bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Abiotic Stress on Plant Growth and Development, Physiological and Breeding Strategies to Overcome Stress Condition
Authors: Pawar Godawari , Sargar Pramod , Naik Gajanan , Deshmukh Smita , Shedge Pranjal , Halge Swapnil , Pawar Avadhut , Reddy Pullamolla N.
Published: March 2023

Abiotic stress is a significant factor in “climate change,” a complex phenomena with several unpredictable negative repercussions onthe environment. Abiotic stress alters the continuity between soil and plant atmosphere, reducing the yield of several essential crops.Abiotic stress now poses a considerable obstacle to plant development, and it will certainly worsen as desertification spreads acrossa larger section of the planet’s land area. The agriculture sector is significantly impacted by the weather and environment. Traditionalfarming methods and the food production required to sustain the nation’s growing population might be threatened by climate change.Improved cultivars created via breeding for a greater harvest index and disease tolerance were readily embraced during this periodof relatively consistent weather. Extreme climatic variability is projected due to climate change in this century. In many nations thatproduce crops, the agricultural climate will likely be warmer with more unpredictable rainfall, and stress spikes will be more severe. Tomaintain a growing population, agricultural productivity must be increased under more unfavourable environmental conditions. UsingGPS locators and climatic data from across the world, it is now feasible to comprehensively examine the genetic diversity in ancientlocal landraces to characterise the natural selection for local adaptation and to identify potential germplasm for tolerances to highstresses . With the use of candidate gene techniques and next generation sequencing, the physiological and biochemical componentsof these manifestations may be genomically examined. Wild relatives of crops possess practically untapped genetic diversity for abioticand biotic stress tolerances and may greatly improve the domesticated gene pools presently available as a survival omics strategy toassist crops endure the expected extremes of climate change. It is an issue to increase agricultural productivity in the face of climatechange. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to combine a number of disciplines, including eco-geographical assessments of geneticresources, modern advances in genomics, agronomy, and farm management, all of which are backed by knowledge of how genotypeenvironmentinteraction affects crop climate adaptability.
Isolation of AM Fungi from Rhizospheric Soil and Assessing Their Potential in Revegetating the Mining Wasteland of Gujarat using Inoculated Trees Saplings
Authors: Arya Arun
Published: March 2023

Fluorspar (CaF2), is a common mineral, occurring in green, purple, yellow, or colorless crystals, which is used in metallurgy and makinga variety of chemicals used in refrigeration. Kadipani in Gujarat has large deposits of this ore. Open cast mining by GMDC has resultedin disturbed ecology. Earlier the efforts have been made by the forest department to grow tree species, in order to restore the forestecosystem, but the plants grew slowly and with stunted morphology and scanty survival. The obligate fungal symbionts known asarbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) present in plants play a key factor supporting plant growth in stressed conditions. Therefore, AMFstrains were first isolated from mining area and were used to raise the saplings first in polybags. Then after 75 days these were used forrevegetating the mine burdens or nearby waste land. The paper presents a pioneering efforts made to isolate and identify, the AMFfrom Fluorspar mines in Gujarat and then Glomus fasciculatum was incorporated in polybags filled with normal garden soil. Plants werealso raised by single spore inoculation method. Preliminary experiments revealed that the inoculated AMF strains promoted seedlinggrowth of Leuceana leucocephala and Millettia pinnata. The inoculation of AMF spores enhanced the growth of both the plants, and suchapplication can be used in sustainable restoration of the mining areas. Review discusses the structure of AM spores and mechanismsinvolved to equip them to survive in stressed situations and as symbionts help the plants to perform better.
Biodiversity Loss and its Impacts on Human Well-being
Authors: Dubey Anjali , Mainani Ruchita , Shah Prapti , Solanki Hitesh
Published: March 2023

Biodiversity loss is one of the major concerns of today’s world. It refers to the mass extinction of different species. Various anthropogenicactivities and environmental pollution are major contributors to biodiversity loss. From agricultural activities to various industrialactivities contributes greatly to degrading biodiversity. This paper reviews multiple literature sources that deal with the biodiversityloss and explain the various factors affecting biodiversity. It also reviews the impact of biodiversity loss on the well-being of the humanpopulation. Biodiversity loss does not only affect human health but also other animals and species. Biological imbalance gives rise toseveral diseases that create a harmful threat to human beings. In recent decades, we have observed a great deal of newer zoonoticaldiseases, which are triggered by biodiversity loss. Thus, preserving and managing biodiversity should be our priority and by doing thiswe would also create a safeguard overall for a well-being of human beings and nature.
Antioxidant Defence Response and Micronutrient Content Availability in Cyamopsis Varieties in eCO2 Concentration
Authors: Mehrotra Sonali , Tripathi Karunaker P.
Published: March 2023

