibodies. However, sensors
incorporating the chromone-indole-pyrazole derivative outperformed those with
the bis indole-pyrazole derivative, exhibiting lower limits of detection (LODs) and
higher recovery rates for both metals.
The green synthesis of cobalt and gold nanoparticles (CoNPs and AuNPs) using
lemon peel extract was successfully achieved, with indole-pyrazole derivatives
(BIP and CIP) acting as additional capping agents. Phytochemical screening was
conducted to identify the compounds in the lemon peel extract, such as phenols,
flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids, which played a role in nanoparticle stabilisation
and reduction. Characterisation techniques such as UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, and
EDS confirmed the successful formation of CoNPs and AuNPs with well-defined
morphological and elemental properties. The UV-Vis spectra displayed characteristic surface plasmon resonance peaks, indicating nanoparticle
formation. SEM analysis showed that the nanoparticles were predominantly
spherical, with some aggregation due to phytochemical interactions. EDS data
further confirmed the elemental composition, demonstrating the presence of
cobalt and gold within the nanoparticles
The fused indole-pyrazole derivatives viz bis indole-pyrazole 4a (BIP) and
chromone indole-pyrazole 4b (CIP) were synthesised by reacting aldehyde
derivatives, thiosemicarbizide and an indole through a one-pot synthesis via 2+3
annulation. Then, characterised using fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR), and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS). To
better understand their properties since they are newly synthesised compounds,
biological evaluations were performed. Initially, a mutagenicity test was
performed, and the compounds showed no significant increase in revertant
colonies against S. typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 strains. In the MTT assay for
cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines, A549 and HepG-2; and one
normal, HEK 293. Compound 4b showed high potency against the cancer cell
lines, with IC50 values of 18.70 and 50.07 μg/mL, respectively. Whilst, both
compounds showed low inhibition level against HEK 293 at 100 μg/mL. The in
vitro inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, compound 4a demonstrated
excellent in vitro inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with the IC50 values
of 3.9 μg/mL and 12.1 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 4a exhibited strong
inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, for the anticancer activity
only compound 4b showed promising results.
The influence of artificial intelligence on the manufacturing industry in South Africa
No full textBackground: The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing has the potential to considerably improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability. Artificial intelligence aids with tasks such as data processing and process monitoring, process modelling and optimisation, live fault detection, and process quality assessment in manufacturing processes.Aim: This study sought to obtain a full understanding of the influence of AI on the South African manufacturing industry by exploring how AI technology is impacting productivity, reshaping the workforce, affecting quality control practices and optimising supply chain management among other issues.Setting: Data in this study were obtained from 23 qualitative research publications that address the influence of AI on the manufacturing industry in South Africa published on ScienceDirect, Scopus, Springer, Web of Science and Google Scholar.Method: Multiple correspondence analysis was utilised to analyse associations among quality, productivity, supply chain and workforce transformation in the presence of AI in the South African manufacturing industry.Results: The findings demonstrate a substantial association between the usage of AI and a range of performance measures, suggesting that those organisations embracing AI technology can benefit from greater productivity, quality control and supply chain management. Additionally, findings emphasised the necessity of workforce transformation because of AI adoption.Conclusion: The adoption of AI technology positively influenced the South African manufacturing industry, contributing to increased productivity and quality, and optimising the supply chain.Contribution: This study makes a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge as AI adoption in the manufacturing industry in developing countries is only emerging