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An investigation of the experiences of non-Muslim communities of Southern Borno under the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno States of Nigeria
No full textThe investigation on the experiences of non-Muslim communities of Southern Borno in the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the Boko Haram insurgency is inevitable, considering the dire humanitarian situation that has since prevailed. The openly orchestrated mass atrocities against non-Muslim Nigerians are intended to instil maximum fear, as demonstrated by the gory, if not macabre crimes against humanity seen from live online footage of mutilation of corpses, enslavements, and the continuing widespread looting. Against this background, the purpose of this study is to explore, describe and analyse the Boko Haram insurgency in North-Eastern Nigeria against non-Muslim communities, as well as implications of the humanitarian crisis this unprecedented insurgency has created
A predominantly exploratory and descriptive qualitative research design approach was adopted in this study, with a total of 80 participants who were sampled through the snowball method among the indigenous Kibaku-speaking ethnic group in Southern Borno State, North-Eastern Nigeria. Of these, 46 participated in semi-structured interviews, while 34 were involved in seven focus group discussions. In both these data collection initiatives, the purpose was to obtain the common and shared (reported and unreported) experiences of the victims of the insurgency. All the collected data was manually transcribed and coded by means of thematic analysis.
The findings generated five thematically coherent perspectives and associated categories, all of which are in response to the research problem and research questions. Overall, these themes reveal an orchestrated ethno-religious dilemma in which non-Muslims in Borno State are the lethargic denigrated victims whose rights and dignity as human beings have been brutalised in the most odious and barbaric ways ever imagined.
The study recommends, among others, that the international community should decidedly support the Nigerian government’s efforts to completely obliterate the Boko Haram menace and its threat to regional peace and stability.Ph.D. (Sociology)Sociolog
Social entrepreneurship in the selected neo-Pentecostal churches: A holistic salvation’,
Get PDFPentecostalism is a Christian tradition known for personal salvation, baptism in the Holy
Spirit, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, divine healing and personal encounter with God through the
work of the Holy Spirit. However, Pentecostalism is not limited to these; the tradition also
ministers the full gospel that affects a holistic person, meaning body, soul and spirit. This
article demonstrated that the holistic salvation approach is a motivation for social
entrepreneurial activities in the selected neo-Pentecostal churches in South Africa. The article
worked within the social entrepreneurial framework to argue that the neo-Pentecostal churches
minister to their followers holistically. Pentecostalism transforms people’s lives in daily living,
particularly the poorest of the poor communities through entrepreneurial orientation. The
researchers’ methodology was a case study approach of four neo-Pentecostal churches in
South Africa that have shown social entrepreneurship factors. In addition, the participant
observation method was used in highlighting entrepreneurial activities in these churches.Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiolog
The moderating role of the audit committee on internal governance and financial sustainability in local government in Ghana
Get PDFThe need to enhance the financial sustainability of municipalities cannot be overemphasised. Despite the presence of internal governance mechanisms and the mandate of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to raise revenue internally, they are still not financially sustainable because their internal revenue collection has not increased from previous years. Therefore, the study aimed to develop and propose a framework that incorporates how audit committee attributes can strengthen the relationship between the board of directors and internal auditors' attributes for MMDAs to be financially sustainable. Arguing from the perspectives of agency and resource dependency theories, data covering the period 2016 - 2020 were collected from the Ghana Auditor-General's report of the 207 MMDAs purposively selected to measure the financial sustainability of MMDAs.
The study used a census balanced panel data design and survey approach to administer 621 structured questionnaires to the chief audit executives, audit committee, and board of directors' chairpersons in the 207 MMDAs. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicated that all the internal governance variables (board size, board independence, board gender diversity, internal auditor independence, internal audit size, internal auditor competence, audit committee meetings, audit committee independence, and audit committee competence) have a direct significant relationship with financial sustainability.
