Modeling the Local Political Economy of Adulis: 1000 BCE-700 ACE

This dissertation models the local political economy of Adulis, during Africa’s Classical Age (1000 BCE-700 ACE), by evaluating the materiality of Adulis (built forms and artifacts). Thirty-nine built forms are 3D modeled, and their energetics values (labor and time) are inferred to estimate the social power and wealth that was necessary for the construction of such a built-forms. Two political economy models are used to critically evaluate the energetics data from the built-forms combined to another set of data of essential artifacts from the site. The traditional political economy perspective holds that Adulis is a periphery, a port in an Aksum dominated world economy. An alternative theoretical position proposed in this dissertation is that Adulis was an independent state and a center of its own. The dissertation research shows the archaeological data supports that Adulis was a center of its own. Moreover, the dissertation successfully establishes the basis of Adulis\u27s political economy by distinctly illustrating its role in interregional trades in aromatics, readiness to train and export war elephants, and its perceived upper-tier rank in governance locally and among other Red Sea ports. Early involvement of Adulis in the aromatics trades of the Red Sea instituted tangible and intangible political economy capital. However, it was a combination of Adulis’ capability to export war elephants in wars of local and general interest, its strategic location connecting the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean worlds, responsible governance, and its favorable climatic conditions all were factors in Adulis’ significant position in antiquity. This dissertation seeks to advance the understanding of the Northern Horn of Africa by such scholars as W.E.B. Du Bois who insist that African history be studied on its own terms and not those imported from or that emphasize the importance of the European experience. Key to building such a perspective is an understanding of the complexities of the exercise of power and the provisioning of past societies in the region. I develop this position for Adulis and its role in the Ancient World by focusing on the long-term, using a broad regional and continuous material culture data of Northern Africa and an inquiry of the political economy of such. This perspective contextualizes the relationship between Europe and Africa in long-term and recent experiences. W.E.B. Du Bois calls for the long-term focus to envelop an era of mutual respect and trade between Africa and Europe distinctive from the painful recent experience. While recent postcolonial studies have made notable contributions regarding the recent past, the long-term focus of this dissertation has pushed the boundaries of these. The dissertation concludes by pointing out how advancing this perspective improves concurrent social struggles and promotes the development of relevant social theories

Old Testament Lessons in the Säʿatat (‘Hours’) of Giyorgis Säglawi

This article considers the use of Old Testament readings in the Säʿatat (‘Hours’) of Abba Giyorgis Säglawi (d.1425), an unusual practice in Gǝʿǝz liturgy. It is believed that the introduction of Old Testament readings into the Säʿatat went through various stages. It was first introduced on Saturdays to better understand the greatness of the day on which God rested. It was then extended to Sunday. It seems certain that the question of the Sabbath(s) influenced the introduction of Old Testament readings into the celebration of the Säʿatat. The Old Testament readings in the Säʿatat are protracted because the Scriptures are the Word of God, and therefore there should be no discrimination in their usage. Reading from both the Old and the New Testaments is also connected to the idea that they represent the two breasts of the Church, an image depicted more clearly in Giyorgis than in the gädlat of other local saints. Thus, the children of the Church must be fed readings from both Testaments which are the breasts of their mother, the Church. Today, one finds readings from the Old Testament at almost every hour of the Säʿatat. However, readings from both Testaments did not extend beyond the Säʿatat, neither into the Liturgy of the Qǝddase (Eucharistic celebration), nor the Yaredian/Dǝggwa Divine Office

Positive and Negative Antecedents of Consumer Attitude towards Online Shopping

The internet has enabled businesses to make a wide range of products available for consumers to shop online, conveniently, anytime from anywhere in the world. While online shopping has shown tremendous growth over the recent past, literature indicates that consumers do cite some serious risks in transacting through the internet, and show reluctance in engaging in such activities. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify positive and negative antecedents of consumer attitudes towards online shopping in an emerging economy, South Africa. Primary data through a survey method was collected from a sample of 215 consumers in Gauteng, South Africa, in early 2018. The study utilized descriptive, correlation and multivariate regression analysis to achieve its stated objective. The study identifies convenience, better deals/competitive pricing, a wider selection of products and online atmospherics as positive antecedents of consumer attitudes towards online shopping, while trust/reliability issues, financial risk, product risk, non-delivery risk and return policy issues are identified as negative antecedents of consumer attitudes towards online shopping. Online retailers are therefore encouraged to building on the positive antecedents by offering value for money (i.e. competitive pricing), offering a wide range of goods and services in their web pages, providing valuable information to customers, and designing visually appealing websites. Similarly, online retailers should try as much as possible to reduce the real and/or perceived risks related to financial risk and product risk by building trust with their customers

