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Assessing the Readiness of the South African Public Sector to Embrace Blockchain Technology: Factors for Successful Adoption
Full text linkJournal Article, North-West UniversityThe recent rise in technological developments through the Fourth Industrial Revolution has impacted how businesses and governments globally operate, requiring a shift in strategies and governance systems. A study into one of these technologies reveals that blockchain technology could enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of operations in the public sector through its transparency-enhancing measures. Although countries globally may have adopted, or are in the process of adopting blockchain technology, South Africa is lagging. The study assessed the readiness of the South African public sector to adopt blockchain through an analysis of factors for successful adoption. The population comprised officials in four provincial departments in Gauteng province, South Africa. A quantitative research approach was adopted using close-ended questionnaires, descriptive statistics, and factor analysis. The results, contrasted with evidence from other countries, suggest that the South African public sector may not be ready to adopt blockchain. There is an urgent need to upgrade the current financial reporting systems, as the findings revealed incompatibility of blockchain with the current systems which could pose a significant challenge to the adoption process. Legislative requirements also emerged as a concern, as there is currently no legislation governing blockchain in South Africa. The study contributes to the literature by integrating existing theory and evidence from Gauteng government departments in illustrating the success factors and the readiness for the South African public sector to adopt blockchain technology, prompting the country to prepare adequately. The analysis sheds light on factors to be considered for successfully implementing blockchain technology
Combining E-Scores with Scenario Analysis to Evaluate the Impact of Transition Risk on Corporate Client Performance
Full text linkJournal Article, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North--West University- PotchefstroomScenario analysis is a comprehensive approach to assess the impact of climate-related transition risk on businesses. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scores are popular tools with financial institutions (FI’s) for green-scoring practices and since they characterise a company’s performance from an ESG perspective, they have been criticised for enabling “greenwashing” when used within the context of climate risk. Commercially available ESG scores are also available for listed entities, while FI counterparties are often unlisted. This study develops a methodology for creating in-house environmental scores (E-scores), which are then used to effectively choose appropriate transition pathways to be used in company-specific forward-looking scenario analysis. Such scenario analysis can be used to forecast the company’s financial position, including the cost of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and quantify the impact of transition climate risk on specified metrics. The choice of metrics depends on what the results of the analysis are used for. Two metrics are identified for being useful for risk management and credit decisions: future profitability and weighted average carbon intensity. Finally, the study demonstrates how this process can be implemented with a practical worked example, using only publicly available data
Metabolic insights into HIV/TB co-infection: an untargeted urinary metabolomics approach.
Full text linkJournal Article. Focus Area Human Metabolomics, North-West University, PotchefstroomIntroduction
Amid the global health crisis, HIV/TB co-infection presents significant challenges, amplifying the burden on patients and healthcare systems alike. Metabolomics offers an innovative window into the metabolic disruptions caused by co-infection, potentially improving diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
Aim
This study uses untargeted metabolomics to investigate the urinary metabolic signature of HIV/TB co-infection, enhancing understanding of the metabolic interplay between these infections.
Methods
Urine samples from South African adults, categorised into four groups — healthy controls, TB-positive, HIV-positive, and HIV/TB co-infected — were analysed using GCxGC-TOFMS. Metabolites showing significant differences among groups were identified through Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank sum tests.
Results
Various metabolites (n = 23) were modulated across the spectrum of health and disease states represented in the cohorts. The metabolomic profiles reflect a pronounced disruption in biochemical pathways involved in energy production, amino acid metabolism, gut microbiome, and the immune response, suggesting a bidirectional exacerbation between HIV and TB. While both diseases independently perturb the host’s metabolism, their co-infection leads to a unique metabolic phenotype, indicative of an intricate interplay rather than a simple additive effect.
Conclusion
Metabolic profiling revealed a unique metabolic landscape shaped by HIV/TB co-infection. The findings highlight the potential of urinary differential metabolites for co-infection, offering a non-invasive tool for enhancing diagnostic precision and tailoring therapeutic interventions. Future research should focus on expanding sample sizes and integrating longitudinal analyses to build upon these foundational insights, paving the way for metabolomic applications in combating these concurrent pandemics
Tegumental topography and molecular characterisation of two trematodes (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) from Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) in Kenya
Full text linkArticle, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management)--Northwest University, Potchefstroom CampusThe discoveries of new taxonomic features of digenean species through the application of contemporary techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular analysis are still growing. Two species of trematodes Glossidium pedatum and Tylodelphys mashonensis from the intestine and vitreous humour of Clarias gariepinus were recovered from Lake Ol’Bolossat, Kenya. The two endo-helminths were prepared for morphological examination using SEM and molecular characterisation. Additional morphological features were observed or G. pedatum such as domed papillae in the anterior extremity and a protruding cirrus which was unarmed, laterally folded and with a blunt tip as the first such observation for the genus and led to additional characteristics of the diagnosis of the genus. Tylodelphys mashonensis was characterised by a round oral sucker and tribocytic organ rounded with rows of papillae symmetrically arranged. The molecular analyses using ribosomal marker 28S large subunit (LSU) rDNA and mitochondrial (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) for both G. pedatum and T. mashonensis confirmed the identity of the species and their phylogenetic relationship within the subclass Digenea. This study provides the first mitochondrial (mt)DNA sequence for G. pedatum and also extends the geographical record of two parasites to Kenya
Public perceptions of marine protected areas: an Italian study
Full text linkMarine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been gaining increasing importance in modern conditions, characterised by environmental challenges like climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution and overexploitation of marine resources. MPAs
represent an effective tool for marine conservation and the current policies aim to increase their number to protect 30%
of our ocean by 2030. To obtain the achievements derived from MPAs, public engagement is paramount and requires an
understanding of people’s perceptions of MPAs. Italy has a relevant coastline affected by extreme anthropic pressures
linked to tourism, fisheries and other industries, with several MPAs established over the years to mitigate these pressures.
