bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stress-Strength Reliability of Two-Parameter Exponential Distribution Based on Progres- sively Type-II Censored Data
Authors: Rostamian Sajad
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Stress-strength models has achieved considerable attention in recent years due to its applicability in various areas like engineering, quality control, biology, genetics, medicine etc. This paper investigates estimation of the stress-strength reliability parameter R=P(Y<X) in two-parameter exponential distributions under progressively type-II censored samples.
Methods: The maximum likelihood and the best linear unbiased estimates of P(Y<X) are obtained, and the Bayes estimates of P(Y<X) are computed under the squared error, linear-exponential, and Stein loss functions. Also, confidence intervals of stress-strength reliability such as the bootstrap confidence intervals, highest posterior density credible interval, and confidence interval based on the generalized pivotal quantity are obtained. Results: Using a simulation study, the point estimators and confidence intervals are evaluated and compared. A set of real data is presented for better clarification of the issue.
Conclusion: The results demonstrated that with increasing the sample size, in almost cases the estimated risk of all the estimators decrease. Also, in almost all cases the Bayes estimator under the linear-exponential loss function has smaller estimated risk than the other estimators. Based on our simulation, the expected lengths of all intervals tend to decrease when the sample size increases. Moreover, the highest posterior density confidence intervals are shorter than the others intervals for all the values of P(Y<X).
Mining Hypertension Predictors using Decision Tree: Baseline Data of Kharameh Cohort Study
Authors: Rezaianzadeh Abbas , Nematolahi Samane , Jalali Maryam , Rezaeianzadeh Shayan , Ghoddusi Johari Masoumeh , Hosseini Seyed Vahid
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Hypertension is a serious chronic disease and an important risk factor for many health problems. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with hypertension using a decision-tree algorithm.
Methods: Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through the census in Kharameh City between 2014 and 2017. The study included 2510 hypertensive and 7840 non-hypertensive individuals. To create the decision tree, 70% of the cases were randomly allocated to the training dataset. In comparison, the remaining 30% were used as the testing dataset for the performance evaluation of the decision tree. Two models were assessed. In the first model (model I), 15 variables including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), years of education, occupation status, marital status, family history of hypertension, physical activity, total energy, number of meals, salt, oil type, drug use, alcohol use, and smoke entered into the model. in the second model (model II) 16 variables including age, gender, BMI and Blood factors as Hematocrit (HCT), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Platelet Count (PLT), Fasting blood sugar (FBS), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CHOL), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), High-density lipoprotein (HDL), Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and Urinary specific gravity (SG) were considered. A confusion matrix was used to measure the performance of the decision tree. Additionally, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were determined to compare the models.
Results: For the model I, the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and AUC value were 79.2%(77.8-80.6), 82.4%(80.1-84.5), 78.24%(76.4-80), and 0.80%(0.79-0.82), respectively. For model II, the corresponding values were 79.5%(78.2-80.8), 81.0%(78.3-83.6)79.0%(77.5-80.5)and 0.80%(0.79-0.81), respectively. Confusion matrix of model I showed that of the 1188 cases with hypertension in the training data set, 979 cases were classified correctly and, for model II of the 2812 non-hypertension cases, 2222 cases were classified correctly.
Conclusion: We have suggested a decision tree model to identify the risk factors associated with hypertension. This model can be useful for early screening and improving preventive and curative health services in health promotion
A Multi-Method Comparison of Machine Learning in Predicting Pharmacokinetic Parameters: A Simulation Study
Authors: Doostfatemeh Marziyeh , Amini Kamal , Haem Elham
Published: December 2024

Introduction: One important aim of population pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) is the identification and quantification of the relationships between the parameter and covariates to improve the predictive performance of the population PK/PD modeling. Several new mathematical methods have been developed in pharmacokinetics in recent years which indicated that the machine learning-based methods are an appealing tool for analyzing PK/PD data.
Methods: This simulation-base study aims to determine whether machine learning methods, including support vector regression (SVR) and Random forest (RF) which are specifically designed for the prediction of blood serum concentration or clearance, could be an effective replacement for the Lasso covariate selection method in nonlinear mixed effect models. Accordingly, the predictive performance of penalized regression Lasso, SVR, and RF regression was compared to detect the associations between clearance and model covariates. PK data was simulated from a one-compartment model with oral administration. Covariates were created by sampling from a multivariate standard normal distribution with different levels of correlation. The true covariates influenced only clearance at different magnitudes. Lasso, RF, and SVR were compared in terms of mean absolute prediction error (MAE).
Results: The results show that SVR performed the best in small data sets, even in those in which a high correlation existed between covariates. This makes SVR a promising method for covariate selection in nonlinear mixed-effect models.
Conclusion: The Lasso method offered a higher MAE, making it less promising than RF and SVR, especially when dealing with a high correlation between covariates and a low number of individuals.
Bounded Multivariate Contaminated Normal Mixture Model with an Application in Skin Cancer Detection
Authors: Mahdavi Abbas
Published: December 2024

