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Changing patterns in the burden of paediatric injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study in Mozambique’s central hospitals
Get PDFAbstract
Introduction
There is a substantial body of knowledge on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on injuries showing frequent but inconsistent reductions in both volume and pattern. Yet, studies specifically addressing children are less common, not least from low- and middle-income countries. This study investigated whether changes in the pattern and outcome of paediatric injury admissions to Mozambique’s four regional referral hospitals during 2020.
Methods
Clinical charts of paediatric patients presenting to the targeted hospitals with acute injuries were reviewed using a set of child, injury, and outcome characteristics during each of two consecutive restriction periods in 2020 using as a comparator the same periods in 2019, the year before the pandemic. Differences between 2020 and 2019 proportions for any characteristic were examined using the t-test (significance level 0.05).
Results
During both restriction periods, compared with the previous year, reductions in the number of injuries were noticed in nearly all aspects investigated, albeit more remarkably during the first restriction period, in particular, greater proportions of injuries in the home setting and from burns (7.2% and 11.5% respectively) and a reduced one of discharged patients (by 2.5%).
Conclusion
During the restrictions implemented to contend the pandemic in Mozambique in 2020, although each restriction period saw a drop in the volume of injury admissions at central hospitals, the pattern of child, injury and outcome characteristics did not change much, except for an excess of home and burn injuries in the first, more restrictive period. Whether this reflects the nature of the restrictions only or, rather, other mechanisms that came into play, individual or health systems related, remains to be determined
The nehushtan (Numbers 21:4–9) as ‘healing tool’ in the ancient Near East : a reassessment in light of apotropaic and sympathetic magic
No full textApotropaic magic as well as sympathetic magic in the Ancient Near East and early Israel are examined to ascertain whether they can elucidate the Nehushtan as a possible healing tool as narrated in the Hebrew Bible (Numbers 21:4–9).
Apotropaic magic, such as amulets, incantations, gestures, spells, and charms to ward off evil spirits or to cure illness – despite the existence of Biblical prohibitions – will be examined. This use was echoed in the cultural traditions of the Ancient Near East and recorded in sources such as the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmudim.
Sympathetic magic was, among other purposes, used in conjunction with snakes in healing practices in ancient Canaan and Greece. In Egypt, snakes formed an integral part of mythology and symbolism. Archaeological evidence has provided useful evidence of both sympathetic and apotropaic magic practices.
The principles of apotropaic and sympathetic magic will be used as far as possible as a theoretical framework to apply to the narrative of the Nehushtan in Numbers.Ph. D. (Religious Studies (Biblical Archaeology))Biblical and Ancient Studie
Measurements of differential cross sections of Higgs boson production through gluon fusion in the H → W W ∗ → e ν μ ν final state at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
No full textAbstract
Higgs boson production via gluon–gluon fusion is measured in the
W
W
∗
→
e
ν
μ
ν
decay channel. The dataset utilized corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb
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1
collected by the ATLAS detector from
s
=
13
TeV proton–proton collisions delivered by the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018. Differential cross sections are measured in a fiducial phase space restricted to the production of at most one additional jet. The results are consistent with Standard Model expectations, derived using different Monte Carlo generators
An exploration of social grant fraud in the Kgobokwane Village of Limpopo, South Africa
No full textText in English with summaries and keywords in English, Northern Sotho and isiZuluBibliography: pages 169-200The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) provides social grants to millions of vulnerable and impoverished members of society. Social grants are the government's response to poverty, as unemployment and poverty are at their highest levels since 2008. The social grants are intended to help those with low income. While social grants are intended to alleviate poverty and unemployment, there is an increase in the mistreatment and abuse of vulnerable grant recipients.
The objective of the study was to explore the nature of SASSA grant fraud in the Kgobokwane Village, Limpopo, gain insight into the lived experiences of the SASSA grant scam victims in Kgobokwane, and establish informed recommendations based on the findings of the study. A qualitative approach, together with one-on-one semi-structured interviews, were used to obtain information from participants. The sample consisted of eight SASSA grant recipients who were victims of the SASSA scam in the Kgobokwane area. An interview schedule with predetermined questions was used to obtain data. The data were analysed thematically, through coding and categorising. The study intends to make a significant contribution to gaining a better understanding of social grant fraud in Kgobokwane and to raise awareness that will empower the community and policymakers.
