33074 research outputs found
Sort by
The Role of the East African Community in Resolving the Ethnic Divisions in Burundi, 1993-2021
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Humanities, Afrocentric Governance of Public Affairs (AGoPA)-- Vanderbijlpark CampusThis paper analyses the prevailing literature regarding the East African Community’s (EAC) involvement in resolving the ethnic division in Burundi, which started with a civil war that lasted from 1993 to 2005. Later, an outbreak of violence occurred in 2015 after Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for a third term. While existing literature acknowledges the EAC’s involvement in addressing the Burundi civil war and ethnic tensions, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis regarding the effectiveness and limitations of its intervention strategies. Certainly, this became a major scholarly gap, which the current paper will contribute to the body of knowledge by critically reflecting on the role played by the EAC in bringing a permanent resolution to the violent conflict in Burundi. The theory employed for this study is Afrocentricity. The results of the civil war were long-standing ethnic divisions between the Tutsis and the Hutus. Furthermore, the discussion is advanced through the inclusion of the various challenges that were faced by the EAC in conflict resolution attempts in Burundi after 2015. Beyond this, the paper argued that the EAC has played a role in trying to bring about a peaceful solution in Burundi, although it has faced various socio-economic and political challenges that have hindered it from ending conflict or restoring harmony in Burundi. Methodologically, the current paper is informed by secondary data materials, supplemented by a content analysis of the collected information on the subject matter
Development of soil spectroscopy models for the Western Highveld region, South Africa: Why do we need local data?
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North--West University-PotchefstroomThe increasing global demand for sustainable agriculture requires accurate and effi-cient soil analysis methods. Conventional laboratory techniques are often time-consuming, costly and environmentally damaging. To address this challenge, wedeveloped and validated locally calibrated mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy modelsfor predicting key soil properties pH, phosphorus (P) and exchangeable cations insoil samples from South Africa's Western Highveld region, using a dataset of 979 soilsamples and machine learning algorithms Cubist, partial least squares regression(PLSR) and random forest (RF). A subset of spectra was also submitted to the newlydeveloped Open Soil Spectral Library's (OSSL) prediction models to determinewhether global prediction models could be used for local soil property prediction.Accurate predictions for pH, calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), with coefficient ofdetermination (R2) values exceeding 0.76 were obtained with the local calibrationalgorithms. The predictions for P, potassium (K) and sodium (Na) did not meet therequirements for reliability. Soil spectroscopic prediction models calibrated withlocal soils outperformed the corresponding global prediction models considered. TheOSSL prediction results were inaccurate, with a RPIQ <1, and consistently underpre-dicted all soil properties. Furthermore, the OSSL collection of prediction models doesnot include a pH (KCl) model, the routinely used pH measurement method inSouth Africa. These findings highlight the importance of local calibration for accu-rate soil property prediction and underscore the need for regional representation inglobal spectral libraries. This research serves as the first local calibration of MIR spec-troscopy models for the Western Highveld region of South Africa and provides afoundation for future local soil property inference model development. It also servesas a potential starting point for a comprehensive South African soil spectral librarythat can be contributed to global spectral librarie
Enhancing wet phosphoric acid production efficiency with vanadium catalyst waste derived silica
Get PDFArticle, Faculty of Engineering (Unit for Energy and Technology Systems)--Northwest University, Potchefstroom CampusFiltration of phosphogypsum (PG) is an important step in the production of wet phosphoric acid (WPA). In recent years, the phosphate rocks used for WPA production in Morocco started showing deficiencies in terms of their reactive silica content that affects PG crystallization and as such decreases PG filtration efficiency and subsequently the overall efficiency of the WPA production. In this work reactive silica waste from spent vanadium catalysts, used in the production of sulfuric acid for WPA production, was added to the digestion process in an attempt to increase WPA production efficiencies. The laboratory work presented here shows that the added silica improved the quality of the produced dihydrate WPA by 6 %. Besides, the chemical yield of the reaction was improved by 5 % as a result of the shape-change of the PG crystals that allowed for better filtration. The results of this work are promising and we strongly recommend testing this approach on larger pilot- and ultimately industrial scale
Unveiling trust as a mediator in distributor loyalty within South African multi-level marketing
Get PDFJournal Article. Department of Management Sciences, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusBackground: Limited research has been conducted in South Africa’s multi-level marketing (MLM) sector, particularly pertaining to distributor satisfaction and its influencing factors.
Aim: This study aims to determine the extent to which trust mediates the relationship between distributor satisfaction and loyalty within the MLM framework in South Africa.
Setting: This study was conducted among distributors within the South African multi-level marketing environment.