There is need for research that explores the impact of elevated carbon dioxide on the antioxidant defense system, crop nutrition andsoil micro-nutrients availability which was not investigated much in past studies.A pot experiment was performed to analyse antioxidant defence response including Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme assay, totalAscorbate, Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) leaf data assay, Flavanoid and Total Phenolic content (TPC) in leaves samples. Micronutrientsanalysis and nutritional quality were estimated including Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo and Pb elements. Micronutrients analysiswere determined in soil, leaves, pods and seeds of RGC 1002 and RGC 1066 Cyamopsis varieties fumigated under e[CO2]=550±20ppmand a[CO2]=420±20ppm maintained at FACE setup at CSIR- NBRI, Lucknow.Superoxide dismutase activity was found to decline in RGC 1002 [-16.63%] and RGC 1066 [-17.90%] while total ascorbate, ascorbateperoxidise activity, total phenol and flavonoid content increased in RGC 1002 [+9.37%, +6.30%, +11.53%, +10.46%] and RGC 1066[+66.32%, +12.17%, +76.50%, +19.82%] under elevated carbon dioxide e[CO2] concentration in both the cultivars. Micronutrient contentdeclined in leaves but it was enhanced in pods and seeds of both the cultivars under e[CO2] concentration. In leaves, pods and seedsof RGC 1002 micro-nutrient contents were Fe [-56.00%, +6.00%, +9.75%], Cu[-23.16%, +7.45%, +10.46%], Zn[-30.61%,+28.30%,+7.41],Mn[-32.29%, +23.05., +7.52] content. However in RGC 1066, there was a differential response regarding some of the metals Cu[-52.81%,+5.58%, +6.42%], Zn[-20.29%.+9.50%.+6.50%], Mn[+31.54%, +11.18%, +9.96%], Fe[+32.99%, +4.00%, +8.71%] content wasfound to increased under e[CO2] concentration.Antioxidant response in both the cultivars was enhanced under e[CO2] concentration that leads to the scavenging of ROS particles thusleading to declining of ROS and mitigating the plant against abiotic stress condition. This conditions leads to altogether improvementin plant antioxidant defences system. It was observed that the interaction between e[CO2] and both plant varieties increased uptake ofmicro-nutrients in pods and seeds in both the cultivars. Apart from these RGC 1066 varieties showed better uptake and translocationof micro-nutrient content (Fe, Cu, Zn) than RGC 1002 plant variety under e[CO2] concentration. Thus, it can be concluded that RGC 1066is better than RGC 1002 plant variety which is adapting and performing in better way under e[CO2] concentration.
Estimation of Correlation and Path Association in Hexaploid Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with the Feasibility of Developing F1 Hybrid in Half Diallel Mating Design
Authors: Kaur Gagan D. , Kumar Ravindra , Sharma Shikha , Singh Robandeep
Published: March 2023

The present study was carried out at Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib’s Experimental Farm, Department of Agriculture, Punjab during2019-20, and 2020-21. The experimental material consisted of six parental varieties (HD 1981, PBW 343, CPAN 3004, RAJ 2184, PBW154, and PBW 65) collected from the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR) New Delhi, India and their 15 F1s obtainedfrom half diallel mating design were grown in Randomized Block Design. The association studies among different characters showedthat grain yield per plant had a significant positive correlation with no. of grain per plant, that can be successfully used for the geneticimprovement of seed yield in bread wheat.
Indigenous Knowledge of Lichens can Improve Human Life in Tribal Areas of Arunachal Pradesh: A Case Study
Authors: Bajpai Rajesh , Thungon Lobsang T. , Singh Chandra P. , Upreti Dalip K.
Published: March 2023

The higher eastern Himalayan regions of India exhibit the luxuriance of different lichen taxa together with other group of plants. The“Punpun” is a common name of lichens used by the Sherdukpen tribe of West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh in Eastern IndianHimalayan regions. The punpun or lichens are gorgeous in nutrients and contains biologically active compounds belonging to variouschemical clades. The tribal people have gigantic traditional knowledge about lichens thus allowing them to use different types oflichens to fulfil their dietary need along with medicinal prospects. The present information was collected during the field visit to thearea between the years 2017-2021. The tribal people in the area prepared some delicious diets from the punpun and served as nutritiveethnic food to tourists visiting there. Though tribal people have great knowledge of lichen uses, but they lack the acquaintance ofappropriate species proficiency. The tribal people provided the detailed methodologies and application of lichens which may be usefulin near future for bioprospection and herbal drug development. The present case study is presented with an aim to encourage thetribal people to investigate further applications of lichens to improve the life of surronding inhabitants and to make them aware of theimportance and conservation of lichen species.
Kahoot, Quizizz, and Quizalize in the English Class and their Impact on Motivation
Authors: España-Delgado José Antonio
Published: March 2023