The general findings of the study revealed that social grant fraud has a diverse population, and victims reported suffering from financial, emotional, physical and psychological harm. The study found that deception and abuse of trust were employed to victimise participants. The study advocates for a social assistance framework to help victims, improve their lives and address victimisation. The framework consists of seven components that advance efforts to reduce future victimisation through victim empowerment, education and raising awareness. Recommendations made will assist the community of Kgobokwane, the citizens who stand to benefit from the study, the government, and policymakers in making informed decisions regarding social grant fraud.Setheo sa Tšhireletšo ya Leago sa Afrika Borwa (SASSA) se fa dithušo tša leago go dimilione tša maloko a setšhaba ao a hlokago. Dithušo tša leago ke mokgwa wa mmušo wa go šogana le bohloki, ka ge tlhokego ya mešomo le bohloki di le maemong a tšona a godimodimo go tloga ka 2008. Dithušo tša leago di reretšwe go thuša bao ba hwetšago letseno la fase. Le ge dithušo tša leago di reretšwe go fokotša bohloki le tlhokego ya mešomo, go na le koketšego ya tshwarompe le tšhomišompe ya baamogedi ba dithušo bao ba hlokago.
Maikemišetšo a nyakišišo ye e be e le go nyakišiša mohuta wa bomenetša bja dithušo tša SASSA ka Motseng wa Kgobokwane, Limpopo, go hwetša kwešišo ya maitemogelo a batšwasehlabelo ba bomenetša bja dithušo tša SASSA go la Kgobokwane, le go tiišetša ditšhišinyo go ya ka dikutullo tša nyakišišo ye. Mokgwa wa khwalithethifi, mmogo le dipoledišano tša motho ka o tee ka o tee tšeo di rulagantšwego seripa, di šomišitšwe go hwetša tshedimošo go tšwa go bakgathatema. Sampole e be e na le baamogedi ba seswai ba thušo ya SASSA bao e bego e le batšwasehlabelo ba bomenetša bja SASSA tikologong ya Kgobokwane. Lenaneo la poledišano leo le nago le dipotšišo tšeo di beakantšwego pele le dirišitšwe go hwetša datha. Datha e sekasekilwe go ya ka kgwekgwe, go khouta le go tlhopha. Maikemišetšo a nyakišišo ke go ba le seabe se segolo mo go kwešišeng bokaone bomenetša bja dithušo tša leago go la Kgobokwane le go godiša temošo yeo e tlago matlafatša setšhaba le batšweletši ba melawana.
Dikutullo tša kakaretšo tša nyakišišo ye di utulotše gore bomenetša bja dithušo tsa leago bo ka mehuta ya go fapafapana, gomme batšwasehlabelo ba begile gore ba tlaišwa ke go tshwenyega ka tšhelete, maikutlo, mmele le monagano. Nyakišišo e hweditše gore boradia le tšhomišompe ya potagalelo di šomišitšwe go tlaiša batšwasehlabelo. Nyakišišo e thekga gore go be le foreimiweke ya dithušo tša leago go thuša batšwasehlabelo, go kaonafatša maphelo a bona le go rarolla bothata bja tlaišo. Foreimiweke ye e na le dikarolo tše šupa tšeo di tšwetšago pele maitapišo a go fokotša go tlaišwa ka moso ka matlafatšo ya batšwasehlabelo, thuto le go oketša temošo. Ditšhišinyo tše di dirilwego di tla thuša setšhaba sa Kgobokwane, badudi bao ba tlago go holega go nyakišišo ye,mmušo, le batšweletši ba melawana go tšea diphetho tše di nago le tsebo mabapi le bomenetša bja dithušo tša leago.I-Ejensi Yezokuphepha Komphakathi yaseNingizimu Afrika (ebuye yaziwe ngokuthi yi-SASSA) ihlinzeka ngezibonelelo zikahulumeni kuyizigidi zamalungu omphakathi abuthakathaka ngokomnotho nampofu. Izibonelelo zikahulumeni ziyimpendulo kahulumeni ebuphofini, njengoba ukuntuleka kwemisebenzi kanye nobubha kusezingeni eliphezulu kusukela ngonyaka wezi-2008. Izibonelelo zikahulumeni zihloselwe ukusiza labo abahola kancane. Nakuba izibonelelo zikahulumeni kuhloswe ngazo ukuqeda ubumpofu kanye nokuntuleka kwemisebenzi, kuyakhula ukungaphathwa kahle nokuhlukunyezwa kwabamukeli bezibonelelo-mali njengoba babasencupheni.