Introduction: In real-world datasets, outliers are a common occurrence that can have a significant impact on the accuracy and reliability of statistical analyses. Detecting these outliers and developing robust models to handle their presence is a crucial challenge in data analysis. For instance, natural images may have complex distributions of values due to environmental factors like noise and illumination, resulting in objects with overlapping regions and non-trivial contours that cannot be accurately described by Gaussian mixture models. In many real life applications, observed data always fall in bounded support regions. This leads to the idea of bounded support mixture models. Motivated by the aforementioned observations, we introduce a bounded multivariate cntaminated normal distribution for fitting data with non-Gaussian distributions, asymmetry, and bounded support which makes finite mixture models more robust to fitting, since rare observations are given less importance in calculations.
Methods: A family of finite mixtures of bounded multivariate contaminated normal distributions is introduced. The model is well-suited for computer vision and pattern recognition problems due to its heavily-tailed and bounded nature, providing flexibility in modeling data in the presence of outliers. A feasible expectation- maximization algorithm is developed to compute the maximum likelihood estimates of the model parameters using a selection mechanism.
Results: The proposed methodology is validated by conducting experiments on both simulated data and two real natural skin cancer images. We estimate the parameters by the proposed expectation-maximization algorithm. The obtained results shown that the proposed model has successfully enhanced accuracy in segmenting skin lesions.
Conclusion: The reliable model-based clustering using finite mixtures of bounded multivariate contaminated normal distributions is introduced. An expectation-maximization algorithm was created to estimate parameters, with closed-form expressions utilized at the E-step. Practical tests on images for skin cancer detection showed enhanced accuracy in delineating skin lesions.
Investigation of Certain Cognitive and Metacognitive Factors Affecting Anxiety and Depression Symptoms Through Parallel Serial Mediation Models
Authors: Erdoğan Yıldırım Zeynep , Aktaş Emine , Hasanoğlu Ceylan , Tekinsav Sütcü Serap
Published: December 2024

Objective: This study aims to investigate the parallel serial mediating effects of cognitive flexibility, attentional control, and worry in the relationship between rumination—which has been repeatedly proven to persist in the etiology of depression—and the symptoms of depression. This model will also be tested with anxiety symptoms.
Method: The study involved 832 university students, all emerging adults. The Personal Information Form, Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, Attentional Control Scale, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale Short Form were used.
Results: In two separate parallel serial mediation analyses, where gender was included as a control variable and depression and anxiety symptoms were included as dependent variables, the findings of the significant models were consistent. Accordingly, in both models in which both depression and anxiety are predicted, while the parallel serial mediation effect of cognitive flexibility and worry was significant (respectively; B=.003, SE=.001, %95 BCa CI [.001, .005]; B=.004, SE=.001, %95 BCa CI [.003, .007]), the parallel serial mediation effect of cognitive flexibility and attentional control was not significant (respectively; B=.000, SE=.000, %95 BCa CI [-.001, .001]; B=.00, SE=.00, %95 BCa CI [-.001, .001]).
Conclusion: The findings of models that include certain cognitive and metacognitive factors seem to support the idea proposed by the transdiagnostic approach that there are common vulnerability factors in the explanation of disorders.
The RECONSTRUCTION OF SOCIAL SUFISM STUDIES
Authors: Zenrif Muchammad Fauzan , Nuqul Fathul Lubabin , Mustofa M. Lutfi , Barizi Achmad Barizi
Published: December 2024

This scholarly investigation aims to elucidate and evaluate the manifestations of social Sufism, employing the framework of Social Representation Theory (SRT) in conjunction with the Quranic context. The analysis centers on Surah Al-Ma'idah:2, which is essential for comprehending the fundamental tenets of faith and ethical considerations in Islamic discourse. Adopting a qualitative descriptive research methodology, the inquiry undertakes an empirical investigation in Malang Regency, which is distinguished for its significant contribution to the social stuff of East Java, which is characterized by a profound cultural and traditional heritage. Findings indicate that the practices of social Sufism in Malang Regency are profoundly influenced by the exegetical understanding of Quranic Surah Al-Ma'idah:2. This research enriches the existing literature on Social Sufism, particularly through the interpretive lens of the al-Qur'an, providing an in-depth examination of the variables that contribute to character development and social identity within the frameworks of social sufism studies. Moreover, the outcomes illuminate the quintessence of reality, revealing how individual behaviors are shaped by experiences aimed at attaining happiness and their ramifications on the social attributes of the Madurese-Santri community
Commentary: Expanding the horizons of RE-AIM framework in public health research
Authors: Tunalıgıl (md, Mph, Phd) Verda
Published: December 2024