The findings also showed that audit committee meetings moderate the relationship between board size, internal auditor independence, internal auditor competence, and financial sustainability. The findings further showed that audit committee competence moderates the relationship between internal auditor competence and financial sustainability. However, audit committee meetings failed to moderate board independence, board gender diversity, internal audit size, internal audit competence, and financial sustainability significantly. Also, audit committee independence and competence failed to moderate the board of directors and internal audit attributes significantly.
Based on the findings, the researcher concludes that as part of the processes of reforming the public financial management system and increasing decentralisation in Ghana, this study has proposed a feasible framework. If adopted and implemented, it can improve internal governance mechanisms, and internally generated revenues, which will enhance the financial sustainability of MMDAs.Isidingo sokuthuthukisa ukusimama kwezimali komasipala ngeke kugcizelelwe ngokwedlulele. Nakuba zikhona izindlela zokuphatha zangaphakathi kanye negunya leMihlangano Yezifunda Zomasipala, Umasipala kanye Nezifunda (MMDAs) ukuthi ziqoqe imali ngaphakathi, kodwa abakasimami ngokwezimali ngenxa yokuthi ukuqoqwa kwemali yabo engenayo akunyukanga uma kuqhathaniswa neminyaka edlule. Ngakho-ke, ucwaningo luhlose ukwakha kanye nokuphakamisa uhlaka oluhlanganisa ukuthi izici zekomidi locwaningo mabhuku zingaqinisa kanjani ubudlelwano phakathi kwebhodi labaqondisi kanye nezici zabacwaningi mabhuku bangaphakathi ukuze ama-MMDA akwazi ukusimama ngokwezimali. Ngokuphikisana nemibono yenhlangano kanye nemiqondo yokuncika kwezinsiza, ehlanganisa isikhathi sika-2016 - 2020 yaqoqwa embikweni woMcwaningi Mabhuku Jikelele waseGhana wama-MMDA angama-207 akhethwe ngenhloso ukulinganisa ukusimama kwezezimali kwama-MMDA. Ucwaningo lusebenzise umklamo wemininingwane yeqembu elinganiselwe lokubalwa kwabantu kanye nendlela yocwaningo ukuze kuphathwe uhlu lwemibuzo ehlelekile engama-621 kubaphathi abakhulu bamacwaningi mabhuku, ikomiti lokucwaninga amabhuku, kanye nosihlalo bebhodi labaqondisi kuma-MMDA angama-207. Imininingwane eqoqiwe yahlaziywa kusetshenziswa izibalo ezichazayo kanye nesifanekiso esilinganisela ubudlelwano phakathi kokuguquguquka okucashile (PLS-SEM).
Okutholakele kuveze ukuthi zonke izinto eziguquguqukayo zokuphatha kwangaphakathi (ubukhulu bebhodi, ukuzimela kwebhodi, ukwehluka kobulili bebhodi, ukuzimela komcwaningi mabhuku wangaphakathi, ubukhulu bocwaningo mabhuku lwangaphakathi, ikhono lomcwaningi mabhuku wangaphakathi, imihlangano yekomiti lokucwaninga amabhuku, ukuzimela kwekomiti locwaningo mabhuku kanye nekhono lekomidi lokucwaninga amabhuku) zinobudlelwano obubalulekile obuqondile. ngokusimama kwezezimali. Okutholakele kuphinde kwakhombisa ukuthi imihlangano yekomidi locwaningo mabhuku yengamela ubudlelwano phakathi kobukhulu bebhodi, ukuzimela komcwaningi mabhuku wangaphakathi, ikhono lomcwaningi mabhuku wangaphakathi, kanye nokusimama kwezimali. Okutholakele kuphinde kwakhombisa ukuthi ikhono lekomidi lokucwaningwa kwamabhuku lengamela ubudlelwano phakathi kwekhono lomcwaningi mabhuku wangaphakathi kanye nokusimama kwezimali. Kodwa-ke,