Method: This study adopted a descriptive research design. A total of 376 distributors from health and wellness sectors, focused on MLM companies in South Africa. They were selected through non-probability convenience sampling. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to validate the data’s reliability, while structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised to examine both the direct and indirect effects postulated in the study.
Results: The analysis revealed a notable indirect positive effect, linking distributor satisfaction to distributor loyalty, with trust acting as a mediating variable. Additionally, direct positive correlations were identified between distributor satisfaction and loyalty and between distributor trust and loyalty.
Conclusion: For health and wellness MLM companies in South Africa, it is vital to enhance distributor loyalty and trust. This can be accomplished by increasing distributor satisfaction and refining the way they communicate business opportunities.
Contribution: Multi-level marketing can benefit from the findings of the research as this improves insight into the direct and indirect effects of distributor satisfaction on distributor loyalty and trust and provides empirical insights into the MLM industry
In situ preparation of MOF-74 for compact zincophilic surfaces enhancing the stability of aqueous zinc-ion battery anodes
Get PDFFaculty of Engineering, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom Campus, 2531, South AfricaZinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), while celebrated for their environmental friendliness, abundant material availability,
and inherent safety, face significant challenges that curtail their performance and lifecycle. These challenges
include the formation of zinc dendrites, susceptibility to electrolyte corrosion, and the propensity for hydrogen
evolution reactions. Addressing these critical issues, our research introduces an innovative surface modification
strategy for zinc anode of ZIB with mild electrolyte, by the in-situ synthesis of Metal-Organic Framework (MOF74) facilitated by the mild acidity of a 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (DHTA) methanol solution. The zincophilic
sites and pore structure introduced by MOF-74 to substantially enhance the surface properties of zinc anodes and
accelerate the solvation process, enabling uniform zinc deposition, inhibiting dendrite growth, and significantly
bolstering corrosion resistance and electrochemical stability. Combination of physical and electrochemical
characterization techniques are employed to validate the successful implementation of MOF-74 on the zinc anode
surface and its resultant benefits. When tested in full cell setups with α-MnO2 as the cathode, the MOF-74
modified zinc anodes displayed exceptional cyclic stability and rate performance, surpassing those of unmodified counterparts. This investigation highlights the potential of MOF materials to address the electrochemical
challenges facing zinc anodes, offering a straightforward yet efficacious strategy to enhance the performance and
longevity of ZIBs
Modern Green Hotels Initiatives from Guests Perspective
Get PDFThe green hotel concept has generated interest among researchers and policymakers due to the
increasing environmental and green practices awareness. In Thailand, the Green Leaf Certification is
used to indicate the eco-friendly status of a hotel. It contains all or most aspects covering
environmental policies such as waste management, energy, and water efficiency, procurement of hotel
supplies, air and water quality, noise pollution, hazardous material management, ecological impact,
collaboration with community and local administration, etc. The research explored a different
perspective on modern green hotel initiatives by analyzing real-life guests' perspectives, adopting a
survey research design method. Green Leaf-certified hotels in the Central region of Thailand were
selected using a convenience sampling technique. Primary data was obtained from hotel guests using a
structured online questionnaire hosted on Google Forms. A sample of 375 respondents completed the
online questionnaire. The data was analyzed through discussions and multiple regression analysis for
the quantitative data. The results indicated that modern green hotels in the Central region of Thailand
have adopted various green initiatives to be recognized as green hotels. Among them are Green Leaf
Certification, recycling, organic food, food waste composting program, bioextract production program,
water conservation and energy savings, and prohibition of smoking. The results indicated that green
practices (green hotel practices, green consumption, and green innovation) positively and significantly
affect guest perspectives (guest satisfaction and guest loyalty). The study concludes that green hotel
initiatives help hotels comply with the green regulations and monitoring bodies pushing the hospitality
sector towards green initiatives, increase guest satisfaction, especially the green champions, improve
guest loyalty, and boost hotels' competitiveness and market share
Capital structure and the firm performance nexus: the moderating and mediating roles of agency cost
Get PDFJournal Article, Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius and North-West University, Vanderbijlpark,Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the linear and non-linear relationship between capital structure (CS) and firm performance (FP) and the moderating and mediating roles of agency costs in the CS-FP nexus.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used static and quadratic panel data regression models to examine the linear and non-linear relationships and structured equation models to analyze the mediating effect of agency costs in the CS-FP nexus of 38 listed non-financial Mauritian firms from 2009 to 2019.
Findings
Leverage has a significant negative effect on FP supporting the pecking order theory. Agency costs are significantly and positively associated with FP. There is a strong non-linear relationship between leverage and FP supporting the trade-off and agency cost theories. Agency costs are an important moderator and mediator in the CS-FP nexus. Overall, the sensitivity analyses showed that the results were robust.