Objective: This commentary critically examines Yuliawati et al.’s 2024 review, “Analysis of research public health trends with the RE-AIM model and VOSviewer: A literature review,” which investigates the application of the “Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM)” framework in public health research. The review highlights trends in 279 studies conducted between 2017 and 2022 and draws attention to the insufficient focus on environmental health and sanitation interventions within the RE-AIM framework. The objective is to address these gaps and propose future directions for broadening the framework's application.
Methods: The commentary evaluates the methodology used by Yuliawati et al., with particular attention to their utilization of the VOSviewer tool to map trends in RE-AIM-based research. It also explores the identified research gaps and incorporates insights from existing literature to examine the barriers that limit RE-AIM’s application in environmental health and sanitation.
Results: Yuliawati et al.’s review demonstrates growing interest in the RE-AIM framework, but points out a notable deficiency in its application to environmental health and sanitation interventions. This commentary identifies potential reasons for this gap, such as limited interdisciplinary collaboration and resource constraints, and suggests that addressing these challenges could improve RE-AIM’s effectiveness in these fields.
Conclusion: This commentary advocates for future research to overcome the barriers to RE-AIM’s application in environmental health and sanitation. It emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and the need for a more adaptable framework to evaluate complex, multi-faceted public health challenges.
Impact of job insecurity, job stress and negative emotions on counterproductive work behaviour among academic employees in Ghana
Authors: Todoko Michael Tonneey Kwaku , Chipunza Crispen , Dzansi Lineo , Adewumi Samson Adeoluwa
Published: December 2024

The antecedents of counterproductive work behaviour (CWB) in the higher education sector have remained unexamined in available literature. Moreover, the impact of job insecurity, job stress, and negative emotions on the occurrence of CWB within the academic context have hardly been interrogated. This study therefore, aimed at investigating the impact of job insecurity, job stress and negative emotions on CWB and further examining the mediating role of job stress and negative emotions in the occurrences of CWB among academics. Data was collected from 716 academics in Technical Universities in Ghana using self-reported questionnaires with close-ended questions and a convenient sampling technique. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to verify the measurement structure of the constructs. Structural Equation Model was employed to test the hypotheses in the conceptual model. The result showed a statistically significant direct effect of job insecurity, job stress and negative emotions on the occurrence of counterproductive work behaviour among academics. It was further revealed that there is a positive relationship between job insecurity and job stress, with job stress partially mediating the relationship between job insecurity and counterproductive work behaviour. Furthermore, negative emotions acted as a partial mediator in the relationship between job stress and counterproductive work behaviour. The findings have implications for higher education institutions in taking steps to address job insecurity, job stress, and negative emotional experiences of academics to mitigate counterproductive work behaviour among academics.
Code-switching – normal oversight on the part of bilingual speakers: A review of literature
Authors: Zano Kufakunesu , Sibanda Jabulani
Published: December 2024

This study was inspired by the observation that code-switching is often discouraged in foreign language schools, where the target language and native language are strictly separated, with the target language designated as the 'official' language of instruction. The study sought to examine instances of code-switching in English as a First Additional Language (EFAL) acquisition among Sesotho native speakers in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa. Furthermore, it sought to illustrate the application of tag-code-switching, inter-sentential code-switching, and intra-sentential code-switching in English First Additional Language (EFAL) education for Sesotho native speakers in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa. This paper studied a particular multilingual phenomena, code-switching. While other linguistic behaviours exist, code-switching is the most popular in additional language contexts in South Africa. This research was founded on a literature review of code-switching in additional language situations. The paper examined the three roles of code-switching: repetition, emotional, and floor-holding. It also provided instances of how tag-code-switching, inter-sentential code-switching, and intra-sentential code-switching might be utilised by Sesotho home language learners to improve their comprehension of EFAL. One finding of the study is that, similar to translanguaging, code-switching fosters a sense of belonging and ownership among learners, and it is generally more accessible for the EFAL student to acquire knowledge from familiar concepts to unfamiliar ones. Another conclusion is that learners' restricted engagement in academic activities, attributable to their inadequate language proficiency, also impacts their motivation. The study advocates for the implementation of code-switching to improve learners' classroom involvement by allowing them to utilise their native language in the acquisition of a second language. The impact of code-switching on Sesotho home language learners' comprehension of EFAL in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa remains undetermined, necessitating further investigation into this important issue.
Understanding customer Decision-Making in retail banking: Insights from a selected retail bank in South Africa
Authors: Chitamba Anos
Published: December 2024

