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Search for squarks and gluinos in final states with jets and missing transverse momentum using 139fb-1 of √ =13 TeV collision data with the ATLAS detector
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A theoretical analysis of social entrepreneurship : the case of Poland and South Africa
Get PDFAbstract: As global trends are moving more towards social inclusion and green entrepreneurship, many countries are changing or altering the way they want their firms to engage in business. This has sparked the interest in social entrepreneurship. Although a lot of research has been conducted on this issue, fewer country comparisons are available. Because country comparisons could lead to an improved understanding of the topic, the aim of this study is to provide a theoretical analysis on social entrepreneurship comparing Poland and South Africa, specifically focusing on the history, challenges, policy and government support initiatives, flagship programs and future trends in this field. The study follows a qualitative approach using document analysis by way of an intensive literature study. Findings based on the analysis indicate that social entrepreneurship is a global phenomenon and although it is of imperative importance as a means to improved social conditions, several barriers and challenges, which are noticeable in Poland and South Africa, are prevalent. As with traditional for-profit businesses, a main barrier for social enterprises is access to finance
Emotional intelligence, knowledge management processes and Creative Performance : modelling the mediating role of self-directed learning in Higher Education
Get PDFAbstract: Grounded on the Knowledge Based View (KBV), this study examines the effects of a knowledge management enabler (Emotional Intelligence) on knowledge management processes (KMPs) in research universities. It investigates the direct effect of KMPs on creative performance. This study further examines the mediating role of Self-directed Learning in a relationship between KMPs and creative performance. This study used a sample frame of 248 academic and administrative personnel from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan. The relationships were tested through a partial least squares structural equation modelling method. The results reveal that Emotional Intelligence (EI) as an enabler has a positive and significant impact on KMPs. However, a direct relation between self-directed learning and creative performance is insignificant. Also, established associations were found to be positive and significant. This study’s findings validate the academic experience of EI and suggest how academics and administrators of HEIs can value KMPs and the self-directed learning that strengthens creative performance. With the increased importance of EI and KMPs in HEIs, there is a lack of studies investigating the relationship between EI, KMPs and creative performance. This study empirically examines the interface of EI, KMPs and creative performance in HEI’s and enriches the existing literature by exploring the mediating role of self-directed learning
The continuum of Information Systems project success : reflecting on the correlation between project success dimensions
Get PDFAbstract: Information systems (IS) project success has been a perennial bane of many researchers. Although there are short, medium and long-term dimensions to success, the reality is that they are inseparably linked. Time plays a significant role as a stakeholder, such as a project manager who has short-term interests. In contrast, a business executive has long-term interests for the organisation as a whole. Project success is arguably a continuum where each dimension plays a role in realising long-term benefits for the organisation. This research investigates IS projects specifically to understand the argued correlation between short, medium and long-term project success dimensions. A total of 612 valid responses were collected through an online questionnaire. Quantitative analysis through PLS-SEM was conducted to reveal the correlation between success dimensions. The overall implication is that short-term IS project success does not directly correlate with long-term IS project success. However, there is a clear correlation between the time phases of IS project success. This research shows medium-term success mediates the relationship and correlation of short and long-term success. While literature acknowledges the relationship literature, this research confirms this notion and proves a significant correlation between each IS project success dimension over time
Unpacking history, unpacking corruption, unpacking media analysis : some recent books on the South African media
Get PDFAbstract: This extended review essay maps recent titles written by practicing journalists and journalists turned academics. The analysis focuses on the Race Talk (Botma), Media Freedom (Rabe), News in the Age of Social Media (Daniels), and Behind the Headlines (Harber). These studies follow earlier analyses, Geopolitics and Power (Wasserman) and Media in Postapartheid South Africa (Jacobs). An intersecting track are the exposés written by journalists like Dasnois and Whitfield (Paper Tiger), Harmse (on SABC), Krige (SABC 8), and Sundaram (Gupta TV). How each frames history, researcher position and the respective writing styles are discussed. My argument is that academic studies should be read in concert with works written by journalists because abstract frames of reference tend to bracket out the daily nitty gritty struggles within newsrooms, especially within the current conjecture. The conclusion suggests that whatever the alleged flaws of the ‘mainstream media’ (Radebe), is that individual journalists (and others) are the ones telling the story behind the story in the slew of books that have been recently published on state and private sector corruption
Sustainable optimized production of bioenergy from renewable biomass
Get PDFAbstract: With the increasing menace of environmental pollution occasioned by fossil fuel combustion, the need for alternative clean biofuels has increased globally. Biodiesel is a popular biofuel that is mostly synthesized from plant seed oil. Every form of derived biofuels is essential because they are sustainable. Improving the production process and quality of biofuels could help achieve a cheaper and cleaner energy source for broader applications. More studies are needed to ensure that novel biofuel feedstock can pass the Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS) goals in terms of relatively high oil yield and suitable fuel properties for engine applications. Determination of optimal parameters for biodiesel production from every biomass feedstock is a necessity that must be achieved to establish its suitability and industrial relevance for sustainable production. In order to create room for improvement and explore more studies for scientific reference, the research was conducted to examine the production of biodiesel from Parinari polyandra oil as a renewable biofuel for engine applications. Summarily, oil was extracted from the seeds of Parinari polyandra via a solvent extraction mechanism. Experimental runs for biodiesel production from extracted Parinari polyandra oil were developed using Central Composite and Box Behnken designs of the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The effect of transesterification process parameters was studied under different reaction levels for statistical modeling and optimization of biodiesel production from Parinari polyandra oil. A test bench experiment was carried out to verify the performance characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with Parinari polyandra biodiesel blends...Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering Science