The Covid-19 pandemic changed the way education was being taught. Due to school closures to prevent the spread of the disease, the education system resorted to distance learning as a way to grant students' learning process. This research article reports a mixed-method study on technological resources and their impact on motivation during online lessons. The study seeks to explore the students' perceptions regarding the implementation of some game-based learning platforms (Kahoot, Quizizz, and Quizalize) during their EFL virtual classes and to determine the impact of these platforms on students' motivation toward language learning. A convergent parallel design was implemented to gather quantitative and qualitative data from the twenty-seven participants of the study simultaneously. A four-point Likert scale questionnaire and a focus group were the instruments employed to collect this statistical and descriptive information. The results show that the students perceived Kahoot, Quizizz, and Quizalize as useful, entertaining, fun, and engaging tools. As a conclusion, the enjoyment factor of these tools increases learner motivation and level of attainment.
Intersectional Identity Studies in Colombian ELT: A Profiling Research Study
Authors: Benavides-Buitrago Catherine
Published: March 2023

This article aims at sharing the preliminary literature review of the main developments related to Intersectional Identities in Colombian English Language Teaching and general educational contexts worldwide. First, I trace the research work concerning the topic at both national and international levels through a bibliometric analysis in Scopus to see the main developments regarding intersectionality from a decolonial perspective. Then, I show through a complementary bibliometric study, 50 articles that were collected from different databases, and the trends found as representation of intersectional studies. The analysis indicates two core trends: (1) Intersectional studies in general educational contexts and (2) Intersectional studies in ELT contexts. Finally, I present how this profiling research study shows that the topic of Intersectional Identities in Colombia seems scarce within the field of ELT.
Understanding Gender in the Dynamics of the Hidden Curriculum: An ELT Colombian Case Study
Authors: Mojica Claudia
Published: March 2023

This article describes the main findings of a Colombian case study in which an English language teacher, who was enrolled in a gender-based optional course, carries out small-scale research to understand gender in her ELT practices. The study aims at describing what and how English language teachers learn when they incorporate their gender consciousness in their teaching practices. The study focuses on Martha’s case who seeks to understand how her learning comes about when integrating the gender perspective in her educational practices and teaching context. The qualitative analysis indicates, among other things, that Martha becomes aware of how the dynamics of the hidden curriculum affect her students’ gender subjectivities. Through this learning process, Martha adopts discourses and practices to promote gender equity, eradicate differential treatments, and contribute positively to her students’ learning experience.
A criminological analysis of violent nature of protests in Vuwani Area, Vhembe District of Limpopo Province
Authors: Kholofelo A Rakubu  , Masuku Sandile Clement , Khethiwe Madima
Published: March 2023

In the last seven years, Limpopo Province experienced a high rate of service delivery protests that turned violent. The service delivery protests in the Vuwani area have received a lot of media coverage and international scrutiny, wherein school, and government buildings were vandalised and burned down. The study adopted a qualitative approach to explore the reasons why the protests turned violent and further questioned the burning of state property. The interviews were held with 40 community members in the Vuwani area and thematic content analyses were used. The long-standing tribal issues and political instability were at the centre of the violent protests in Vuwani area. The findings revealed dissatisfaction with municipal demarcation decisions perpetuated violent service delivery protests in Vuwani. Protest initially begins as peaceful demonstrations as mostly community members participate, the educated and the uneducated. However, protests provide an opportunity for criminals to vandalise state property and loot. The study recommends thorough public participation and consultation during decision-making that involves the community. Political stability should be enforced to avoid political agents inciting violence in the communities. Furthermore, harsher punishment was recommended for those who participate in violent service delivery protests.
Government expenditure on health and economic growth in Botswana
Authors: Sinha Narain , Mbulawa Strike
Published: March 2023

This study examines the relationship between government expenditure on health and economic growth in Botswana. It seeks to test the existence of cointegration and specification of the deterministic components with special reference to the Pantula Principle. This helps to overcome the shortfall of the method by Johansen, which may lead to spurious results by omitting the presence of deterministic components in the analysis. The cointegration approach is used and tested using three methods by Engle and Granger (1987) or EG, a procedure suggested by Johansen (1988) and error correction model (ECM) approach proposed by Granger(1988) and short-run analysis is made using the pairwise granger causality tests. Findings show that the correct model specification for testing long-run relationships consists of one cointegrating vector with a constant which is the most restrictive hypothesis according to the Pantula principle. Using the Johansen approach, total health expenditure and recurring health expenditure have a cointegration relationship with growth while development health expenditure and growth are not cointegrated. The ECM and the approach by EG confirm a weak and/or no cointegration between the variables. Growth has no effect on government expenditure on health in the short run, but a cointegration relationship suggests that it may marginally contribute to an increase in health expenditure over the long term. The study clarifies the correct model to test for cointegration and specification for the deterministic component. It confirms the existence of a healthcare expenditure-led growth hypothesis. This requires Botswana to design a policy that targets specific parts of recurrent and development health expenditure to support human capital development and influence future growth.
Challenges faced by distant parented adolescent girls in Chiredzi South Constituency of Zimbabwe
Authors: Makondo Paula Varaidzai , Tabane Ramodungoane
Published: March 2023