In the ever-changing realm of retail banking, it is essential for banks to grasp the elements that affect customer decisions to stay ahead in the competition. This study delves into customer preferences when selecting a bank, focusing specifically on Absa Bank in South Africa. By utilizing a case study approach, the research delves into the factors that influence customer behavior in the retail banking industry. Referencing the consumer decision model, the study investigates various stages such as problem recognition, information search, evaluation of options, purchase decision, and post-purchase assessment. Factors such as security, convenience, assurance, accessibility, and responsiveness are pinpointed as crucial aspects in bank selection. The study employs quantitative research techniques, conducting surveys with Absa Bank customers to dissect their preferences. Findings suggest that transaction fees, corporate image, bank coverage, and size play a significant role in influencing customer decisions. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing these customer-identified factors to deter customer attrition. Recommendations include conducting regular surveys to keep abreast of changing customer preferences and maintaining a competitive edge. The research offered valuable insights that can guide strategic decision-making and marketing efforts in the retail banking sector.
Bank mergers, corporate governance, and the impact on Maqashid Sharia performance
Authors: Christianto Januar , Putri Vernanda Yulia Eka
Published: December 2024

This paper aims to examine the effects of bank mergers and corporate governance to maqashid sharia performance. This study also aims to examine the effect of corporate governance as a moderating variable. In this study, the measurement of variables using Integrated Maqashid Sharia Performance Measurement (IMSPM) which includes dimensions consisting of faith (din), self (nafs), intellect ('aql), posterity (nasl), and wealth (mal). Data processing was carried out using SPSS Statistics 29 with the source data of bank financial statements before and after the merger. The data includes the financial statements of BNI Syariah, BRI Syariah, Bank Mandiri Syariah 2015 – 2020 and also Bank BSI 2021 – 2023. The results showed that bank mergers have a positive effect on maqashid sharia performance. However, the corporate governance variable consisting of the independence and remuneration of the Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) shows that the independence of SSB has no effect on the maqashid sharia performance and remuneration SSB has a negative effect. Independence of SSB has no effect to maqashid sharia performance because SSB who are not independent or hold concurrent positions will have more experience due to their role in other Islamic institutions and banks. In addition, SSB remuneration has a negative effect because when viewed from the operational side, the high remuneration received by SSB will actually increase the burden on banks so that it has an impact on their maqashid sharia performance. Nevertheless, corporate governance variables both independence and remuneration of SSB  can strengthen the effect of mergers on maqashid sharia performance.
Systemic failures and human rights violations: lessons from the Life Esidimeni Tragedy
Authors: Oukouomi Noutchie Suares Clovis
Published: December 2024

The Life Esidimeni tragedy represents one of the most egregious human rights violations in South Africa's contemporary history. This article examines the series of events that led to the deaths of 141 mental healthcare patients and the severe maltreatment of over 1,400 others following their forced relocation from the Life Esidimeni facility to various unlicensed NGOs. The Gauteng Department of Health's decision to end its contract with Life Esidimeni without adequate planning or consultation led to a humanitarian disaster characterized by neglect, abuse, and gross violations of human rights. This paper reviews the timeline of events, the systemic failures, and the outcomes of various inquiries and legal proceedings, drawing lessons from the incident to inform future healthcare policies and practices. The findings emphasize the need for stringent oversight, transparent decision-making processes, and the protection of vulnerable populations in healthcare settings. The discussion reflects on the broader implications for mental healthcare reform and the importance of accountability and justice in preventing such tragedies. It also underlines the necessity of comprehensive policy frameworks and robust enforcement mechanisms to safeguard the rights and well-being of mental healthcare users.
Inflation dynamics and retail energy prices in Nigerian states
Authors: Ikue Nenubari John , Sodipo John , Enegesi Linus , Anthony Victor , Oraemesi Charlse , Yisa Daniel , Aghede Benjamin , Ejinkonye Jude , Nna Chinenye , Nwulia Augustine
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the relationship between inflation dynamics and retail energy prices across Nigerian states. The paper utilizes LSDV and SYS-GMM techniques for the estimation of the static and dynamic panel models. The research disaggregates energy prices into PMS, AGO, HHK and Gas, with CPI as the dependent variable. State Revenue per capita income, representing demand-pull factor of inflation, is used to capture excess liquidity's impact on inflation. Key findings reveal that PMS, AGO, and HHK have significant and distinct effects on inflation, with PMS and AGO driving the largest increases in CPI. Gas price also contribute to inflation, but its impact is moderated by a substitution effect, where consumers shift to gas in response to rising prices of HHK and other household cooking energy sources. This substitution effect reduces the inflationary pressure from gas, making its overall contribution to CPI less pronounced. Importantly, State Revenue per capita income is positively correlated with inflation, highlighting the role of federal transfers in exacerbating demand-pull inflation. For policymakers, these findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions to stabilize energy prices, particularly PMS, AGO and federal transfers in shaping local economic dynamics and inflationary pressures. This targeted interventions to stabilize energy prices are vital for mitigating inflationary pressures in Nigerian states, as they account for regional economic differences, ensuring more effective and equitable economic stability across the country.
Influences of emotional intelligence on resilience in the South African entrepreneurial sector: a systematic literature review
Authors: Makhanya Monument Thulani Bongani
Published: December 2024

