Contamination of the environment by pathogenic bacteria in a livestock farm in Limpopo Province, South Africa

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and diversity of pathogenic bacteria in the environment at a livestock farm in Limpopo Province. Environmental samples were collected from three sampling locations: cattle camp (CC), sheep camp (SHC), and goat camp (GC). Samples were processed and analysed for total bacterial counts in the Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Limpopo, South Africa. Identifications were done with Matrix Assisted Laser Disorption Ionisation Time of Flight Mass Spectometry (MALDI-TOF MS) using the simplified on plate technique. The colony forming unit formula per gram of environmental sample (CFU/g) was used to determine total bacterial counts. High counts were observed in CC and low counts in SHC for both soil and faecal samples. Bacillus species were the most dominant across the sampling locations for soil samples. Bacillus cereus occurred in 36 samples (33%), however, the frequency of isolation dominated in the CC with (44.4%), GC (22.2%) and SHC (13%). Staphylococcus aureus had the least frequency (2.2%) followed by Listeria monocytogenes (4.4%). In faecal samples, the occurrence and level of contamination with bacterial species varied across sampling locations with Escherichia coli dominating in the CC with 20% frequency, and abscent from SHC and GC.http://www.aloki.huam2020Veterinary Tropical Disease

Barriers to electronic commerce adoption in small and medium enterprises: a critical literature review

This study is attempting to determine if the barriers reported in early e-commerce researches differ from those found in recent e-commerce studies as well as exploring if the resultant barrier groupings created from e-commerce barriers are dissimilar. To achieve our research’s aim, an extensive literature review was conducted based on what we believe to be representative sample of some of the most cited pieces of research on this topic. The study concludes that though the issues inhibiting SMEs in their uptake of e-commerce are seemingly endless, the reality is that these issues have largely remained the same since the advent of e-commerce in the early 1990’s. The implication of our study is that researchers should stop reinventing the list of e-commerce adoption barriers but instead focus their efforts on how SMEs can overcome these barriers so as to reap the full benefits of the technology

Linking Service Quality Attributes To Customer Satisfaction in The Mobile Phone Industry in Zimbabwe

The purpose of the study was to determine the service quality dimensions of mobile phone services-network performance, service reliability and service accessibility, and to ex-amine the service quality/customer satisfaction link within the context of mobile phone services. An exploratory research design using a quantitative approach was employed. Two focus group discussions each with eight current mobile phone users led to the identi-fication of three service quality dimensions, which were subsequently used in the quantit-ative stage. The questionnaire survey method was used to collect data from two hundred mobile phone users. Linear regression analysis suggested that network performance and service reliability have the greatest impact on service quality and customer satisfaction with mobile phone services. Moreover, a strongly positive and highly significant relation-ship between service quality and customer satisfaction was found. With the evidence that service quality attributes are significantly correlated with customer satisfaction, mobile phone service managers could use service quality attributes as a lever upon which sub-scriber satisfaction can be enhanced in view of the numerous complaints concerning the quality of mobile phone services.Keywords: Customer Satisfaction, Mobile Phone Services And Service Quality

Barriers to electronic commerce adoption in small and medium enterprises: a critical literature review

This study is attempting to determine if the barriers reported in early e-commerce researches differ from those found in recent e-commerce studies as well as exploring if the resultant barrier groupings created from e-commerce barriers are dissimilar. To achieve our research’s aim, an extensive literature review was conducted based on what we believe to be representative sample of some of the most cited pieces of research on this topic. The study concludes that though the issues inhibiting SMEs in their uptake of e-commerce are seemingly endless, the reality is that these issues have largely remained the same since the advent of e-commerce in the early 1990’s. The implication of our study is that researchers should stop reinventing the list of e-commerce adoption barriers but instead focus their efforts on how SMEs can overcome these barriers so as to reap the full benefits of the technology

Use of phosphatidylcholine in Tris-based extender with or without egg yolk to freeze Bapedi ram semen

Traditionally, egg yolk is a protective agent that is used to freeze semen in various species. However, the addition of egg yolk in extender risks the introduction of disease. Therefore, an alternative cryoprotective agent should be found to preserve ram semen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phosphatidylcholine (PC) as a protective agent in extender with or without egg yolk on semen characteristics and acrosome integrity of frozen then thawed Bapedi ram semen. Semen was collected from four mature Bapedi rams, in the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Germplasm Conservation Programme, using an artificial vagina. Following collection, semen samples were randomly diluted into Tris-based extender (1: 2), with and without egg yolk, and supplemented with four concentrations of PC liposome (0 mg/ml), 0.25 mg/ml, 0.5 mg/ml and 0.75 mg/ml). Supplementation of PC liposome in extender with or without egg yolk did not improve the semen total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM) and rapid motility (RM) rate. The sperm cell membrane integrity in extender with or without egg yolk was not influenced by the supplementation of PC liposome after thawing (P >0.05). The addition of PC liposome to Tris-based extender with egg yolk had a similar result to control (Tris-based extender with egg yolk) on sperm cell acrosome integrity. In conclusion, supplementation of PC liposome to Tris-based extender without egg yolk had lower sperm cell viability and motility rates compared with the extender with egg yolk, regardless of concentration.Keywords: acrosome, cryoprotectant, liposome, membrane, motilit