Through an online questionnaire distributed in 2014 and 2021 via snowball sampling, this study investigated public
perceptions of MPAs in Italy. Despite the sampling limitations, the results showed a temporal change in environmental
awareness and pro-environmental behaviours. This finding could be linked to the greater availability and accessibility of
information related to the marine environment, joined with the growing urgency to face environmental challenges that
involve different sectors of the population. Despite the improvements reached in public education, efforts should still be
undertaken to engage citizens, especially in inland areas, to disseminate the impact of daily actions on the marine environment and to increase the acceptability of and efforts in MPAs’ implementation and effective management
Climate-smart agricultural practices, productivity and food security among smallholder maize farmers in North West Province, South Africa.
Full text linkDoctor of Philosophy in Agriculture (Agricultural Economics), North-West University, MafikengVarious studies have shown that sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to its overreliance on rain-fed agricultural production. Thissphere of production is highly susceptible to the vagaries of weather and climate. Climate change impacts are increasingly affecting farming households, resulting in socio-economic problems such as hunger, low productivity and reduced incomes. Consequently, its impact on agricultural production ranges from low outputs to fluctuations in market supply and the prices of food commodities. In South Africa, changes in rainfall and temperature patterns are endangering agricultural production and have increased the vulnerability of people whose livelihoods depend on farming by disrupting food markets, endangering the food supply for the entire population, reducing poor households’ dietary diversity and increasing their food insecurity access score. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a strategy for transforming and reorienting agricultural systems to support food and nutrition security in light of the new climate change realities. By increasing the adaptive capacity of producers, and the resilience and resource use efficacy of agricultural production systems, climate change threats can be mitigated. While CSA adoption has been extensively studied in the literature, its impact on the food and nutrition security in SSA, especially South Africa, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the climate-smart agricultural practices, productivity and food security of smallholder maize farmers in South Africa. This entailed examining the
complementary relationships among the adopted climate change adaptation strategies (CCAS) and the intensity of their adoption on smallholder maize farmers’ productivity. It also entailedinvestigating the behavioural intentions of their adoption of the CSA practices and the associated impact on food-nutrition security (FNS). Consequently, a multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select 316 smallholder maize farmers from 30 villages from the lists of all smallholder maize farmers available at the district extension officers of the four municipalities (Bojanala, Ngaka Modiri Molema, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati) that comprise North-West Province, South Africa. Primary data were acquired via a field survey of the smallholder maize farmersin the North-West Province over the 2022 farming season and analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Multivariate probit regression (MVP) was used to model the complementarity among the adopted CSA, while a Negative Binomial Regression Model (NBRM) was employed to determine its adoption intensity. To understand the association between the behavioural adoption of CSA, food productivity and FNS of farming households, an endogenous switching regression model (ESRM) was employed, while household dietary diversity scores (HDDS) and household food security scores (HFIAS) were used to determine the FNS status of the households. The socio-economic characteristics of the respondents revealed that the average age was 45 years, indicating that a large percentage were young and had the potential to contribute positively to agricultural productivity in the study area. The majority (79.00%) indicated that they had access to climate information, while about two-thirds (72.0%) had contact with extension agents,such advisory services being very important to disseminate information and encourage the adoption of new technologies for efficient production and improved farm outputs. Smallholder maize farmers in South Africa have devised a wide range of CSA strategies in response to the changing climate, including mulching (65.7%), mixed cropping (%), zero tillage (60.3%), planting cover crop (51.4%) and irrigation (52.8%). The ESRM showed that CSA had a significant impact on the net farm income of the smallholder maize farmers in North-West province. Furthermore, the MVP resultsrevealed that the complementary relationships among the multiple CSA adopted by the farmers were influenced by institutional factors (e.g. access to extension training and climate information), socio-economic attributes (household size, age and educational status) and other farm variables (farm size and access to credit). Additionally, adoption of CSA had a positive and significant impacts on their FNS, resulting in increased in HDDS by 21.3% and decrease in their HFIAS by 30.7%. The study concluded that farmers who adopt positive behavioural intentions to CSA are more likely to enhance their desire to implement such practices, with a resulting improvement in agricultural productivity and responsive to FNS. The study outcomes indicate that to achieve FAO’s sustainable agricultural goals and reduce global hunger by 2030, South Africa’s farmers need to develop resilience to climate change by adopting CSA to augment their food productivity. Policy interventions should therefore be focused on raising awareness among rural farmersto foster a more favourable attitude towards CSA practices. This could be enhanced through updated extension services and the integration of climate change sensitization into extension delivery methods through radio, smartphone, local newspapers as well as flyers/posters. Boosting the adoption of climate-smart practices is going to be essential to improve the resilience of farmers to climate change and FNS in the rural households