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imihlangano yekomidi locwaningo mabhuku yehlulekile ukwengamela ukuzimela kwebhodi, ukwehluka kobulili bebhodi, ubukhulu bocwaningo mabhuku lwangaphakathi, ikhono lokucwaninga amabhuku kwangaphakathi, kanye nokusimama kwezimali kakhulu. Futhi, ukuzimela nekhono lekomidi lokucwaninga amabhuku kwehlulekile ukwengamela ibhodi labaqondisi kanye nezici zocwaningo lwangaphakathi. Ngokusekelwe kokutholakele, umcwaningi uphethe ngokuthi njengengxenye yezinqubo zokuguqula uhlelo lokuphathwa kwezimali zikahulumeni kanye nokwandisa ukwabiwa kwezindawo eGhana, lolu cwaningo luphakamise uhlaka olungenzeka. Uma lwamukelwe futhi lwasetshenziswa, lungathuthukisa izindlela zokuphatha zangaphakathi, kanye nemali engenayo etholwa ngaphakathi, okuzothuthukisa ukusimama kwezezimali kwama-MMDA.Tlhokego ya go tokafatsa tsweledisego ya ditšhelete ya bommasepala e botlhokwa thata. Le mororo go na le mekgwatiriso ya ka fa gare ya taolo le taolelo ya Dikokoanotheomolao tsa Mmasepala wa ditoropokgolo, Mmasepala wa ditoropo le Mmasepala wa dikgaolo (di-MMDA) go oketsa lotseno la ka fa gare, ditšhelete tsa tsone di sa ntse di sa tsweledisege ka ntlha ya gore kgobokanyo ya tsone ya lotseno la ka fa gare ga e a oketsega dingwageng tse di fetileng. Ka ga jalo, thutopatlisiso e ikaelela go tlhama le go tshitsinya letlhomeso le le tsenyeletsang tsela e dipharologantsho tsa komiti ya boruni di ka tiisang ka gone kamano fa gare ga boto ya bakaedi le dipharologantsho tsa moruni wa ka fa gare go dira gore ditšhelete tsa di-MMDA di tsweledisege. Mabaka a neelwa go lebilwe tiori e e ka ga kamano ya batho ba ba mo taolong le tsamaiso ya setheo le ditiori tse di tsepamisang mo go ikaegeng ga setheo se se rileng ka setheo se sengwe go bona metswedithuso ya sone, deitha e e akaretsang paka ya 2016 - 2020 e kgobokantswe go tswa mo pegelong ya Moruni-Kakaretso wa kwa Ghana ya di-MMDA di le 207 tse di tlhophilweng ka lebaka la go lekanyetsa tsweledisego ya ditšhelete ya di-MMDA. Thutopatlisiso e dirisitse tsela ya go lebelela batsayakarolo botlhe ka nako e le nngwe le mokgwatiriso wa go kgobokanya deitha ka go botsa batho dipotso tse di amanang le tlhotlhomiso go tsamaisa dipotsolotso tse di kgobokanyang deitha di le 621 mo bakhuduthamageng-bagolo ba boruni, komiti ya boruni, le badulasetilo ba boto ya bakaedi mo di-MMDA di le 207. Deitha e e kgobokantsweng e sekasekilwe ka go dirisa dipalopalo tse di sobokanyang le go tlhalosa deitha le mokgwa o o dirisiwang go fopholetsa kamano e e raraaneng fa gare ga dipharologantsho tse di farologaneng (PLS-SEM).