The South African entrepreneurial sector is essential to the country's economic growth, job creation, and innovation. South African entrepreneurs encounter competitive business environment, limited resources, and socioeconomic gaps. Building resilience is critical for them to overcome challenges, adapt to change, and sustain their businesses in the face of adversity.  This paper aims to explore the connection between resilience and emotional intelligence in the context of South African entrepreneurship. A systematic literature review and text analysis was carried out. This systematic literature analysis analysed 37 peer-reviewed sources that explored the impact of emotional intelligence on resilience in the South African entrepreneurial sector. Textual analysis was used to discover themes, patterns, and implications for increasing entrepreneurial resilience. Inclusion criteria included English-language research published during the last decade that focused on emotional intelligence and resilience in entrepreneurship. Non-peer-reviewed papers, grey literature, and those that did not directly address the South African context were excluded.  Key findings show that emotionally intelligent leaders are better able to manage stress, build trusted relationships, and adjust to changing circumstances, which improves corporate results and ensures sustainability in a changing economic climate. This paper concludes that emotional intelligence is critical in determining the resilience and success of entrepreneurs in the South African entrepreneurial sector. Recommendations stemming from the results encompass integrating emotional intelligence training courses into entrepreneurial curricula, cultivating a nurturing and emotionally astute workplace, and encouraging self-awareness and emotional regulation proficiencies among prospective and established entrepreneurs in South Africa.
The role of mindfulness and emotional intelligence in mediating the effects of job burnout on job performance
Authors: Moch Misbah  , Budiyanto  , Suhermin
Published: December 2024

Healthcare delivery relies on human resource management to ensure quality. However, employee performance dropped from 2019 to 2022, highlighting the need to address job fatigue, which lowers performance. This study examines how mindfulness and emotional intelligence mediate the effects of occupational fatigue on medical and paramedic performance. This integrated study intends to understand healthcare job performance and improve medical professionals' competency and well-being in Indonesia. A 5% margin of error was used to choose 213 medical staff and paramedics from the Mojokerto City Government Health Agency in Indonesia using the Slovin algorithm. The Sobel Test and SEM with AMOS were used to analyse data. Mindfulness and emotional intelligence decreased considerably with job burnout, affecting job performance. Mindfulness and emotional intelligence also improved job performance. The results also showed that emotional intelligence and mindfulness moderate the job burnout-performance link. These findings show that emotional and psychological aspects are crucial to understanding how job fatigue affects employee performance.
The effect of psychological engagement on member behavioral engagement in a virtual community in Indonesia
Authors: Rani Maria Satya , Gienardy Melda
Published: December 2024

This study aims to analyze the role of psychological engagement, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and physical dimensions, as well as member behavioral engagement, including participation and word of mouth, and its influence on brand loyalty, which includes cognitive, affective, conative, and action loyalty in the National Cooking Club (NCC) in Indonesia. Utilizing a quantitative approach with survey techniques, an online questionnaire was distributed to 500 respondents, yielding 162 valid responses. Data analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression with SPSS version 16. The results indicate that action loyalty does not significantly affect physical engagement, whereas emotional engagement does. Additionally, both emotional and physical engagement significantly influence participation, whereas cognitive engagement does not. Furthermore, emotional engagement has a significant effect on word of mouth, contrary to cognitive and physical engagement, which do not significantly influence word of mouth among NCC members.
An investigation into the relationship amongst local government employees and their performances towards the distribution of services: study of Umhlathuze Local Municipality
Authors: Mbokazi Noxolo , Matyana Mandisi
Published: December 2024