Career adaptability and work engagement among South African millennials
Get PDFAbstract: Orientation: Organisations are constantly battling to attract, retain, and keep their employees engaged to keep ahead of their competitors. Since maintaining a high level of work engagement among employees is such a challenge, many organisations are looking to find ways to increase work engagement within the workplace. In addition to that, organisations have placed emphasis on the development of career adaptability among employees and are increasingly creating environments that foster cooperative behaviour such as working in teams. The goal of placing emphasis on work engagement, career adaptability and cooperation is to increase productivity among employees and contribute to the success of the organisation. As millennials are steadily outnumbering other generations within the workplace, the researcher of this study deemed it necessary to use millennials as a sample to determine whether there is a relationship between their levels of career adaptability and work engagement among South African, and whether cooperative behaviour mediates this relationship. Research purpose: To determine the relationship between career adaptability and work engagement, and the mediating effect of cooperation on this relationship in a sample of South African millennials. Research approach and design: This study adopted a cross-sectional research design and a quantitative research approach. A non-probability purposive convenient sampling method was utilised to gather the sample of n= 301 millennials. Main findings: The results indicate that cooperation partially mediates the relationship between career adaptability and work engagement, which means that a relationship between career adaptability and work engagement exists without the influence of cooperation, but if cooperation comes into play, there is still a relationship between career adaptability and work engagement.M.Phil. (Industrial Psychology
A metabolomics and molecular networking approach to elucidate the structures of secondary metabolite produced by Serratia marcescens strains
Get PDFAbstract: An integrated approach that combines reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, untargeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MSE) and molecular networking (using the Global Natural Products Social molecular network platform) was used to elucidate the metabolic profiles and chemical structures of the secondary metabolites produced by pigmented (P1) and non-pigmented (NP1) Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) strains. Tandem mass spectrometry-based molecular networking guided the structural elucidation of 18 compounds for the P1 strain (including 6 serratamolides, 10 glucosamine derivatives, prodigiosin and serratiochelin A) and 15 compounds for the NP1 strain (including 8 serratamolides, 6 glucosamine derivatives and serratiochelin A) using the MSE fragmentation profiles. The serratamolide homologues were comprised of a peptide moiety of two L-serine residues (cyclic or open-ring) linked to two fatty acid chains (lengths of C10, C12, or C12:1). Moreover, the putative structure of a novel open-ring serratamolide homologue was described. The glucosamine derivative homologues (i.e., N-butylglucosamine ester derivatives) consisted of four residues, including glucose/hexose, valine, a fatty acid chain (lengths of C13 – C17 and varying from saturated to unsaturated) and butyric acid. The putative structures of seven novel glucosamine derivative homologues and one glucosamine derivative congener (containing an oxo-hexanoic acid residue instead of a butyric acid residue) were described. Moreover, seven fractions collected during RPHPLC, with major molecular ions corresponding to prodigiosin, serratamolides (A, B, and C), and glucosamine derivatives (A, C, and E), displayed antimicrobial activity against a clinical Enterococcus faecalis S1 strain using the disc diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration assays however, revealed that prodigiosin exhibited the greatest antimicrobial potency, followed by glucosamine derivative A and then the serratamolides (A, B, and C)..
An Exodus (2:11-22) before Exodus (6:2F) : rendering of two events in Early Biblical versions ( MT and Arabic), compared with the qur’anic (Surah 28:14F) account
Get PDFAbstract: Exodus is the Latinised form of the Greek word, exodos (going out). Two departures of Moses are reported in the Bible. They are firstl,y his fleeing from Egypt described in Exodus 2:11-22, and secondly, his departure as member of a mass exodus (Ex. 6:2f). The focus in the article will be on the events leading to his initial leaving of Egypt, and his eventual sojourn in the country of Midian (Ex. 2:11-22). However, it will be shown that certain expressions in Ex. 2:11-22 also feature in the later description of the exodus proper (e.g., Exodus 18 and Numbers 20). Furthermore, parallels will be drawn between the narrations of events in Ex. 2:11-22 and the Qur’anic surah 28:14-28. Similarities will be pointed out, but also differences relating to the imbedding, structure, and theology of the respective accounts. Finally, affinities between the Biblical exodus of Moses and the later hijra of Muhammad will be indicated. As source text for Ex. 3:11-22, the Masoretic version (Leningrad manuscript) will be used. In addition, reference will be made to two 13th century Arabic manuscripts (Sinai Arab 2 and 4) where there is a direct correspondence between their readings and those of the 7th century Qur’anic Arabic text (e.g., Ex. 2:17 and surah 28:24)
Underwater computing systems and astronomy–multi-disciplinary research potential and benefits
Get PDFAbstract: The Ocean plays an important role in hosting investigations in underwater astronomy and enabling the realization of new research prospects. This paper discusses synergistic prospects of the blue economy from the perspective of underwater astronomy and scientific inquiry, technological and economic development. The presented research investigates how the synergy enhances computing applications. The paper presents the overloaded application paradigm that explores the ability of underwater telescope networks to accommodate additional applications. The investigated metrics for computing applications are the accessible computational resources, and power usage effectiveness (PUE) that is investigated in a scenario where onshore computing stations used in underwater astronomy observations are integrated with existing terrestrial data centers. This is necessary as onshore computing stations benefit from free cooling being located near natural maritime resources. The performance evaluation investigates how the proposed synergy and the emerging crowd–sourcing can enhance the observation resolution for underwater astronomy observations. Investigation shows that the synergy enhances accessible computational resources, PUE and observation resolution by an average of 48.8%, 1.6% and 41.3%, respectively
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