Diphitlhelelo di kaile gore dipharologantsho tsotlhe tsa taolo ya ka fa gare (bogolo jwa boto, boikemedi jwa boto, go akarediwa ga bong jo bo farologaneng mo botong, boikemedi jwa moruni wa ka fa gare, bogolo jwa boruni jwa ka fa gare, bokgoni jwa moruni wa ka fa gare, dikopano tsa komiti ya boruni, boikemedi jwa komiti ya boruni, le bokgoni jwa komiti ya boruni) di na le kamano ka tlhamalalo le tsweledisego ya ditšhelete tsa setheo. Gape diphitlhelelo di bontshitse gore dikopano tsa komiti ya boruni di lekanyetsa kamano fa gare ga bogolo jwa boto, boikemedi jwa moruni wa ka fa gare, bokgoni jwa moruni wa ka fa gare, le tsweledisego ya ditšhelete tsa setheo. Diphitlhelelo
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di bontsha go ya pele gore bokgoni jwa komiti ya boruni bo lekanyetsa kamano fa gare ga bokgoni jwa moruni wa ka fa gare le tsweledisego ya ditšhelete tsa setheo. Le fa go ntse jalo, dikopano tsa komiti ya boruni di paletswe ke go lekanyetsa boikemedi jwa boto, go akarediwa ga bong jo bo farologaneng mo botong, bogolo jwa boruni jwa ka fa gare, bokgoni jwa boruni jwa ka fa gare, le tsweledisego ya ditšhelete tsa setheo mo go bonalang. Gape, boikemedi le bokgoni jwa komiti ya boruni bo paletswe ke go lekanyetsa dipharologantsho tsa boto ya bakaedi le tsa boruni jwa ka fa gare mo go bonalang. Go ya ka diphitlhelelo, motlhotlhomisi o swetsa ka gore jaaka karolo ya ditirego tsa go tokafatsa mokgwatsamaiso wa taolo ya ditšhelete tsa puso le go oketsa go anamisiwa ga taolo ya bothati-gare go dikarolwana tse dingwe kwa Ghana, thutopatlisiso eno e tshitsintse letlhomeso le le ka dirisiwang bonolo. Fa le ka amogelwa le go tsenngwa tirisong, le ka tokafatsa mekgwatiriso ya taolo ya ka fa gare, le lotseno le le dirilweng ka fa gare, moo go tla oketsang tsweledisego ya ditšhelete ya di-MMDA.D. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)College of Accounting Science
Searches for lepton-flavour-violating decays of the Higgs boson into eτ and μτ in s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector
No full textAbstract
This paper presents direct searches for lepton flavour violation in Higgs boson decays, H → eτ and H → μτ, performed using data collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The searches are based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy
s
= 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. Leptonic (τ → ℓνℓντ) and hadronic (τ → hadrons ντ) decays of the τ-lepton are considered. Two background estimation techniques are employed: the MC-template method, based on data-corrected simulation samples, and the Symmetry method, based on exploiting the symmetry between electrons and muons in the Standard Model backgrounds. No significant excess of events is observed and the results are interpreted as upper limits on lepton-flavour-violating branching ratios of the Higgs boson. The observed (expected) upper limits set on the branching ratios at 95% confidence level,
B
(H → eτ) < 0.20% (0.12%) and
B
(H → μτ ) < 0.18% (0.09%), are obtained with the MC-template method from a simultaneous measurement of potential H → eτ and H → μτ signals. The best-fit branching ratio difference,
B
(H → μτ) →
B
(H → eτ), measured with the Symmetry method in the channel where the τ-lepton decays to leptons, is (0.25 ± 0.10)%, compatible with a value of zero within 2.5σ
Physico-chemical properties and consumer acceptance of muffins enriched with Amaranthus Cruentus leaf flour
No full textBackground: The amaranthus crop (Amaranthus spp.) is an indigenous leafy vegetable identified as a possible solution to address undernutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. This research will help boost consumption by improving the image of indigenous leafy vegetables such as amaranthus by producing value-added products with good sensory and nutritional properties. The research aims to analyse the physicochemical properties and consumer acceptance of muffins enriched with amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus) leaf flour.
Method: The muffins were made by incorporating wheat and amaranthus flour at a ratio of 90:10, 70:30, 50:50 and 100% wheat flour. The enriched muffins were evaluated for proximate composition, physical attributes, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and consumer acceptance.