Hydrogeochemical Modeling of Saltwater Intrusion and Water Supply Augmentation in South Florida

The Biscayne Aquifer is a primary source of water supply in Southeast Florida. As a coastal aquifer, it is threatened by saltwater intrusion (SWI) when the natural groundwater flow is altered by over-pumping of groundwater. SWI is detrimental to the quality of fresh groundwater sources, making the water unfit for drinking due to mixing and reactions with aquifer minerals. Increasing water demand and complex environmental issues thus force water utilities in South Florida to sustainably manage saltwater intrusion and develop alternative water supplies (e.g., aquifer storage and recovery, ASR). The objectives of this study were to develop and use calibrated geochemical models to estimate water quality changes during saline intrusion and during ASR in south Florida. A batch-reaction model of saltwater intrusion was developed and important geochemical reactions were inferred. Additionally, a reactive transport model was developed to assess fate and transport of major ions and trace metals (Fe, As) at the Kissimmee River ASR. Finally, a cost-effective management of saltwater intrusion that involves using abstraction and recharge wells was implemented and optimized for the case of the Biscayne Aquifer. Major processes in the SWI areas were found to be mixing and dissolution-precipitation reactions with calcite and dolomite. Most of the major ions (Cl, Na, K, Mg, SO4) behaved conservatively during ASR while Ca and alkalinity were affected by carbonate reactions and cation exchange. A complex set of reactions involving thermodynamic equilibrium, kinetics and surface complexation reactions was required in the ASR model to simulate observed concentrations of Fe and As. The saltwater management model aimed at finding optimal locations and flow rates for abstraction and recharge wells. Optimal solutions (i.e., minimum total salt and total cost Pareto front) were produced for the Biscayne Aquifer for scenarios of surface recharge induced by climate change-affected precipitation. In general, abstraction at the maximum rate near the coast and artificial recharge at locations much further inland were found to be optimal. Knowledge developed herein directly supports the understanding of SWI caused by anthropogenic stressors, such as over-pumping and sea level rise, on coastal aquifers

Attitudes towards Online Shopping: Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour

A wide-range of products are available for consumers to shop online conveniently, anytime from anywhere in the world. While e-commerce has shown exponential growth over the past decade, there is evidence in literature that suggests consumer resistance and reluctance in engaging in online shopping, mainly for privacy and security reasons. Using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this paper aims to investigate consumer attitudes towards online shopping in an emerging economy, South Africa. This study followed a descriptive and quantitative research method. Primary data was collected from a sample of 215 consumers in Gauteng, South Africa. Correlation analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to analyse the data. The results of the study indicate that trustworthiness, privacy and security concerns determine consumer attitude toward online shopping, which, in turn, influences online shopping behaviour. Beliefs about self-efficacy in conducting online transactions influenced consumers’ perceived behavioural control, which ultimately influenced the online shopping behaviour of consumers. Furthermore, the study found that normative beliefs are the immediate antecedent of subjective norms, which, in turn, influence online shopping behaviour. Marketing practitioners need to address the issues of real and perceived privacy issues and the security concerns of current and potential online shoppers if they are to fully benefit from the spoils of the internet