Inhloso yocwaningo kwakuwukuhlola uhlobo lokukhwabaniswa kwezibonelelo ze-SASSA e-Kgobokwane Village, eLimpopo, ukuthola ulwazi mayelana nezisulu zomkhonyovu we-SASSA eKgobokwane, futhi kutholwe izincomo ezinolwazi ezisekelwe kokutholwe yilolu cwaningo. Indlela yekhwalithethivu, kanye nenhlolokhono yezingxoxo ezenziwa ubuzo nobuso futhi ezihleleke ngokungagcwele, yasetshenziswa ukuthola ulwazi kubahlanganyeli. Isampula ibihlanganisa abantu abayisishiyagalombili abathola isibonelelo sikahulumeni kwa-SASSA ababeyizisulu zomkhonyovu wakwa-SASSA endaweni yaseKgobokwane. Kusetshenziswe ishejuli yenhlolokhono enemibuzo enqunywe kusengaphambili ukuze kutholwe idatha. Idatha ihlaziywe ngokwetimu, ngokubhala amakhodi nokuhlukanisa ngezigaba. Ucwaningo luhlose ukuba negalelo elikhulu ekuqondeni kangcono ukukhwabanisa kwezibonelelo zikahulumeni e-Kgobokwane kanye nokuqwashisa okuzohlomisa umphakathi nabakhi bezinqubomgomo.
Okutholwe ocwaningweni jikelele kuveze ukuthi ukukhwabanisa kwezibonelelo zikahulumeni kwenzeke kubantu abahlukahlukene, futhi izisulu zibike ukuthi zihlukumezekile ngokwezimali, emoyeni, ngokomzimba nangokwengqondo. Ucwaningo luthole ukuthi ukukhohliswa nokuhlukumeza ukwethenjwa kwasetshenziswa ukuze kuhlukumeze ababambiqhaza. Lolu cwaningo lukhuthaza uhlaka losizo lwezenhlalakahle ukusiza izisulu, ukuthuthukisa izimpilo zabo kanye nokubhekana nokuhlukunyezwa. Lolu hlaka luqukethe izingxenye eziyisikhombisa eziqhubekisela phambili imizamo yokunciphisa ukuhlukumezeka esikhathini esizayo ngokunika izisulu amandla, imfundo kanye nokuqwashisa. Izincomo ezenziwe zizosiza umphakathi wase-Kgobokwane, izakhamizi ezizohlomula kulolu cwaningo, uhulumeni, kanye nabakhi benqubomgomo ekwenzeni izinqumo ezinolwazi mayelana nokukhwabanisa kwezibonelelo zikahulumeni.M.A. (Criminology)Criminology and Security Scienc
Evaluating the success of a mobile commerce application in streamlining customer self-services
Get PDFThis study evaluated the success of a mobile application of a South African telecommunications company. Six dimensions (System Quality, Information Quality, Service Quality, System Use, User Satisfaction, and Net Benefits) were examined to evaluate the mobile application. Quantitative data were collected from 168 respondents using an online survey. Hypothesis testing was carried out using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). All nine hypotheses tested were supported. The results of data analysis indicated that the factors that inform successful deployment of a mobile application are System Quality, Information Quality, Service Quality, System Use, User Satisfaction, and Net Benefits. The study contributes to the body of knowledge in the area of information system evaluation, particularly in the mobile commerce applications context. The results of this study are valuable in identifying factors that mobile application developers and designers need to focus on in order to produce applications that deliver a return on investments. This will help in ensuring that developed mobile applications add value to the organisation’s customers, which is the practical contribution of the study.M. Sc. (Computing)College of Engineering, Science and Technolog
The perceived quality of strategic management on the organisational performance of a South African sugar manufacturing company
Get PDFThe primary objective of this study was to evaluate the perceived quality of strategic management on the organisational performance of a South African sugar manufacturing company, which was achieved by using ABC as a case study. To meet the study objectives, a quantitative research methodology was adopted and a random sample of 114 employees from several departments at the ABC company yielded 72 responses which were further analysed.
Following the data analysis using SPSS, the study yielded contradictory outcomes pertaining to the firm's employment and adoption of strategic management techniques. The study revealed that scenario planning and the application of an official strategic planning approach were not as highly valued and thus given less weight. On the contrary, the results indicate that higher value was placed on the employment of executive information systems, Balanced Scorecards, organisation-wide performance management system and stakeholder engagement during the strategic planning and implementation. Furthermore, the study outcomes highlighted the significance of having access to real-time information and its role in strategic decision making.