The study aimed to establish the challenges of the distant parented adolescent girls in the Chiredzi South Constituency of Zimbabwe. The phenomenon focused on the challenges that distant-parented adolescent girls go through in the absence of migrant parents. The bio-ecological systems theory underpinned the study to bring to the fore the role of different environmental systems surrounding a distant parented adolescent in her development. Qualitative methods of data collection, analysis, and interpretation were used. The study employed a purposive sampling approach to select the twenty-five (25) distant parented adolescent girls participating in the focus group discussions and interviews from five secondary schools. Data were collected and recorded. A thematic analysis was used. Some of the findings were that the distant-parented adolescent girl lacks parental care and support, lackss access to remittances and delayed remittances, wrong choice of friends, poor relationships between them and the migrant parents, and barriers to learning. Based on the findings, the study recommends distant parenting parents should continue to fulfill their roles as parents to their left-behind adolescent girls. Parents should also know their foreign-parented adolescent girls’ friends as some friends may influence them into engaging in anti-social behavior.
Startups in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Majed Qabil Alsolamy
Published: March 2023

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the main challenges that startups face in Saudi Arabia. It tries to identify the wave of opportunities that come along with startups and analyze the main factors for success and sustainability. A sample of 40 respondents was established. According to the survey results, consumer-oriented activity dominates startup activities. Startups remain mainly dependent on non-equity funding. The first challenge that startups encounter is finding funding. Saudi startups are more focused on product innovation. Most of the respondents think that aspects of the entrepreneur's personality and skills play a significant role in the success of startups.
Loyalty program benefits and their effect on relationship quality and loyalty to the retailer
Authors: Corbishley Karen M. , Meintjes Corné , Mason Roger B.
Published: March 2023

Loyalty Programs (LPs) aim to increase profit by rewarding, with various benefits, customers who patronize the retailer. This study investigated the benefits LPs provide in the South African Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) marketplace and how these influence relationship quality and loyalty between retailer and customer. How the perceived benefits of LPs contribute to relationship quality (satisfaction, trust and commitment), and how they lead to loyalty are examined. To illustrate these relationships, a model showing three independent (perceived benefits, namely altruistic, consumeristic, and egoistic) and three dependent variables (relationship quality, namely trust, satisfaction, and commitment), plus customer loyalty, was developed. A quantitative survey was administered electronically over 11 days to a randomly selected sample of 5000 consumers per day from a commercial database, resulting in 1944 responses. After the deletion of incomplete or inappropriate responses, 479 usable replies remained. Since this sample was self-selected, it should be considered a convenience sample. Structural equation modelling (SEM) with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to test the hypotheses and develop the model. SEM indicated that respondents consider egoistic and consumeristic benefits as the same. Furthermore, trust and satisfaction manifest as a single construct. Both consumeristic and altruistic benefits had a significant positive relationship with this unified construct of trust/satisfaction, and the relationship between altruistic benefits and commitment was also positive and significant. Finally, although neither altruistic nor consumeristic benefits appeared to contribute directly to loyalty, a positive relationship existed between the new construct of trust/satisfaction and those of commitment and loyalty. The pathway to loyalty is indirect, and to reach this sought-after goal, relationship quality constructs must first be achieved.
Divergences and the sermonic replications in interpreters’ oral interpretation and communication among Pentecostal Churches
Authors: Adebayo Rufus O. , Zulu Sylvia Phiwani
Published: March 2023