Results: The enriched muffins were significantly higher in dry matter and ash showed an increase, in firmness, lightness, and yellowness compared with the control. The energy, moisture and carbohydrate values for the enriched muffins were significantly lower than the control. The enrichment of amaranthus did not significantly affect the height, but the diameter and weight significantly decreased at 10% enrichment. There was a significant decrease in the acceptance of colour, aroma, texture taste and overall acceptability for 30% and 50% enriched muffins compared to the control.
Conclusion: A 50% enriched muffin with amaranthus had overall improved properties in terms of proximate composition, physical properties, and mineral content.
Recommendation: Amaranthus (A. cruentus-Arusha) leaf flour can be explored further to produce other nutritious value-added products with acceptable sensory qualities.Agriculture and Animal Healt
Tshekatsheko-tsenelelo ya diane tsa secoana le maele a seesimane a a dumelanang naco ka Sol T. Plaatje
No full textIncludes summaries in English and TswanaThis study aims to critically analyze Sol T. Plaatje's Sechuana Proverbs with Literal Translations And their European Equivalents. After analyzing the above-mentioned proverbs, it was discovered that Plaatje exposed white supremacy for what it was: greed, hypocrisy, and lack of feeling, insecurity, suspicion, self-interest, self-preservation, and more, using literary methods like as allusion as he collects and compiles Sechuana Proverbs, writes their literal English translations, and compares them with European equivalents.
Firstly, this research argues that Sol Plaatje’s book is a call to Europeans/whites to move away from their superiority mentality and let go of their supremacy, as he finds parallels for these proverbs. He alludes that proverbs are similar irrespective of language because they use people, animals, celestial images, and natural phenomena. Secondly, this research opines that Sol Plaatje’s compulsion of Sechuana Proverbs was not to Europeanize Setswana proverbs with equivalents for social respectability, but rather to elaborate cultural similarities between Batswana and European ways of being and knowledge systems, and with literal translations, he intended to negotiate meanings of Setswana proverbs to expose white supremacy ironically. In conclusion, this study will adopt the following research approaches, qualitative research method and discourse analysis; and following theoretical approaches, Cultural Semiotics theory and Compiler-Author's intention theory.M.A. (African Languages)African Language
A post-COVID-19 pandemic multimedia framework for teaching and learning in open distance elearning in South Africa
No full textAbstracts in English, Xhosa and AfrikaansInformation Communications Technology (ICT) evolves at an unmatched pace globally, affecting society across all disciplines. Higher Education forms an integral part of the basis and foundation of economic, social, and all-around technological innovation; thus, curriculum integration continually requires adaptation. The University of South Africa (Unisa), as an Open Distance Learning institution in Africa has, in recent years, been offering teaching and learning using a blended learning approach. However, when the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit the world, almost every aspect of the University’s operations was subjected to a lockdown and its associated regulations. Global change management across disciplines affected not only Unisa but also all other higher education institutions worldwide. Unisa faced challenges such as its outdated legacy ICT infrastructure, a lack of tools-of-the-trade for staff, staff unreadiness, and unpreparedness for remote learning. Data allocation, network connectivity challenges, assessment integrity, and students' geographical areas negatively impacted the academic project.