This study's objective was to investigate the relationship amongst the local government employees and their performances towards the distribution of services. Many employees face different challenges in their workplaces, however in a situation like service delivery it’s important for employees to be able to work well together and have a positive relationship amongst each other and avoid political conflict that may end up affecting the citizens as they are their priority. The researcher acknowledges that there are many challenges faced by local government which affect the effective service delivery, these include toxic work relationships among employees, corruption and mismanagement of funds, red tape etc. The study was based on the current legal, theoretical and conceptual perspective that applies to the protocol of the working relationship amongst employees and service provision. Diverse perspectives were used to determine whether the employees of UMhlathuze Local Municipality have the positive relationship amongst each other without the interference of the political conflict, also for the community members under UMhlathuze Local Municipality to have a voice on whether the employees are distributing services rightfully or not. This study has adopted qualitative methods for getting in-depth and interactive information from the participants. The recommendations are also made for UMhlathuze Municipality, including the theoretical framework of service delivery and the working protocol of employees within an organization.
Challenges and Approaches to Overcoming Educational Barriers in a Distance Learning Environment
Authors: Mahlangu Vimbi Petrus
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify and assess the specific challenges faced by incarcerated students in a distance learning environment and to explore effective strategies for managing their academic endeavors. The study intentionally selected twelve incarcerated inmates who were currently enrolled in various educational programs. The data were acquired through the process of conducting audio-recorded interviews, which were then transcribed verbatim by a proficient transcriber. The author employed an interpretive paradigm to examine the data and derive significant conclusions. The findings demonstrated that the amalgamation of resilience and determination had a crucial role in empowering students to overcome the barriers impeding their education. In addition, students have employed controlled internet access in prisons and the incorporation of technology-enhanced learning alongside traditional classroom teaching as essential methods to properly manage their academic studies. These strategies prioritize the need to enhance the accessibility of educational resources and support networks within prisons in order to enhance the educational accomplishments of incarcerated individuals. The study's findings suggest that it is crucial to make practical and policy changes in order to effectively meet the specific needs of incarcerated students engaged in remote learning programs.  Typical barriers include (i) restricted technology access, (ii) limited finances, and (iii) the challenge of staying focused in a distracting setting. Notwithstanding these challenges, the participants shown exceptional tenacity and resolve, utilizing diverse tactics to effectively handle their academic pursuits. The success of these individuals was influenced by several key variables, such as the assistance provided by prison education officers, the capacity to effectively employ restricted technical tools, and the self-discipline to establish organized study routines.
The adoption of information technology governance frameworks by universities in Gauteng province, South Africa
Authors: Masibigiri Percy , Dandadzi Alex , Seeletse Solly
Published: December 2024

Lately, there has been a rise in personal and commercial use of computer devices, be it mobile phones, laptops, or any other computing devices, not forgetting the network, networking peripherals, and software that these devices function with. That being said, it has led organisations and institutions of higher learning to establish and adhere to Information Technology governance frameworks set out by the government and the higher education sector. White and Greiner (2022) defined Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) as an Information Technology (IT) service management framework that outlines best practices for delivering IT services. Kidd (2019) defined Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT) as an IT management framework developed by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) to help businesses develop, organize, and implement strategies around information management and IT governance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ITIL and COBIT, as IT governance frameworks recommended by the higher education sector in South Africa, were adopted by ICT departments in universities in Gauteng province, South Africa. Data collection was done using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent via email to 52 potential respondents from all the higher institutions in Gauteng. A total of 41 questionnaires were returned. The questionnaire for both ITIL and COBIT frameworks was designed using Google Forms. The study findings showed that universities in Gauteng have adopted ITIL and COBIT as ICT governance frameworks recommended by the Higher Education sector in South Africa. The study's results are crucial for university administrators as they might improve comprehension of the factors affecting the adoption, administration, and utilization of ICT resources to enhance the university's capacities
The effect of father absenteeism on teenage boys
Authors: Hadebe Nondumiso , Adanlawo Eyitayo Francis
Published: December 2024