Oral interpreting in the setting of diverse languages and multicultural congregants is often understood as integrating the message's content to the receiver. Like any communication or campaign, preaching or sermon takes people's multiple contexts seriously. The one who provides the best insight into understanding "the other," traditionally speaking, could be an interpreter in a multilingual context. Nonetheless, there are reflections, replications, and the loss of spiritual communication with sermonic translation and interpretive dialogue. Sometimes, the sermon the preacher delivers is only the one the congregation hears through the interpreter. In other occurrences, however, interpreting can lead not only to distorted messages but also to dissatisfied audiences and preachers being overshadowed by the pranks of the interpreter. Understanding the context of litotes and hyperbolism embedded in rhetoric and the features of the language, no matter how eloquent the preacher is, an understatement, overemphasis, or repetition of words by the interpreter can make or mar the sermon (speech). Using a qualitative methodology, this paper explores the divergences and conventional assumptions about preachers' interpreters as influenced by spirituality, culture, and language from an empirical and theoretical perspective. Biased translation and the basis of reality suppressing or devaluing spiritual/sacred communication are examined. The results indicate that the interpretation of the declaration of guilt, the history of the congregation, spirituality, attitudes, morals, customs, specific practices, the education of the interpreter, and the environment form intertwined interpreting and misinterpretation. The paper concludes by re-examining these qualities and rearticulating them into a preliminary theory for practice, distinguished from theory, which could enhance the development of more sustainable multilingual interpretation in South African Pentecostal churches.
Corporate governance in the cement manufacturing industry of Zambia
Authors: Tenasi Lyness Chipili , Mpundu Mubanga
Published: March 2023

The article examined corporate governance's effects on the performance of cement-producing companies in Zambia. Assessing the performance of one of the manufacturing segments of the manufacturing industry because of the effects of corporate governance was detrimental to findings on why there is limited growth in the industry. The study specifically assessed the effects of board size, board independence, CEO duality, multiple directorships, and board tenure on the company's performance. A deductive approach strategy was used, which focused on four leading cement-producing companies in Zambia: Lafarge, Dangote, Sinoma, and Zambezi Portland. A sample population of 150 participants was targeted. Questionnaires collected primary and secondary data from the company’s audited reports. This study used the principal components analysis, correlation, and regression analysis using SPSS version 27. The study found and concluded a positive correlation and effect between multiple directorships and board independence on the company's performance. CEO duality positively impacted the company's performance, but it was not statistically significant. On the other hand, it was concluded and found that board tenure and board size had a negative effect on the company's performance. This implied that they had a reducing impact on the performance of the companies in the cement manufacturing industry. Cement companies should tailor the size of their boards to meet their unique requirements, even though board size and tenure have a negative and statistically significant effect on performance.
Modelling and Forecasting volatility in International financial markets
Authors: Enow Samuel Tabot
Published: March 2023

Modelling volatility using asset price returns has always been at the forefront of financial economics and option pricing. Observing the conditional variance properties in these asset returns, can be very useful for trend analysis and volatility predictions which are ever needed for trading, portfolio management and financial decision making. The aim of the study was to model and forecast volatility in stock markets. Six financial markets namely the Nasdaq, JSE, the DAX, the CAC 40 and the Nikkei 225 were used as samples with a sampling frame from January 29, 2018 to January 29, 2023. The findings of this study revealed that the variance for all the financial markets under consideration changes significantly with the passage of time. Also, volatility in the JSE, DAX & CAC 40 display fat tail distributions and it is expected to move by three standard deviations. Accordingly, volatility will persist in the Nasdaq, DAX and CAC 40 at an increasing rate but will persist at a decreasing rate in the JSE and Nikkei 225. Considering the peril involved in stock market investing, this study makes a notable contribution to estimating market volatility which is an integral component of asset pricing. With this knowledge, analyst and market traders will have a better understanding of the error distribution in stock markets which will assist in specifying predictive asset prices.
Challenges encountered by teachers in improving essay writing skills in rural schools of O.R. Tambo Inland District Eastern Cape Province
Authors: Lele Mkululi , Gqoli Neliswa
Published: March 2023

The essay is a typical task provided in schools to evaluate learner’s writing abilities and newly acquired knowledge. Because of how text-oriented the world has become, writing has been regarded as one of the most important abilities. As a result, teachers are in tremendous need of efficient methods to boost writing abilities in their classrooms. Yet, most learners lack the ability to write an English essay, particularly in remote areas. The aim of the study is to investigate the underlying reasons for the difficulties teachers encounter while attempting to teach English writing skills in rural schools of OR Tambo Inland District, Eastern Cape Province. The Zone of Proximal Development is highlighted as the issue of collaboration in the education system in order to develop children’s creative writing. Therefore, the study adopted socio-cultural theory as the theoretical framework. The study also adopted a quantitative research method. The participants of the study included six language teachers that were purposefully selected as information-rich participants. The findings of the study revealed that (i) teachers were lacking inappropriate methods, (II) the time spent in teaching essay writing was grossly inadequate, and finally (III) teachers experienced many challenges in reading and writing skills, which included, difficulty in motivating their learners, learners of diverse levels, difficult materials and time constraints to teach the learners. Therefore, the study recommended the use of pre-taught vocabulary, various teacher influences and the implementation of positive literacy practices.
The effect of visioning on digital transformation in the insurance industry
Authors: Chiguvi Douglas , Tafadzwa Zaranyika  , Marozwa Manuel , Dube Zenzo
Published: March 2023