Within an interpretative paradigm, this qualitative case study aims to develop a post-COVID-19 pandemic multimedia framework for teaching and learning in Open Distance eLearning in South Africa, and a triangulation design was employed. For data collection, the study engaged fifteen participants from three selected support departments (four deans, eight lecturers from four selected colleges, and three support staff participants). The multimedia framework was achieved by analysing data collected through questionnaires, interviews and document analysis. To analyse the data, the study applied a thematic approach where themes emerged from the data collected. Once all the data had been collected, data triangulation was fulfilled through document analysis of Unisa Policies. The study discusses distance education, including an in-depth analysis of the background, history and generations, as this information informs a crucial part of the study and the multimedia framework. Due to the nature of the study, the teaching and learning theories employed are: behaviourism, cognitivism, constructivism and connectivism. The study used the cognitive theory of multimedia learning, which deals with Mayer’s multimedia design principles. The study findings identify challenges and require amendments to policies, the updating of software, the upgrading ICT infrastructure, the upskilling of staff members, a zero-rated website for student ease of access and making the use of WhatsApp messaging both official and legal, as well as data allocation. Based on the findings, the study’s multimedia framework proposes using multimedia technologies to advance higher learning, but not without caution regarding confidentiality being applied, along with other principles.UbuChwepheshe boLwazi noNxibelelwano (iICT) buguquka ngesantya esingenakulinganiswa kwihlabathi liphela, buchaphazela uluntu kuzo zonke iinkalo. Imfundo ePhakamileyo iyinxalenye ebalulekileyo yesakhiwo nesiseko sezoqoqosho, ezentlalo, kunye nazo zonke izinto ezintsha zeteknoloji; ngoko ke, ukuhlanganiswa kwekharityhulam ngokuqhubekayo kufuna ukuguqula indlela yokuphila. IYunivesithi yoMzantsi Afrika (iUnisa), njengeziko leMfundo yoMgama eVulelekileyo (iOpen Distance Learning) eAfrika, kwiminyaka yakutshanje, ibonelela ngokufundisa nokufunda kusetyenziswa indlela yokufunda exutyiweyo. Nangona kunjalo, xa ubhubhane wehlabathi intsholongwane ikhorona (iCOVID-19) wahlasela ihlabathi, phantse zonke iinkalo zokusebenza kweYunivesithi zahlaliswa ngendlu kunye nemimiselo ehambelana noko. Ulawulo lwenguqu yehlabathi kuzo zonke iinkalo aluchaphazelanga iUnisa kuphela kodwa nawo onke amanye amaziko ezemfundo ephakamileyo kwihlabathi liphela. IUnisa iye yajongana nemingeni efana nezixhobo zayo zeICT ezinembali ephelelwe lixesha, ukungabikho kwezixhobo zokusebenza kwabasebenzi, ukungalungeli kwela xesha kwabasebenzi, kunye nokungalungeli ukufunda kwabafundi besebenzisa ubuchwepheshe emakhaya. Ulwabiwo lwedatha, imingeni yoqhagamshelwano lweintanethi, ukunyaniseka kovavanyo, kunye neendawo zokuhlala zabafundi ziyichaphazele kakubi iprojekthi yezemfundo.
Ngokusebenzisa indlela yokuqonda ulwazi lwenzululwazi kunye nokuyinyani (interpretative paradigm), esi sifundo ngomzekelo sophandontyilazwi sijolise ekuphuhliseni isikhokelo sikanxazonke(multimedia framework) sasemva kwexesha likabhubhane wehlabathi iCOVID-19 sokufundisa nokufunda kwiMfundo yoMgama eVulelekileyo eMzantsi Afrika, kwaye kusetyenziswe uyilo oluntloboninzi/lweendlela ezininzi (triangulation design). Idatha yolu phando iqokelelwe kubathathinxaxheba abalishumi elinesihlanu abavela kumasebe amathathu okuxhasa iyunivesithi akhethiweyo (iinqununu/iintloko zeefakhalthi ezine, abahlohli abasibhozo abavela kwiikholeji ezine ezikhethiweyo, kunye nabathathinxaxheba abathathu abangabasebenzi nabaxhasa ukusebenza kweyunivesithi).