Overall, the study found that strategic management practices have a positive and significant impact on organisational performance. Therefore, the study recommended that (i) the firm should invest in updating its strategic management practices to align with current industry trends and best practices, (ii) the organization should exploit opportunities in sustainably adopting expanded stakeholder consultations to gain a comprehensive understanding of expectations and concerns, (iii) the firm should promote a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging and involving employees at all levels, and (iv) managers as strategic decision makers in the firm should intentionally work together as they deliberate on daily operations.M. B.AGraduate School of Business Leadershi
The role of CSR in creating competitive advantage in the private sector: a case study of IBV company
Get PDFThe study examined the role of CSR in creating a competitive advantage for IBV company in the private sector. The IBV company has been facing significant competition from competitors in the business internationalization business environment. However, to survive in the industry, businesses always try to create a competitive advantage. Therefore, this study will fill this gap by focusing on the role of CSR in creating a competitive advantage in the private sector with inferences drawn from the IBV company in the Gauteng Province. The study adopted a qualitative research approach where data was collected using semi-structured interviews. The study employed interviews with 10 purposively selected participants to scrutinize the strategic alignment of CSR efforts and its multifaceted impact on IBV company's success.
Findings underscored the significance of strategic alignment as a guiding principle for CSR initiatives' triumph in IBV company's internationalization endeavours. The seamless integration of CSR into the broader business strategy emerged as a catalyst for achieving organisational goals and enhancing competitiveness in the private sector. The study highlighted the multifaceted impact of CSR on IBV company's competitive advantage in the dynamic business environment of the Gauteng Province. Tangible outcomes, including reputation enhancement and cost savings, were identified. The improvements in operational efficiency and resource management reinforced CSR as a strategic business approach, offering tangible benefits beyond philanthropy.
Also, recommendations focussed on two critical aspects for optimizing CSR success: active stakeholder engagement and the development of measurable impact metrics. The study advocated for the quantification of CSR outcomes, allowing IBV company to gauge effectiveness and transparently communicate success to stakeholders and the broader business environment.M.B.AGraduate School of Business Leadershi
The use of anointed products during Covid-19 lockdown: An African Pentecostal spirituality experience
Get PDFThe use of anointed products such as anointing oil and anointing water within the broader
Pentecostal movement in world Christianity has been documented in previous studies.
Traditionally, the demand for these products is based on the quest to receive healing and
deliverance from sicknesses, barrenness, witchcraft, and so forth. The products are also used
to access job placement, promotion, a house, a car, and other material possessions. This
paper worked within African Pentecostal spirituality of experience to explore the use of
anointed products during Covid-19 lockdown. Regardless of many perceptions and
misconceptions about the anointed products, they were used as a point of contact during the
Covid-19 lockdown. The paper used Apostle Mohlala Ministries in Cape Town, South Africa
as a case study to explore the use of these products during Covid-19 lockdown. The argument
in this paper is that these products were used as a substitute for spiritual service during the
Covid-19 lockdown. In other words, anointed products became a point of contact when
members of these ministries could not meet physically during the Covid-19 lockdown. This
changes how Pentecostal scholars study anointed products within the broader Pentecostal
movement. Despite their challenges such as commercialization and other abuses, anointed
products become a point of contact in Pentecostal spirituality of experience. For the believers
that could not attend church during the Covid-19 lockdown, anointed products became a
medium to connect spiritually.Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiolog
Exploring the influence of perceived consumer value on the decision to purchase fashion products
No full textFashion purchases are a mechanism through which the wearer achieves self-expression and emotional connectedness that is attributed to the value of the fashion products. The value consumers attribute to fashion product purchase has been under-researched. A qualitative exploratory research design was used to determine the perceived economic, functional and psychological value of fashion through in-depth interviews with a purposeful sample of 15 Nigerian female consumers from Ojo. The findings suggest that economic value remains a highly valued attribute of fashion products, drawing on the experience of the wearer in determining the value of the fashion product. The functional value of fashion products is particular to longevity and the sustainable nature of fashion products. The psychological value of fashion products speaks to the importance of the value resemblance of the social standing of the wearer. The study contributed to a better understanding of the important aspects fashion resembles to the group of Nigerian fashion shoppers, which Nigerian retailers may use to improve fashion marketing strategies. More research on fashion values is required from different areas in Nigeria to fully understand the value of fashion products for the Nigerian fashion shopper. The study has concluded that fashion is not a simple product but has a complex value system that is not obvious to the observer but specific to its wearer. By understanding this value system of fashion products the complexity of fashion should not be underestimated.M.A. (Consumer Science)Life and Consumer Science
Supramolecular modification of isoniazid : an in vitro and in silico analysis of combination drug efficacy against mycobacteria species
Get PDFTuberculosis was for the longest of time a leading infectious killer instigated by a single pathogen until the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. The disease continues to be a major global health problem causing high rates of morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, both the estimated disease incidence and mortality related to tuberculosis infections have been reported to be on the rise as treatment of the disease has been neglected due to a shift in attention to address the COVID-19 global pandemic. The remnants thereof still pose a direct negative impact on tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, resulting in the partial reversal of any progress that had been made in the quest to end tuberculosis prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic. It is presumed that the challenges around tuberculosis treatment and misdiagnosis are as a result of the continuous ability of the pathogen to evade the host’s immune system and development of resistance against tuberculosis drugs. However, diagnosis seems to be the weakest link contributing to delayed treatment thereof.