Digital transformation destination is much easier when a clear vision is communicated up and down the organization. This study seeks to explore the effect of visioning on digital transformation in the insurance industry. The study used a positivist research philosophy and a quantitative research approach. The research used primary data, which was collected using a questionnaire. Data analysis was done using regression analysis, descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests. Normality and reliability were tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test and Cronbach’s alpha, respectively. The study findings revealed that visioning significantly influences digital transformation (t=1.129, p=0.000<0.05). Visioning is the art of modeling an organization's culture and is the critical variable towards digital transformation. The study recommends the regulator, the Insurance and Pension Commission, might need to enforce digital transformation within the insurance space. Visioning is critical in the insurance sector’s digital transformation process.
Ncedile Saule’s Umlimandlela (at the cross-roads) as a witness to colonial and apartheid lexicology in South Africa
Authors: Diko Mlamli
Published: March 2023

The primary objective of this article, among other prescripts, is to unravel the lexicological arena of colonialism and apartheid as a pertinent subject in Ncedile Saule’s Umlimandlela (At the cross-roads). The reason to undertake this scholarly discourse is because of the vestigial elements of colonialism and apartheid that continue to subterfuge the constitutional democracy of our country, thereby decaying and delaying social cohesion and consciousness. Post-colonial theory is employed given that it concentrates on matters before and after the formal end of colonialism in South Africa in 1994. On the other hand, qualitative research methodology is utilized to recognize the selected isiXhosa novel as a primary source of data. Through conceptual and contextual discussions, the main findings certify that though South Africa formally ended colonialism, the currently witnessed colonial tendencies are deeply rooted in the colonial and apartheid systems. As a result, it is fair to accept that colonialism and apartheid in South Africa demonstrate resistance and resilience – and that requires maintained and continued discourses in a bid to challenge the conundrum. The concluding remarks call for the recognition and appreciation of isiXhosa modern literature owing to the reality that it provokes colonial and apartheid discourses that will pivot towards reasonable contestations.
The impact of corruption on victim teachers during promotion processes in South Africa’s Basic education system
Authors: Rammbuda Mulatedzi Calvin , Mafukata Mavhungu Abel , Mudau Tshimangadzo Selina , Mashau Takalani Samuel
Published: March 2023

South African teachers are faced with corruption during teacher promotion processes, and this remains unabated. This qualitative paper used three purposively selected case studies of victim teachers to investigate the impact of this corruption on victim teachers. The paper used the Crisis Intervention Theory to underpin the theoretical framework for the analysis. Key informant interviews (KIIs) were administered to a senior union member to solicit crucial data while the primary participants (n=3) were interviewed on a face-to-face approach to collect data. Relevant literature was also used to provide supportive and corroborative scientific propositions. The paper discovered that corruption during teacher promotion processes in the South African Basic Education sector was a reality. However, in some instances, such claims could not be backed by sustainable evidence. Victim teachers have suffered traumatic experiences resulting in stress, health challenges, relational challenges with colleagues and resignations. The department did not assist victim teachers needing emergency counselling and psychological rehabilitation to cope with the emanating pressure. It is recommended that authorities punish perpetrators of corruption. Victim teachers need to be assisted through professional resolving of their grievances and therapeutical intervention.
Work intensification and job satisfaction among domestic workers in rural Zimbabwe
Authors: Kele Tumo , Nyanga Takupiwa
Published: March 2023