Isikhokelo sikanxazonke sifezekiswe ngokuhlalutya idatha eqokelelwe ngoxwebhu lwemibuzo, udliwanondlebe, kunye nokuhlalutywa kwamaxwebhu. Olu phando lusebenzise inkqubo yohlalutyontyilazwi lomongo ukuqokelela idatha, apho imixholo ithe yavela khona kwidatha eqokelelweyo. Emva kokuba yonke idatha iqokelelwe, idatha entloboninzi ifezekiswe ngohlalutyo lwamaxwebhu eMigaqonkqubo yaseUnisa. Olu phando luxoxa ngemfundo yomgama, kubandakanywa uhlalutyo olunzulu lwemvelaphi, imbali kunye neezizukulwana, njengoko olu lwazi lwazisa inxalenye ebalulekileyo yolu phando kunye nesikhokelo sikanxazonke. Ngenxa yohlobo lophando, iithiyori zokufundisa nokufunda ezisetyenzisiweyo zezi zilandelayo; indlela yokuziphatha (behaviourism), eyangokwengqiqo (cognitivism), eyokudalwa kolwazi nokuqonda ngokwamava okuphila/ezentlalo (constructivism) kunye neyokuqonda ukufunda kwixesha lobuchwepheshe/ledijithali (connectivism). Uphando lusebenzise ithiyori yengqiqo yokufunda okunxazonke (cognitive theory of multimedia learning), ejongene nemigaqo yoyilo olunxazonke lukaMayer(Mayer’s multimedia design principles). Iziphumo zophando zichonga imingeni kwaye efuna izilungiso kwimigaqonkqubo, ukuhlaziywa kwesixhobo sekhompyutha esingabambekiyo (software), ukuphuculwa kwezixhobo zeICT, ukuphuculwa kwezakhono zabasebenzi, iwebhusayithi yamahala yokwenza ufikelelo lwabafundi lubelula kunye nokwenza ukusebenzisa uWhatsapp kumiselwe kwaye kubesemthethweni, kunye nolwabiwo lwedatha. Ngokusekelwe kwiziphumo, isikhokelo sikanxazonke(multimedia framework) solu phando siphakamisa ukusebenzisa ubuchwepheshe bukanxazonke(multimedia technologies) ukuqhubela phambili imfundo ephakamileyo, kodwa oku akunokwenzeka ngaphandle kokulumka malunga nokusetyenziswa kwemfihlo, kunye neminye imigaqo.Die ongekende tempo waarteen inligtingskommunikasietegnologie (IKT) wêreldwyd verbeter affekteer gemeenskappe in alle dissiplines. Aangesien hoër onderwys die grondslag van ekonomiese, maatskaplike en tegnologiese vooruitgang in die algemeen vorm, moet kurrikulumintegrasie voortdurend aangepas word. Enkele jare reeds volg die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika (Unisa), as ʼn Oop Afstandsleerinstelling in Afrika, ʼn gemengde benadering tot onderrig en leer. Weens die Coronapandemie (COVID-19) is al die Universiteit se werksaamhede ingeperk. Veranderingsbestuur moes in alle dissiplines nie alleen by Unisa nie, maar by alle tersiêre instellings wêreldwyd toegepas word. Die probleme waarmee Unisa te doen gekry het, was onder meer uitgediende IKT-infrastruktuur, personeel was onvoorbereid en geensins vir afstandsonderrig toegerus nie. Probleme met datatoewysing en netwerkverbindings, twyfel oor die integriteit van assesserings en afgeleë gebiede waar talle studente woon, het die akademiese projek belemmer.