Mediating Effect of Switching Cost on Generation Y Customers’ Bank Commitment

Committed customers who value their relationship with their bank are a great asset for a bank. As such, the purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of switching costs on the influence of service quality, bank image and customer satisfaction on Generation Y customers’ commitment to their bank. A descriptive research design and a quantitative research approach were employed in the study. Using self-administered questionnaires, data was collected from a sample of 271 Generation Y banking customers registered at two public university campuses in Gauteng, South Africa. The analysis included descriptive statistics, reliability measures, correlation analysis and multivariate regression and mediation analyses. The results indicate that high switching costs directly influence Generation Y customers’ commitment to their bank, and partially mediate the impact of service quality and bank image on their commitment to their bank. In addition, high switching costs played a full mediating role on the influence of satisfaction on Generation Y customers’ commitment to their bank. The findings of the study provide empirical evidence of the mediating effects of high switching costs on the influence of service quality, bank image and customer satisfaction on Generation Y customers’ commitment to their bank, a field largely under-researched within the South African context

A Laboratory Study on the Shear Strength Behavior of Two Till Deposits from Northern Germany

This paper presents the findings of a laboratory study of the shear strength and yielding behavior of two glacial till soil deposits from the area of Heiligenhafen, northern Germany. The tests were conducted on reconstituted forms of the soils using a triaxial cell capable of controlling the temperature of the specimens. The experimental program included a series of multi-stage consolidated drained (CD) compression triaxial tests at temperature ranges between 20 and 60 °C. For the temperature range considered in this study, a mild reduction in the effective friction angle of the two till soils of less than 1° was observed due to an increase in temperature from 20 to 60 °C. All the results were carefully assessed in view of the intrinsic soil behavior and fabric, and existing trends are highlighted. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the shearing properties of till deposits, and can contribute to the enhancement of existing soil constitutive models as well as the development of new models that are particularly suited to the behavior of glacial tills under elevated temperature

Cyclic Mechanical Behavior of Two Sandy Soils Used as Heat Storage Media

In this research, the cyclic mechanical behavior of two heat storage sandy soils is experimentally studied using a cyclic thermo-mechanical triaxial device. The results of the tests, which were performed under controlled temperature conditions between 20 and 60 °C, show a significant dependence of the mechanical response of the sandy soils with the amplitude of the cyclic loading and medium temperature. The mechanical performance and accumulation of plastic strains of the soils with an increasing number of loading cycles are discussed in view of the intrinsic soil behavior

Feasibility of Monetary Union in the SADC And EAC: Evidence from Business Cycle Synchronisation

Through the Association of African Central Bank Governors, in 2003, Africa committed itself to work for a single currency and common central bank by 2021. In pursuit of this grand objective, many regional trading blocs including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) are involved in various economic integration activities. Forming a monetary union is a serious endeavour that needs serious and deliberate consideration. Sufficient and sound economic basis, such as similar economic structures, should be in place. The purpose of this paper was to assess the feasibility of monetary union in the SADC and EAC by determining the similarities of the economic structures in the regions through business cycle synchronisation. This study uses annual real GDP of each country in the two regions for a period of 30 years. The results of ccorrelation analysis and T-Y Granger causality test suggest that there is overwhelming lack of business cycle synchronisation in the two economic regions, suggesting that it is not feasible to form a monetary union in these two economic regions as envisaged in the timeframe. The two economic regions, therefore, need to set and coordinate major macroeconomic policies to harmonise and achieve sustainable economic development goals in their respective regions

External Factors Influencing the Cognitive Response of Impulse Buying Behaviour amongst Generation Y Students

Impulse buying behaviour has been recognised as a key research concern amongst academic researches and marketers. At one time or another a large amount of consumers purchases on impulse. Evidence from the literature indicates that external factors, such as in-store atmosphere, in-store browsing, in-store layout, salespersons, promotions and reference groups are important antecedents of impulse purchases. The cognitive response to act on impulse purchase is triggered by external factors to buy on impulse. This paper reports on a study undertaken to determine the external factors influencing the cognitive response of impulse buying behaviour amongst Generation Y students. Generation Y are labelled as individuals born between 1986 and 2005. The study employed a quantitative method, whereby a structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from a non-probability convenience sample of 349 students (aged 18 to 24 years), across two South African public higher education institutions’ campuses located in the Gauteng province. The collected data was examined using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The coefficient of multiple determination (R2) was 0.070 that implies that in-store atmosphere, in-store browsing and promotions can predict seven percent of the variance in Generation Y students’ cognitive response to buy on impulse, which proposes that other variables influence Generation Y students’ cognitive response to buy on impulse.&nbsp