This article focused on the under-researched concept of work intensification among domestic workers. Domestic work in Zimbabwe remains a primary source of employment for rudimentary qualified women in both rural and urban areas. This prompted the need for this research to understand better two essential dimensions of an employer-worker relationship, work intensification and job satisfaction. The sample comprised 25 participants, of whom 15 were domestic workers, and 10 were employers of domestic workers. The research used a qualitative approach to understand better the dynamics of work intensification among rural women employed as domestic workers in rural Zimbabwe. Our findings show that employers bring about work intensification in domestic work settings. This is further exacerbated by unpaid overtime hours. Moreover, work intensification in the studied sample deteriorates job satisfaction and relations between employer and employee. As a result, productivity dwindles in the long term because of exhaustion and burnout.
Measuring the impact of public service innovation on user satisfaction
Authors: Elida Sri Syabanita , Listiyawati Lilis , Zain Desvira , Sasongko Agus Eko Tejo , Alun Ikrima Natasha
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to measure the Community Satisfaction Index on the Pontianak Drive Thru Land Service (PERDANA) and to analyze the results of the level of community satisfaction on the PERDANA at the Pontianak City Land Office. This research uses quantitative research methods. Data collection techniques using questionnaires and documentation studies. The data analysis technique used is descriptive analysis. The results of this study indicate that the Community Satisfaction Index with Pontianak Drive Thru Land Services at the Pontianak City Land Office has been implemented properly with a high variable criterion of 89. The highest index value is 94 on the cost/tariff indicator. The lowest index value of 75 is on the Completion Time indicator. With the innovations that have been issued by the Pontianak City Land Office, it proves that the PERDANA gives satisfaction to the community. The Pontianak City Land Office can improve service quality in terms of service completion time such as being able to add PERDANA implementing officers in terms of correcting files online so that files can be corrected accurately and quickly and can maintain exchange system solutions (applicants provide physical files and officers provide Deposit Orders (Surat Perintah Setor/SPS)) so that there are no file arrears caused by applicants who have made payments but did not deliver physical files, and can improve service quality in terms of facilities, namely minimizing server downtime by updating the PERDANA website to an application that can be uploaded.
Fraudulent financial reporting and related party transactions
Authors: Kabwe Martin
Published: March 2023

The study assessed the possibility of accounting fraud among Zambian listed companies with a focus on the mining sector and the relationship between related party transactions (RPTs) and financial statement manipulation (FSM). The financial statements (2012 to 2020) of listed companies were analysed to detect accounting fraud using the M-score and the Z-score. Descriptive statistics were used to explain the extent of FSM. The Chi-Square test of independence was employed to test the relationship between FSM and RPTs. Both the Z-Score and M-Score indicate that the mining companies were possibly involved in FSM. There is a relationship between the FSM and RPTs. The Total Accruals to Total Assets, Days in Sales in Receivables Index and Sales Growth Index show that revenue and profits were the most manipulated. The RPTs disclosures were the lowest for mining companies. Relevant authorities should not neglect FSM as a form of fraud despite the routine external audit of financial statements. There is the potential loss of tax revenue through accounting fraud.
Education and drug abuse in two selected isiXhosa poems produced by Anelisa Thengimfene
Authors: Diko Mlamli
Published: March 2023

The poetry of Anelisa Thengimfene, through scholarly critique, certifies that applicatory subjects may be enacted in isiXhosa modern literature. Such applicatory subjects breathe pertinence to social issues that predominantly affect the South African youth and other organs of social anatomy. Using Anelisa Thengimfene’s two selected isiXhosa poems (Imfundo and Iziyobisi) , issues concerning education and drug abuse are critiqued in terms of content or subject matter in order to unmask their interfacing meanings. Textual analysis alongside qualitative research methodology is appointed to operate in a synergetic relationship. The principal objective of this article is to exhibit that education and drug addiction are social problems that continue to sabotage the lives of many young men and women in South Africa and elsewhere. The findings and discussions underscore that isiXhosa modern literature should be employed for the fact that it contests contemporary issues that are valuable and worth theoretical and practical debates. As a direct consequence of that, the closing remarks recommend a maintained scrutinisation of isiXhosa modern poetry. The contribution of this intellectual discourse can be pinned on the fact that Anelisa Thengimfene is an emerging isiXhosa literary writer, and therefore, new insights can be enacted from her literary art.
Thematic content analysis of lockdown and domestic violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Africa
Authors: Dillo Justin Ramoshaba  , Peter Singwane Thembinkosi
Published: March 2023

South Africa has been battling the scourge of the COVID-19 Pandemic which has negatively affected many individuals and families. The South African government imposed a national lockdown to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the lockdown also brought more challenges such as increased violence cases. Against this background, this study sought to analyse the COVID-19 lockdown and domestic violence in South Africa. A non-empirical research design was used where documents from search engines such as Google scholar, EBSCOhost and ProQuest were sampled and reviewed using keywords and phrases related to COVID-19, lockdown and domestic violence to filter relevant data, restricted to 2002-2022. The inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was used to analyze the collected data. Findings reveal that the South African Lockdown has contributed to the rise of domestic violence cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results further indicate that victims of domestic violence face psychosocial challenges due to domestic violence. Programs that are aimed at creating awareness and empowering victims of domestic violence are recommended by this study. It is further recommended that policies protecting citizens against domestic violence be reviewed and strengthened.
Correlates of farmers’ resilience to food insecurity in South-West Nigeria
Authors: Olawuyi Seyi Olalekan , Ijila Olusegun Jeremiah
Published: March 2023