The family, in all communities, is the primary and most basic unit. However, as a result of modernisation and urbanisation, there has been a shift in the perception that biological parents should raise their children and that they both have responsibilities. The teenagers without fathers are reported to be facing more challenges compared to their counterparts with fathers. These difficulties are most apparent in the areas around the development of the body, mind, personality, social skills, and morality. To investigate the effects of fathers’ absenteeism on teenage boys, this study conducted an in-depth review of past studies. This study reveals teenage boys experience feelings of sadness, loneliness, and rage when their fathers are absent from their lives. More so, the likelihood that these teenage boys will get involved in criminal activity will decrease if their fathers are involved in their lives and provide them with financial support. This study suggests that more social workers be assigned to schools in order to recognise and address cases where teenage boys are reported to be experiencing father absenteeism.
Exploring university staff experiences gained during COVID-19 in the provision of digital mental health services through e-health tools: A case of a selected South African University
Authors: Musakuro Rhodrick Nyasha , Gie Liiza
Published: December 2024

The recent COVID-19 pandemic significantly exacerbated mental health issues worldwide, with South African university staff facing unique stressors that led to the adoption of e-health tools for digital mental health services. This study explores the university staff experiences gained during COVID-19 pandemic in the provision of digital mental health services through e-health tools. We conducted a case study at a public university in Cape Town, South Africa complemented by a survey using quantitative methods. Data from 348 respondents were collected via voluntary response sampling and analysed with Statistical Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28, employing exploratory factor analysis. High factor loadings above 0.4 confirmed significant contributions from seven items: perceived usefulness of e-health tools, perceived usefulness of social media, user experience and satisfaction, university commitment, variety of digital mental health services, post-COVID-19 delivery mode preference and ethical considerations. These seven items revealed that during COVID-19, e-health tools provided significant benefits to university staff including increased access to digital mental services. However, the study findings revealed that university staff were concerned about the lack of a legal framework during COVID-19, and the role of AI-powered mental health applications did not significantly influence their experiences during the pandemic. Our study provides theoretical insights into the effectiveness and perceived usefulness of e-health tools for digital mental health services during COVID-19, reinforcing their significance in reducing anxiety, stress, and depression while enhancing emotional resilience. Practically, our study findings suggest that universities should integrate e-health tools into the provision of digital mental health services given that these tools proved effective during COVID-19.
Foreign direct investment, trade and economic growth: a case study of South Africa
Authors: Kgomo Dintuku Maggie , Zhanje Stephen
Published: December 2024

Global trade has significantly expanded over the past thirty years in both developed and emerging economies, a phenomenon assisted by advancements in transportation, telecommunications, and industry. Extensive trading fosters financial links between national economies, hence promoting economic progress. This article aims to investigate the interrelationship among foreign direct investment, trade, and South Africa's economic growth.  Econometric techniques, including the autoregressive distributed lag bound test, were used to annual data from 1988 to 2022. The findings indicated that economic growth is positively affected by foreign direct investment and exports in both the short and long term. This indicated that foreign direct investment and exports are substantial contributions to economic growth.This analysis indicates that both foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade significantly impact the macroeconomic environment and influence economic growth. Developing countries such as South Africa must use diverse strategies to guarantee elevated rates and quality of economic growth. Improvements in the investment climate and the establishment of incentives are necessary to enable the equitable allocation of resources across various sectors to address employment challenges, poverty rates, and the maintenance of growth. Export-oriented strategies should be adopted. Therefore, it is essential to analyse the determinants of economic growth by examining foreign direct investment and trade in the context of South Africa, particularly in relation to the country's performance as measured against the National Development Plan targets since the post-1994 period.
Exploring entrepreneurial skills of DR Congolese refugee women through economic growth in Durban, South Africa
Authors: Kandolo Ka Muzombo , Msomi Thabiso Sthembiso
Published: December 2024

Refugee women entrepreneurship has been played a crucial role in economic development and poverty alleviation in both sending and receiving countries. Although their contribution to socioeconomic development in South Africa, they face various challenges including proper identity documents from the Department of Home Affairs, financial resources, and services to enter the labor market in SA. The purpose of this study is to explore the entrepreneurial skills of DR Congolese refugee women in Durban. This study used qualitative research methodology including both explanatory and descriptive theories during data collection. The study used in-depth interviews and questionnaires where ten Congolese refugee women informal traders between the age of 24 and 41 years were selected through snowball techniques from Congolese community in Durban. The results revealed that entrepreneurial activity has been considered as an approach of empowering refugee women and poverty alleviation in their receiving countries. The findings show that refugees are the most unlikely entrepreneurs as they lacked the resources to launch a new enterprise with no history of credit and lack of assets or security to bank loan. The study revealed the needs of UNHCR, NGOs and government’s support in terms of sponsoring refugees’ projects, especially business training and appropriate identity documents from the department of Home Affairs. The economic contributions of female refugee entrepreneurs from the Congo in South Africa could be substantial if supported by gender-responsive policies and the provision of formal identification documents, along with access to business training opportunities. This would enhance their well-being and contribute to the economic growth of Durban.
Affordance of Internet of Things for educational resources management for E-learning domain
Authors: Mncube Lancelord
Published: December 2024