Hierdie kwalitatiewe gevallestudie het gepoog om volgens ʼn vertolkende paradigma ʼn multimediaraamwerk vir onderrig en leer in Oop Afstand-e-Leer in Suid-Afrika ná afloop van die COVID-19-pandemie te ontwikkel. ʼn Triangulasieontwerp is toegepas. Data is ingesamel by 15 deelnemers van drie hulpdepartemente (onder wie vier dekane, agt dosente van vier kolleges, en drie hulppersoneellede). Die multimediaraamwerk is opgestel met behulp van die ontleding van data wat aan die hand van vraelyste en onderhoude sowel as ʼn dokumentontleding versamel is. ʼn Tematiese benadering is gevolg in die ontleding van data waaruit temas voortgevloei het. Nadat die data ingesamel is, is dit getrianguleer aan die hand van ʼn dokumentontleding van Unisa se beleide. Afstandsonderrig is bespreek en die agtergrond, geskiedenis en generasies is deurtastend ontleed aangesien sodanige inligting ʼn belangrike aspek van die studie en multimediaraamwerk uitmaak. Vanweë die aard van die studie is behaviourisme, kognitivisme, konstruktuvisme en konnektivisme as onderrig-en-leerteorieë aangewend. Die kognitiewe multimedialeerteorie, wat berus op Mayers se beginsels vir multimediaontwerp, is toegepas. Die bevindings wys op die noodsaak vir beleidwysigings; die bywerking van sagteware; die opgradering van IKT-infrastruktuur; die opleiding van personeel; ʼn vrygestelde webwerf sodat studente moeiteloos toegang daartoe kan verkry; die amptelike verklaring en wettiging van WhatsApp-boodskappe; en datatoewysing. Op grond van die bevindings stel die multimediaraamwerk die aanwending van multimediategnologieë voor om hoër onderwys te bevorder, maar waarsku dat vertroulikheid gewaarborg en ander beginsels nageleef moet word.Ph. D. (Education (Curriculum and Instructional Studies))Curriculum and Instructional Studie
Female unemployment, mobile money innovations and doing business by females
No full textThe purpose of this study is to complement extant literature by examining how mobile money innovations can moderate the unfavorable incidence of female unemployment on female doing of business in 44 countries from sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2004 to 2018. The empirical evidence is based on interactive quantile regressions. The employed doing business constraints are the procedures a woman has to go through to start a business and the time for women to set up a business, while the engaged mobile money innovations are: (i) registered mobile money agents (registered mobile money agents per 1000 km2 and registered mobile money agents per 100 000 adults) and (ii) active mobile money agents (active mobile money agents per 1000 km2 and active mobile money agents per 100 000 adults). The hypothesis that mobile money innovation moderates the unfavorable incidence of female unemployment on business constraints is overwhelmingly invalid. The invalidity of the tested hypothesis is clarified, and the policy implications are discussed.Economic
Trends and predictors of incidence of hypospadias in a tertiary hospital in South Africa
No full textAbstract
Background
Hypospadias is a penile congenital abnormality characterized by an ectopic urethral opening, ventral curvature and incomplete foreskin closure with a dorsal hooded prepuce. Management of the outcome demands high cost. The aim of this study was to determine the trends and predictors of hypospadias among babies born at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital between 01 January 2014 and 31 December 2016.
Methods
Mothers’ files from the transfer unit of the labour ward were reviewed. A case–control study compared boys with hypospadias and those without born approximately at the same time. Data were retrospectively collected on data collection forms. EpiData version 3.1 and STATA version 15.1 were used for statistical analysis. The Mantel Haenszel method determined combined odds ratios for hypospadias outcome on boys whose mothers were exposed to certain conditions versus boys of unexposed mothers. Woolf’s method was used to compute confidence intervals of the odds ratios. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent contributing maternal factors to the risk of hypospadias.
Results
Records of 221 male babies were collected of which 73 were cases and 148 controls in the ratio of 1:2. Hypospadias was more frequent in boys born by Caesarean Section (p < 0.001), those with low birth weight (p < 0.001) and those small for gestational age (p < 0.002). Alcohol use (odds ratio 3.1), smoking (odds ratio 1.54), herbal use (odds ratio 2.05), medical history (odds ratio 2.8), multiple pregnancies (odds ratio 1.69) and maternal congenital abnormalities (odds ratio 3.03) indicated an increased risk of hypospadias. Surgical history (odds ratio 1.29), pre-natal vaccination (odds ratio 0.92), employment (odds ratio 0.85), and education (odds ratio 0.48) were not associated with the risk of hypospadias.
Conclusions
Mothers older than 36 years presented a stratifying effect on disease outcome. Our findings did not indicate major changes in trends of incidence of hypospadias. The years assessed did not have a significant effect on the number of cases