Examining data-driven approach on the potentiality of smart-boards boosting students' academic performance: Comparison of ICT and traditional teaching methods
Full text linkRapid advancements in information and communication technology have had a positive impact on education as well as every other aspect of life but the question remains if all gadgets are deemed necessary. In this study, the smart board is put up for consideration. Research areas related to the impact of smart board use on academic success were evaluated in the quantitative arm using the regression analysis method. This was acquired through existing literature and met the eligibility criteria defined by the research objective. In this quantitative-descriptive (structured questionnaires) approach aspect, a survey research methodology was adopted using a questionnaire with the sole intention of gathering information from respondents, the students at Landmark University, on how they felt about the impact of the deployment of the smartboard on their academic and learning experiences. The study’s sample size was 342. Using the regression coefficient, the hypothesis was evaluated. This finding demonstrates that there was a strong correlation between the two variables and that using a smart board did not significantly affect students' academic performance. Based on the findings, the following suggestions were made: The school administration could host seminars, symposiums, and conferences in collaboration with other professional organizations to introduce students
Interacting Dark Energy: Summary of models, Pathologies, and Constraint
No full textJournal Article. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-- West University, PotchefstroomWe present an overview of the main results from our two companion papers that are relevant for observational constraints on interacting dark energy (IDE) models. We provide analytical solutions for the dark matter and dark energy densities, dm and de, as well as the normalized Hubble function ℎ(), for eight IDE models. These include five linear IDE models, namely = 3(dmdm +dede) and four special cases: = 3(dm +de), = 3(dm − de), = 3dm, and = 3de, together with three non-linear IDE models: = 3 ( dmde dm+de ), = 3 (2dmdm+de ), and = 3 (2dedm+de ) . For these eight models, we present conditions to avoid imaginary, undefined, and negative energy densities. In seven of the eight cases, negative densities arise if energy flows from DM to DE, implying a strong theoretical preference for energy transfer from DE to DM. We also provide conditions to avoid future big rip singularities and evaluate how each model addresses the coincidence problem in both the past and the future. Finally, we propose a set of approaches and simplifying assumptions that can be used when constraining IDE models, by defining regimes that restrict the parameter space according to the behavior researchers are willing to tolerat
Xhosa cultural attitudes in relation to adoption
No full textJournal Article, Faculty of Health Science, North--West University-Potchefstroom CampusXhosa culture has a strong aversion to breaking familial relationships by placing children in non-parental settings or orphanages, which may lead to limited legal adoption procedures in this cultural context. Their cultural values may also have a significant impact on the adoption process. This study, conducted in Mthatha in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, sought to describe Xhosa cultural attitudes in relation to adoption. The article used a two-pronged sampling approach, combining convenience sampling to easily access respondents and purposeful sampling to deliberately select individuals who met specific criteria relevant to the research objectives, using a cross-sectional descriptive design and a quantitative approach. A closed-ended paper-based questionnaire was used to assess the attitudes of the population to adoption. Descriptive statistics and mean scores were used to analyse the variable distribution and associated demographic characteristics. The article indicated a markedly positive attitude towards adoption among the Xhosa in Mthatha
Metabolic Alterations in Mothers Living with HIV and Their HIV-Exposed, Uninfected Infants
Full text link1 Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa;
[email protected]
2 UP Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, University of Pretoria,
Pretoria 0001, South Africa
3 Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council,
Pretoria 0001, South Africa
4 Human Metabolomics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University,
Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; [email protected] (S.M.); [email protected] (M.v.R.);
[email protected] (R.L.)
* Correspondence: [email protected], uninfected (HEU) children present with suboptimal growth and a greater
susceptibility to infection in early life when compared to HIV-unexposed, uninfected (HUU) children.
The reasons for these findings are poorly understood. We used a metabolomics approach to investigate
the metabolic differences between pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWH) and their HEU
infants compared to the uninfected and unexposed controls. Untargeted metabolomic profiling
was performed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy on maternal plasma at 28 weeks’ gestation and infant
plasma at birth, 6/10 weeks, and 6 months. PWLWH were older but, apart from a larger 28 week
mid-upper-arm circumference, anthropometrically similar to the controls. At all the time points, HEU
infants had a significantly reduced growth compared to HUU infants. PWLWH had lower plasma
3-hydroxybutyric acid, acetoacetic acid, and acetic acid levels. In infants at birth, threonine and
myo-inositol levels were lower in the HEU group while formic acid levels were higher. At 6/10 weeks,
betaine and tyrosine levels were lower in the HEU group. Finally, at six months, 3-hydroxyisobutyric
acid levels were lower while glycine levels were higher in the HEU infants. The NMR analysis has
provided preliminary information indicating differences between HEU and HUU infants’ plasma
metabolites involved in energy utilization, growth, and protection from infection