Practical implications
Firms need to carefully consider the levels and types of debt and equity in their CS involving the use of dynamic strategies to adjust CS in response to changing economic conditions and FP. The moderating effect of agency costs may guide firms in optimizing CS and may contribute to corporate governance discussions, emphasizing the importance of aligning interests to foster sustainable business practices.
Originality/value
This study adds to the extant literature by providing new evidence on the non-linear relationship between leverage and FP and the moderating and mediating roles of agency costs in the CS-FP nexus in emerging capital markets, where such studies are rare
Strengthening Aviation Cybersecurity with Security Operations Centres
Get PDFConference Contribution, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Unit for Data Science and Computing (UDSC)-- Potchefstroom CampusEven though cybersecurity is a top priority for the aviation industry, research indicates that there are still many challenges to address. Modern aviation systems encompass cloud computing, OT, IoT, mobile devices, and traditional IT infrastructure. The network complexity has expanded the attack surface, leading to an increase in security incidents. Due to this complexity, detecting security incidents on time is challenging. Research indicates that it may take up to 196 days to detect an incident and another 56 days to address it, highlighting the urgency of improving security response. In this regard, establishing Security Operations Centres (SOCs) in the aviation sector must be addressed. SOCs can be instrumental in reducing the time it takes to detect and respond to security incidents. They provide visibility into threats, aid investigations, and enhance forensic efforts, enabling proactive threat mitigation. Research has been carried out on SOC implementations for specific domains like IoT, mobile devices, and higher education, neglecting aviation systems. Aviation systems such as Air Traffic Management (ATM) face unique security vulnerabilities, including signal modification, jamming, flooding, data and command injection, GPS spoofing, and blocking attacks, primarily due to their reliance on wireless technology. Most of these wireless technologies do not use encryption or authentication because they were designed to maximize performance. Insufficient funding also negatively affects ATM systems, resulting in the wide use of legacy ATM systems and a shortage of skilled personnel. ATM systems are considered critical infrastructure frequently targeted by well-resourced threat actors, including terrorists and nation-state actors, necessitating higher protection levels. This paper motivates the development of a customised SOC implementation framework for ATM systems to enhance aviation security by increasing visibility into threats and facilitating timely remediation
Intention to dropout and study satisfaction: testing item bias and structural invariance of measures for South African first-year university students
Get PDFJournal Article. Management Cybernetics Research Entity, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North-West University, PotchefstroomPurpose – This study examined the psychometric properties of intention to drop out and study satisfaction measures for first-year South African students. The factorial validity, item bias, measurement invariance and reliability were tested. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional design was used. For the study on intention to drop out, 1,820 first-year students participated, whilst 780 first-year students participated in the study on satisfaction with studies. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), differential item functioning (DIF), measurement invariance and internal consistency were used to test the scales. Findings – A one-factor structure was confirmed for both scales. For the intention to drop out scale, Items 3 and 4 were identified with statistically significant item bias; however, these differences had no practical impact. Except for scalar invariance for language, sufficient measurement invariance was established. No problematic
items were identified for the study satisfaction scale. Practical implications – In essence, this study provides evidence of two short measures that are culturally
sensitive that could be used as short and valid measures across contextual boundaries as practically valuable tools to measure intention to drop out and study satisfaction in diverse and multicultural contexts. Originality/value – This study contributes to limited research on bias and invariance analyses for scales that
can be used in interventions to identify students at risk of leaving the university and utilising psychometric analyses to ensure the applicability of these two scales in diverse and multicultural settings. Keywords Intention to drop out, Study satisfaction, First-year university students, Factorial validity,
Item bias, Measurement invariance, Internal consistency Paper type Research pape
Too sleepy to be innovative? Ethical leadership and employee service innovation behavior: A dual-path model moderated by sleep quality
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Humanities, University of North--WestThis research explores the association of ethical leadership with employee service innovation behavior through a moderated mediation model. Theorizing on uncertainty reduction theory, we explore psychological ownership and creative self-efficacy as the underlying psychological mechanisms in the association between ethical leadership and employee service innovation behavior while considering the moderating role of sleep quality. We tested our theoretical model in two studies involving hospitality sector employees in the United States. Study 1 employed a three-wave (two-week period) time-lagged design (N = 237), and Study 2 used a two-wave (four-week period) survey design (N = 313). The findings suggest that workers’ psychological ownership and creative self-efficacy mediate the association between ethical leadership and employee service innovation behavior. In addition, sleep quality functions as an important boundary condition of the association between creative self-efficacy and service innovation behavior. Our research has important implications for understanding the impact of ethical leadership on important employee outcomes while considering the boundary condition role of employee sleep quality. The limitations of the study and future research directions are discusse