If detected early, tuberculosis can be cured. However, if tuberculosis is not detected, it definitely cannot be treated; and, if it cannot be treated, it certainly cannot be eradicated. In addition, there is also an emergence of nontuberculous mycobacteria which are caused by mycobacteria species other than those belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Some of these organisms cause pulmonary infections indistinguishable to those caused by M. tuberculosis infections, presenting with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis-like diseases. The prevalence of these diseases has steadily gained traction in recent years, reported and isolated from clinical isolates around the world. Yet, these mycobacteria are not targeted when screening for tuberculosis in clinical isolates. This is a public health problem as nontuberculous mycobacteria are generally resistant to the tuberculosis treatment regimen used in screening assays and if not screened, they can easily be misdiagnosed as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If there are no obvious ways in which these organisms can be distinguished during diagnosis, it would be beneficial if drugs that are designed could target both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria as nontuberculous mycobacteria are not susceptible to first- and second-line tuberculosis treatment regimens.
The aim of this study was to design and synthesise isoniazid derivatives that are effective against clinically infectious Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as nontuberculous mycobacteria isolates. To achieve this, methods such as the one-pot reflux method were
employed for the synthesis of the isoniazid derivative. Crystallographic data were collected using the Bruker APEX II CCD area detector diffractometer. Data were reduced and corrected using the SAINT-Plus software and the SADABS software, respectively. Diagrams were generated using WinGX and PLATON software. To test for the efficacy of the derivatives against mycobacteria of choice (M. tuberculosis H37Ra, M. bovis BCG, M. smegmatis, M. avium and M. fortuitum) in comparison to the efficacy of isoniazid and that of rifampicin, a number of disciplines with varying techniques were employed and these include microbiology, where minimum inhibitory concentration experiments were conducted, and cell biology where cell viability was assessed using real-time cell analysis techniques and flow cytometry analysis conducted using the xCELLigence RTCA system and the BD FACSArai™ III cell sorter, respectively. The potential safety of these compounds was also assessed on RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells where methods such as the MTT assay and real-time cell analysis assay as well as flow cytometry assay (Muse® Cell Analyzer) were employed to conduct cell viability assessment. Lastly, molecular docking and modelling experiments were conducted to determine the target protein and binding of the ligands thereof (protein-ligand binding).
Unit cells were collected for all nineteen synthesised derivatives, where nine have been previously synthesised and ten were found to be novel. Of the ten, six were refined successfully and five of those published in peer-reviewed journals. All derivatives were screened against mycobacteria of choice and only a few were found to have inhibitory effects against some of the mycobacteria with some noteworthy concentrations varying between 0.25 μg/mL and 11.36 μg/mL as single compounds, and 0.09 μg/mL and 0.59μg/mL for combination drug treatments. Isoniazid was comparable against single and combination derivatives with concentrations ranging between 3.9 μg/mL and 22.73 μg/mL, and rifampicin gave competitive results at concentrations ranging between 0.16 μg/mL and 15.65 μg/mL against single and derivatives. In most cases, the derivatives were observed to cause direct apoptotic effects on mycobacterial cells at competitive percentages of between 59% and 90%, thus better than the apoptosis percentage induced by isoniazid and rifampicin of less than 10%. Nonetheless, the related apoptosis results were in accordance with RTCA and flow cytometry results that saw most derivatives posing less toxicity against murine macrophage cells and the ability of the said cells to recover as compared to when exposed to isoniazid and rifampicin. The molecular modelling results also saw a few molecules and combinations possessing exceptional binding abilities with the catalase-peroxidase enzyme with no degree of displacement and good drug residence time, thus suggestive of some derivatives being effective mycobacteria inhibitors targeting the catalase-peroxidase enzyme with docking scores ranging from -4.879 kcal/mol, -5.390 kcal/mol, to -6.065 kcal/mol.D. Phil. (Life Sciences)Life and Consumer Science