Recently, many developing nations are disproportionately experiencing the impact of shocks and stressors compared to the rest of the world due to increasing inadequate capability and capacity to withstand the shocks. In particular, farmers and farming households are faced with diverse repeated and unanticipated shocks, which may be socio-economic, ecological and/or environmental in nature. All these shocks become unbearable and worsen in terms of food insecurity. The welfare costs associated with the shocks are significant, attracting humanitarian and development policy experts’ attention to developing suitable interventions to build a resilient food system and society. Consequently, this study analyzed the correlates of farmers’ resilience to food insecurity in South-West Nigeria. Drawing on the data collected from 472 smallholder farmers randomly sampled, descriptive statistics, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s food insecurity experience scale approach, composite score technique, principal component analysis (PCA) and Structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that more than half (55.3%) of the respondents were inadequate in almost all the resilience indicators and components, had low resilience capacity, and were vulnerable to food shocks and food insecurity. In comparison, only 7.8% have a high resilience capacity to be a buffer against food shocks. 54% of the respondents fall into a high food insecurity category, while only 1.9% fall into a very-low food insecurity continuum. The SEM analysis also revealed that social safety net (p<0.01), climate extreme events (p<0.01), access to essential services (p<0.01), presence of enabling institutional environment (p<0.01), and technical level (p<0.05) made direct impacts on the farmers’ food insecurity status. Conversely, possession of assets (p<0.01), and social capital/neighborhood effect (p<0.1) had inverse impacts on the farmers’ food insecurity status. The study recommended transparently implementing a social protection program to assist the farmer in building buffers against shocks. There is also a greater need for sustained investments across the resilience pillars and indicators to build farmers’ resilience capacity to food insecurity and other shocks.
Examining the teaching strategies of high-performing mathematics teachers in solving challenging 3-dimensional (3D) trigonometry
Authors: Baidoo Joseph , Luneta Kakoma
Published: March 2023

In this article, we discuss teaching strategies that high-performing mathematics teachers use to assist learners in solving challenging 3-dimensional (3D) trigonometry concepts more effectively. High school learners often find 3D trigonometry challenging. For this study, a purposively qualitative research design was chosen. Five mathematics teachers were interviewed, and 381 scripts of the learners were analysed with the mathematical language error, procedural error, conceptual error, and application error (MPCA error) analysis protocol. Results from this study showed that using concrete models to illustrate the dimensions of 3D concepts was helpful for high-performing schoolteachers. The mathematical knowledge and the quality of mathematical instructions used by the teacher to unpack the 3D trigonometry concepts were found to play a pivotal role in the learners’ understanding. The teachers’ in-depth knowledge of error analysis was valuable, while the teachers’ ability to implement blended learning was crucial for learners. When a misconception occurs amongst learners, it should be challenged or contrasted with the correct conception. An understanding of learners’ errors in 3D trigonometry helps teachers minimise learners’ errors.
The relationship between work professionalism and job satisfaction toward employee performance in mediating of organizational climate
Authors: Candra Ade , Sudiro Achmad , Susilowati Christin
Published: March 2023

This study examines the effect of work professionalism, job satisfaction and organizational climate on employee performance in Muaradua Hospital employees. This study uses explanatory research with a quantitative approach. The population of this study included all Muaradua Regional General Hospital paramedics with a work period of more than one year. The sampling method is saturated, and the data collection technique uses questionnaire distribution. The data were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS). The results of this study indicate that work professionalism, job satisfaction, and organizational climate can directly improve employee performance. In addition, work professionalism and job satisfaction can improve the organizational climate. Organizational climate becomes partially mediating the relationship between work professionalism and job satisfaction on employee performance. The results of this study suggest that the hospital should be able to maintain professionalism and encourage job satisfaction, as well as create and improve strategies for factors related to organizational climate.
Housing insecurity during the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Dunga Steven
Published: March 2023

The understanding of housing insecurity in the context of poverty reduction remains an important area, especially in the conceptualisation emanating from the animal with multiple head metaphor. Poverty is argued to be viewed as an animal with multiple heads in its multidimensional conceptualisation. We contend that a misdiagnosis in the Multidimensional poverty index (MPI) recognises housing insecurity as a leg of living standards (the other two in the MPI are education and health). The argument that housing should be considered as a dimension or a head, according to the Household Housing Insecurity Index (HHII), emanates from the basic needs understanding, where housing stands among food and health, even higher than education. This paper first presents the Household Housing Insecurity Index (HHII) in the context of multidimensional poverty. Then it uses components of the HHII with available data from Statistics South Africa's general household survey to analyse the housing insecurity profile of households in South Africa collected during the covid-19 pandemic. This helps to paint an initial picture of the impact of the pandemic. Initial because there are still lagged effects unfolding beyond the immediate short-run implications. The Regression analysis results show that total household income, the material used for the construction of the house, crowding, gender and population group are significant predictors of household housing insecurity.