Service quality and customer satisfaction: A case of the mobile telecommunication industry in Gweru, Zimbabwe

This research paper reports on the exploratory findings from a customer survey whose key objectives among others were : (1) to determine the technical quality dimensions of mobile phone services and (2) establish which of the technical quality dimensions have the greatest impact on service quality and customer satisfaction.  A survey instrument was developed and used to collect responses from two hundred current mobile phone users in Gweru.  The questionnaire was administered in a mall intercept type of situation whereby survey respondents were randomly intercepted in and around the central business district (CBD) and high pedestrian areas.  The study  found that from the three outcome/technical quality dimensions identified in the qualitative stage, network performance had the greatest impact on both service quality and customer satisfaction based on p-levels alone.  Further, the study found a positive correlation between mobile phone quality and customer satisfaction.  Lastly, the findings indicate that mobile phone subscribers are encountering a plethora of network related problems when accessing a service from their network providers.  This implies that mobile network operators are not providing subscribers with the level of service quality which they want and desire.  Hence, subscribers’ service quality perceptions and their satisfaction levels are low.  Predictably subscribers have not switched from their current network operators owing to a host of switching barriers.  It is therefore, logical to conclusively say that mobile phone subscribers are hostages, trapped in a situation they do not find desirable

Indigenous Plant-Based Alternatives for Treating Cattle Skin Ailments: A Case Study from the MNISI Tribal Authority of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

The study was carried out in the Mnisi Tribal Authority, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, between August and October 2021. Ethno-veterinary data were collected using pre-structured questionnaires and field observations with cattle owners. The data were analyzed and summarized using descriptive statistics. Frequently mentioned plants belonged to the families Vitaceae (Cissus quandrangularis), Euphorbiaceae (Synadenium cupulare), Fabaceae (Dichrostachys cinerea), Solanaceae (Nicotiana batacum), Euphorbiacae (Jatropha zayheri), and Apocynaceae (Sarcostemma viminate). Antimicrobial susceptibility assays with ampicillin as positive control were carried out on extracts of Synadenium cupulare (aerial parts and leaves), Dichrostachys cinerea (seeds/ fruits), and Cissus quadrangularis (aerial parts and leaves). Aqueous extracts of S.cupulare (L) were the most effective against E. faecalis with the lowest MIC of 0.73 mg/ml, followed by aqueous extracts of Dichrostachys cinerea with an MIC of 1.36. Open wounds were the most common ailment (35%), followed by abscesses (23%) and abrasions (17%). Documenting Indigenous knowledge can be a basis for the development of sustainably used medicinal plants in the area and the validation of these plant preparations for veterinary use since the low cost of these preparations makes them useful for local communities

Barriers to electronic commerce adoption in small and medium enterprises: a critical literature review

This study is attempting to determine if the barriers reported in early e-commerce researches differ from those found in recent e-commerce studies as well as exploring if the resultant barrier groupings created from e-commerce barriers are dissimilar. To achieve our research’s aim, an extensive literature review was conducted based on what we believe to be representative sample of some of the most cited pieces of research on this topic. The study concludes that though the issues inhibiting SMEs in their uptake of e-commerce are seemingly endless, the reality is that these issues have largely remained the same since the advent of e-commerce in the early 1990’s. The implication of our study is that researchers should stop reinventing the list of e-commerce adoption barriers but instead focus their efforts on how SMEs can overcome these barriers so as to reap the full benefits of the technology

Indigenous Plant-Based Alternatives for Treating Cattle Skin Ailments: A Case Study from the MNISI Tribal Authority of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

The study was carried out in the Mnisi Tribal Authority, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, between August and October 2021. Ethno-veterinary data were collected using pre-structured questionnaires and field observations with cattle owners. The data were analyzed and summarized using descriptive statistics. Frequently mentioned plants belonged to the families Vitaceae (Cissus quandrangularis), Euphorbiaceae (Synadenium cupulare), Fabaceae (Dichrostachys cinerea), Solanaceae (Nicotiana batacum), Euphorbiacae (Jatropha zayheri), and Apocynaceae (Sarcostemma viminate). Antimicrobial susceptibility assays with ampicillin as positive control were carried out on extracts of Synadenium cupulare (aerial parts and leaves), Dichrostachys cinerea (seeds/ fruits), and Cissus quadrangularis (aerial parts and leaves). Aqueous extracts of S.cupulare (L) were the most effective against E. faecalis with the lowest MIC of 0.73 mg/ml, followed by aqueous extracts of Dichrostachys cinerea with an MIC of 1.36. Open wounds were the most common ailment (35%), followed by abscesses (23%) and abrasions (17%). Documenting Indigenous knowledge can be a basis for the development of sustainably used medicinal plants in the area and the validation of these plant preparations for veterinary use since the low cost of these preparations makes them useful for local communities