The Internet of Things (IoT) offers dual dimensions of affordance for educational resources management (ERM), particularly in a Comprehensive open distance e-learning institution in South Africa. The affordance of IoT for educational resources management is not well articulated in a CODEL institution. The study aimed to establish the role of IoT in the administration and management of educational resources. Technology affordance theory is used to establish the role, perceptions, and causality of IoT affordance in ERM. The research opted for the qualitative approach to establish the role and causality of the IoT affordance of ERM. The study found that the CODEL institution is IoT-driven when handling ERM. The main contribution relates to two propositions such as South African higher education institutions, including the CODEL institution, require the articulation and realignment of an IoT-driven business enterprise system for the implementation of OER in tuition; and in an IoT-driven context such as CODEL, where OER are implemented, there is a motive for academics and institutions to develop an Artificial Intelligence or interactive robot for creating and locating OER. It suggests that CODEL should realign its business enterprise system with IoT-driven infrastructure and adopt artificial intelligence practices for OER advancement. Future research should investigate the availability of IoT in all South African higher education institutions.
Exploring employee engagement in internal branding: a case study of commercial banks in Urban Masvingo
Authors: Madondo Elvis , Masara Stenford , Dhobha Hummerly
Published: December 2024

Efficient internal branding is essential for aligning employees with an organization's ideals, especially in service industries such as banking. This study examines the influence of employee engagement on the efficacy of internal branding activities in commercial banks located in Urban Masvingo, with the objective of understanding the impact of these initiatives on staff commitment and service quality. A quantitative survey design was utilised, focussing on management-level employees, shop floor personnel, and customers from certain banks, employing stratified random sampling to guarantee a varied participant pool. The results demonstrate that although the majority of internal branding efforts focus on frontline employees, there is a significant deficiency in engagement among shop floor personnel. The lack of established recognition procedures and allocated funding for internal branding undermines effectiveness. Strong managerial support and employee participation in branding activities were recognised as essential factors for improving engagement and alignment with brand values. To enhance internal branding, banks must to conduct frequent evaluations of employee engagement, incorporate branding into HR operations, establish formal recognition systems, and promote the co-creation of branding initiatives. These measures will foster a unified organisational culture and enhance service performance, hence augmenting brand equity in a competitive marketplace. This report provides actionable ideas for banks to enhance employee involvement in internal branding and sustain a competitive advantage in a fluctuating market..
Optimalisasi Kontribusi Pajak Daerah dan Retribusi Daerah Terkait Pendapatan Daerah Dalam Rangka Meningkatkan Kemandirian Keuangan Daerah Kota Banjarmasin
Authors: Hidayah Rizky Elmuna , Muhammad Anshar Nur
Published: December 2024

This study's objective was to determine the local government's contribution, influence, and policies in optimizing the contribution of regional taxes and regional levies related to regional income in order to increase regional financial independence in the City of Banjarmasin. Using secondary data from the Budget Realization Report of the Central Bureau of Statistics, this descriptive quantitative research uses contribution analysis and multiple linear regression. The results of this study indicate that the contribution of Regional Taxes to Regional Original Income is classified as very good with an average contribution of 60%, while the contribution of Regional Levies is in the poor category with an average contribution of 16%. Furthermore, the contribution of local taxes and regional levies to regional income is still very low because the average contribution is less than 10%. There is a significant influence between Regional Tax Contributions and Regional Levies on Regional Financial Independence.
Analisis Jumlah Pengangguran, Belanja Langsung, dan Pengeluaran Perkapita Terhadap Kemiskinan Di Provinsi Kalimantan Selatan
Authors: Hidayat Taufik , Suherty Lina
Published: December 2024

One social problem that is hard to deal with is poverty, basically the poor are weak in their ability to do business and have limited access to social, educational, health and economic activities. This study is to see the effect of the variables of Total Unemployment, Direct Expenditure, and Per Capita Expenditure on poverty in the province of South Kalimantan 2015-2019. Using secondary data (pooled data) panel data regression models or a combination of time series and cross section data with the Fixed Effect Model (FEM) approach from 2015-2019 processed with E-Views 10 software. The regression results show a simultaneous significant effect of the independent variables, namely Total Unemployment, Direct Expenditure, and Government Expenditure on Total Poverty in South Kalimantan Province. While partially the significant effect only occurs in the Per Capita Expenditure variable.